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    A Fast Start For “Furious 7”: $143.6 Million

    By SHOOTUpdated:No Comments1763 Views
    This photo provided by Universal Pictures shows, from left, Tyrese Gibson as Roman, Michelle Rodriguez as Letty, Paul Walker as Brian, and Chris Ludacris as Tej, in a scene from "Furious 7." (AP Photo/Universal Pictures, Scott Garfield)

    The high-octane "Furious 7" peeled out of the gates in its opening weekend, picking up a stunning $143.6 million from 4,004 locations to easily top the domestic box office, according to Rentrak estimates Sunday.

    The expectation-shattering sum is a studio and franchise best for the homegrown car-obsessed series, which has continued to grow over the past few films.

    "Furious 7," now the ninth-biggest opening of all time, also unseats previous April record-holder "Captain America: The Winter Soldier," which opened to $95 million on the same weekend last year.

    While the "Fast and Furious" films have grown in popularity over the past three films, the mega-opening for "Furious 7" was also at least partially tied to audience interest in star Paul Walker, who died in a car crash in Nov. 2013 before the film was completed.

    Production on "Furious 7" was halted while the filmmakers and Universal decided whether or not to proceed with the film. The team ultimately decided to delay the release from its originally scheduled July 2014 date.

    "It probably created some curiosity, but, at the same time, (the film) fits in so well with the overall continuing saga of the 'Fast and Furious' franchise," Nick Carpou, Universal's president of domestic distribution, said of Walker.

    "It's a motivator, but it's not by any means the prime motivator the see the movie," he added.

    There is also a sense that massive openings like "Furious 7" point to the creeping of summer blockbuster season, which seems to be starting earlier and earlier as studios try to stake their claim on prime dates.

    But for Carpou, in a 52-week-a-year release strategy, the demarcation of a summer blockbuster is almost irrelevant when it comes to getting audiences to turn out in droves for a film.

    "It's that corny old adage that if you build it, they will come," he said, adding that the impressive February debut of "Fifty Shades of Grey" helps prove his point.

    Paul Dergarabedian, Senior Media Analyst for box office firm Rentrak, thinks that this is a liberating trend for studios who once clamored for the first weekend in May release date.

    "Studios are finding tremendous value in putting their movies in non-traditional corridors," he said.

    As the most ambitious release in Universal's history, "Furious 7" opened on 10,005 screens internationally as well, picking up $240.4 million from 63 territories for a $384 million worldwide debut — a 48 percent increase over "Fast & Furious 6."

    The film will also debut in Russia, Poland, Japan, and China in the coming weeks.

    Holdovers populated the rest of the top spots with DreamWorks Animation's "Home" earning $27.4 to take a distant second place. "Get Hard" brought in an estimated $12.9 million, while "Cinderella" and "The Divergent Series: Insurgent" rounded out the top five with $10.3 million and $10 million, respectively.

    But it's all about "Furious 7" for the next few weeks. The film has the roads to itself until Disney and Marvel's "The Avengers: Age of Ultron" hits theaters on May 1.

    "This could be the first in the franchise to flirt with the billion dollar mark," Dergarabedian said.

    Estimated ticket sales for Friday through Sunday at U.S. and Canadian theaters, according to Rentrak. Where available, the latest international numbers for Friday through Sunday are also included. Final domestic figures will be released Monday.

    1. "Furious 7," $143.6 million ($240.4 million international).

    2. "Home," $27.4 million ($20.7 million international).

    3. "Get Hard," $12.9 million ($2.6 million international).

    4. "Cinderella," $10.3 million ($24.3 million international).

    5. "The Divergent Series: Insurgent," $10 million ($15.5 million international).

    6. "It Follows," $2.5 million.

    7. "Woman in Gold," $2 million.

    8. "Kingsman: The Secret Service," $1.7 million ($20 million international).

    9. "Do You Believe," $1.5 million.

    10. "The Second Best Exotic Marigold Hotel," $1 million ($3 million international).

    ___

    Estimated ticket sales for Friday through Sunday at international theaters (excluding the U.S. and Canada), according to Rentrak:

    1. "Furious 7," $240.4 million.

    2. "Cinderella," $24.3 million.

    3. "Wolf Warriors," $22 million.

    4. "Home," $20.7 million.

    5. "Kingsman: The Secret Service," $20 million.

    6. "Let's Get Married," $16 million.

    7. "The Divergent Series: Insurgent," $15.5 million.

    8. "The SpongeBob Movie: Sponge Out of Water," $5.8 million.

    9. "Twenty," $5.3 million.

    10. "Focus," $4.9 million.

    By Lindsey Bahr, Film Writer

    Category:News
    Tags:box officeFurious 7

    Director Kacper Larski Joins RSA Films For Spot Representation

    Tuesday, November 12, 2024

    RSA Films has added director Kacper Larski to its roster for commercial representation in the U.S. Larski is known for his work in automotive and sport, and a style of filmmaking which features epic visuals and gripping montage, often combining the real and surreal. Among his most recent commercial films are Garmin’s “Fenix 8” (direct to brand), U.S. Army Reserve’s “Helper” (DDB Chicago) and Bushmills Whiskey’s “Follow No One” (Mekanism). He’s also directed campaigns for Hyundai, Jeep, GMC, Subaru, VW, Mazda and Chevrolet.

    Larski’s distinctive aesthetic emerged in one of his first projects, Land Rover’s “68 Years Later,” which won a Cannes Young Directors Award in 2016. Two years later, he directed the “Greatness is Rare” campaign for BBDO Toronto and the Canadian Paralympic Committee which won Cannes Lion Gold. Prior to joining RSA, Larski had most recently been repped in the U.S. market by production house Eleanor.

    “The camera and film for me have always been about the ability to live 1,000 lives,” Larski said. “Stylistically, I want to transport viewers in whatever stories I’m telling--a super athlete’s runner’s high, a skier’s dream powder, a giant’s tale, even driving in space.”

    “Kacper is one of the most exciting filmmakers I’ve seen over the last several years,” said Luke Ricci, president, RSA Films US. “Whether it’s a character, an emotion, an environment, car or other product, he has a special and distinctive way of capturing and articulating the world around him in all his work. He is a fantastic addition to our RSA family.”

    “Joining RSA is a dream come true,” Larski said. “The roster includes some of the best filmmakers in the world, with founder Ridley Scott... Read More

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