LOS ANGELES, United States (AFP) — Warner Bros.’ “Joker” survived the intense controversy over its violent themes to take in $96.2 million in North American theaters at the weekend, setting a record for an October release, industry watcher Exhibitor Relations said Monday. Starring Joaquin Phoenix, “Joker” provides the backstory for the rise of Batman’s maniacal nemesis, painting a dark and disturbing portrayal of a would-be stand-up comedian’s descent into madness. Amid fears that it might […]
Tag: Film
‘Abominable’ rules N.American box office
LOS ANGELES, United States (AFP) — “Abominable” froze out “Downton Abbey” to take the top spot in the North American box office on its first weekend in theaters, industry watcher Exhibitor Relations said Monday. The story of a teenager and her friends working to help a young Yeti — whom they nickname Everest — reunite with his family and avoid the clutches of a wealthy man intent on capturing one of the magical creatures […]
How ‘Heidi’ conquered Japan, sparking an anime revolution
by Nathalie OLOF-ORS ZURICH, Switzerland (AFP) — Heidi and Super Mario may not seem to have much in common but anime and video game aficionados will detect the signature style of Japanese character designer Yoichi Kotabe in both. Far from the Swiss Alps, the cherished 19th-century storybook character Heidi has played an unlikely role in the creation of Japan’s now booming anime industry. The story of the little orphan girl who goes to live with […]
‘IT Chapter Two’ scares up $91 million to top N.America box office
LOS ANGELES, United States (AFP) — Proving again the lure of a good scare, the Stephen King-inspired film “IT Chapter Two” took in $91 million this weekend to top the North American box office, industry watcher Exhibitor Relations reported Sunday. That three-day estimate fell below the original “It,” with its frighteningly impressive $123 million opening in 2017. But the two films now rank as the top two horror openings ever, according to Variety. “IT Chapter […]
‘Angel Has Fallen’ stays aloft to top N.American box office
LOS ANGELES, United States (AFP) — Lionsgate’s political thriller “Angel Has Fallen” didn’t quite soar but managed to stay atop the North American box office over the US holiday weekend, industry watcher Exhibitor Relations reported Tuesday. The action-packed film took in $15.4 million across the four-day Labor Day weekend. That came at the end of a summer that saw movie revenue dip by two percent from last year, the Comscore website said. “Angel,” the […]
Darth Vader helmet among Hollywood treasures in $10 million auction
LOS ANGELES, United States (AFP) — Darth Vader’s helmet from “The Empire Strikes Back” is among a vast collection of coveted Hollywood treasures going under the hammer next month, with experts predicting it could fetch nearly $500,000. The mask and helmet is one of only a handful worn by actor David Prowse, who played Luke Skywalker’s nemesis and — spoiler alert — father on-screen in the 1980 “Star Wars” blockbuster, making them the “holy grail” […]
‘No Time To Die’ revealed as title of latest Bond film
LONDON, United Kingdom (AFP) — The next James Bond film and the last to feature Daniel Craig as 007 will be called “No Time To Die” and released in April, the franchise announced on Tuesday. The 25th installment of the British spy saga will see Bond drawn out of retirement by his friend and CIA agent Felix Leiter to embark on a treacherous mission to rescue a kidnapped scientist, according to the official plot […]
‘Lion King’ fends off Tarantino to top N.America box office
LOS ANGELES, United States (AFP) — “The Lion King” maintained its reign over North American theaters, taking in $76.6 million over the three-day weekend, industry watcher Exhibitor Relations said Monday. The massive haul brings its domestic total to $351.9 million and extends a streak of successes for Disney after its “Avengers: Endgame” was last week named the highest-grossing movie of all time. Directed by Jon Favreau, “The Lion King” is a remake of the 1994 […]
Disney’s ‘Lion King’ roars as Cameron salutes new ‘Avengers’ record
LOS ANGELES, United States (AFP) — “The Lion King” roared to a huge $191.8 million opening weekend in North American theaters, industry watcher Exhibitor Relations reported Monday, consolidating Disney’s record-breaking reign at the box office. It was the eighth-biggest domestic opening of all time, surpassing “Avengers: Age of Ultron,” Disney said. Director Jon Favreau’s update of the classic 1994 animated film employs hyper-realistic computer-generated images and has a voice cast including Donald Glover as Simba […]
‘Avengers’ to break ‘Avatar’ all-time record this weekend: Disney
SAN DIEGO, United States (AFP) — Marvel’s “Avengers: Endgame” will become the highest-grossing film of all time this weekend, parent company Disney said in a statement Saturday. The smash hit was just $500,000 behind the decade-old $2,789.7 million record set by James Cameron’s “Avatar” as of Friday, and “will close this gap by tomorrow,” it said. The announcement was timed to coincide with the appearance of Marvel Studios president Kevin Feige at San Diego Comic-Con, […]
Tom Cruise shocks Comic-Con with new Top Gun footage
SAN DIEGO, United States (AFP) — Tom Cruise swooped into San Diego Comic-Con on Thursday to unveil the world-first trailer for “Top Gun: Maverick,” which he described as a “love letter to aviation.” The Hollywood A-lister arrived unannounced in the pop culture gathering’s cavernous Hall H along with footage of the long-awaited sequel to the 1986 smash action film that made him a household name. “You all have asked for many, many years.. I travel […]
‘Game of Thrones’ and Netflix tipped to sweep Emmy nominations
by Andrew MARSZAL LOS ANGELES, United States (AFP) — “Game of Thrones” and Netflix are tipped by TV industry watchers to dominate Tuesday’s Emmy nominations as Hollywood gears up for awards season. The Television Academy’s 24,000 members sifted through a record number of entries for this year’s Emmys, the small-screen equivalent of the Oscars. After nominations are announced final-round voting will begin to pick winners who will be revealed at a glitzy Los Angeles show […]





