Unbelievable! Expectations were high for AMERICAN SNIPER, but who would’ve known that it would pull-in $88 million in its debut from 3,555 theatres for Warner Bros. this weekend? The Clint Eastwood Drama starring Bradley Cooper opened – pardon the pun – with a bang, with $30.5 million debut Friday, setting an all-time record for a January release. This also has the distinction of being Eastwood‘s highest-grossing opening for a Film also. Critics were fairly impressed with a 72% on the Tomatometer, while Audiences gave it a superb A+ CinemaScore. Undoubtedly its Best Picture nod earlier this week helped solidify the buzz for Moviegoers.
THE WEDDING RINGER starring a Duo of Funnymen in Kevin Hart and Chris Rock debuts in second with a solid $20.6 million for Sony Pictures from 3,003 theatres. Critics weren’t impressed with a 33% on the Tomatometer, but Audiences loved it with an A-CinemaScore, which should bode well for spreading word of mouth in coming weeks.
PADDINGTON opens in third this weekend for eOne Films/The Weinstein Co. with a good $19.3 million from 3,303 theatres. Get this, Critics gave it a brilliant 98% on the Tomatometer, and an on-par A CinemaScore was received from Audiences for this Adaptation of the internationally-adored Children’s Franchise. Ben Whishaw and Nicole Kidman star in the Film.
TAKEN 3 after opening on-top last weekend, slips to fourth spot with $15.3 million for 20th Century Fox. In two weeks it has pulled-in a spiffy $66 million domestically.
SELMA might not have received a lot of Oscar love, but Audiences certainly are perceptive to all the buzz surrounding the Best Picture Nominee, placing fifth with $10.3 million for Paramount Pictures in its fourth week out, expanding to 2,235 theatres this weekend.
THE IMITATION GAME crosses the $50 million-mark domestically in its eighth week out, also expanding to 1,611 theatres for The Weinstein Co./Elevation Pictures. The Best Picture Nominee places seventh this weekend with $7.3 million.
NIGHT AT THE MUSEUM: SECRET OF THE TOMB rounds-out the Top Ten with $3.9 million in its fourth week out. It now has made $106.5 million domestically for 20th Century Fox.
Ignore those nasty Reviews, Audiences still v. much are in-love with TAKEN. In an opening as explosive as the Action the Franchise is known for, the Trilogy Finale starring once again Liam Neeson, takes-in $40.4 million for 20th Century Fox from 3.594 theatres. In comparison to its Predecessors, this latest Installment doesn’t quite eclipse the opening weekend success of 2012’s TAKEN 2, which brought-in $49 million in its debut. It does however surpass 2009’s first Installment, which opened with $24 million. Critics were unanimous in their snubbing with an 11% on the Tomatometer, but Audiences gave it a solid B+ CinemaScore. Made for $48 million, it looks well on its way to turning a profit.
Paramount Pictures‘ big Oscar Vehicle SELMA opens with $11 million from 2,179 theatres, Both Audiences and Critics alike agree that the Ava DuVernay Film is phenomenal, with an A+ CinemaScore and a matching 98% CinemaScore.
UNBROKEN continues to show amazing consistency, landing in third in its third week out with $8.2 million for Universal Pictures, just surpassing the $100 million-mark domestically.
Disney‘s INTO THE WOODS places fifth this weekend with $8.68 million, also surpassing the $100 million-mark in three weeks. The Film is up for Best Comedy/Musical at the Golden Globe Awards, although it is seen widely as an Outsider in the Oscar race.
THE HOBBIT: THE BATTLE OF THE FIVE ARMIES finds itself in fifth spot in its fourth week out with $8.61 million for Warner Bros. It thus far has made $235 million in its North American run.
In sixth with $7 million is The Weinstein Co./Elevation Pictures’ THE IMITATION GAME which continues its Oscar Trail with a major piece of the puzzle in its fate being unveiled at Sunday night’s Golden Globe Awards.
THE HUNGER GAMES: MOCKINGJAY, PART 1 rounds-out the Top Ten with $3.6 million for eOne Films/Lionsgate Films, now in its eighth week out and a dazzling $329 million grossed domestically to-date.
For a third straight week, THE HOBBIT: THE BATTLE OF THE FIVE ARMIES continues its Box Office dominance in North America with $22.1 million grossed this weekend for Warner Bros. from 3,875 theatres. The Studio just announced its record 2014 numbers internationally earning $3.17 billion. To date, the Finale in its Trilogy has earned $221 million.
UNBROKEN for a second consecutive week places second, earning $21 million for Universal Pictures from 3,190 theatres. The Angelina Jolie-directed War Drama is on its way to the $100-million mark.
INTO THE WOODS finds itself in third place again this weekend with $18.6 million for Disney, edging closer also to that $100 million mark domestically.
THE WOMAN IN BLACK 2: ANGEL OF DEATH earns $15 million for Relativity Media/eOne Films in its debut from 2,602 theatres, placing fourth. Its 2012 Predecessor starring Daniel Radcliffe bests this Sequel slightly with its $20 million opening, placing second. Audiences gave the Film a C CinemaScore, while Critics gave it a 24% on the Tomatometer.
Meanwhile, Oscar Contender THE IMITATION GAME continues to perform strongly in limited release with $8.3 million earned this weekend from 754 theatres, good enough for eighth spot.
THE GAMBLER in its second week earns $6.8 million, putting it in ninth spot, a two-week tally of $28.1 million for Paramount Pictures.
BIG HERO 6 rounds-out the Top Ten with $5.3 million for Disney in its ninth week out. The Blockbuster in its run has earned $211 million domestically.
For the second week in-a-row, THE HOBBIT: THE BATTLE OF THE FIVE ARMIES reigns supreme at the Box Office, prevailing even over an onslaught of strong Christmas releases with $40 million from 3,875 theatres for Warner Bros. In two weeks the Finale to The Hobbit Trilogy, has grossed $167.5 million.
Despite a strong opening, topping Christmas Day ticket sales at the Box Office, Angelina Jolie‘s UNBROKEN alas places second this weekend with $33.3 million from 3,131 theatres for Universal Pictures. Audiences were wowed with an A- CinemaScore, although Critics were left with mixed feelings for the once-Oscar Contender, tallying-in with a 51% score on the Tomatometer.
INTO THE WOODS debuts a strong third with $32.6 million from 2,440 theatres for Disney, which is all the more impressive considering it is playing in 800 less theatres than the top two finishers this weekend. Audiences gave it a B CinemaScore, although Critics gave the star-studded affair a better 71% on the Tomatometer.
NIGHT AT THE MUSUEM: SECRET OF THE TOMB actually betters its first week performance this weekend with $21.6 million grossed from 3,914 theatres for 20th Century Fox. In two weeks it has made $56.3 million.
ANNIE meanwhile isn’t disgraced with $17.3 million in its second week out for Sony Pictures, edging closer to that $50 million-mark domestically.
THE GAMBLER debuts in seventh with $8.3 million for Paramount Pictures from 2,478 theatres across North America. Critics and Audiences alike agreed the Remake was less than stellar with a C+ CinemaScore and a 47% on the Tomatometer.
Oscar Contender THE IMITATION GAME expands to 747 theatres for Elevation Pictures/The Weinstein Co., earning a healthy $7.9 million in its fifth week out.
WILD also continues to perform well in just 1,285 theatres with $5.1 million for Fox Searclight, rounding-out the Top Ten.
Early Awards Season buzz surrounding Angelina Jolie‘s UNBROKEN is almost deafening. Universal Pictures Canada and Mr. Will want to take Readers across Canada to see it first! Screenings take place Wednesday, December 17, 2014 in Toronto, Ottawa, Montreal, Calgary, Edmonton, Vancouver and Winnipeg.
Official Synopsis:
Academy Award® winner Angelina Jolie directs and produces Unbroken, an epic drama that follows the incredible life of Olympian and war hero Louis “Louie” Zamperini (Jack O’Connell) who, along with two other crewmen, survived in a raft for 47 days after a near-fatal plane crash in WWII—only to be caught by the Japanese Navy and sent to a prisoner-of-war camp.
Adapted from Laura Hillenbrand’s (“Seabiscuit: An American Legend”) enormously popular book, Unbroken brings to the big screen Zamperini‘s unbelievable and inspiring true story about the resilient power of the human spirit.
Starring alongside O’Connell are Domhnall Gleeson and Finn Wittrock as Phil and Mac—the airmen with whom Zamperini endured perilous weeks adrift in the open Pacific—Garrett Hedlund and John Magaro as fellow POWs who find an unexpected camaraderie during their internment, Alex Russell as Zamperini‘s brother, Pete, and in his English-language feature debut, Japanese actor Miyavi as the brutal camp guard known only to the men as “The Bird.”
Watch the phenomenal Trailer:
To enter to win, simply click “like” on this Post at Mr. Will on Facebook. Tell me which City you’re from and name for me someone who inspires you with their great strength. You also may share this Post on Facebook or Re-Tweet the below for an extra chance!
http://www.mrwillwong.com/unbroken @MRWILLW wants us to #win Passes to see #IAMUNBROKEN by #AngelinaJolie. In theatres Christmas Day.
If you have a moment, please also check-out the #IAMUNBROKEN Project where you are encouraged to share your own stories of overcoming adversity just like Louis Zamperini himself:
Official Artwork:
Universal Pictures Canada release UNBROKEN on Christmas Day.
(Photo/video credit: Universal Pictures Canada)
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