By Andrew Dalton, Entertainment Writer
LOS ANGELES (AP) --Doctor Strange and his multiverse got to linger a little longer atop the weekend box office as Tom Cruise and "Top Gun" wait in the wings.
Marvel's "Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness" was the top-earning film of the weekend for the third straight week, bringing in $31.6 million in 4,534 North American theaters, according to studio estimates released Sunday.
"Downton Abbey: A New Era" made a strong opening showing for Focus Features with $16 million from 3,820 theaters, but there was no real blockbuster competition for "Doctor Strange."
That will change with the long awaited, and long delayed, release of "Top Gun: Maverick," the sequel that arrives next week on Memorial Day weekend, 36 years after the original smash hit and cultural landmark.
It flies in amid sky-high hype.
Cruise had the film festival in Cannes, France, abuzz on Wednesday with a whirlwind appearance for the film's European premiere that included a fly over of French fighter jets and an honorary Palme d'Or award.
But while the world waits, "Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness" crossed the $800 million mark in global grosses, surpassing "The Batman" to become the top-grossing film of the year.
Released by the Walt Disney Co. and directed by Sam Raimi, " Doctor Strange 2 " benefitted from being the first Marvel movie to follow "Spider-Man: No Way Home," in which Benedict Cumberbatch's sorcerer played a pivotal role.
It also builds upon the popular Disney+ series "Wandavision" and contains a number of cameos that fans didn't want to be spoiled.
Holdover family films "The Bad Guys" and "Sonic the Hedgehog 2" took the third and fourth spots. Universal's "The Bad Guys" added $6.1 million in its fifth week. "Sonic 2" earned $3.9 million in its seventh.
Director Alex Garland's folk horror thriller "Men" brought in $3.3 million for production company and distributor A24.
Meanwhile, "Everything Everywhere All At Once" is still going strong even after nine weeks in release. The A24 film picked up an additional $3.3 million, down only 6% from the previous weekend, bringing its total grosses to $47 million.
Estimated ticket sales for Friday through Sunday at U.S. and Canadian theaters, according to Comscore. Final domestic figures will be released Monday.
1. "Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness," $31.6 million.
2. "Downton Abbey: A New Era," $16 million.
3. "The Bad Guys," $6.1 million.
4. "Sonic the Hedgehog 2," $3.9 million.
5. "Men," $3.3 million.
6. "Everything Everywhere All At Once," $3.1 million.
7. "Fantastic Beasts: The Secrets of Dumbledore," $1.9 million.
8. "Firestarter," $1.9 million.
9. "The Lost City," $1.5 million.
10. "The Northman," $1 million.
Oscar and Emmy-Winning Composer Kris Bowers Joins Barking Owl For Advertising, Branded Content
Music, audio post and sonic branding house Barking Owl has taken on exclusive representation of Oscar and Emmy-winning composer Kris Bowers for advertising and branded content.
Bowers’ recent film scores include The Wild Robot and Bob Marley: One Love, alongside acclaimed past works such as The Color Purple (2023), King Richard and Green Book. His contributions to television are equally impressive, with scores for hit series like Bridgerton, When They See Us, Dear White People, and his Daytime Emmy Award-winning score for The Snowy Day.
In addition to his work as a composer, Bowers is a visionary director. He recently took home the Academy Award for Best Documentary Short Subject for his directorial work on The Last Repair Shop. The emotionally touching short film spotlights four of the people responsible for repairing the musical instruments used by students in the Los Angeles Unified School District (LAUSD). The Last Repair Shop reflects the positive influence that musical instruments have on the youngsters who play them, and the adults in the LAUSD free repair service who keep them working and in tune.
Barking Owl CEO Kirkland Alexander Lynch said of Bowers, “His artistry, diversity of style and depth of storytelling bring an unparalleled edge to the work we create for global brands. His presence on our roster reflects our continued commitment to pushing the boundaries of sound and music in advertising.”
Johanna Cranitch, creative director, Barking Owl, added, “Kris first caught my attention when he released his record ‘Heroes + Misfits’ where he fused together his jazz sensibility with a deeply ingrained aptitude for melody, so beautifully.... Read More