For a third straight week FURIOUS 7 leads the pack with a stellar $23 million from 3,964 theatres for Universal Pictures. Thus far it in its domestic run it has grossed $293 million and worldwide it has surpassed $1 billion as of this weekend! Monster.
PAUL BLART: MALL COP 2 makes a successful debut in second spot with $23 million for Sony Pictures from 3,633 theatres across the Continent. Its Predecessor by contrast in 2009 earned $31.8 million in its debut. Critics were harsh on the Title which many Media Outlets didn’t get a chance to review prior to release, giving it a 0% on the Tomatometer. Audiences gave it a more forgiving B- CinemaScore.
UNFRIENDED surprises many with a third place debut for Universal Pictures with $16.5 million from 2,739 theatres. The Social Media Horror with a Cast of unknown talent scared Critics to a decent 66% on the Tomatometer and a C CinemaScore.
HOME lands in fourth with $10 million this weekend for 20th Century Fox, in four weeks earning $142 million.
MONKEY KINGDOM debuts in sixth with $4.7 million for Disney, from 2,012 theatres.
INSURGENT rounds-out the Top Ten with $4.1 million for eOne Films/Lionsgate Films, now in its fifth week.
Hopefully its competition isn’t too ‘furious’! FURIOUS 7 accelerates to the top of the Box Office this weekend with a huge $150 million opening for Universal Pictures from 4,004 theatres across North America. This performance shows great horsepower, setting a Record for the Franchise in terms of its historical Opening Weekends and also largest pre-Summer bow for a Film release ever. Audiences genuinely were moved by the Film showcasing Star Paul Walker‘s final performance in the massively-successful Franchise, garnering an A CinemaScore. Critics meanwhile gave it a strong 82% on the Tomatometer.
After a one-week reign, HOME slips to second spot with $27.8 million for 20th Century Fox. It has grossed $96 million already in two weeks.
GET HARD get third spot this weekend with $13.5 million for Warner Bros. In two weeks it has earned $57.6 million domestically.
INSURGENT lands in fourth this weekend with $10 million in its third week out for Lionsgate Films/eOne Films, just ahead of another Box Office Champ in CINDERELLA, which places fifth with $9.6 million for Disney in its fourth week out.
WOMAN IN GOLD fares well in its limited release opening at 258 theatres for The Weinstein Co./eOne Films, debuting with $1.8 million. Critics were tough on the Drama starring Ryan Reynolds and Helen Mirren, with a 49% on the Tomatometer.
THE SECOND BEST EXOTIC MARIGOLD HOTEL rounds-out the Top Ten with $1 million for Fox Searchlight, in its fifth week out.
Despite mixed Reviews from Critics, 20th Century Fox‘s HOME hits a home run with Audiences garnering not only an A CinemaScore, but also the top of the Box Office this weekend with a strong $52.7 million from 3,708 theatres. On the Tomatometer at Rotten Tomatoes, the Animated Feature which showcases the voicework of Rihanna and Jennifer Lopez, tallied-in at 48%.
Debuting in second with $33 million from, 3,175 theatres was Warner Bros.‘ raunchy Comedy GET HARD starring Will Ferrell and Kevin Hart. Critics didn’t think much of it with a 32% on the Tomatometer, but Audiences thought much more highly of it with a B CinemaScore.
INSURGENT continues to perform well in third in its second week out with $23.9 million this weekend. It was last week’s Box Office Champ. Thus far, the Action/Fantasy and second Film in The Divergent Series, has grossed $88.1 million domestically for eOne Films/Lionsgate Films.
CINDERELLA in its third week out earns $17.3 million for Disney, thus far earning $150 million in its North American run.
IT FOLLOWS expands to 1,218 theatres this weekend, good enough for fifth with $3.7 million for RADiUS (The Weinstein Co.)/Mongrel Media. In three weeks it has made $4.2 million.
THE GUNMAN rounds-out the Top Ten with $2.2 million in its second week out for Elevation Pictures/Open Road Films.
The Black and Blue Carpet was rolled out tonight at Toronto’s Scotiabank Theatre as Mekhi Phifer and Jai Courtney, Stars of Veronica Roth Adaptation The Divergent Series: Insurgent, flew-in for the grand occasion. Filled with Selfie-aspiring Fans and eager Television and Digital Media, the Carpet was adorned in blue lit-panels depicting the five Factions known so well by Fans of the Franchise. After strong Reviews and grossing over $150 million in North America, expectations are high of this second Installment.
Many know Phifer for his work on long-running, celebrated TV Series ER and a string of popular Films he made in his early 20s, including O, 8 Mile and Honey. Australian-born Courtney‘s star is emerging quickly with high-profile Roles in Unbroken, A Good Day to Die Hard and recent news of his casting in DC Comics’ Suicide Squad, to film in Toronto next month with a Cast of Heavyweights.
INSURGENT picks-up where Divergent left-off in a futuristic dystopian Chicago. We witness Tris (Shailene Woodley), Four (Theo James), (Miles Teller) and (Ansel Elgort) on-the-run from ruthless Erudite Faction Leader Jeanine (Kate Winslet), who is determined to capture and test the limits of potentially destructive Divergents (those not belonging to any one particular personality type) at all costs – sparing no lives, placing them through a grueling and deadly set of simulations. Jeanine is in possession of a box containing secrets which Tris‘ Parents lost their lives in the name of protecting. Tris finds herself having to face Jeanine, risking her life for the protection of her People once she is captured. What is the secret which Jeanine is so set on keeping it hidden from Tris and the Population? And how will Tris survive Jeanine‘s fatal Regime?
At the heart of The Divergent Series are some strong Female Characters. Legions of young Women look-up to Tris and we ask Phifer who plays Dauntless Leader Max, about his own Female Role Models. “My Mom first of all”, he says without hesitation, “She was a single Parent who raised me in Harlem. She was a School Teacher who loved the Community – a Choreographer and Dancer. My Mom was definitely an inspiration.”.
Courtney, who just turned 29 this week, thinks likewise, crediting “My mother of course, I think.”. He adds, “My Sister too. There a lot of strong Women in my life, including some friends of mine.”.
Phifer recounts his transition from a young impoverished Actor, overcoming the odds to make it in Hollywood with a Career spanning 20 years. We ask what’s changed from then till now for him. He says, “I’m 40-years-old, a Dad of two and married. I mean, it’s inevitable.”. “That’s the beauty of acting – there’s no age limit. As long as you can remember lines and read, that’s all you need.”.
Our Justin Waldman asks Courtney about his physically-intensive role as Dauntless Leader Eric, who like Phifer‘s Max, reports to Winslet‘s Jeanine. His Character is menacing, in hot pursuit of Tris and Four, playing a Key Role in her eventual surrender to Jeanine. “I was working on Terminator Genisys at the same time as Insurgent”, he reveals. “It was a lot of Cardio and Circuit Work – boring stuff. It’s what I have to do to prepare for work. It’s like reading or researching for a role, but you have to become a bit of an Athlete.”. “It gets old.”.
And for those curious, Courtney remains tight-lipped about his return soon to the City for the star-studded Suicide Squad with the likes of Will Smith, Jared Leto, Margot Robbie, Cara Delevingne and Joel Kinnaman. “What am I gonna tell you? We haven’t started yet, but we’re getting ready”, he says before hinting “I’m gonna get to use my Australian accent. I can tell you that much.”.
Watch our Video Chats with Phifer and Courtney:
eOne Films release THE DIVERGENT SERIES: INSURGENT on Friday, March 20, 2015.
(Photo/video credit: Mr. Will Wong)
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