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☆ 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

“ 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

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

“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

☆ ‘The Marvels’ struggles at box office on opening weekend
▼ + stars: | 2023-11-12 | by ( Eva Rothenberg | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +3 min

1 at the box office in its opening weekend but grossed just $47 million in domestic sales, according to studio estimates on Sunday. In fact, “The Marvels” is only the third Marvel movie to make less than $60 million during its opening weekend, and the first since “Ant-Man” opened with $57 million in 2015. The lackluster opening weekend numbers for “The Marvels” are also symptomatic of overarching studio challenges in recent years, say experts. Marvel’s November offering last year, “Black Panther: Wakanda Forever,” which was also a sequel to an Infinity-Saga-era film, made nearly four times the domestic opening weekend earnings as “The Marvels” with more than $181.3 million. However, the video-game-based movie is also available online for Peacock subscribers, and streaming may siphon off some moviegoers.

Persons: CNN —, ”, “, BoxOffice, Shawn Robbins, ” Paul Dergarabedian, Logan, ” Dergarabedian, Ms, Marvel, Robbins, ” Robbins Organizations: CNN, Marvel, “ Marvel, BoxOffice Pro, Disney, Peacock Locations: Comscore

The North American box office had one of its slowest weekends of the year, due in large part to “Dune: Part Two’s” absence from the lineup. 1 movie and it would have been a bigger overall weekend,” said Paul Dergarabedian, the senior media analyst for Comscore. “Taylor Swift: The Eras Tour" took second place, with fourth weekend earnings at an estimated $13.5 million for the AMC release. "The overall box office is rather quiet, but there are so many interesting films out there," Dergarabedian said. “Independent film can really shine right now.”The effects of the ongoing strike at the box office are not easily quantifiable.

Persons: ”, “ Taylor Swift, Sofia Coppola’s “ Priscilla ”, “ Oppenheimer ”, Timothée Chalamet, Zendaya, Swifties, Martin Scorsese's, Alexander Payne's “, “, Paul Dergarabedian, Priscilla, ’, It's, That's, “ Priscilla, Priscilla Presley’s, Elvis, Cailee Spaeny, Jacob Elordi, Paul Giamatti, Eugenio Derbez, ” Dergarabedian, “ He’s, Ryan, David Duchovny, exes, Jackson's, Dergarabedian, haven’t, “ Priscilla ”, Brie Larson, Teyonah Parris, Lashana Lynch, Comscore Organizations: American, Warner Bros, SAG, Comscore, Universal Pictures, AMC, Apple, Paramount, Los Angeles, Marvel, “ Locations: New York, Los, England, Mexican

☆ ‘Barbie’ is Warner Bros.’ highest-grossing global release ever
▼ + stars: | 2023-08-29 | by ( Ramishah Maruf | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +3 min

Comscore estimated a global total of $1,341,854,460 through Monday for “Barbie.”On Monday, Warner Bros. said “Barbie” will pass “Harry Potter” to become its highest grossing film globally. “Barbie” and the “Harry Potter” films are distributed by Warner Bros. Pictures, which is owned by CNN’s parent company, Warner Bros. A blockbuster summerJust last week, “Barbie” surpassed “Super Mario Bros.” as the highest-grossing movie at the domestic box office this year. “Barbie” also was crowned Warner Bros. Discovery’s highest-grossing domestic release, beating out “The Dark Knight” in 2008. In late August, “Blue Beetle” — also distributed by Warner Bros. Pictures — unseated “Barbie” from the top of the US box office.

Persons: ”, Harry Potter, Greta Gerwig’s “, “ Barbie, Harry Potter ”, “ Barbie ”, Barbie ’, Paul Dergarabedian, ” Dergarabedian, Dergarabedian, Mario, “, Knight ”, Gerwig, — Organizations: New, New York CNN, Warner Bros, Disney, Star Wars, Office, Century Fox, Warner Bros . Pictures, Warner Bros ., Mattel, Discovery’s Locations: New York

☆ 'Barbie' dominates 'Oppenheimer' opening day, but it's a win for theaters
▼ + stars: | 2023-07-23 | by ( Ramishah Maruf | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +3 min

New York CNN —Greta Gerwig’s “Barbie” raked in a stunning $155 million domestically over the weekend, giving the film the largest opening weekend of 2023, Comscore said. The combined release of “Barbie” and Christopher Nolan’s “Oppenheimer,” dubbed “Barbenheimer,” has become a pop culture sensation – and one that might revive a struggling movie industry. Coming in behind “Barbie,” “Oppenheimer” opened at $80.5 million domestically over the weekend, according to Comscore. Its closest comparison is “Wonder Woman” in 2017, directed by Patty Jenkins, which raked in about $38 million domestically on opening day, according to Box Office Mojo. That could bring a much needed rebound to the movie industry.

Persons: Greta Gerwig’s “, ”, Comscore, “ Barbie ”, Christopher Nolan’s “ Oppenheimer, “, Paul Dergarabedian, “ Barbie, ” “ Oppenheimer ”, Dergarabedian, ” Dergarabedian, ” It’s, Gabrielle Roitman, Kayla Seffing, Maddy Hiller, Casey Myer, Oppenheimer, Barbie, Chris Pizzello, Patty Jenkins, “ Oppenheimer, It’s, Christopher Nolan, Knight, Mario, Indiana Jones, Destiny ’, ” Sheri Lambert, Mattel, Lambert Organizations: New, New York CNN, AMC, Office, Warner Bros, Warner Bros ., Hollywood Reporter, Mattel, Dunkirk, Mario Bros, Temple University, CNN Locations: New York, Canada, Los Angeles, United States

☆ Disney's Marvel movies are returning to China after almost four years with 'Black Panther' and 'Ant-Man'
▼ + stars: | 2023-01-19 | by ( Michelle Toh | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +4 min

“Black Panther: Wakanda Forever” will open in China on February 7, roughly three months after its global debut, while “Ant-Man and the Wasp: Quantumania” will open on February 17, Marvel Studios announced on Chinese social media Tuesday. Since then, Marvel’s last eight movies have not been shown in the country, though that will drop down to seven with the upcoming “Black Panther” release, Dergarabedian said. Stars of Marvel Studios' "Black Panther: Wakanda Forever" attending the film's European premiere in London on Nov. 3, 2022. “This likely played a part in this welcome shift in playability for Marvel films in the country.”China’s box office generally rakes in billions of dollars a year. That put North America’s box office ahead once more in 2022, generating more than $7.5 billion compared with China’s $4.4 billion, according to Comscore data.

☆ ‘Avatar: The Way of Water’ gives James Cameron his first $100 million domestic debut
▼ + stars: | 2022-12-18 | by ( Ramishah Maruf | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +3 min

New York CNN —The highly anticipated “Avatar: The Way of Water” took in $134 million at the US box office, giving director James Cameron his first $100 million opening weekend — despite falling short of analyst predictions. “Avatar: The Way of Water” has so far earned $435 million at the global box office. Though Cameron hasn’t revealed exactly how much it cost to make the “Avatar” sequel, one answer isn’t in doubt: a lot. In 2009, “Avatar” earned $77 million in its opening weekend and collected 80% of its gross from 3D showings. “The Way of Water” notched the second highest all-time IMAX global opening weekend and the biggest IMAX December global opening ever.

☆ Thanksgiving used to be a movie feast. This year? Slim pickings
▼ + stars: | 2022-11-25 | by ( Frank Pallotta | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +3 min

New York CNN Business —Thanksgiving weekend has historically offered a cornucopia of films, letting moviegoers get out of the house and kick back after eating copious amounts of turkey, mashed potatoes and pie. The North American box office has few new films this weekend that are likely to draw tons of moviegoers. Another Disney film, Marvel’s “Black Panther: Wakanda Forever,” is now in its second week and is set to win the holiday weekend with around $40 million domestically. For example, films like “Creed,” “Moana,” and “Knives Out” opened on Thanksgiving weekends and did well. As for Thanksgiving, Dergarabedian hopes that as the theater industry normalizes, the holiday will make a comeback.

☆ 'Black Panther: 'Wakanda Forever' aims to recreate blockbuster magic. Disney and theaters are counting on it
▼ + stars: | 2022-11-11 | by ( Frank Pallotta | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +5 min

If early projections and ticket sales are any indication, it appears “Wakanda Forever” will be just that. Why “Wakanda Forever” matters to theaters"Black Panther: Wakanda Forever" is set to be one of the biggest films of the year. “Every blockbuster counts more than ever for movie theaters right now.”Why does it matter how “Wakanda Forever” does this weekend? Why “Wakanda Forever” matters to Disney"Black Panther: Wakanda Forever" could break records this weekend. The performance of “Wakanda Forever” likely won’t move the needle on Disney’s stock, given that investors remain heavily focused on the company’s streaming endeavors.

☆ 'Black Adam' wins a star-powered box office
▼ + stars: | 2022-10-23 | by ( Frank Pallotta | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +3 min

New York CNN Business —Who says movie stars no longer matter in Hollywood? Theaters and box offices got a much-needed boost this weekend thanks to superhero flick “Black Adam” and romantic comedy “Ticket to Paradise” — two films led by big stars. 1 spot at the domestic box office with an estimated $67 million. The debut of “Black Adam” is the largest opening at the box office since July’s “Thor: Love & Thunder.” (Warner Bros., like CNN, is owned by Warner Bros. In fact, Universal suffered a set back just a few weeks ago when “Bros.,” another romantic comedy, flopped at the box office.

☆ ‘The Woman King’ poised for big box-office run after surprisingly strong opening weekend
▼ + stars: | 2022-09-20 | by ( ) www.nbcnews.com time to read: +2 min

During a lull in the movie calendar, Gina Prince-Bythewood’s “The Woman King” is generating the kind of buzz — and ticket sales — that the box office desperately needs. ″‘The Woman King’ opened on the high end of our expectations and looks poised for a very healthy theatrical run thanks to strong word of mouth,” said Shawn Robbins, chief analyst at BoxOffice.com. Overall ticket sales were driven predominantly by older female viewers, a demographic that has been slower to return to cinemas coming out of the Covid pandemic. Additionally, Black audiences accounted for 56% of all opening weekend ticket sales in the U.S. and Canada. “Much like ‘Black Panther,’ ‘The Woman King’ demonstrates that positive, culturally based stories can resonate strongly among all audiences,” said Paul Dergarabedian, senior media analyst at Comscore.

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