By Jake Coyle, Film Writer
NEW YORK (AP) --The box-office duo of James Bond and Charlie Brown again dominated North American movie theaters over the weekend, while Angelina Jolie Pitt's "By the Sea" made barely a ripple.
Sony's "Spectre," the 24th Bond installment and last week's top film, took in $35.4 million in its second weekend, according to studio estimates Sunday. Daniel Craig's fourth Bond film has most flexed its muscles abroad, where the majority of its $500 million-plus two-week global haul has come from. It got a boost, too, over the weekend in China, where it debuted with $48 million – the best opening for a 2-D, U.S. release in China, Sony said.
"The Peanuts Movie," from 20th Century Fox, remained in second place with $24.2 million. Both it and "Spectre" held strongly in their second weeks. "The Peanuts Movie" has grossed $82.5 million thus far.
Of the new releases, the Christmas comedy "Love the Coopers" – a family holiday gathering directed by Jessie Nelson and starring an ensemble including Diane Keaton and Alan Arkin – fared the best. It took in $8.4 million for CBS Films.
Warner Bros.' Chilean miner drama, "The 33," earned a middling $5.8 million. Though the 2010 disaster, which trapped 33 miners underground, riveted the world for 69 days, moviegoers showed little interest in a dramatized version of the event starring Antonio Banderas and Lou Diamond Phillips.
Universal Pictures considerably scaled back the release of the poorly reviewed "By the Sea," a marital drama starring Jolie Pitt and Brad Pitt. Playing in just 10 theaters, it made only $95,440. The third film directed by Jolie Pitt, who also wrote the script, "By the Sea" was made for a modest $10 million, so it won't hurt Universal much, but proved surprisingly unappealing to moviegoers despite starring two of Hollywood's biggest stars.
Expanding to 60 theaters, Tom McCarthy's acclaimed "Spotlight," about the Boston Globe investigation into Catholic priest sex abuse, pulled in $1.4 million with a per-screen average of $23,307 for Open Road Films. Tabbed as an Oscar favorite, the film, featuring an ensemble including Mark Ruffalo and Michael Keaton, is stoking interest with a gradual expansion.
Next weekend, Lionsgate's "The Hunger Games: Mockingjay Part 2," the final chapter in the young-adult saga, is sure to supplant Bond at the top of the box office.
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. "Spectre," $35.4 million ($152.6 million international).
2. "The Peanuts Movie," $24.2 million ($2.5 million international).
3. "Love the Coopers," $8.4 million.
4. "The Martian," $6.7 million ($5.3 million international).
5. "The 33," $5.8 million.
6. "Goosebumps," $4.7 million ($2.4 million international).
7. "Bridge of Spies," $4.3 million ($1.2 million international).
8. "Prem Ratan Dhan Payo," $2.4 million ($31 million international).
9. "Hotel Transylvania 2," $2.4 million ($8.9 million international).
10. "The Last Witch Hunter," $1.5 million ($5.2 million international).
Estimated ticket sales for Friday through Sunday at international theaters (excluding the U.S. and Canada), according to Rentrak:
1. "Spectre," $152.6 million.
2. "Prem Ratan Dhan Payo," $31 million.
3. "The Priests," $9.3 million.
4. "Hotel Transylvania 2," $8.9 million.
5. "A Journey Through Time With Anthony," $6 million.
6. "Ex-Files 2: The Backup Strikes Back," $5.5 million.
7. "The Martian," $5.3 million.
8. "The Last Witch Hunter," $5.2 million.
9. "Pan," $3.9 million.
10. "The Lady in the Van," $3.5 million.
Oscar and Emmy-Winning Composer Kris Bowers Joins Barking Owl For Advertising, Branded Content
Music, audio post and sonic branding house Barking Owl has taken on exclusive representation of Oscar and Emmy-winning composer Kris Bowers for advertising and branded content.
Bowers’ recent film scores include The Wild Robot and Bob Marley: One Love, alongside acclaimed past works such as The Color Purple (2023), King Richard and Green Book. His contributions to television are equally impressive, with scores for hit series like Bridgerton, When They See Us, Dear White People, and his Daytime Emmy Award-winning score for The Snowy Day.
In addition to his work as a composer, Bowers is a visionary director. He recently took home the Academy Award for Best Documentary Short Subject for his directorial work on The Last Repair Shop. The emotionally touching short film spotlights four of the people responsible for repairing the musical instruments used by students in the Los Angeles Unified School District (LAUSD). The Last Repair Shop reflects the positive influence that musical instruments have on the youngsters who play them, and the adults in the LAUSD free repair service who keep them working and in tune.
Barking Owl CEO Kirkland Alexander Lynch said of Bowers, “His artistry, diversity of style and depth of storytelling bring an unparalleled edge to the work we create for global brands. His presence on our roster reflects our continued commitment to pushing the boundaries of sound and music in advertising.”
Johanna Cranitch, creative director, Barking Owl, added, “Kris first caught my attention when he released his record ‘Heroes + Misfits’ where he fused together his jazz sensibility with a deeply ingrained aptitude for melody, so beautifully.... Read More