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    Amazon Acquires Spike Lee’s “Chi-Raq” As Its 1st Movie Release

    By SHOOTUpdated:No Comments1889 Views
    This July 22, 2014 file photo shows Spike Lee during the “Independent Lens” panel at the the PBS 2014 Summer TCA in Beverly Hills, Calif. (Photo by Richard Shotwell/Invision/AP, File)
    NEW YORK (AP) --

    Amazon Studios says it has acquired Spike Lee's new film as its first Amazon Original Movie.

    The film, with the working title "Chi-Raq," features a cast including Nick Cannon, Wesley Snipes, Jennifer Hudson and Teyonah Parris, as well as D.B. Sweeney, Harry Lennix, Steve Harris and Angela Bassett, plus John Cusack and Samuel L. Jackson.

    "Chi-Raq" was shot entirely in Chicago and wrapped last week. Directed by Lee, it was co-written by Lee and Kevin Willmott. It focuses on violence in inner-city Chicago.

    Amazon Studios' Ted Hope said, "It would be impossible to find a better filmmaker" than Lee to launch the studio with.

    Amazon Original Movies, announced in January, was formed to produce and acquire original movies for theatrical release as well as distribution to its Amazon Prime members.

    Category:News
    Tags:Amazon StudiosChi-RaqSpike Lee



    “Sonic the Hedgehog 3” Tops Weekend Box Office

    Sunday, December 22, 2024

    In the holiday season battle of big-budget family movies, Paramount Pictures' "Sonic the Hedgehog 3" sped past the Walt Disney Co.'s "Mufasa: The Lion King" to take the top spot at the box office ahead of the lucrative Christmas corridor in theaters.

    "Sonic the Hedgehog 3" debuted with $62 million in ticket sales over the weekend, according to studio estimates. With strong reviews (86% fresh on Rotten Tomatoes) and a high score from audiences (an "A" on CinemaScore), "Sonic 3" is well positioned to be the top choice in cinemas during the busiest moviegoing period of the year.

    It was telling of some wider trends that "Sonic 3" — made for $122 million — bested one of Disney's top properties. Videogame adaptations, once among the most derided movie genres, have emerged as one of the most dependable box office forces in recent years. The two previous "Sonic" movies together grossed more $700 million worldwide and the third installment appears likely to do better than both of them. A fourth "Sonic" movie is already in development.

    "Mufasa," however, was humbled in its opening weekend, with its $35 million in domestic ticket sales coming in notably shy of expectations . The photorealistic "Lion King" prequel even opened wider than "Sonic 3," launching on 4,100 theaters and gobbling up most IMAX screens, compared with 3,761 locations for "Sonic 3."

    Though "Mufasa's" reviews were poor (56% fresh on Rotten Tomatoes), audiences gave it an "A-" CinemaScore.

    "Sonic 3" nearly doubled the haul for "Mufasa," which cost more than $200 million to make. Disney could look to $87.2 million in international sales to help make up the difference. The third "Sonic" will rollout in most overseas markets in the coming weeks.

    In director Jeff... Read More

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