Weekend Box Office: Abominable Tops Downton Abbey, Holdovers Remain Strong
Chris Kavan - wrote on 09/29/19 at 11:22 PM CT
It was a win-win for Universal Studios as the top two films at the box office can be claimed by the studio. The animated film, Abominable, opened on top while Downton Abbey (Focus Features - but Universal owns the world-wide rights) took runner-up. Many of the holdover, including Hustlers and It: Chapter Two, had strong holds as well while Judy made a splash in the top 10, and increased its …
New in Theaters Sept. 27: Abominable
Chris Kavan - wrote on 09/26/19 at 12:02 AM CT
It will be almost one year to the day this Friday that Smallfoot was released in theaters (9-28-18) and this year Hollywood is all about more frozen friends with Abominable. The only new wide release, and the first animated offering in over a month, better hope families are ready for another outing, as that will be the film's one saving grace. Downton Abbey scored a major win - but it may not be …
Knives Out, Jexi, Ford v Ferrari, Maleficent and More in This Week's MPAA Ratings Bulletin
Chris Kavan - wrote on 09/25/19 at 12:10 PM CT
The Ratings Board sure must have been saving this up - because this is the biggest update in many, many months. And not only is this in terms of quantity - but the quality is pretty damn good too. I mean, you have a smart, star-studded murder mystery from Rian Johnson, a car rivalry that is one for the ages, another film about trusting your technology too much and a sequel for one of Disney's …
New on DVD and Blu-Ray Week of September 24 - September 30
Harley Lond - wrote on 09/24/19 at 07:20 PM CT
FROM THE BIG SCREEN:
"Yesterday": A sweet and charming fantasy on success - in life, love and work, from director Danny Boyle, the eclectic helmer behind "Trainspotting," "28 Days Later," "Sunshine," "Slumdog Millionaire" and "127 Hours." Jack Malik was just another struggling songwriter ... but that was yesterday. After a mysterious blackout, Jack (Himesh Patel) discovers he is the only person …
Weekend Box Office: Downton Abbey Downs Ad Astra, Rambo in Proper Fashion
Chris Kavan - wrote on 09/23/19 at 01:12 AM CT
It was a banner weekend for Focus Features, who can boast a new best opening weekend record for the studio thanks to the impressive opening of Downton Abbey. Second place is going to be a close one as both Ad Astra and Rambo: Last Blood are running neck-and-neck for the runner-up spot. That leaves It: Chapter 2 and Hustlers to round out the top five as the fall continues to shine.
1) DOWNTON …
New in Theaters Sept. 20: Ad Astra, Rambo: Last Blood, Downton Abbey
Chris Kavan - wrote on 09/19/19 at 01:07 AM CT
With Pennywise and the Loser's Club managing to stave off a strong showing from Hustlers, we'll see if the horror sequel can weather the storm from Brad Pitt, Sylvester Stallone and British royalty. Three new films open this weekend, led by Ad Astra, featuring Pitt on a journey in space while we also have the (likely) final film in the Rambo series and a film based on the popular PBS series, …
Zombieland: Doubletap, Charlie's Angels and More in This Week's MPAA Ratings Bulletin
Chris Kavan - wrote on 09/17/19 at 10:51 PM CT
As summer fades into fall, the MPAA Ratings Board isn't slowing down... or speeding up for that matter. Fall means Oscar bait, leftovers and maybe, just maybe, some diamonds in the rough. While neither of the two films this week are going to end up with major awards, both have dedicated fans and we'll see if that's enough to make them resonate with their respective audiences. We have a horror …
New on DVD and Blu-Ray Week of September 17 - September 23
Harley Lond - wrote on 09/17/19 at 12:46 AM CT
FROM THE BIG SCREEN:
In "X-Men: Dark Phoenix," the crew of mutants face their most formidable and powerful foe: one of their own, Jean Grey. During a rescue mission in space, Jean is nearly killed when she is hit by a mysterious cosmic force. Once she returns home, this force not only makes her infinitely more powerful, but far more unstable. Wrestling with this entity inside her, Jean …
Weekend Box Office: It: Chapter 2 Repeats, Hustlers Opens Strong, Goldfinch Bombs
Chris Kavan - wrote on 09/16/19 at 12:00 AM CT
It was a good weekend for horror and for STX. It: Chapter 2, despite some decent competition, still managed to retain the top spot, which continues to bode well for its long-term prospects. While it may not have opened in the top spot, make no mistake, Hustlers was a big win for STX Entertainment, which needed a big win and finally got one. Things didn't work out so well for Warner Bros., …
New in Theaters September 13: Hustlers, The Goldfinch
Chris Kavan - wrote on 09/11/19 at 11:55 PM CT
It was certainly a good weekend last week for It: Chapter 2 as the sequel to the R-rated blockbuster came in right in line with high expectations and gave the fall a much-needed boost after a kind of disappointing end-of-summer box office. Pennywise and the Losers Club is about to be joined by some Hustlers - that is, a group of women who use their assets to stick it to the man - and make some …
The Irishman, Lady and the Tramp and More in This Week's MPAA Ratings Bulletin
Chris Kavan - wrote on 09/11/19 at 11:37 AM CT
Welcome to an all-streaming MPAA Ratings update! While I usual overlook both limited and streaming releases, this week, since the MPAA Ratings Board decided not to give me any new wide releases to speak of, I'm going to showcase two big film from the biggest (or soon-to-be biggest) streaming platforms out there. That would be The Irishman, from Netflix and the new live-action version of Lady and …
New on DVD and Blu-Ray Week of September 10 - September 16
Harley Lond - wrote on 09/10/19 at 11:35 PM CT
FROM THE BIG SCREEN:
"Aladdin (2019)": Live-action adaptation of the studio's animated classic, in which a kind-hearted street urchin and a power-hungry Grand Vizier vie for a magic lamp that has the power to make their deepest wishes come true. Try as he might, Will Smith just can't compete with Robin Williams, who provided the voice for the Genie in the 1992 version. The direction is a bit …
Weekend Box Office: It Chapter 2 Easily Dominates in Second Best Horror Opening of All Time
Chris Kavan - wrote on 09/09/19 at 12:06 AM CT
The original It is in good company as the sequel, It: Chapter Two came in behind it to claim the crown for the second-best horror opening of all time. It is also the second-best September opening of all time as well - also behind the first It. None of the rest of the films in the top five fell over 50% compared to last weekend - even if they were far behind the top film. It was a much-needed …
New in Theaters September 06: It Chapter Two
Chris Kavan - wrote on 09/04/19 at 08:38 PM CT
Many say that Labor Day spells the end of summer - and (unless you are Disney) it was a rather underwhelming summer season. But the fall looks to kick things off in a much better way - thanks to director Andy Muschietti and a certain, sinister clown. That's right, the highest-grossing R-rated film of all time is getting a sequel, and though it clocks in with a longer running time, it looks to …
Brahms: The Boy 2 and More in This Week's MPAA Ratings Bulletin
Chris Kavan - wrote on 09/03/19 at 08:38 PM CT
Well, the post Labor-Day slump has hit the MPAA Ratings Board and we're back to but a single wide release getting a rating this week. And, wouldn't you know it, it's a horror sequel - to a somewhat mediocre offering in my eyes, but low-budget horror is always an easy sell and maybe this sequel will prove a rare offering that is better than the original... but I'm not going to be holding my …
New on DVD and Blu-Ray Week of September 03 - September 09
Harley Lond - wrote on 09/03/19 at 07:45 AM CT
FROM THE BIG SCREEN:
"Men in Black: International": Even Thor himself (Chris Hemsworth) couldn't save this tired sequel to the brilliant "Men in Black" outings. Here he joins with Tessa Thompson to unmask a mole in the MIB organization, but their chemistry is not enough to lift the film above yawnsville (and despite great creature effects). Time to end the franchise. Co-stars Kumail Nanjiani, …
Labor Day Weekend Box Office: Angel Has Fallen Leads Quiet Box Office
Chris Kavan - wrote on 09/01/19 at 09:51 PM CT
Labor Day Weekend tends to be one of the more uninspired movie weekends of the year, and 2019 is no different. The top 12 brought in just $69.5 million - the second slowest weekend of the year thus far and ends summer 2019 as the 8th largest on record and about 4% behind the 2018 box office through the same time period. It remains to be seen if the fall/winter season will have enough heavy …
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