Hello everyone,
- Sequels ruled the top 3 at the box office this past weekend. The new movie “The Nun 2” was the top movie at the box office this past weekend making approx $32 million which is what the predictions said it would make. Other than that movie, no other movie made more than $12 million. Last weeks #1 movie “Equalizer 3” was 2nd with $12 million. Another new movie – “My Big Fat Greek Wedding 3” was #3 with $10 million. The independent “Jawan” made only $6.1 million. Somewhat disappointing for the #4 movie of the weekend to only make that little. However, that movie was only playing in 825 theaters so it’s per screen average of approx. $7425 a screen was #2 for the weekend. The #1 movie made $8745 per screen on approx. 3725 screens (over 4 times as many screens). The #1 movie of the year so far – “Barbie” – went down to #5 this past weekend with only $5.7 million. I think the movie is pretty much done with its theatrical run since it will start playing on pay per view starting this week.
- “The Nun 2” also did well in other countries. It’s worldwide total is $85 million so it made about two thirds of its worldwide box office was from other countries. Meanwhile, “Barbie” passed $1.4 million worldwide but the international total is still $2 million less than “The Super Mario Bros Movie”. “Oppenheimer” is approaching $900 million worldwide. There’s a possibility that it could reach $1 billion for the year but I think it’s doubtful it will make another $100 million (it only made $3 million domestically). However, it did pass all the other movies on the international chart so it’s #3 on the Worldwide and the International charts.
- Another movie has moved away from what is expected to be the blockbuster “Taylor Swift: The Eras Tour” opening in about a month. “Dumb Money” is still scheduled to be released in Los Angeles, and New York City this coming weekend, then it will open limited the following weekend on Sept 22. They moved the wide release date from Oct 6 to one week earlier on Sept 29.
- In WGA/SAG-AFTRA strike news, there were no further conversations between the studios and the writers or the actors last week. Last week, the WGA sent a note to the writers saying that they think the best thing to do right now is for the studios to individually make a deal with the writers, but the studios responded that they still are united when it comes to talking to the writers. Meanwhile, it looks like a lot of the striking writers and actors may get unemployment benefits because a bill is working its way through the California government. It just passed the CA state assembly. Finally, it looks like some of the writers and actors are resorting to dipping into their retirement accounts to keep paying the bills. $44 million has been pulled since the strikes began.
- The strikes are also affecting a lot of the movies premiering at the Toronto International Film Festival these days because the stars are not showing up. Movies like “Dumb Money”, “The Holdovers”, Kate Winslets upcoming movie “Lee” and Anna Kendrick directorial debut “Woman of the Hour” premiered at the festival without any actors. The directors and producers all supported the writers and actors strikes while they spoke about their movies.
- If you know anyone who is a BIG Disney Fan, Walt Disney just announced a GIANT 100 FILM BOX set. The box set contains 100 of Disney animated movies INCLUDING all the Pixar films. The box set will only be available at Walmart Stores starting on 11/14.
- There was an interesting story about the Rotten Tomatoes website last week. The story says that the studios have figured out how to manipulate the website even more than what people previously thought. According to the website, studios and publicity companies do things like invite the reviewers that they know will post positive reviews to the first screenings of the movie so the initial Rotten Tomatoes will be high, they ask reviewers that give negative reviews to post them on an alternate place on their website so that Rotten Tomatoes doesn’t notice the review, and they allegedly even pay some reviewers for positive reviews.
Little bit of humor….
It’s true. I wonder if the success of the movie made up for the failure of the Wonka Bar. Also, years later a company – maybe the same company – tried to release new Wonka Bars, but they still weren’t that successful.
LOS ANGELES FILM REVIEW 