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.
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.
It was a monstrous weekend at the Box Office with spectacular numbers from the Top Three-finishing Films. Alas it was Families who ruled Ticket Sales with Monsters Inc. Prequel, Monsters University, opening on-top with a stellar $82 million from 4,004 theatres across North America for Disney. With John Goodman and Billy Crystal reprising their roles as Mike Wazowski and Sulley, Audiences could not resist getting another chance to see the animated Duo on-screen, giving the Film an A CinemaScore, while Critics agreed it was a solid effort with a decent 77% on the Tomatometer at Rotten Tomatoes. By comparison, its Predecessor in 2001 opened with $62 million domestically.
Not to be outdone, Paramount Pictures’ World War Z opened in second with $66 million. Starring Brad Pitt, this continent-hopping Action/Horror/Adventure thrilled Audiences who gave it a B+ CinemaScore, and Critics were on-par with 67% rating on the Tomatometer. Moviegoers cannot get enough of Zombies, this becoming the highest opening ever for a Zombie Flick, surpassing last year’s Hotel Transylvania which debuted with $42 million.
Man of Steel had a superb opening last week and doesn’t disappoint despite its slip to third spot for Warner Bros. The latest in the Superman Franchise earns $41.2 million domestically this weekend. Internationally it already has surpassed the $350-million mark.
Sony Pictures Comedy This is the End amidst all the Blockbusters, certainly holds its own in fourth spot with $12.6 million in its second week of release, just ahead of the resilient Now You See Me in fifth with $7/8 million in its third week out for Summit Entertainment/Lionsgate Films/eOne Films. Meanwhile, former Champion The Purge slips to sixth for Universal Pictures with $3.3 million.
Rounding it out is Veteran Iron Man 3 which in its eighth week earns $8.1 million placing Disney at the top and bottom of the Top Ten. In limited release, Sofia Coppola‘s The Bling Ring sits in eleventh with $2 million from only 650 theatres. Overall, Critics gave the Docu-Drama about a group of Teens who robbed the homes of Celebrities, mixed to bordering-positive Reviews with 58% on the Tomatometer.
His Career couldn’t be any hotter right now! Yes, that’s James Badge Dale, known also as Badgett Dale, whom those of us who grew-up in the early ’90s will remember him from Boys-turned-Savages Thriller, Lord of the Flies. After a bit of a hiatus which saw him focus on Hockey, fate could not be avoided as his Star would rise once again with successive Blockbusters lined one right after the other.
Although he’s in town to promote Gore Verbinski‘s The Lone Ranger which has him starring as Ranger Dan Reid alongside Armie Hammer and Johnny Depp, he also has a little Zombie/Apocalypse Movie called World War Z coming out this weekend. That Film is expected to debut huge with Brad Pitt front-and-center, going head-to-head with Disney Heavyweight in Monsters University. And did I mention the record-breaking success of Iron Man 3, in which Dale stars as the villainous Savin?
The Actor arrived at KISS 92.5 Studios super-early this morning, casual in a Button-Down, Jeans and Toque, bringing some of that effortless New York City Style to our City. Although strapped for time, he still made time to stop for a Photo, heading right over after greeting Roz & Mocha Show Producer, Maurie Sherman. Shortly after, he head over to City‘s Breakfast Television to chat with Jennifer Valentyne, singing the praises of Co-Star Johnny Depp stating that The Lone Ranger will be a complete surprise for Moviegoers.
A busy day of Press is scheduled ahead for Dale in advance of the Wednesday, July 5, 2013 release of The Lone Ranger from Walt Disney Studios Motion Pictures.
Dale can next be seen in Parkland, produced by Tom Hanks, about the Events of Parkland Hospital the day John F. Kennedy was assassinated. Colin Hanks who also stars in that Film, also currently is in town filming RomCom, No Stranger Than Love.
See our Snap:
Every Airplane Passenger’s worst nightmare. Check-out this high-octane Trailer for World War Z starring Brad Pitt. I cannot handle the intensity! Based on the Novel of the same name by Max Brooks, the Film centers around Gerry Lane (Pitt), a United Nations Worker circling the globe for clues that could end a Zombie Outbreak that is destroying nations around the World.
A just-in-Toronto-Mireille Enos, Bryan Cranston, David Morse, James Badge Dale and Matthew Fox also star. Marc Forster (Monster’s Ball, Finding Neverland) directs the $200 million Blockbuster.
Watch the brand new Trailer below:
Paramount Pictures releases World War Z on June 21, 2013.
(Photo/video credit: Paramount Pictures)
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