A huge surprise at the Box Office this weekend as the R-rated Home Invasion-Horror with a tiny budget trumps all! The Purge from Universal Pictures grosses a shocking $36.3 million in its debut, exceeding all expectations. More impressively, it is showing only in 2,536 theatres. Critics gave it 41% on the Tomatometer at Rotten Tomatoes, while Audiences gave it a C CinemaScore. Starring Ethan Hawke and Lena Headey, the Film is one of two Films in currently in theatres for Hawke as Romantic-Drama, Before Midnight, reuniting him a third time with Richard Linklater and Julie Delpy, lands in fifteenth spot also with $585k from only 50 theatres.
Box Office Monster Fast and the Furious 6 continues to perform well in second for Universal Pictures, earning $19.7 million in this its third week, just ahead of Now You See Me in third with $19.5 million, in its second week exceeding expectations.
Reuniting Vince Vaughn and Owen Wilson, The Internship debuts in fourth spot with $18.1 million for 20th Century Fox. Critics didn’t love the Google-inspired Comedy, earning 41% on the Tomatometer, while earning a much better B+ CinemaScore.
Animated Feature, Epic, in its third week earns $12.1 million for 20th Century Fox, the only Family-oriented Film in the Top Ten.
Meanwhile, Will & Jaden Smith‘s After Earth finds itself in seventh spot with $11.2 million and The Hangover Part III slips to eighth spot with $7.3 million for Warner Bros. The Great Gatsby rounds-out the Top Ten with $4.2 million in its fifth week, now grossing over $136 million in North America.
Expectations were high for Fast & Furious 6, but this latest Film in the Franchise is a Monster indeed on an international scale, debuting this weekend with $98.5 million alone in North America from 3,658 theatres. Globally already, it has made an amazing $275.5 million for Universal Pictures. Made for $160 million, it looks well on its way to recouping that money back for Universal Pictures in a – pardon the pun – fast ‘n’ furious manner! Audiences also loved the Film giving it a coveted A CinemaScore and many Critics agreed with 72% at Rotten Tomatoes. With all releases surpassing an expected $300 million at the Box Office this U.S. Memorial Day Weekend, a new Box Office record was established for the Holiday. Combined, all six Films in the Franchise have made $797.4 million domestically.
Debuting in second with $42.4 million this weekend for Warner Bros., is the conclusion to The Wolfpack Trilogy, The Hangover Part III, from 3,555 theatres. Still solid, this Installment falls short compared to its 2011 Predecessor The Hangover Part II, which debuted with $85.9 million. Although Critics didn’t respond favorably, tallying a 25% rating at Rotten Tomatoes, Audiences seemed to enjoy it with a B CinemaScore. To date, the Series in North America has grossed $574 million.
Following closely behind in third is Star Trek Into Darkness which in its second week of release earns $38 million. In its two-week run, it has grossed $155 million for Paramount Pictures.
Without much choice in terms of Family-oriented Films, Epic opens to a smart $34.2 million for 20th Century Fox in fourth spot. Starring an interesting array of voices, the Animated Feature boasts a Cast of: Beyoncé, Josh Hutcherson, Steven Tyler, Pitbull, Aziz Ansari, Amanda Seyfried and Christoph Waltz.
Not to be disgraced, Iron Man 3 continues to draw a crowd in fifth spot, now in its third week earning $19.4 million, with a total of $373 in its domestic run to date. Not far behind is The Great Gatsby which also in its third week out, closes the gap on that Box Office rival with $13.7 million at number six.
Bubbling under, the eagerly-awaited third Film in its Romance Series Before Midnight, opens in only five theatres across the U.S. in Limited Release, earning an impressive $274k. Torontonians and Vancouverites will have to wait till June 7, 2013 when it gets a release north of the Border.
For the first time ever, Mr. Will Wong and Mongrel Media are partnering to give Readers a chance to see the eagerly-awaited Follow-up to 2004’s BEFORE SUNSET, starring and written by Julie Delpy & Ethan Hawke. This third Film in the Series directed by Richard Linklater, follows the Jesse (Hawke) and Celine (Delpy), nine years later. Two decades have passed since they first met on a train bound for Vienna. Any true Romantic could not resist and I myself a huge Fan of these Films, cannot wait to see where this latest Film takes their irresistible Chemistry.
Screenings take place Thursday, June 6, 2013 in both Toronto (Varsity Cinemas) and Vancouver (5th Avenue Cinemas). To enter, simply click “like” on this Post at Mr. Will Wong on Facebook before Monday, May 27, 2013 and remember to specify which City you’d like a Double Pass for.
Double your chances by sharing this Post on Facebook or Re-Tweeting the below:
http://mrwillwong.com/beforemidnight @MRWILLW wants us to #win passes for #BEFOREMIDNIGHT (#EthanHawke, #JulieDelpy) in #Toronto & #Vancouver! Out 6/7!
See the Trailer for BEFORE MIDNIGHT below:
Goosebumps.
Mongrel Media releases BEFORE MIDNIGHT on Friday, June 7, 2013.
(Photo/video credit: Mongrel Media)
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