James Bond film takes in $73M but falls short of "Skyfall" windfall
By Lindsey Bahr, Film Writer
LOS ANGELES (AP) --It took the combination of James Bond and Charlie Brown to save the box office after a disastrous few weekends of flops. Both "Spectre" and "The Peanuts Movie" reinvigorated moviegoers who turned out in droves to check out the new fare, including buzzy limited-release titles like "Spotlight."
"Spectre" took an easy first-place spot with an estimated $73 million, according to Rentrak estimates Sunday, to become the second-biggest Bond opening of all time. The 24th film in the 53-year-old series stars Daniel Craig as the dapper spy and cost a reported $250 million to produce.
Domestically, "Spectre" failed to live up to the record-breaking standard set by "Skyfall," which debuted to $88.4 million in 2012 and went on to become the first film in the franchise to earn over $1 billion worldwide.
"We never expected it to open to the level of 'Skyfall.' It was a very different scenario. The competition was different, the weekend was different," said Rory Bruer, Sony's president of worldwide distribution. "One thing I am certain of is that the Bond franchise is as healthy and strong as ever."
Distributor Sony, who co-produced the film with Eon Productions and MGM, tried to manage expectations going into the weekend, predicting an opening in the $60 million range.
"It's still a great number," said Paul Dergarabedian, Rentrak's senior media analyst. "For a franchise that's over 50 years old, it's really an astounding achievement."
"Spectre's" worldwide take is a different story. The film opened No. 1 in all 71 territories and earned a total of $117.8 million. It has earned a whopping $300 million worldwide in less than two weeks and still has yet to open in a few major markets, including China.
Stateside, though, reviews have been mixed, and "Spectre," unlike "Skyfall," had competition in its first weekend in theaters with another beloved set of characters — Charlie Brown and Snoopy.
"The Peanuts Movie" provided a family-friendly alternative to James Bond's guns and martinis and took second place with a strong $45 million. The film cost around $100 million to make.
Audiences, 70 percent of whom were families, gave "The Peanuts Movie" a strong A CinemaScore, suggesting that word of mouth will be strong for the animated pic.
The cross-generational appeal was no accident for the Fox marketing team, who were looking to appeal to all ages.
Chris Aronson, Fox's president of domestic distribution, attributes the success to getting both parents and kids excited.
"We were everywhere," he noted of the campaign. "That's what we thought we had to do to get through the noise of Bond to connect with moviegoers from 8 to 80 which I think we really were successful in doing."
Holdovers "The Martian," ''Goosebumps," and "Bridge of Spies" rounded out the top five, while new opener "Miss You Already," staring Drew Barrymore and Toni Collette, opened in 384 theaters to only $572,160.
Three possible awards contenders also made their debut in limited release to mixed results — "Spotlight," ''Brooklyn," and "Trumbo."
"Spotlight," director Tom McCarthy's film about the Boston Globe's Pulitzer Prize-winning investigation into the sex abuse scandal in the Catholic Church, was the strongest of the pack, opening to $302,276 from only five theaters.
"Brooklyn," a 1950s-set immigrant story starring Saoirse Ronan, took in a respectable $181,000 from five theaters this weekend after opening Wednesday. "Trumbo," starring Bryan Cranston, took in $77,229 from five theaters.
Overall, things are looking up at the box office. The final installment of "The Hunger Games" franchise opens in two weeks, and "Star Wars: The Force Awakens" bows in just over a month.
"We certainly needed this infusion of excitement into a marketplace that has been just lying there doing nothing almost for the past few weeks," Dergarabedian said. "This is good news for Hollywood to get things back on track."
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," $73 million ($117.8 million international).
2. "The Peanuts Movie," $45 million ($4.6 million international).
3. "The Martian," $9.3 million ($9.3 million international).
4. "Goosebumps," $7 million ($3.8 million international).
5. "Bridge of Spies," $6.1 million ($3.1 million international).
6. "Hotel Transylvania 2," $3.6 million ($15 million international).
7. "Burnt," $3 million ($3.6 million international).
8. "The Last Witch Hunter," $2.7 million ($10.7 million international).
9. "The Intern," $1.8 million ($2.8 million international).
10. "Paranormal Activity: The Ghost Dimension," $1.7 million ($6.9 million international).
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Estimated ticket sales for Friday through Sunday at international theaters (excluding the U.S. and Canada), according to Rentrak:
1. "Spectre," $117.8 million.
2. "Maze Runner: The Scorch Trials," $21.3 million.
3. "Ex-Files 2: The Backup Strikes Back," $17 million.
4. "Hotel Transylvania 2," $15 million.
5. "Everest," $13.1 million.
6. "The Priests," $11.5 million.
7. "The Last Witch Hunter," $10.7 million.
8. "The Martian," $9.3 million.
9. "Paranormal Activity: The Ghost Dimension,"$6.9 million.
10. "Last Woman Standing (Sheng Zhe Wei Wang)," $6.3 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