Movies are back in a big way! The Pandemic could not stop Moviegoers form flocking to theatres this weekend to see Marvel’s SHANG-CHI AND THE LEGEND OF THE TEN RINGS. The latest in the Marvel Cinematic Universe starring Toronto’s Simu Liu, debuts atop the Box Office with $67.8 million (potentially $85 million by end of day Monday) from 4,300 theatres across North America, a record for biggest three-day Labour Day weekend opening. Add to this, this is the first ever Asian-led Film to reach this success! Critics agree the Film is a blast with a 92% on the Tomatometer.
In second is last week’s #1 film, CANDYMAN, taking $10.4 million for an anticipated total domestic run of $41.7 million by the end of Labour Day weekend for Universal Pictures.
FREE GUY lands in third with $8.9 million from 3,885 theatres for 20th Century Studios, a cumulative $94.5 million over four weeks. Not bad at all!
Fourth spot goes to PAW PATROL: THE MOVIE with $4.1 million from 3,004 theatres, a three week run of $31.7 million.
Disney’s JUNGLE CRUISE, which just has been announced to have a Sequel rounds-out the Top Five with $3.7 million, a total $106.7 million over six weeks.
CANDYMAN proves to sweet to resist to Moviegoers, taking top spot at the Box Office this weekend. The Sequel to the 1992 Horror brought-in a healthy $22.3 million for Universal Pictures, from 3,569 theatres. The second Feature by Nia DaCosta gets 85% on the Tomatometer.
In second spot is FREE GUY with $13.5 million from 3,940 theatres for 20th Century Studios. Over three weeks, the Action-Fantasy-Comedy starring Ryan Reynolds has brought in $79.3 million domestically in North America.
Landing in third is PAW PATROL: THE MOVIE with $6.6 million in its second week out for Paramount/Elevation Pictures. Thus far it has grossed $24 million.
Disney’s JUNGLE CRUISE is in fourth with $5 million in its fifth week out, just crossing $100 million.
DON’T BREATHE 2 rounds-out to the Top Five with $2.8 million for Sony Pictures, a total $24.6 million in three weeks.
The best things in life are free! At the Box Office too! FREE GUY takes the top spot in its opening at the Box Office this weekend with a $26 million opening from 4,164 theatres for 20th Century Studios. The Fantasy-Action-Comedy starring Ryan Reynolds, gets a solid 82% on the Tomatometer.
In second spot is DON’T BREATHE 2 with $10.1 million for Sony Pictures. The Horror follows on the success of its Predecessor which in August 2016 opened at top spot. This Sequel gets 52% on the Tomatometer.
RESPECT debuts in third with $9 million from 3,207 theatres for Universal Pictures/MGM. The Aretha Franklin Biopic starring Jennifer Hudson gets 63% on the Tomatometer.
Disney’s JUNGLE CRUISE lands in fourth this weekend with $8.9 million from 3,900 theatres, a three week total of $88.1 million domestically.
THE SUICIDE SQUAD rounds-out the Top Five with $8.1 million from 4,019 theatres for Warner Bros., a two week run of $43.2 million.
THE SUICIDE SQUAD continues its franchise’s legacy of winning, taking the top spot at the Box Office in its debut this weekend with $27 million from 4,002 theatres. While times are a bit different from its Predecessor’s 2016 debut where it took-in $133 million, The title is available on HBO Max in the U.S. and it remains to see how it did as an at-home rental, but nonetheless reviews have been fantastic for this installment helmed by James Gunn, getting 92% on the Tomatometer.
Disney’s JUNGLE CRUISE takes second spot in its second week out with $14.8 million from 4,310 theatres. It has grossed $64.4 million already in North America, plus its Disney+ Premier Access downloads.
OLD comes in third with $3.8 million for Universal Pictures, a total $38.2 million grossed over three weeks.
BLACK WIDOW finds itself in fourth with $3.5 million for Disney, a total $173.9 million over in five weeks.
STILLWATER rounds-out the Top Five with $2.4 million from 2,611 theatres for Focus Features/Universal Pictures. In two weeks it has earned $9.5 million domestically.
We welcome a return to big Blockbusters this Summer as our theatres re-open once again. Disney’s JUNGLE CRUISE is a must-watch for many. Our patience finally has paid off as it arrives later this week in theatres and at home!
The nostalgic Action-Fantasy-Romance directed by Jaume Collet-Serra (Orphan, The Shallows), is inspired by the iconic Disneyland ride, taking us on an expedition through the Amazon jungle with Lily (Emily Blunt), who is an adventurous explorer on a mission to find the Tear of the Moon, which is said to have great healing powers, and Frank (Dwayne Johnson), a charming riverboat captain. Despite their differences, these two find themselves forming an unlikely bond as they fight to escape some deadly obstacles.
We had the joy of partaking in the global Press Conference for Disney’s JUNGLE CRUISE and joining us were stars:
Emily Blunt – Lily
Dwayne Johnson – Frank
Édgar Ramirez – Aguirre
Jack Whitehall – MacGregor
One of the most remarkable things about the Film is the warm chemistry shared by its leads Dwayne Johnson and Emily Blunt.
Blunt: I knew when we met we had this immediate rapport when we went back and forth so quickly and I knew we’d have a good time.
Johnson: It’s true and then you hope to get lucky and you like your Cast and you hope to have some chemistry. Emily and I have been talking a lot about chemistry these past couple weeks doing Press. And a lot of times you fake it because you’re acting.
Blunt: He’s been faking it for years!
Johnson: And I continue to fake it too, especially with us! (laughs)
Johnson said ‘yes’ immediately to the project, whereas Blunt notoriously ‘ghosted’ him after approaching her with a video proposal, really needing time to evaluate the Script before signing aboard. She chalks her approach to British manners. Johnson tells us what drew him most to the project, on which he served also as an Executive Producer.
Johnson: Well, the Script was in a really good place and I immediately saw the potential of the opportunity and that opportunity was to take an iconic and beloved Disney ride since 1955 when the theme park opened, this was Walt Disney‘s baby. And there were a lot of elements I felt comfortable saying ‘Yes, I will come onboard and I will partner with you and develop this thing’, and our next job was finding our Director and finding my Co-Star – the female Indiana Jones over here, which she hates because it’s setting her up and too much pressure!
Édgar Ramirez stars as misunderstood villain Aguirre in this his first Disney movie. Without spoilers, he dons an iconic look.
Ramirez: I was just happy those snakes weren’t near me anywhere in the shoot because I’m afraid of snakes. We shot in real locations and dressed them to look like the Amazon. I come from an Amazonian country and saw the Movie for the first time two days ago at the Premiere and guys, I’m so happy! You guys were incredible!
Blunt: You were this operatic bad guy, I loved it! And when we were shooting, you were like, ‘My mother’s gonna be so upset!’.
Ramirez: And she was! She’s super-afraid of snakes. She said, ‘Why didn’t you tell me? Like I missed half of your performance because I couldn’t look at you because of the snakes!’. But I’m happy my mother was super-scared!
To be in a movie that is based on the most iconic attraction for the most iconic entertainment universe in history such as Disney is so special. And to be with these amazing people, it’s so incredible.
That tone to be witty, romantic, funny and snide but cute at the same time, that is very difficult. We as Actors know that tone is very difficult to achieve and you guys killed it!
The Cast are asked about their most challenging stunts in the Film which has more than a few hold-your-breath moments.
Blunt: The rope-vine swing. For me it was most challenging because he would not let me get one straight take in. He pushed it so far every time to make me laugh on that vine-swing so we shot that all day. We didn’t get one straight take.
Johnson: It was that heroic vine-swing that you think the hero grabs the lady and takes off and goes to save the day. And of course it goes to hell because I don’t save the day!
Blunt: Every time I was just, ‘Tell me what you’re going to say this time just so I can be prepared’ and every time he’d throw in some awful improv that would make me laugh. I don’t know how many times we must have shot that!
Johnson: For me personally, a lot of the action with the Conquistadors, Edgar and his partners that was pretty challenging. Because these guys were dressed how they were dressed in their costumes and also fighting men who can’t die. Oh! I just ruined the Movie for you! (laughs) So they fight in a different way, with a confidence.
Jack Whitehall is full of witty one-liners in Disney’s Jungle Cruise, as Lily‘s brother MacGregor. Would you believe he had one line in Frozen, which got cut entirely?
Whitehall: Post the Frozen experience, I felt this was just a case of throwing enough stuff at the wall and something sticking because I was just desperate not to be cut from a movie. (laughs) The fact that there’s a single line in there is an improvement on the Frozen debacle and I’m so excited to actually have a speaking part in a Disney movie.
The Script was amazing, but we were given the space to improvise and add stuff to it. And these two created this environment where we were able to do that. It felt like such a safe space. There are probably a few jokes that ended-up on the cutting room floor for the right reasons. Some of the great moments that you see are genuine moments that we came up with in the Movie. And Jaume was so good at encouraging that as well.
Blunt is asked if she is closer in real life to another iconic Disney character she’s played, Mary Poppins or Lily?
Blunt: I’m probably a little closer to Lily. I feel like Lily’s sorta more of a mess. Poppins is so pulled-together and perfected and I don’t feel I walk through life that way, so I’d say Lily.
I’m organized but I feel like it’s a juggle. I feel I’m really organized with time and planning but I feel like plans always go slightly… yes, it is a juggle and a balance.
The Cast are asked what it is like to revitalize something so iconic for a new generation.
Blunt: It has been immensely rewarding. To what Edgar was talking about, we really needed tonally to strike a chord that was really well-crafted, and that we curated with so much love and that it was made in the spirit of the films we all grew-up watching. I mainlined those movies into my veins, I just loved Indiana Jones, Romancing the Stone and African Queen. They are just joy-bombs and nostalgic. I think we just needed to pierce people’s hearts directly with the spirit of those films we all loved as children and it just took a lot of tempering and beautiful conducing from Jaume who was just extraordinarily free-spirited with us in this massive spectacle of a movie. He’s such a world builder.
When we both met Jaume, we both asked him the same question, ‘So what do you feel this movie is about?’ and I always ask that when I sign-on because I want to know what the movie’s about. And he goes, “You know, it’s about love”. And it was so perfect because you could’ve talked about all the action and the spectacle, the legends and all that, but that’s when I knew in Jaume that we had an innate romantic and a world-builder. And that’s what you need for this type of movie.
Walt Disney Studios Canada release JUNGLE CRUISE Friday, July 30, 2021 in theatres and on Disney+ with Premier Access.
(Photo/video credit: Disney)
Walt Disney Studios Canada and Mr. Will want to give Readers a chance to win Advance Screening Passes to see Disney‘s JUNGLE CRUISE! We will have tickets available in Toronto, Vancouver, Calgary and Edmonton for the screening on July 28, 2021.
Synopsis:
Join fan favourites Dwayne Johnson and Emily Blunt for the adventure of a lifetime on Disney’s “Jungle Cruise,” a rollicking thrill-ride down the Amazon with wisecracking skipper Frank Wolff and intrepid researcher Dr. Lily Houghton. Lily travels from London, England to the Amazon jungle and enlists Frank’s questionable services to guide her downriver on La Quila—his ramshackle-but-charming boat. Lily is determined to uncover an ancient tree with unparalleled healing abilities—possessing the power to change the future of medicine. Thrust on this epic quest together, the unlikely duo encounters innumerable dangers and supernatural forces, all lurking in the deceptive beauty of the lush rainforest. But as the secrets of the lost tree unfold, the stakes reach even higher for Lily and Frank and their fate—and mankind’s—hangs in the balance.
To enter for a chance to win, click “like” on this Post at MR. WILL ON FACEBOOK. Re-Tweet this Contest Tweet below for an extra chance!
Enter for a chance to #win Advance Screening Passes to see Disney’s #JungleCruise in Toronto, Vancouver, Calgary and Edmonton!
— MR. WILL WONG 📸 (@mrwillw) July 15, 2021
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Rules and regulations here.
*Please ensure you exercise caution in observing COVID-19 protocols if seeing this in-theatre.*
Disney’s “Jungle Cruise” releases in theatres and on Disney+ with Premier Access on July 30, 2021.
(Photo/video credit: Disney)
DISNEY’S JUNGLE CRUISE sets sail atop the Box Office debuting at #1 for Disney with $34.2 million from 4,310 theatres across North America. Starring Emily Blunt and Dwayne Johnson, the Adventure-Fantasy with nods to Indiana Jones and The African Queen, garners a passing 63% on the Tomatometer. It was made for a budget of $200 million, recouping some of its investment lost through a simultaneous debut also on Disney+ as a Premier Access title for those watching at home.
THE GREEN KNIGHT debuts in second spot for A24/Elevation Pictures with $6.8 million from 2,790 theatres. The Medieval Fantasy starring Dev Patel gets 90% on the Tomatometer.
Just getting edged-out for second is last week’s #1 film, OLD, earning $6.7 million for Universal Pictures, a total $30.6 million gross over two weeks.
Marvel’s BLACK WIDOW lands in fourth with $6.4 million for Disney, bringing its run to $167 million domestically.
STILLWATER starring Matt Damon and Abigail Breslin, debuts in fifth for Focus Features/Universal Pictures with $5.1 million from 2,531 theatres. Loosely based on the Amanda Knox story, the Film gets 76% on the Tomatometer after some positive buzz coming out of Cannes.
A new Trailer has surfaced for what surely will be one of this Summer’s bigger hits, JUNGLE CRUISE.
Synopsis:
Inspired by the famous Disneyland theme park ride, Disney’s “Jungle Cruise” is an adventure-filled, rollicking thrill-ride down the Amazon with wisecracking skipper Frank Wolff and intrepid researcher Dr. Lily Houghton. Lily travels from London, England to the Amazon jungle and enlists Frank’s questionable services to guide her downriver on La Quila—his ramshackle-but-charming boat. Lily is determined to uncover an ancient tree with unparalleled healing abilities—possessing the power to change the future of medicine. Thrust on this epic quest together, the unlikely duo encounters innumerable dangers and supernatural forces, all lurking in the deceptive beauty of the lush rainforest. But as the secrets of the lost tree unfold, the stakes reach even higher for Lily and Frank and their fate—and mankind’s—hangs in the balance.
Jaume Collet-Serra directs the film, which stars Dwayne Johnson, Emily Blunt, Edgar Ramírez and Jack Whitehall, with Jesse Plemons, and Paul Giamatti.
See the Trailer:
JUNGLE CRUISE is in theatres and Disney+ with Premier Access Friday, July 30, 2021
(Photo credit: Walt Disney Studios Canada)
Dwayne Johnson and Emily Blunt star in JUNGLE CRUISE. Check-out this brand-new Teaser Trailer!
Synopsis:
Inspired by the famous Disneyland theme park ride, Disney’s JUNGLE CRUISE is an adventure-filled, Amazon-jungle expedition starring Dwayne Johnson as the charismatic riverboat captain and Emily Blunt as a determined explorer on a research mission. Also starring in the film are Edgar Ramirez, Jack Whitehall, with Jesse Plemons, and Paul Giamatti.
See the Trailer:
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