the heat
#BOXOFFICE: “2 GUNS” OPENS WITH A BANG!
2 Guns opens with a bang at the Box Office in North America this weekend, the Action Flick starring Mark Wahlberg and Denzel Washington debuting with $28 million for Universal Pictures/eOne Films. It earned a v. decent B+ CinemaScore from Audiences and less receptive 58% from Critics at Rotten Tomatoes. Made for $61 million, it looks well on its way to paying its bill in coming weeks. The Film also stars Paula Patton, whose Husband Robin Thicke also in the Music World is set to dominate the Billboard Hot 200 with his latest CD, Blurred Lines in a few days. Talk about Power Couple!
The Wolverine after landing on-top last week, slips to number two this weekend with $21.7 million for 20th Century Fox. Thus far it has grossed $94 million domestically.
The Smurfs 2 bows with $15 million in third spot, a far cry from the $35 million its Predecessor made in 2011 for Sony Pictures. Audiences however, loved it giving it an A- CinemaScore, while Critics gave it a less than stellar 12% on the Tomatometer.
The Conjuring continues to scare Moviegoers in fourth spot in this its third week of release, with $13.6 million for Warner Bros. To date it has made $108 million, already a huge return from its $20 million budget.
Despicable Me 2 in its fifth week of release still is game in fifth with $10 million, a cumulative total of $326 million it its massive North America run so far for Universal Pictures.
The Heat still hangs-on to the Top Ten in its sixth week with $4.4 million for 20th Century Fox, just ahead of Pacific Rim with $4.2 million, grossing $92 million in four weeks in these parts.
#BOXOFFICE: “DESPICABLE ME 2” AT #1 A SECOND WEEK
For the second week in-a-row, Universal Pictures’ Despicable Me 2 lands on-top of the Box Office after opening on-top in its debut. It earns $44.7 million this weekend, for a two-week total of $225 million for Universal Pictures domestically from 4,003 theatres.
Sometimes it’s just not about Special F/X or the best Reviews for that matter when it comes to winning Moviegoers’ hearts. Case in point, Audiences opted for Comedy and familiar faces, making Grown Ups 2 number two for Sony Pictures, earning a strong $42.5 million in its debut. The follow-up to the 2010 Comedy reunites Chris Rock, Kevin James, David Spade and Adam Sandler once again, earning a lackluster 7% on the Tomatometer. Audiences gave it a B CinemaScore, however which won’t hurt its word-of-mouth buzz. Made for $80 million, it should have no problems paying its own bill. By comparison, its Predecessor debuted with $40 million, this latest Installment besting it slightly.
Pacific Rim debuts at third with solid reviews for Warner Bros., earning $38.3 million domestically. The Film, made in Toronto for a budget of $185 million is still expanding overseas, where it is expected to perform strongly, opening in the Top Two in the UK, Russia, Korea and Mexico, among others. Audiences gave it an A CinemaScore, while Critics gave the Guillermo del Toro Monsters vs. Robots Flick 72% on the Tomatometer.
20th Century Fox’s The Heat slips to fourth this weekend in its third week of release, with $14 million, now earning over $111 million domestically, just ahead of The Lone Ranger with $11.1 million in fifth for Disney. World War Z slips to seventh with $9.4 million for Paramount Pictures, while Man of Steel rounds-out the Top Ten with $4.8 million for Warner Bros. in its fifth week.
Although it still has yet to open in Canada, Sundance Favourite, Fruitvale Station, gets a timely limited release in the U.S. with the Trayvon Martin Trial verdict having been decided, earning $377k from just seven theatres. The Oscar Hopeful opens in Toronto on July 26, 2013.
#BOXOFFICE: “DESPICABLE ME 2” TOPS RECORD-BREAKING FOURTH OF JULY WEEKEND
Nothing despicable at all here! Despicable Me 2 is far and clear the Winner at the Box Office this weekend with a massive $81 million debut for Universal Pictures from 3,957 theatres. The Sequel to the Hit Animated Feature starring Steve Carell, Kristen Wiig, Ken Jeong and Russell Brand, far out-performs its Predecessor which opened in $56 million in 2010. Celebrating a July 4th weekend in the U.S., a Box Office Record also was set for the Holiday with over $220 million made in ticket sales. Audiences and Critics responded well, the former giving it an A CinemaScore and Critics giving it an average of 75% on the Tomatometer.
Debuting below expectations is The Lone Ranger at number two with $28.9 million from 3,904 theatres. The Gore Verbinski Action/Adventure starring Armie Hammer and Johnny Depp was made for an expensive $250 million. The Film has yet to expand fully overseas and hopefully will recoup some of those costs internationally. Audiences responded with a B CinemaScore and Critics weren’t wowed with 25% on the Tomatometer.
The Heat continues to wow with $24.8 million this weekend in its second week of release, at number three. The hilarious Comedy starring Sandra Bullock and Melissa McCarthy already has made over $86 million, stamping the latter as a bona fide force to be reckoned with as a Hollywood Leading Lady – her second Smash this year following the success of Identity Thief.
Disney‘s Monsters University, last week at number one, slips to number four with $19.1 million mostly due to the sharp competition from Despicable Me 2 in the Family demographic, landing ahead of World War Z in fifth with $17.8 million for Paramount Pictures.
Kevin Hart: Let Me Explain opens with a bang in 876 theatres across the U.S., earning $10 million for Lionsgate/Summit Entertainment at number eight. Critics gave it a decent 71% on the Tomatometer. The Film is not yet released north of the Border. The resilient Now You See Me rounds-out the Top Ten with $2.8 million in its sixth week of release.
#BOXOFFICE: “MONSTERS UNIVERSITY” SCHOOLS COMPETITION A SECOND WEEK
For a second week in-a-row, Monsters University schools its competition with $45 million earned from 4,004 theatres! The Animated Feature from Disney will face some stiff competition with the upcoming release of Despicable Me 2, in theatres across North America on Wednesday. In two weeks alone, the reigning Champ has grossed over $172 million domestically.
Opening above expectations in second is The Heat starring the fantastic Duo of Sandra Bullock and Melissa McCarthy, with $40 million. I saw the Film this weekend and absolutely loved it, with few moments to breathe between laughs in this Buddy-Cop Flick from 20th Century Fox. Opening in 3,181 theatres, the fearless Action-Comedy is heavy on the profanity, earning itself an R-Rating, but nonetheless responses were positive from both Critics (65% on the Tomatometer) and Audiences (A- CinemaScore) responded well. The Paul Feig (Bridesmaids) Film was made for $43 million, practically paying its own bill in its debut.
World War Z continues to perform strongly in its second week of release, earning $29.2 million. To date in North America, it has grossed $124 million already, just ahead of White House Down which debuts below expectations for Sony Pictures with $26 million. Although seemingly decent numbers, when its $150 million Production Budget is considered, the disappointment for the Studio becomes all the more clear. Critics also had with lukewarm response for the Action Flick starring Channing Tatum and Jamie Foxx, tallying 49% on the Tomatometer, although Audiences loved it with an A- CinemaScore.
Man of Steel in its third week of release continues to perform well with $20.8 million in fifth for Warner Bros., ahead of Comedy, This is The End, with $8.9 million in sixth, while Now You See Me in seventh spot surpasses the $100-million mark domestically with $5.5 million earned this weekend. Google-inspired Comedy The Internship rounds-out the Top Ten with $1.3 million for 20th Century Fox.
#FIRSTLOOK: “THE HEAT” STARRING SANDRA BULLOCK & MELISSA MCCARTHY
Winner! Nobody plays a stern Enforcer of the Law like Sandra Bullock and when you pair her with the comedic Genius that is Melissa McCarthy, the results are explosive! At least they are at the 1:41 mark of this Trailer for The Heat where it is ever apparent that America’s two Sweethearts had like the best time ever filming this. The Action-Comedy centers around a Special Agent (Bullock) who teams-up with a Cop (McCarthy) to take-down a Drug Lord. Personalities clash, of course.
Bridesmaids Director/Actor/Producer Paul Feig brings-it yet again here and I’ll admit that I couldn’t stop laughing. McCarthy sorta reprises that tough-talking, rough-’em-up sass we saw in the mentioned last Collaboration with Feig and one cannot deny that there are several familiar parallels between this Character and the beloved role she played in Miss Congeniality 1 & 2. Females, feisty and fun – three things we love!
Watch the Trailer in full below:
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