Tag Archives: maleficent: mistress of evil

Terminator: Dark Fate Takes the Weekend with a $28 Million Debut

Posted on by
Terminator: Dark Fate

The Terminator is back as Terminator: Dark Fate topped the weekend box office. The film earned an estimated $28 million which is just a hair better than 2015’s Terminator Genisys. The film received a “B+” CinemaScore and opened in 4,086 theaters. The film does have an impressive 70% on Rottentomatoes from critics and 85% approval from the audience so it’s not the quality of the film that’s the issue. It could be the franchise has a ceiling and audiences aren’t down for this nostalgia.

The movie has also earned $95.6 million from the foreign box office for a worldwide total of $123.6 million which is shy of the $185 million budget.

Terminator Genisys which opened to similar numbers went on to gross $89.8 million domestically, $350.8 million internationally, and $440.6 million worldwide.

In second place was Joker which added an estimated $13.9 million to its domestic total a 27.7% drop from the previous weekend. The film has earned $299.6 million domestically. The movie has also earned $634.4 million at the international box office bringing its worldwide total to $934 million making the elusive $1 billion box office within reach. With just a $55 million budget, the film is one of the most profitable of the year.

Maleficent: Mistress of Evil dropped to third place with an estimated $12.2 million to bring its domestic total to $84.3 million.

In fourth place was Harriet which opened with an estimated $12 million. With a budget of just $17 million, it’s a solid opening for the film which debuted in just 2,059 theaters.

The Addams Family rounded out the top five adding an estimated $8.5 million domestically to its total to bring that to $85.3 million.

All totals will likely be adjusted and the above are just the initial estimates.

We’ll be back in an hour for a deeper dive into this year’s comic adaptations.

Joker Retakes the Weekend Box Office (Update)

Posted on by
Joker

Update: In the revised numbers for the weekend, Maleficent: Mistress of Evil took the top spot with $19.37 million while Joker remained in second with $19.25 million.

Countdown also took fourth with $8.9 million while Zombieland: Double Tap took fifth with $8.7 million.

Joker dethroned Maleficent: Mistress of Evil to take the weekend box office. The film dipped just 35% from the previous weekend after four weeks. The film earned an estimated $18.9 million. Domestically, the movie has earned $277.6 million. Internationally, the film added $47.8 million to bring that total to $571.5 million. Worldwide, its total sits at $849.1 million and that’s without China. The film will likely pass the $900 million mark and there’s a chance it’ll cross the $1 billion mark as well, though that’s more difficult without China.

Maleficent: Mistress of Evil dropped to second place dipping 49.8% in its second weekend. The film earned an estimated $18.5 million to bring that total to $65.4 million. Internationally, it added $64.3 million for a total of $228.1 million for a worldwide total near $294 million.

In third place was The Addams Family which held steady. That film dropped just 28% with an estimated $11.7 million. Domestically it stands at $72.8 million. It also earned an estimated $10.5 million from 19 markets to bring that toal to $11.2 million and a worldwide total around $84 million.

Zombieland: Double Tap took fourth place with an estimated $11.6 million dipping 57% in its second weekend. The film’s domestic total stands at $47 million. Internationally it added $9 million from 40 markets for an overseas total of $16.6 million and global total of $63.6 million.

Rounding out the top five was Countdown which earned an estimated $9 million. The film cost just $6.5 million to make. It also debuted in 16 international markets and earned an estimated $1.7 million.

We’ll be back in an hour for a deeper dive into 2019’s comic films.

Maleficent: Mistress of Evil Wins the Weekend Box Office But Doesn’t Meet Expectations

Posted on by
Maleficent: Mistress of Evil

Maleficent: Mistress of Evil won the weekend box office with an estimated $36 million knocking Joker from the top spot. The earning was almost half of the $69.4 million of the original film. It was predicted to open in the mid-$40 million range. The film did get an “A” CinemaScre and is well-reviewed by audiences so it wasn’t the quality of the film itself that was the issue. The movie crowd was 56% female and 54% aged 25 or older. The original film was 60% female and a little younger.

Internationally, the film opened in all major markets earning $117 million bringing the worldwide total to $153 million.

Joker dipped to second place in its third week. It dropped just 48% which is a strong performance of an estimated $29.2 million domestically. It has now earned $247.2 million at the domestic box office. Internationally, the film added $77.8 million for a foreign total of $490.3 million. Worldwide, the film has earned $737.5 million. With such success over three weeks, the question is if the film will cross the coveted $1 billion mark.

Zombieland 2: Double Tap opened in third with a stronger than expected $26.7 million. It beat the original film which earned $24.7 million ten years ago. The film earned a “B+” CinemaScore and saw a crowd that was 57% male and 56% was aged 25 and older. That male demographic is an issue as it’s almost the opposite o the original film and horror films tend to do well with women.

Internationally, the film is playing in 17 markets and earned $5 million to bring that total to $5.3 million. It opens in Russia, Brazil, and Mexico this coming weekend with France on October 30, Germany on November 7, South Korea on November 13, Italy on November 14, and Japan on November 22.

The Addams Family earned an estimated $16.1 million in its second weekend to bring its domestic total to $56.8 million after ten days.

Rounding out the top five was Gemini Man which dropped 59% in its second weekend. The film earned $8.5 million to bring its domestic total to $36.5 million. Internationally, the film earned an estimated $33.4 million, the majority from China. The film’s international total is $82.2 million for a worldwide earning of $118.7 million.

We’ll be back in an hour for a deeper dive into 2019’s comic adaptations.

Movie Review: Maleficent: Mistress of Evil

Posted on by
Maleficent: Mistress of Evil poster

Maleficent in 2014 made a killing at the box office. It was a critical success, and (along with Tim Burton’s Alice in Wonderland) set off Disney’s current craze of remaking all of their IP as live action blockbusters. So the sequel Maleficent: Mistress of Evil was a sure bet, right? Yes and no.

Angelina Jolie returns as the eponymous and misunderstood queen of the fey. Elle Fanning is back as her adopted daughter, the Princess Aurora. Prince Phillip has proposed to her, so now it’s time to meet the parents! Michelle Pfieffer sinks her teeth into the juicy role of Queen Ingrith, who bears a giant grudge against the magical moor lands and all magic users. This great feud breaks out between her and Maleficent. It’s like if Joan Crawford and Bette Davis’s squabbles were also all a pretense for war. There are certain elements in this film that seem to condemn the military-industrial complex. . . or at least its equivalent in a pre-industrial medieval setting.

Maleficent also discovers her heritage as she discovers a near-extinct species of dark fey that once lived all throughout the land but who have hunted by humans and driven into hiding. Their tribes are divided between wanting to pursue war or peace with the humans, with the peace faction being led by Conall (Chiwetel Ejiofor) and the war faction led by Borra (Ed Skrein).

The giant action sequences and production design of this film are phenomenal. The only problem is that it’s the personal interactions between Pfieffer and Jolie that are the best parts here. The giant action scenes where they are literally fighting one another are altogether less interesting.

While visually stunning, Maleficent: Mistress of Evil is missing some of its edge. I loved the first Maleficent. It’s an amazing film that dared to turn the essence of a classic Disney tale on its head. It features a strong feminist message about not pitting women against each other. This sequel feels like nothing but pitting powerful women against each other.

Still, the aesthetics of the film are amazing. Maleficent’s costumes and makeup/CG-enhancements make her absolutely stunning to look at. Maybe it’s the wings, maybe it’s those cheekbones, maybe it’s the CG-coloring that makes the green magic swirl in her eyes, but it’s gorgeous.

While maybe not as good as the first, like most modern sequels this film does it bigger and brashier. That’s not necessarily a good thing. If you’re a fan it’s a good enough reason to go ahead and make sure you see this on the big screen.

3 1/2 out of 5 stars