Entertainment – International

GoT finale draws staggering 19.3 million viewers

LOS ANGELES, United States (AFP) — The finale of “Game of Thrones” drew a staggering 19.3 million viewers in the US Sunday evening, cementing the fantasy epic’s status as the most watched television series in HBO history. The streaming service said the record number of viewers was across all platforms — HBO, HBO Go, and HBO NOW — and exceeded the previous series high of 18.4 million viewers set last week. “Season 8 of Game […]

‘John Wick’ opens strongly as ‘Avengers’ nears historic mark

LOS ANGELES, United States (AFP) — “Avengers: Endgame” finally yielded the top spot at the North American box office this weekend to the latest “John Wick” action film, but the Marvel Studios/Disney blockbuster edged closer to historic status as the all-time No. 1 grossing film. “Avengers” took in a domestic total of $30 million in its fourth weekend out, industry watcher Exhibitor Relations said Monday, bringing its worldwide total to $2.62 billion, just shy of […]

Keanu Reeves sinks hands, feet at Hollywood’s Chinese Theatre

LOS ANGELES, United States (AFP) — Actor Keanu Reeves signed his name and sunk his hands and feet in fresh cement Tuesday in front of the TCL Chinese Theatre in Hollywood. More than 30 years have passed since the star of “The Matrix,” “Speed” and “Point Break” tried his luck by taking his car from Toronto to Hollywood to become an actor. “It is a great honor to be here and to be invited to […]

Avengers’ still tops in N.America but ‘Pikachu’ shows spark

LOS ANGELES, United States (AFP) — “Avengers: Endgame” led the North American box office for a third week running, but the cuddly creatures of a new “Pokemon” movie gave the superheroes a run for its money, final figures showed Monday. The mega-blockbuster from Marvel Studios, a Disney subsidiary, took in $63.3 million for the three-day weekend, industry tracker Exhibitor Relations reported. That brought its domestic total to a whopping $723.7 million. With a global tally […]

Hollywood icon Doris Day dead at 97, her foundation announces: US media

LOS ANGELES, United States (AFP) –Doris Day, the US screen icon famed for her wholesome, girl-next-door appeal in a string of box office hits, died Monday at age 97, her foundation said in a statement to US media. The Doris Day Animal Foundation said the actress and animal rights activist, who had suffered a bout of pneumonia, died at her Carmel Valley, California home, surrounded by friends and family, multiple news outlets reported. During much […]

Anne Hathaway gets Hollywood Walk of Fame star

LOS ANGELES, United States (AFP) — Actress Anne Hathaway was honored Thursday with a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame, while promoting her new movie “The Hustle.” “I’m really very moved by every aspect of this,” said Hathaway, 36, who thanked “the fans who showed up and gave me their time, and people who’ve been in my life for decades.” Hathaway’s star faces the entrance of the TCL Chinese Theatre, an iconic Hollywood tourist […]

Prince Harry and Meghan name ‘dream’ son Archie

by Mathilde BELLENGER LONDON, United Kingdom (AFP) — Britain’s Prince Harry and wife Meghan on Wednesday announced their new “dream” son’s name is Archie, hours after showing him off to the world for the first time. “The Duke and Duchess of Sussex are pleased to announce they have named their first born child: Archie Harrison Mountbatten-Windsor,” the couple announced on their Instagram account, ending months of speculation. The informal choice defied the bookmakers’ predictions and […]

‘Avengers’ blast past ‘Titanic’ to all-time No. 2

LOS ANGELES, United States (AFP) — Disney and Marvel’s “Avengers: Endgame” has stormed into historic territory, earning $2.19 billion worldwide in less than two weeks to become the No. 2 film of all time, industry watcher Exhibitor Relations reported Sunday. That exalted number, which includes the film’s estimated take of $145.8 million this three-day weekend in North America, pushes the superhero blockbuster past “Star Wars: The Force Awakens,” which netted $2.07 billion, and even “Titanic” […]

Actor Peter Mayhew, who portrayed Chewbacca in ‘Star Wars’ dies

by Jocelyne ZABLIT LOS ANGELES, United States (AFP) –Actor Peter Mayhew, who won over fans worldwide as the Wookiee warrior Chewbacca in the blockbuster “Star Wars” movies, has died at the age of 74, his family announced on Thursday. Mayhew died on Tuesday at his home in Texas, surrounded by loved ones, the family said in a statement released on the actor’s Twitter account. “He put his heart and soul into the role of Chewbacca […]

Avengers’ finale shatters records with $1.2 billion debut

  by Laurent BANGUET Agence France Presse LOS ANGELES, United States (AFP) — “Avengers: Endgame,” the hugely-anticipated superhero series-ender from Marvel, set a new standard for Hollywood blockbusters this weekend with stunning hauls of $357 million in North America and $1.2 billion worldwide, industry data showed Monday. The fourth and final chapter in the adventures of Iron Man, Hulk, Thor and company managed 43 times the domestic take of the No. 2 film, Marvel’s “Captain […]

‘Avengers’ finale shatters records with $1.2 billion debut

by Laurent BANGUET LOS ANGELES, United States (AFP) — “Avengers: Endgame,” the hugely-anticipated superhero series-ender from Marvel, set a new standard for Hollywood blockbusters this weekend with stunning hauls of $357 million in North America and $1.2 billion worldwide, industry data showed Monday. The fourth and final chapter in the adventures of Iron Man, Hulk, Thor and company managed 43 times the domestic take of the No. 2 film, Marvel’s “Captain Marvel,” which made $8.3 […]

Daniel Craig makes his final outing as James Bond

by Alice RITCHIE Daniel Craig, whose final outing as 007 was unveiled on Thursday, is the longest-serving James Bond — but perhaps not always the most enthusiastic. The 51-year-old’s fifth movie as the British super spy is due for release early next year, 14 years after 2006’s “Casino Royale”. There were initially doubts about the casting of the British actor — not least the fact he was blond. But he brought both a new ruthlessness […]