By Jake Coyle, Film Writer
PARK CITY, Utah (AP) --"Boys" trumped "Gentlemen" in movie theaters over the weekend as Will Smith and Martin Lawrence's "Bad Boys for Life" easily remained the top ticket seller over newcomer "The Gentlemen."
The third "Bad Boys" film, coming 17 years after "Bad Boys II," sold $34 million in tickets in its second weekend, according to studio estimates Sunday. The R-rated action comedy from Sony Pictures, which cost about $90 million to make, has grossed $120.6 million in two weeks domestically.
Second place went to Sam Mendes' "1917," which added theaters in its fifth week of release to keep pace with its Academy Awards momentum. The film grossed $15.8 million over the weekend to bring its North American total to $103.9 million. Worldwide, it's taken in $200.5 million.
It was a good weekend for "1917." On Saturday night, Mendes took the top prize at the Directors Guild Awards, solidifying the World War I tale as the clear Oscar frontrunner and Mendes as the favorite for best director. The film earlier triumphed at the highly predictive Producers Guild Awards. And its venerated cinematographer, Roger Deakins, also won the American Society of Cinematographers award on Saturday.
The weekend's top new release was Guy Ritchie's star-studded gangster film "The Gentlemen." The STXfilms release came in on the high side of expectations with $11 million in ticket sales. The film, a return to the criminal underworld for Ritchie ("Aladdin," "Lock Stock and Two Smoking Barrels"), stars Matthew McConaughey as a American expat with a London marijuana empire under threat. Reviews were fairly strong for "The Gentlemen" (72% fresh on Rotten Tomatoes) though many critics saw traces of racism in the film's depictions.
The Universal horror film "The Turning," a modern adaptation of Henry James' "The Turn of the Screw" that drew terrible reviews, collected $7.3 million in its debut weekend.
Estimated ticket sales for Friday through Sunday at U.S. and Canadian theaters, according to Comscore.
1. "Bad Boys for Life," $34 million.
2. "1917," $15.8 million.
3. "Dolittle," $12.5 million.
4. "The Gentlemen," $11 million.
5. "Jumanji: The Next Level," $7.9 million.
6. "The Turning," $7.3 million.
7. "Star Wars: The Rise of Skywalker," $5.2 million.
8. "Little Women," $4.7 million.
9. "Just Mercy," $4.1 million.
10. "Knives Out," $3.7 million.
“Dune: Part Two” and “House of the Dragon” Win 2 HPA Awards Apiece
Dune: Part Two and House of the Dragon each scored two HPA Awards during a gala ceremony at the Television Academy’s Wolf Theatre in North Hollywood, Calif. on Thursday night (11/7). The HPA Awards honor trailblazing talent in the postproduction industry, celebrating standout achievements in color grading, sound, editing, restoration, and visual effects across theatrical features, commercials, and episodics.
Dune: Part Two topped the Outstanding Color Grading--Live Action Theatrical Feature and the Outstanding Sound--Theatrical Feature categories.
House of the Dragon’s two wins were for “The Red Dragon and the Gold” episode which scored for Outstanding Visual Effects--Live Action Episode or Series Season, and Outstanding Editing--Episode or Non-Theatrical Feature (Over 30 Minutes). In the latter HPA Creative Category, House of the Dragon tied with the “Part Six: Far,l Far Away” episode of Ahsoka.
The HPA’s Judges Award for Creativity and Innovation honored Taylor Swift | The Eras Tour. This recognition celebrates the profound impact on both live and filmed entertainment that defined The Eras Tour, underscoring its exceptional impact on audiences and the industry. The jury issued a statement outlining their choice: “Celebrated as the cultural phenomenon of 2023, Taylor Swift | The Eras Tour set new records in box office sales, tour revenues, and attendance. The tour showcased exceptional artistry and innovation, making a profound impact on both live and filmed entertainment.”
This year, FotoKem was awarded the Charles S. Swartz Award for its role in supporting filmmakers, studios, cinematographers, and artists across diverse film and media landscapes. Also celebrated... Read More