By Jonathan Landrum Jr., Entertainment Writer
LOS ANGELES (AP) --"Bad Boys for Life" went for a three-peat at the box office during Super Bowl weekend.
The Sony Pictures' film starring Will Smith and Martin Lawrence brought in $17.6 million to claim the No. 1 spot for the third straight week. The studio said the third installment became the highest-grossing film in the franchise with $148 million, eclipsing "Bad Boys II."
The earning for "Bad Boys" is the best box office turnout compared to other No. 1 titles ("Glass," "Jumanji: Welcome to the Jungle" and "Split") during the NFL championship weekend over the past four years.
Paul Dergarabedian, senior media analyst for Comscore, said box office numbers are typically lower during football's championship weekend. But he said Hollywood is banking on Super Bowl commercials of films to help boost numbers moving forward.
"It's a longer-term benefit for Hollywood to have trailers presented to a massive worldwide audience," Dergarabedian said. "Studios bet big during the telecast by dropping trailers, which they're doing for the first time. They are hoping to build media buzz and get people talking."
The World War I tale "1917" notched second as the film continues to build momentum as an Oscars contender. It has been an impressive feat for the Sam Mendes-directed war movie after going from 11 screen s in its first week to nearly 4,000.
Each week, "1917" has been holding on strong since receiving 10 Oscar nominations including best picture.
Dergarabedian called the war film's surge a "dream scenario."
"It's a winner all day long," he said. "It's had this picture-perfect platform release on its road to the Oscar telecast."
It was a bumpy start for newcomers "Gretel & Hansel" and "The Rhythm Section," which barely cracked the top 10.
After "Dolittle" placed third, the re-imagined ancient fairy tale "Gretel & Hansel" opened at No. 4 with $6.1 million, but received mixed reviews including a C- from CinemaScore.
"The Rhythm Section," an action drama starring Blake Lively, pulled in $2.8 million barely notched "Knives Out."
"It does get increasingly difficult for films that don't over-perform on Super Bowl weekend to build any head of steam going forward," Dergarabedian said. "Particularly if they don't have good reviews."
Estimated ticket sales for Friday through Sunday at U.S. and Canadian theaters, according to Comscore. Final domestic figures will be released Monday.
1. "Bad Boys for Life," $17.6 million.
2. "1917," $9.6 million.
3. "Dolittle," $7.7 million.
4. "Gretel & Hansel," $6.1 million.
5. "The Gentlemen," $6.01 million.
6. "Jumanji: The Next Level," $6 million.
7. "Star Wars: The Rise of Skywalker," $3.1 million.
8. "The Turning," $3.05 million.
9. "Little Women," $3.01 million.
10. "The Rhythm Section," $2.8 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