Hello everyone,
BOX OFFICE: The new movie “Challengers” met predictions and opened at #1 with $15 million. However, it’s the lowest opening weekend for the #1 movie of 2024 (so far). Even “Madames Web” (considered a flop by many – and was #2 opening weekend) made more than that on opening weekend. “Unsung Heroes” – another new release – came in at #2 with $7.7 million.
Overall, the total domestic weekend box office was down 2% from the previous weekend. That would make it the 5th lowest domestic box office total of 2024 (so far). However, it looks like May will be a lot better for the box office with movies like “Fall Guy”, “Kingdom of the Planet of the Apes”, “If”, and “Furiosa” kicking off the summer box office season in May.
WORLDWIDE BOX OFFICE: A lot of good news about other movies in foreign countries this past weekend. “Kung Fu Panda 4” and “Godzilla Vs Kong The New Empire” each passed a worldwide total of $500 million, “The Fall Guy”, which opens domestically this coming weekend, opened in a few foreign countries and made an OK $8.7 million. “Dune Part 2” passed a worldwide total of $700 million. Legendary Pictures is now enjoying a worldwide total of over $1.25 BILLION since it produced both “Dune Part 2” and “Godzilla Vs Kong The New Empire”. “Challengers”, the #1 domestic movie, made $10 million in foreign countries for a worldwide total of $25 million.
UNION NEWS: ALL the local unions have now made agreements with IATSE for their union specific issues. Now comes the important part. Today, the ENTIRE union starts to negotiate for the needs of the entire union including wage increases, and rules about AI technology.
OTHER NEWS: Today, as expected, Paramount released Bob Bakish, the CEO of Paramount International. He will be replaced – at least temporarily – by Brian Robbins (current president and CEO of Paramount Pictures and Nickelodeon), George Cheeks (current president and CEO of CBS), and Chris McCarthy (current president and CEO of Showtime). While this is happening, the negotiations to sell the company to Skydance Media – who presented a revised proposal recently – are continuing. If that doesn’t happen, Sony Pictures is also interested. If and when the purchase or merger happens, there will probably be more executive changes.
Studios are trying some interesting ways to promote their upcoming movies recently. “The Fall Guy” star Ryan Gosling made a surprise appearance at the Universal Studios Hollywood Stunt Show over the weekend. Meanwhile, across town there were some apes (actually people dressed up and made up to look like Apes) riding horses at Venice Beach, Ca to promote the upcoming “Kingdom of the Planet of the Apes”
LITTLE BIT OF HUMOR:
Despite the extended theatrical window and the $970 million worldwide box office, this is how A LOT of people will be watching “Oppenheimer”. Either DVD or streaming.
LOS ANGELES FILM REVIEW 