Despite high hopes, BLADE RUNNER 2049 musters a $32 million opening for Warner Bros. from 4,058 theatres. Made for $150 million, this Sci-Fi Blockbuster starring Harrison Ford and Ryan Gosling came with much mystery and restrictions to Media who were given specific criteria they could and could not divulge in reviews about the Film. The latest effort from Canadian visionary Denis Villeneuve still gets an 89% on the Tomatometer and a solid A- CinemaScore. At one point, projections pegged it to open in the neighbourhood of $50 million. What went wrong, we wonder?
MY LITTLE PONY: THE MOVIE opens in second with $10.4 million for eOne Films/Lionsgate Films from 2,528 theatres. Earning 57% on the Tomatometer from Critics, the Film gets a much better A- CinemaScore from Audiences.
Opening in third is TIFF ’17 selection THE MOUNTAIN BETWEEN US starring Kate Winslet and Idris Elba. The Disaster-Romance opens with $10 million for 20th Century Fox from 3,088 theatres. It gets 46% from Critics on the Tomatometer but an A- CinemaScore.
IT slips to fourth with $9.2 million for Warner Bros. in its fifth week out. In its domestic run to date, it has grossed an outstanding $304 million already.
VICTORIA & ABDUL, another TIFF ’17 selection, climbs to eighth spot with $4 million for Universal Pictures/Focus Features, expanding to 732 theatres in its third week out. There is lots of Oscar buzz for Dame Judi Dench‘s reprisal of Queen Victoria here.
BATTLE OF THE SEXES, which also premiered at TIFF ’17 in September, rounds-out the Top Ten, expanding to 1,822 theatres for Fox Searchlight, making $2.4 million this weekend, a total $7.7 million over three weeks. Emma Stone also is garnering a lot of Oscars buzz too for her portrayal of Tennis icon Billie Jean King.
As the temperatures drop, so are ticket sales at the Box Office this weekend. IT from Warner Bros. continues to terrify audiences across North America in a tight three-way finish earning $17.4 million in its fourth weekend on-top, totaling a stellar $290 million in its run to date.
After debuting in second last weekend, KINGSMAN: THE GOLDEN CIRCLE remains unchanged with $17.1 for 20th Century Fox. Over two weeks it has grossed $67 million across North America.
Debuting in third is AMERICAN MADE starring Tom Cruise, with $16.1 million for Universal Pictures. It plays in 3,024 theatres domestically. It gets a solid 87% on the Tomatometer and a B+ CinemaScore.
THE LEGO NINJAGO MOVIE is in fourth this weekend with $12 million for Warner Bros. It has made $35 million in two weeks.
Sony Pictures’ FLATLINERS Reboot, filmed here in Toronto, debuts in fifth with $6.7 million from 2,552 theatres. It gets a B- CinemaScore and shocking 0% on the Tomatometer critically.
TIFF ’17 selection BATTLE OF THE SEXES is in sixth for Fox Searchlight with $3.4 million, expanding to 1,192 theatres in its second week.
Rounding-out the Top Ten is mother!, earning $1.3 million for Paramount Pictures. In three weeks it has made $16.2 million.
Fox Searchlight x Mr. Will want to take Readers in Calgary + Vancouver to see BATTLE OF THE SEXES, hot off its Premiere at TIFF ’17!
Screenings take place as follows:
BATTLE OF THE SEXES – Vancouver
Wednesday, September 27
7:00PM
Scotiabank Vancouver
BATTLE OF THE SEXES – Calgary
Wednesday, October 4
7:00PM
Eau Claire
(Note: Calgary screening now is cancelled)
Synopsis:
In the wake of the sexual revolution and the rise of the women’s movement, the 1973 tennis match between women’s world champion Billie Jean King (Emma Stone) and ex-men’s-champ and serial hustler Bobby Riggs (Steve Carell) was billed as the BATTLE OF THE SEXES and became one of the most watched televised sports events of all time, reaching 90 million viewers around the world. As the rivalry between King and Riggs kicked into high gear, offcourt each was fighting more personal and complex battles. The fiercely private King was not only championing for equality, but also struggling to come to terms with her own sexuality, as her friendship with Marilyn Barnett (Andrea Riseborough) developed. And Riggs, one of the first self-made media-age celebrities, wrestled with his gambling demons, at the expense of his family and wife Priscilla (Elisabeth Shue). Together, Billie and Bobby served up a cultural spectacle that resonated far beyond the tennis court, sparking discussions in bedrooms and boardrooms that continue to reverberate today.
See the Trailer:
Artwork:
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Fox Searchlight release BATTLE OF THE SEXES Friday, September 29, 2017 (Vancouver) and Friday, October 6, 2017 (wide).
(Photo/video credit: Fox Searchlight)
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