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tomatometer:

95% Star Wars: The Force Awakens

14% Alvin & The Chipmunks: The Road Chip

61% Sisters

70% The Hunger Games: Mockingjay – Part 2

93% Creed
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n/a Dilwale
n/a Bajirao Mastani

metacritic:

*click pic(s) for source*

Box Office: ‘Star Wars: The Force Awakens’ Shreds Records With $238 Million Debut

“Star Wars: The Force Awakens” micronized box office records this weekend, racking up a monumental $238 million opening and justifying the Walt Disney Company’s $4 billion purchase of LucasFilm.

That 2012 acquisition was intended to launch a cinematic universe set in a galaxy far, far away: a series of interconnected sequels, spin-offs, and prequels that would serve as a filmic parallel to Disney’s Marvel Comics-inspired adventures.

J.J. Abrams’ nostalgic take on the series of space operas George Lucas created four decades ago was a hit with critics and fans, earning strong reviews and an A CinemaScore. Its opening soared past the previous high-water mark of $208.8 million established last summer by “Jurassic World.” It more than doubles “The Hobbit: An Unexpected Journey’s” December record debut of $84.6 million.

Globally, “Star Wars: The Force Awakens” scored the second biggest opening in history, earning $517 million worldwide, behind only “Jurassic World’s” $525 million bow. Unlike “Jurassic World,” the seventh film in the “Star Wars” saga did not have the benefit of showing in China on its inaugural weekend. It opens there on Jan. 9.

“Star Wars: The Force Awakens'” dominance was a foregone conclusion. It has already shattered pre-sales records, selling more than $100 million of advance tickets. A decade separates Abrams’ film and Lucas’ poorly received (but immensely profitable) prequel films. The absence appeared to have stoked excitement and made the film’s debut a true cultural event. Scalpers sold tickets to prime showtimes, parents weaned on the “Star Wars” saga took their children to introduce a new generation to the epic push-and-pull between the Dark Side and the Light, and theaters were forced to clarify their costume policy, with many chains outlawing masks and blasters. Lightsabers were treated more leniently, but exhibitors such as AMC mandated that they be left off during showtimes.

Men made up the bulk of ticket buyers, comprising 58% of the opening weekend audience. Adults represented 71% of the crowd with families accounting for 20% of consumers. The film with its inter-galactic battles and space-hopping adventures played particularly well in premium formats — 3D was 47% of tickets sales, Imax accounted for 12%, and premium large formats were responsible for 7%.

A few, brave films debuted against the “Star Wars” juggernaut. Twentieth Century Fox tried to snag families with young children, offering up “Alvin and the Chipmunks: The Road Chip.” The sequel to the on-going “Chipmunks” franchise earned $14.4 million from 3,653 theaters. It cost $75 million to make.

Universal fielded Tina Fey and Amy Poehler’s “Sisters,” a comedy about two siblings who have a raucous house party, to the tune of $13.4 million from 2,952 theaters. The film cost $30 million to produce.

Holdovers “The Hunger Games: Mockingjay – Part 2” and “Creed” rounded out the top five, earning $5.6 million and $5.1 million, respectively. “The Hunger Games” sequel has generated $254.4 million and the “Rocky” spin-off has made $87.9 million.

In the Oscar contender field, Paramount held “The Big Short” steady in eight theaters, making $350,000. The financial crisis comedy has earned $1.3 million since debuting last weekend. It expands nationally on Dec. 23.

Sony Pictures Classics’ “Son of Saul” bowed to $38,891 from three theaters, for a per-screen average of $12,964. The Holocaust drama from Hungarian filmmaker Laszlo Nemees is viewed as a liked Best Foreign Film Academy Award nominee.

More to come…

*click pic for full list/source*



*click pic for source*

 

[Charles Foster Kane]

You know what, I kind of like the title. lol

 

[kewlmyc]

Why would any movie other than Star Wars open this weekend?

 

[strafer]

Star Wars: The BoxOffice Awakens

 

[freenudemacusers]

Just think how much higher next week will be when all the people who avoided the cinema, were xmas shopping or in school come to see what the excitement is all about. I predict a minimum of a 3% increase.

 

[Epcott]

Interested to see SW's legs. Alvin did better than expected.

 

[ProudCanuck]

Why would any movie other than Star Wars open this weekend?

To attract the people who show up at theater thinking they can get good seats but realize they won't so they check other options while they are there in the theater

 

[Matt_]

It opening that high worldwide without China must mean that some overseas records in some markets must have fallen
Looking forward to the breakdowns

Respectable amounts for Sisters and Alvin given the competition.
I was expecting Mockingjay to drop a lot more too

Good Dinosaur will finish the lowest grossing domestic Pixar film by far

 

[BronsonLee]

Sisters and Alvin did alright.

 

[Anth0ny]

The week is finally here!

Good job Star Wars. Well deserved. Next, Avatar.

 

[Shepard]

Man, Star Wars destroyed every other movie; like, look at those drops.

 

[Michael F. Assbender]

Star Wars "slays" box office competition.

Get it? Huh? "Slays"?

 

[Afro Samurai]

How long do I have to wait until I don't have to wait in line for good seats?

I remember the tickets to the 2nd Pirates of the Caribbean movie sold out a week after release.

 

[Travo]

What the hell were they thinking releasing Alvin and the Chipmunks during the same weekend as Star Wars?

 

[Dusktildawn48]

To attract the people who show up at theater thinking they can get good seats but realize they won't so they check other options while they are there in the theater

I see it more as husbands go see star wars and wives go see sisters.

 

[Jacob]

It opening that high worldwide without China must mean that some overseas records in some markets must have fallen

Yeah, this is almost the bigger news to me.

Will be interesting to see if the projected 29% fall on Sunday is significantly different with the actuals. The early Saturday estimates were only 60M.

 

[Mix Master]

Disney is finished, time to give the rights back to marvel.

 

[ProudCanuck]

I see it more as husbands go see star wars and wives go see sisters.

Bad marriages

 

[BronsonLee]

What the hell were they thinking releasing Alvin and the Chipmunks during the same weekend as Star Wars?

They were thinking counterprogramming

And it turned out just fine

 

[G-Fex]

congrats nerds

 

[brandonh83]

Someone at my screening of SW, between trailers after like seemingly 16 trailers, impatiently said "play Alvin."

So don't write off Alvin.

 

[freenudemacusers]

Disney is finished, time to give the rights back to marvel.

We might even get midichlorians back 🙌🏼

 

[BronsonLee]

We might even get midichlorians back 🙌🏼

Finally. THE DREAM

 

[Saucycarpdog]

And people were saying a $250 million opening. Yet another disappointment from Disney, the company of bad choices. Save us Lucas.

Spoiler

I'm joking

 

[blame space]

I just got to the theater and star wars is sold out so now I cant see it

 

[Travo]

They were thinking counterprogramming

And it turned out just fine

It's the lowest debut for the franchise and I'm sure they thought it would be counter programming for parents and kids, but those same groups like SW. I would've saved it for Christmas Day.

 

[mreddie]

Why did FOX open up against Star Wars still makes no sense.

 

[Slayven]

This will inspire a new generation of nerds. But this time women and black people will among them.

 

[Sulik2]

I suspect they are going to have to revise this one up. I know I am seeing it again today and I never do that. I bet the Sunday drop will be lower then normal percentages.

 

[BronsonLee]

It's the lowest debut for the franchise and I'm sure they thought it would be counter programming for parents and kids, but those same groups like SW. I would've saved it for Christmas Day.

Alvin is cheap to make and always does like 300 mil. They know what they're going to get.

Sisters will do just fine since it was super cheap too and had a solid opening.

There are A SHITLOAD of movies coming out on Christmas. Screens will be hard to grab.

 

[jett]

ZOMG STAR WARZ aside

Kind of interesting that two Bollywood movies were released this weekend, and both did decently, I think...? Didn't know these kind of releases were a thing in USA.

 

[G-Fex]

This will inspire a new generation of nerds. But this time women and black people will among them.

A new generation of a diverse group of weirdos. GG

 

[blame space]

Thanks a lot, people who got here before me.

 

[KillerMan91]

It opening that high worldwide without China must mean that some overseas records in some markets must have fallen
Looking forward to the breakdowns

Respectable amounts for Sisters and Alvin given the competition.
I was expecting Mockingjay to drop a lot more too

Good Dinosaur will finish the lowest grossing domestic Pixar film by far

Wouldn't surprise me if that happened in many European markets. At least here in Finland never seen as many sold out showings as with Star Wars. Even today pretty much all showings were sold out. Usually even with big titles that happens only during release day.

 

[Liquidsnake]

How the Hell did specter cost 245 million?

 

[blame space]

Is Sisters any good?

 

[Alrus]

A 14m opening for an Alvin movie seems low and I don't see why people would consider that a successful example of counterprogramming.

 

[Tobor]

Thanks a lot, people who got here before me.

Fandango, doofus. Buy your tickets ahead of time.

 

[inm8num2]

 

[Neoweee]

Just think how much higher next week will be when all the people who avoided the cinema, were xmas shopping or in school come to see what the excitement is all about. I predict a minimum of a 3% increase.

Hopefully you don't have money riding on this.

 

[freenudemacusers]

This will inspire a new generation of nerds. But this time women and black people will among them.

But if black people become nerds, whose culture will I plunder for what's cool? WHAT ABOUT ME SLAYVEN?!

Hopefully you don't have money riding on this.

Of course I do, what kind of jabroni doesn't bet on box office performance?

 

[MindCollizion]

Oh yeah, I won a bet against two people $50 each that it wouldn't break the worldwide opening record of jurassic world.

 

[crazy monkey]

ZOMG STAR WARZ aside

Kind of interesting that two Bollywood movies were released this weekend, and both did decently, I think...? Didn't know these kind of releases were a thing in USA.

they both are huge release and bollywood movies have been charting up a for a while now. there perscreen average is usually very high.

 

[BronsonLee]

How the Hell did specter cost 245 million?

HEAVY reshoots

A 14m opening for an Alvin movie seems low and I don't see why people would consider that a successful example of counterprogramming.

If they dropped it on Christmas it'd do even worse, if they did it on Dec 10, it loses a ton of screens when the Christmas movies come out

 

[FTF]

Oh yeah, I won a bet against two people $50 each that it wouldn't break the worldwide opening record of jurassic world.

Did you tell them it wasn't opening in China ;-) lol

Also, Disney is really lowballing that Sun #…it's not dropping 29% today. I'm saying it drops closer 20% with actuals and a $245m ow.

 

[BronsonLee]

Of course I do, what kind of jabroni doesn't bet on box office performance?

Well, I mean, as long as you win

Oh yeah, I won a bet against two people $50 each that it wouldn't break the worldwide opening record of jurassic world.

Yeah as long as you win

 

[Toa TAK]

This will inspire a new generation of nerds. But this time women and black people will among them.

But what about Latinos, brooo?

 

[Matt_]

A 14m opening for an Alvin movie seems low and I don't see why people would consider that a successful example of counterprogramming.

The last one only opened to $23m which was down 50% from the one before that. The franchise is on the decline anyway so managing to make as much as it did is surprising.
Besides it will play well over the next few weeks as theres not much else on for kids with the Good Dinosaur not really connecting with audiences.

 

[blame space]

Fandango, doofus. Buy your tickets ahead of time.

God I feel like an IDIOT

 

[G-Fex]

But if black people become nerds, whose culture will I plunder for what's cool? WHAT ABOUT ME SLAYVEN?!


Of course I do, what kind of jabroni doesn't bet on box office performance?

I hear the swedish are cool

God I feel like an IDIOT

Just 'feel' like one huh?