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☆ Profit from video games that were turned into movies doubled in 2023. Hollywood wants more.
▼ + stars: | 2024-03-31 | by ( Kenneth Niemeyer | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +4 min

Hollywood is increasingly adapting video games into movies and TV shows. Video game studios are cautious, fearing adaptations could compromise their intellectual properties. But Hollywood has a backup plan: Video games. Ampere found that Hollywood shifted its focus away from comic books in movies and television shows last year in favor of video game adaptations like "The Last of Us." Video game adaptations typically get a bad rap as schlocky retellings, especially from younger gamers.

Persons: —, Ampere, Mario, Barbie, Paul Dergarabedian, Comscore, Helene Juguet, Lance Reddick —, Black —, Strauss Zelnik, Zelnik Organizations: Hollywood, Service, Wall Street, Ampere, Amazon Prime, Netflix, Mario Bros, Guardians, Marvel, Ubisoft Film, Television, Newsweek, Forbes, Miami, Electronic Gaming Association Locations: London, Austin

☆ Timothée Chalamet already has audiences' hearts. The latest box-office numbers show he has their wallets, too.
▼ + stars: | 2024-03-18 | by ( Jason Guerrasio | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +4 min

Timothée Chalamet's recent films, 'Wonka' and 'Dune: Part Two,' have both surpassed the $200 million mark at the domestic box office. No film had crossed $200 million domestically since "Oppenheimer" last August. Chalamet, whose global box office total is over $2.5 billion, is proving he'll be a box-office draw for years to come. And now Timothée Chalamet has the box-office coin to prove he's one of the biggest draws in the movie business. Both titles have also surpassed the $200 million milestone domestically, something no other titles released this year have done so far.

Persons: Timothée, Wonka, Oppenheimer, Chalamet, —, He's, Bird, Leonardo DiCaprio, Roald Dahl's, Charlie, Frank Herbert's, Tom Cruise, Luca Guadagnino, John Travolta, Paul Dergarabedian, Dergarabedian, Timothée Chalamet, Alberto E, Rodriguez, Bob Dylan Organizations: Service, Warner Bros, Sony Pictures, Warner Bros ., Business, Hollywood

☆ ‘Dune 2’ passes ‘Oppenheimer’ opening weekend at domestic box office with $82.5 million
▼ + stars: | 2024-03-04 | by ( Ramishah Maruf | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +2 min

Oppenheimer, directed by Christopher Nolan, brought in $82.4 million in its opening weekend. The film is a much-anticipated sequel to one of the most popular science fiction adaptions in recent years, and helped revive a sleepy box office. Similarly, “Oppenheimer” was one half of the “Barbenheimer” phenomenon last summer, which took social media and the movie theater industry by storm. “This is just what the box office needed and much higher than any of us could predict,” said Jeff Goldstein, president of domestic distribution at Warner Bros. Pictures, which distributed the movie. And we grossed $178.5 million worldwide, which is quite a standup.”The sequel doubled the domestic opening of the first “Dune” installment, which opened with $41 million when it was simultaneously released in theaters and on the streaming service HBO Max in October 2021.

Persons: New York CNN —, “ Oppenheimer, ”, ‘ Oppenheimer, ’, Denis Villeneuve, Oppenheimer, Christopher Nolan, “ Denis Villeneuve, ‘ Oppenheimer ’, ” Paul Dergarabedian, “ Oppenheimer ”, Jeff Goldstein, HBO Max, CNN’s Eva Rothenberg Organizations: New, New York CNN, Warner Bros ., CNN, Universal Pictures, Warner Bros . Pictures, HBO Locations: New York

☆ ‘Dune 2’ jolts sleepy box office with $81.5 million opening
▼ + stars: | 2024-03-03 | by ( Eva Rothenberg | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +4 min

1 spot in its opening weekend with a strong $81.5 million in domestic sales, according to studio estimates. The sequel beat out the first Dune installment, which opened with $41 million when it was released in domestic theaters in October 2021. According to Comscore data, “Dune: Part Two” is the largest opening for Timothee Chalamet, Rebecca Ferguson and Austin Butler. Box office revenue is down 13.5% compared to this time last year, Comscore data shows. February and March have, over the past three years, reliably housed movie releases from established franchises and properties including “The Batman,” ($134 million opening weekend) “Creed III” ($58 million) and “Uncharted” ($51 million).

Persons: ”, Jeff Goldstein, Warner, Timothee Chalamet, Rebecca Ferguson, Austin Butler, It’s, Denis Villeneuve’s, Denis Villeneuve, Goldstein, Paul Dergarabedian, “, III ” Organizations: CNN, Warner Bros . Pictures, Warner Bros, Warner Bros ., Dolby, Comscore, Studios

☆ Comscore's Paul Dergarabedian talks Dune 2 and if the film could end the box office slump
▼ + stars: | 2024-02-29 | by ( ) www.cnbc.com time to read: 1 min

Share Share Article via Facebook Share Article via Twitter Share Article via LinkedIn Share Article via EmailComscore's Paul Dergarabedian talks Dune 2 and if the film could end the box office slumpHosted by Brian Sullivan, “Last Call” is a fast-paced, entertaining business show that explores the intersection of money, culture and policy. Tune in Monday through Friday at 7 p.m. ET on CNBC.

Persons: Paul Dergarabedian, Brian Sullivan, “ Organizations: CNBC

☆ 'Dune: Part Two' looks to end box office drought with $80 million opening
▼ + stars: | 2024-02-29 | by ( Sarah Whitten | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +1 min

Since the start of the year, the domestic box office has tallied just $866.4 million in ticket sales through Sunday, a nearly 18% drop from the same period in 2023, according to data from Comscore. A boost at the beginning of the year could prove critical to a box office that's still struggling to reclaim $10 billion in domestic annual ticket sales, a mark last seen before the Covid pandemic. While surprise hits like Sony's "Anyone But You" alongside Paramount's "Mean Girls" and "Bob Marley: One Love" have helped fill cinemas, the box office had few blockbuster holdovers from the holidays and limited new offerings in the new year. Last year, the first quarter was buoyed by $263 million in ticket sales from Disney's "Avatar: The Way of Water," which hit theaters in December of the previous year. Similarly, 2022 had more than $200 million in residual sales from Sony and Marvel's 2021 hit "Spider-Man: No Way Home."

Persons: Warner, Paul Dergarabedian, Bob Marley, Bill Barstow Organizations: ANGELES, Warner Bros, Sony Locations: Comscore

☆ What’s next for movie theater operators like AMC after the ‘Barbenheimer’ money runs out?
▼ + stars: | 2024-02-28 | by ( Samantha Delouya | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +6 min

AMC Entertainment, often viewed as a bellwether for the industry as the world’s largest movie theater chain, is not immune to those challenges. Taylor Swift attends "Taylor Swift: The Eras Tour" Concert Movie World Premiere at AMC The Grove 14 on October 11, 2023 in Los Angeles, California. While box office revenues have not yet recovered to pre-pandemic levels, until this year, they had been on an upward trajectory. Wold lowered his projection for the domestic box office to $8.6 billion, down from $8.9 billion earned in 2023. Upping the showmanshipDespite the box office slowdown this year, AMC found itself at the center of yet another viral moment earlier this month.

Persons: “ Barbie ”, “ Oppenheimer, ”, ’, It’s, “ Barbenheimer, Taylor, Taylor Swift, Matt Winkelmeyer, Adam Aron, ” Aron, “, Paul Dergarabedian, Eric Wold, Riley, Wold, Barbie, Iris Schneider, Dergarabedian, “ There’s, Deadpool, Barbie ”, Alicia Reese, Michael O’Leary Organizations: CNN, AMC Entertainment, AMC, Hollywood, ZUMA, Warner Bros, Dodge, Wedbush, Dolby, National Association of Theatre Owners Locations: Los Angeles , California

☆ Weekend Box Office: ‘Madame Web’ struggles to get off the ground, ‘One Love’ soars
▼ + stars: | 2024-02-19 | by ( Eva Rothenberg | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +5 min

New York CNN —“Madame Web” swung to No. In November, “The Marvels” saw a lackluster $47 million in domestic sales its opening weekend, and DC’s “Aquaman and the Lost Kingdom” opened in December to a feeble $27.6 million. It’s still too soon to estimate gross domestic sales for “Madame Web,” but, by the time it exited theaters, “Morbius” had made just $73 million. But “Madame Web,” which released February 14, struggled to gain upward momentum even along its six-day opening, which straddled two holidays: Valentine’s Day and Presidents’ Day. Recent months have seen musical box office hits like “Wonka,” “Mean Girls,” and successful concert films from both Beyonce and Taylor Swift.

Persons: ”, Bob Marley, Web, “, BoxOffice, Shawn Robbins, Madame Web’s, ” theatergoers, DC’s, Paul Dergarabedian, ‘ Deadpool, Venom ”, It’s, Madame, Morbius ”, Robbins, “ Wonka, Beyonce, Taylor Swift, Bob Marley’s, ” Dergarabedian, Compton ” Organizations: New, New York CNN, Sony Pictures, Disney’s Marvel Studios, Marvel, Sony, BoxOffice Pro, Avengers, Warner Bros, CNN, Comscore, ’ Locations: New York, Comscore

NEW YORK (AP) — Paramount Pictures’ Bob Marley biopic “Bob Marley: One Love” outperformed expectations to debut at No. But on a weekend that was once expected to go to “Madame Web,” “One Love” emerged as the much-preferred option in theaters, despite largely poor reviews. Over six days, Sony is estimating a $15.2 million weekend and a six-day $25.8 million haul. “Madame Web” still couldn’t come close to the $39 million domestic opening weekend for “Morbius.” In 61 overseas markets, “Madame Web” added $25.7 million. The 2024 box office has gotten off to a sobering start for Hollywood, and the disappointing result for “Madame Web” won’t help.

Persons: Bob Marley, Sony’s, ”, Kingsley Ben, Marley, Elvis, Chris Aronson, Bob Marley’s, Aronson, “, Reinaldo Marcus Green, Ziggy, Rita, Ziggy Marley, bode, Madame, Dakota Johnson, Paul Dergarabedian, Morbius ”, Morbius, Annie Awards, —, Annie, Moviegoing, Comscore, “ Wonka, “ Lisa Frankenstein, Jake Coyle Organizations: — Paramount, ” Paramount, President’s, Paramount, Rotten, Sony, Academy, Hollywood Locations: Jamaica, New York, “

“ Lisa Frankenstein ” didn’t come to life at the North American box office in its first weekend in theaters. Universal Pictures oversaw the North American release for the streamer, where it is playing in 3,605 locations. Focus Features released “Lisa Frankenstein” in 3,144 locations. A 1980s-set teenage riff on Mary Shelly’s classic tale, “Lisa Frankenstein” was the directorial debut of Robin Williams’ daughter Zelda Williams. “Lisa Frankenstein,” $3.8 million.

Persons: “ Lisa Frankenstein ”, Diablo Cody, Kathryn Newton, Cole Sprouse, ” Matthew Vaugn’s “ Argylle ”, it's, Lisa Frankenstein ”, Mary Shelly’s, Robin Williams ’, Zelda Williams, AP’s Mark Kennedy, Cody, Karyn Kusama, ”, “ Wonka, Liam Neeson, Paul Dergarabedian, there’s, Dergarabedian, Bob Marley, ” Dergarabedian, Comscore, “, “ Lisa Frankenstein Organizations: American, Universal Pictures, Rotten, Super

☆ To stream or not to stream: Hollywood studios could send more films to the big screen as Wall Street pushes for profits
▼ + stars: | 2024-01-31 | by ( Sarah Whitten | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +6 min

Since it came out on Jan. 12, the $36 million film has tallied $83 million globally, according to data from Comscore. Low-budget films are typically those that cost under $20 million — films from the horror genre often fall in this category, as well as some independent features. The annual box office those years reached $11.9 billion and $11.4 billion, respectively. Domestic wide releases by year 2017 — 107 wide releases2018 — 112 wide releases2019 — 112 wide releases2020 — 32 wide releases2021 — 67 wide releases2022 — 71 wide releases2023 — 95 wide releases * Wide releases are any films that debut in more than 2,000 locations. Source: ComscoreIn 2023, 95 films had wide releases, 15% fewer titles than pre-pandemic times, and the box office barely surpassed $9 billion.

Persons: Bebe Wood, Renee Rapp, Avantika, Eric Handler, Roth, Paul Dergarabedian, Demeter, — Organizations: Plastics, Paramount Paramount, Paramount, Wall Street, Street, Netflix, Disney, Universal, Warner Bros Locations: Comscore

☆ 'Mean Girls' is the Queen Bee of the box office, opens to $28 million
▼ + stars: | 2024-01-14 | by ( Sarah Whitten | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +2 min

Bebe Wood, Renee Rapp and Avantika Vandanapu star as The Plastics in the 2024 adaptation of "Mean Girls." Paramount's "Mean Girls," a musical film adaptation of the Broadway show and beloved 2004 film of the same name, opened to an estimated $28 million at the domestic box office, on its way to a $32 million take for the holiday weekend. "The success of Mean Girls this weekend is a case study in nostalgia successfully paired with a fresh and modern hook for today's female audience," said Shawn Robbins, chief analyst at BoxOffice.com. In fact, the biggest percentage of ticket sales were for those aged 26 to 35, who accounted for 34% of all opening weekend ticket sales. Mean Girls is truly an [intellectual property] that's evolved into a multi-threat pop culture standout."

Persons: Bebe Wood, Renee Rapp, Avantika, Glen Coco, Lindsay Lohan, Paul Dergarabedian, Tina Fey's, Shawn Robbins, Steve Buck, Gen, BoxOffice.com's Robbins Organizations: Plastics, Paramount, Warner Bros Locations: Hollywood

☆ How Disney made Star Wars the top film franchise of 2023 without a theatrical release
▼ + stars: | 2023-12-30 | by ( Sarah Whitten | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +8 min

Sunset Boulevard | Corbis Historical | Getty ImagesThe Force remains strong with the Star Wars franchise. Despite not releasing a theatrical film since 2019, Star Wars has been named the top film franchise of 2023 by Fandom, the world's largest platform for entertainment fans. In between each film in the sequel trilogy, Disney released a film that harkened back to an important plot point from past Star Wars films. "At the time, Disney's strategy was to essentially release one new Star Wars film theatrically each year," said Peter Csathy, founder and chair of advisory firm Creative Media. Rebuilding an empireDisney isn't set to release another Star Wars film in cinemas until 2026.

Persons: Mark Hamill, Carrie Fisher, Harrison Ford, Georges Lucas, Paul Dergarabedian, Star Wars Disney Harry Potter, James Bond, Disney, Harry Potter, Kylo Ren, Emperor Palpatine, Darth Vader, —, Princess Leia, Han, Peter Csathy, Csathy, Boba Fett, Rosario Dawson, Tano, Ahsoka, Count Dooku, Stephanie Fried, Diego Luna, Cassian Andor, Alan Tudyk Organizations: Star Wars, Star, Disney, Comscore, Star Wars Disney, Marvel, Warner Bros, DC Studios, Lucasfilm, Wars, Creative Media, Lucasfilm Disney Locations: Florida

☆ 'The Color Purple' wins the holiday box office with second-highest Christmas debut of all time
▼ + stars: | 2023-12-26 | by ( Sarah Whitten | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +1 min

With $18.15 million in box office receipts, the studio's newest film "The Color Purple" had the highest Christmas Day opening since 2009 and the second-largest Christmas Day opening of all time. It was a very Merry Christmas for Warner Bros. Adding ticket sales from "Aquaman and the Lost Kingdom" and "Wonka," Warner Bros. Discovery held the top three spots at the box office over the holiday. Warner Bros.' collection of December releases runs the spectrum of genres and demographics, offering a diverse slate of entertainment for almost every moviegoing audience.

Persons: Sherlock Holmes, Wonka, Paul Dergarabedian, Oprah, Steven Spielberg Organizations: Warner Bros ., Warner Bros, Discovery

☆ 'Aquaman and the Lost Kingdom' has fourth-lowest opening in DCEU franchise history
▼ + stars: | 2023-12-24 | by ( Sarah Whitten | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +3 min

The weekend performance of "Aquaman and the Lost Kingdom" is on par with Warner Bros.' DC franchise in recent years. "Aquaman and the Lost Kingdom" dog-paddled to a $28.1 million domestic opening, the fourth-lowest in the history of the DC Extended Universe. "Aquaman and the Lost Kingdom" added $80.1 million from international ticket sales Friday through Sunday, bringing its total expected global take to $120 million (including the domestic Christmas expectations for Monday). The first "Aquaman" also benefited from international ticket sales back in 2018. Fury of the Gods," "Blue Beetle," "The Flash" and "Aquaman and the Lost Kingdom" — all released after the announcement — would have no connection to future DC projects and were not must-see theatrical experiences.

Persons: Adam, Jason Momoa's, James Gunn, Peter Safran, Paul Dergarabedian Organizations: Warner Bros, DC, Warner Bros . Discovery, DC Studios Locations: Canada

☆ 'Renaissance: A Film by Beyonce' tops box office
▼ + stars: | 2023-12-04 | by ( Dawn Chmielewski | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

REUTERS/Mario Anzuoni/File Photo Acquire Licensing RightsDec 4 (Reuters) - "Renaissance: A Film by Beyonce" premiered at the top of the U.S. box office, raking in $21.8 million during the typically anemic first weekend of December, according to research firm Comscore. Beyonce Knowles' concert film marked the first time a movie crossed the $20 million mark on this weekend since the 2003 movie "The Last Samurai" starring Tom Cruise, Comscore said. Live Nation reported that the superstar’s 56-stop Renaissance World Tour earned more than $579 million worldwide - a hot ticket that economists say may have fanned inflation in Europe. In addition to the concert scenes, the film gave a rare glimpse at how Beyonce grapples with stardom and motherhood. Although "Renaissance's" box office fell short of Swift's $96 million opening weekend, Comscore's Dergarabedian said the result will likely be the same.

Persons: Beyonce, Mario Anzuoni, Beyonce Knowles, Tom Cruise, Comscore, Paul Dergarabedian, Taylor, Comscore's Dergarabedian, Dawn Chmielewski, Kat Stafford, Matthew Lewis Organizations: REUTERS, Labor, Thomson Locations: Los Angeles , California, U.S, New York

Her concert picture, “ Renaissance: A Film by Beyoncé,” opened in first place with $21 million in North American ticket sales, according to estimates from AMC Theatres Sunday. The 39-city, 56-show “Renaissance” tour, which kicked off in Stockholm, Sweden in May and ended in Kansas City, Missouri in the fall, made over $500 million and attracted over 2.7 million concertgoers. Toho's 33rd Godzilla film is set in the aftermath of World War II, stars Ryunosuke Kamiki and was directed by Takashi Yamazaki. “Trolls Band Together” landed in fourth place in its third weekend with $7.6 million, bringing its domestic total to $74.8 million. “Renaissance: A Film by Beyoncé,” $21 million.

Persons: Beyoncé, ”, Elizabeth Frank, “, John Woo, Paul Dergarabedian, “ Taylor Swift, it’s, Swift, Miley Cyrus, Justin Bieber, EntTelligence, ” Dergarabedian, Ryunosuke Kamiki, Takashi Yamazaki, Koji Ueda, Ridley Scott’s “ Napoleon ”, Joaquin Phoenix, “ Wonka, Comscore, “ Napoleon Organizations: North, AMC Theatres, AMC, Films, Comscore, Netflix, Swift's, Rotten, Toho International, Toho Global, Apple Original, Sony Pictures Locations: U.S, Canada, Stockholm, Sweden, Kansas City , Missouri, Japan

☆ Hollywood box office sales slump in November
▼ + stars: | 2023-12-02 | by ( Eva Rothenberg | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +3 min

CNN —Movie theaters slumped into a “Slow-vember,” say industry analysts, as several of the season’s most anticipated movies drew underwhelming box office sales last month. Domestic theaters grossed about $553.6 million this November, a 12% decline from last year and still more than $400 million short of pre-pandemic levels, according to data from research firm Comscore. Between 2009 and 2019, Novembers were a reliably lucrative month and could be counted on to rake in nearly a billion dollars, owing in part to the long Thanksgiving weekend. It was also surpassed by “The Hunger Games,” which was the top movie over Thanksgiving weekend, grossing $42 million. December could see a similar slump, according to Robbins, given the “Ghostbusters” sequel has been delayed until next year and “Aquaman and the Lost Kingdom” will likely not live up to the first movie’s box office revenue.

Persons: Novembers, “, ”, Paul Dergarabedian, ” “, Shawn Robbins, Robbins, Marvel’s, Mockingjay, Jennifer Lawrence’s Organizations: CNN, Marvel, Box, SAG

☆ 'Sound of Freedom' studio looks to build on crowdfunding success with new film 'The Shift'
▼ + stars: | 2023-11-30 | by ( Sarah Whitten | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +3 min

Angel Studios is set to release "The Shift" this Friday. A relative newcomer to Hollywood, Angel Studios uses a Kickstarter-style method of generating funds. "Innovation and outside the box thinking has put Angel Studios on the map. "Sound of Freedom" isn't the only Angel Studios title to exponentially overperform its budget. A crowdfunding campaign in partnership with Angel Studios raised more than $1.2 million for prints and advertising costs.

Persons: Brock Heasley, Neal McDonough, America, Angel, Jim Caviezel, Covid, Paul Dergarabedian, Blumhouse Organizations: Angel, Hollywood, Angel Studios, Warner Bros

☆ Disney's 'Wish' disappoints during Thanksgiving, extending an animation box office rut
▼ + stars: | 2023-11-27 | by ( Sarah Whitten | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +2 min

Its latest animated feature "Wish," billed as a celebration of 100 years of storytelling, fumbled at the box office during the Thanksgiving holiday weekend. It tallied just $31.6 million over the five-day period, far below box office analysts' expectations of between $45 million and $55 million. It's historically rare for Disney to lag at the Thanksgiving box office. The company has for more than a decade released top-grossing animated films during the Wednesday-to-Sunday frame and even set records for highest-grossing openings for films released on Thanksgiving. The underperformance of "Wish" extends an unfortunate pattern for the company, which operates two animation studios — Walt Disney Animation and Pixar.

Persons: Napoleon, Ridley Scott, it's, Paul Dergarabedian Organizations: Apple, Disney, Walt Disney Animation, Pixar

Neither of the weekend’s top new releases — “Wish” and Ridley Scott’s “Napoleon” — could keep up with Lionsgate's “Hunger Games” prequel. With an estimated budget of $200 million, “Napoleon” may still have a long road to reach profitability for Apple, which partnered with Sony to distribute “Napoleon” theatrically. “Wish," at least, is faring better than Disney’s Thanksgiving release last year: 2022's “Strange World" bombed with a five-day $18.9 million opening. Alexander Payne's film starring Paul Giamatti as a boarding school instructor made $3.8 million over the five-day weekend. Ticket sales overall reached $172 million in U.S. and Canada theaters over the five-day holiday weekend, according to Comscore.

Persons: ”, Ridley Scott’s “ Napoleon ” —, Lionsgate's, Panem, Napoleon ”, Joaquin Phoenix, Vanessa Kirby, Joséphine de Beauharnais, Napoleon, Martin Scorsese’s, “ Napoleon ”, “ Ralph, Coco ”, Chris Buck, Jennifer Lee, Ariana DeBose, Chris Pine, Critics weren't, ’, Paul Dergarabedian, We're, “, Barry Keoghan, Jacob Elordi, Bradley Cooper's, Maestro ”, Alexander Payne's, Paul Giamatti, Comscore, “ Napoleon, “ Taylor Swift Organizations: Walt Disney Co, Rotten, Apple Studios, Apple, Sony, Disney, Marvel, DreamWorks, Universal Pictures, Amazon, MGM, Netflix, it's, “ Locations: Waterloo, Oxford, Canada

☆ Disney used to own the Thanksgiving box office. 'Wish' is trying to win it back
▼ + stars: | 2023-11-21 | by ( Sarah Whitten | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +4 min

However, in the wake of the Covid pandemic, the box office has struggled to regain its foothold on the Thanksgiving holiday. "Thanksgiving films in this movie marketplace must rely more heavily on December moviegoing to determine their ultimate box office fate." Box office analysts often disregard 2020's $21.4 million Thanksgiving haul, as few theaters were open and there were few films to watch. Not to mention, box office expectations have not been particularly accurate this year. Trouble in the Magic Kingdom"Wish" has a lot riding on its opening weekend, as Disney looks to rebound from a slew of box office letdowns.

Persons: Ariana DeBose, Asha, Paul Dergarabedian, moviegoing, Ralph, Coco, TriStar's Eli Roth, Napoleon, Taylor, Shawn Robbins, Mario Organizations: Disney, BoxOffice.com, Mario Bros, Sony

“The Hunger Games: The Ballad of Songbirds & Snakes” topped the North American box office in its first weekend in theaters with $44 million in ticket sales, according to studio estimates Sunday. “The Ballad of Songbirds & Snakes” is an interesting case study for a franchise that’s been dormant for 8 years and is testing the waters for a new era. Its $44 million from 3,776 locations, including 1,610 premium screens, marks a low for films carrying “The Hunger Games” in the title. With an added $54.5 million from 87 international markets, the film has already earned $98.5 million out of the gates. “The Hunger Games: The Ballad of Songbirds & Snakes,” $44 million.

Persons: ”, Jennifer Lawrence, Katniss Everdeen, Tom Blyth, Rachel Zegler, Adam Fogelson, Suzanne Collins, Collins, Coriolanus Snow, Paul Dergarabedian, “, Anna Kendrick, Justin Timberlake, Eli Roth, Patrick Dempsey, Addison Rae, Michael Fassbender, Taika Waititi, Paul Giamatti, “ Priscilla, Sofia Coppola, Disney's, ” Ridley, Napoleon ”, ” Dergarabedian, Comscore, “ Taylor Swift Organizations: American, Lionsgate, Rotten, SAG, Universal, DreamWorks Animation, Marvel, TriStar Pictures, Spyglass Media, Walt Disney Co, Searchlight Pictures, Toronto Film Locations: Germany, Plymouth , Massachusetts

☆ Hunger Games prequel heads for $50 million opening weekend
▼ + stars: | 2023-11-16 | by ( Sarah Whitten | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +2 min

Tom Blyth and Rachel Zegler star as Coriolanus Snow and Lucy Gray Baird in Lionsgate's "Hunger Games: The Ballad of Songbirds and Snakes." It's the mantra of the main character Coriolanus Snow in the upcoming "Hunger Games: The Ballad of Songbirds and Snakes" and the hope of its distributor Lionsgate . "There has always been a certain magic surrounding the Hunger Games franchise," said Paul Dergarabedian, senior media analyst at Comscore. It sheds light on what sparked his rise to become the tyrannical ruler seen in later Hunger Games stories. Each of the other four films in the Hunger Games franchise debuted with more than $100 million in ticket sales at the domestic box office.

Persons: Tom Blyth, Rachel Zegler, Coriolanus Snow, Lucy Gray Baird, Suzanne Collins, Katniss Everdeen, Shawn Robbins, Paul Dergarabedian Organizations: Lionsgate, Hunger Games, Hunger, BoxOffice.com, Disney, Marvel Studios, Panem Locations: Lionsgate's, United States

☆ How Disney can save the Marvel Cinematic Universe
▼ + stars: | 2023-11-14 | by ( Sarah Whitten | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +13 min

CEO Bob Iger suggested as early as March that the company should decrease the number of sequel films Marvel releases in favor of bringing newer characters and stories into the mix. Box office analysts aren't ready to wave the white flag on the MCU, which has left rival DC, owned by Warner Bros. The promise was that the events of the shows would come full circle and influence the content of Marvel's films. Brie Larson stars as Carol Danvers aka Captain Marvel in Disney and Marvel's "The Marvels." It is expected that this Deadpool film will follow carry an R rating, which would be a first for a Marvel Cinematic Universe feature.

Persons: Marvel Studios Kevin Feige, Jesse Grant, Captain America, It's, Marvel, Disney, Bob Iger, aren't, Kevin Feige, Paul Dergarabedian, Elizabeth Olsen, Paul Bettany, Wanda Maximoff, Sam Wilson, Loki, Knight, they've, Robert Thompson, Tony Stark, Steve Rogers, Robbins, Paul Rudd, Scott Lang, Johnathan Majors, Kang the, Kang, Jonathan Majors, Shawn Robbins, Josh Brolin, Chris Evans, Robert Downey Jr, Scarlett Johansson, Strange, Hugh Jackman, Brie Larson, Carol Danvers, Captain Marvel, James Bond, Marvel hasn't, hasn't, it's, America Chavez, Kate Bishop, Kamala Kahn, Cassie Lang, Riri Williams, Ryan Reynolds, Maya Lopez, Wilson Fisk, Lopez, Agatha Organizations: Marvel Studios, Walt Disney Studios, Disney, Getty, Marvel, DC, Warner Bros, Captain, Syracuse University, Guardians, Rotten, CNBC, Disney Marvel, Sony, Hollywood, Star Wars, Star, Young Avengers, Fox, Hulu Locations: ANAHEIM , CALIFORNIA, Anaheim , Calif, California, Shanghai, Quantumania

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