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    “Joker” Appears To Have Regained 1st Place In Weekend Box Office

    By SHOOTUpdated:No Comments2819 Views
    This image released by Warner Bros. Pictures shows Joaquin Phoenix in a scene from the film "Joker." (Niko Tavernise/Warner Bros. Pictures via AP)

    By Jake Coyle, Film Writer

    NEW YORK (AP) --

    Put on a happy face. "Joker" is No. 1 again.

    Todd Phillip's R-rated comic-book hit regained the top spot at the weekend box office in its fourth week of release, narrowly besting "Maleficent: Mistress of Evil." The Warner Bros.' sensation, starring Joaquin Phoenix, took in $18.9 million in ticket sales over the weekend, according to studio estimates Sunday.

    That came in just above the $18.6 million haul for the Walt Disney Co.'s "Maleficent" sequel, which slid to second after a disappointing No. 1 debut last weekend of $36 million. "Mistress of Evil," starring Angelina Jolie, is performing better overseas, where it grossed $64.3 million over the weekend.

    With such a close race at the top between "Joker" and "Mistress of Evil," the order could switch when final figures are released Monday.

    But ticket sales have continued to surge well past expectations for "Joker." With a modest budget of $60 million, it's been extraordinarily profitable for Warner Bros. — although the studio, to mitigate risk, shared costs with Bron Studios and Village Roadshow Pictures.

    This week, "Joker" became the most successful R-rated moved ever, not accounting for inflation, in worldwide release. It's made $849 million globally, including $47.8 million internationally over the weekend. (Mel Gibson's "The Passion of the Christ" remains the R-rated domestic leader, with $370.8 million.)

    Despite mixed reviews, "Joker" — a "Taxi Driver"-styled spin on a comic-book origin story — has already amassed a box-office total exceeding that of more mainstream superhero movies such as "Thor: Ragnarok" and "Wonder Woman."

    No new releases mustered any competition with the holdovers. The best-performing newcomer was the STX Entertainment horror thriller "Countdown." It grossed $9 million. Sony Screen Gems' "Black and Blue," a police thriller starring Naomie Harris, opened with $8.3 million.

    Holding especially well was "The Addams Family," United Artists and MGM's Halloween-timed animated reboot of the macabre family. It slid just 28% in its second weekend with $11.7 million, good for third place

    Much of the weekend's action was in limited or expanding releases for acclaimed Oscar contenders.

    Robert Eggers' "The Lighthouse," a black-and-white psychological drama starring Willem Dafoe and Robert Pattinson as 19th century lighthouse keepers, made $3 million on just 586 screens for A24.

    Taika Waititi's "Jojo Rabbit," about a 10-year-old boy growing up in Nazi Germany, expanded into 55 theaters, earning a strong $1 million. In September, the Fox Searchlight release won the Toronto Film Festival's highly predictive audience award , setting it up as a potential Academy Awards favorite. Its initial expansion suggests it will be a hit with audiences, too.

    Less successful was the Bruce Springsteen concert film "Western Stars" ($560,000 in 537 theaters).

    Alfonso Gomez-Rejon's "The Current War" also finally landed in theaters more than two years after it first premiered. Gomez-Rejon recut his film after Harvey Weinstein, shortly before his downfall, pushed out a critically panned version of the Thomas Edison (Benedict Cumberbatch) and George Westinghouse (Michael Shannon) tale. Gomez-Rejon's "director's cut," which 101 Studios acquired from the now-defunct Weinstein Co., opened with $2.7 million from about 1,000 theaters.

    "Terminator: Dark Fate," which is expected to lead the box office next weekend, got off to a $12.8 million start in a handful of international markets before its stateside debut.

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

    1. "Joker," $18.9 million ($47.8 million international).
    2. "Maleficent: Mistress of Evil," $18.6 million ($64.3 million international).
    3. "The Addams Family," $11.7 million.
    4. "Zombieland: Double Tap," $11.6 million.
    5. "Countdown," $9 million.
    6. "Black and Blue," $8.3 million.
    7. "Gemini Man," $4 million.
    8. "The Lighthouse," $3.1 million.
    9. "The Current War," $2.7 million.
    10. "Abominable," $2 million.

    Category:News
    Tags:box officeJokerMaleficent: Mistress of Evil



    The End of The “Rust” Criminal Case Against Alec Baldwin May Unlock A Civil Lawsuit

    Tuesday, December 24, 2024

    The conclusion of a criminal case against Alec Baldwin in the fatal shooting of a cinematographer clears the way for a related civil lawsuit by relatives of the deceased woman and efforts to depose the actor under oath, attorneys for plaintiffs in the civil suit said Tuesday.

    At a news conference in Los Angeles, victims' rights attorney Gloria Allred said that the parents and younger sister of deceased cinematographer Halyna Hutchins were disappointed that prosecutors won't appeal the dismissal of an involuntary manslaughter charge against Baldwin. The criminal charge against Baldwin was dismissed halfway through trial in July on allegations that police and prosecutors withheld evidence from the defense.

    Hutchins died shortly after being wounded during a rehearsal in the movie "Rust" in October 2021 at a film-set ranch on the outskirts of Santa Fe, New Mexico.

    Baldwin, the lead actor and coproducer, was pointing a pistol at Hutchins when it discharged, killing Hutchins and wounding director Joel Souza. Baldwin has said he pulled back the hammer — but not the trigger — and the revolver fired.

    Allred said Hutchins' relatives are determined to pursue damages and compensation from Baldwin and "Rust" producers in New Mexico civil court, and want Baldwin to answer questions under oath in the proceedings. Hutchins' widower and son previously reached a separate legal settlement.

    "With the withdrawal that was made public yesterday, we are now able to proceed with our civil case," Allred said. "Clearly, the rights of Alec Baldwin were protected, but the due process rights of the victims — Halyna Hutchins and her parents and her sister — were violated."

    Allred said she's ready to prove that Hutchins had a close relationship... Read More

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