Author Archives: Andy Burns
The Magnificent Seven ride to the top of the box office
Chris Pratt and Denzel Washington were a wild and winning combination this weekend at the box office, as their new film scored with audiences. Here’s what went down:
The Magnificent Seven proved to big a hit, debuting in first place at the box office with a strong $35.4 million. This showing is director Antoine Fuqua’s biggest opening ever, and the second best western debut after Cowboys and Aliens $36 million (and you could argue that that film was more science fiction than western). The Magnificent Seven had a budget of $70 million and should wind up a profitable endeavour by the time its run is complete. Read the rest of this entry
The Magnificent Seven shooting for the top of the box office
Will a high profile remake of a classic western find favour with an audience this weekend, or will families see what the stork delivers? Here’s our prediction:
The Magnificent Seven is a remake of the classic 1960 western, with an incredible cast that reunites Training Day director Antoine Fuqua with his stars Denzel Washington and Ethan Hawke. Throw in recently minted mega-star Chris Pratt and you have all the makings of a big hit. Even with some lacklustre reviews, the names attached here are big enough to guarantee a solid opening weekend. Look for The Magnificent Seven to debut in first place with $48 million.
Blair Witch, Bridget Jones both bomb at the box office
It was a complete and utter disaster at the box office for one big new release this weekend. When we’re wrong, we go balls out wrong. Here’s what went down:
For the second weekend in a row, Sully was number one at the box office, bringing in an estimated $22 million. The film has now brought in $70 million, making back its budget and giving Tom Hanks and Clint Eastwood a nice little hit on their hands.
Will you go back in the woods with Blair Witch?
Rising from the ashes, a venerable horror film gets another sequel. 20 years later, are audiences still up for scare in the woods? Here’s our prediction:
Blair Witch is a direct sequel to the 1996 smash found footage film that scared the hell out of moviegoers (a follow-up, Book of Shadows: Blair Witch 2, is essentially being ignored). In this movie, new character Josh goes in search of his long-missing Heather, the filmmaker seen in the original film. Adam Wingard is the director this time out and is certainly a strong choice, based on his outstanding work so far (go watch You’re Next if you haven’t seen it). While reviews haven’t been strong for Blair Witch, there no doubt is an audience that is absolutely jonesing to see this film. Look for a first place showing with $45 million.
Short Cuts: The Brothers Grimsby, The Conjuring 2, The Angry Birds Movie
The Brothers Grimsby
Starring Sacha Baron Cohen and Mark Strong
Directed by Louis Leterrier
Sony
Though it was a critical and commercial disaster upon its release in North America earlier this year, The Brothers Grimsby is actually a fairly funny film, if you’re in the mood for Sacha Baron Cohen’s extreme brand of gross-out comedy. In The Brothers Grimsby, Cohen and Strong play long lost brothers – one is a football hooligan, the other a secret agent. If you can’t figure out which is which, I just can’t help you out. Director Leterrier crafts an outstanding opening action scene and keeps the film moving quickly, while Cohen and Strong work very nicely of one another. There is some seriously gross-out humour happening on-screen, but if you can stomach it, you’re guaranteed some decent laughs.
Sully soars to the top of the box office
It was a stellar weekend for the biggest new release of the week, which saw a titanic team-up between two legends of American cinema. Here’s what went down:
Sully, starring Tom Hanks and directed by Clint Eastwood debut in the top spot this weekend with an estimated $34.5 million. That’s a solid number for a dramatic film without big special effects. The film should continue to have a solid run over the next few weeks as it builds momentum and positive word of mouth spreads.
Sully looks to fly to the top of the box office
While the eyes of movie lovers around the world are focused on Toronto for the Toronto International Film Festival, there’s still the mainstream box office to look at for the coming weekend. Will a colossal team-up between Hollywood vets make an impact? Here’s our prediction:
Sully is the true story of the heroic Captain Chesley ‘Sully’ Sullenberger, who in 2009 piloted an aircraft into the Hudson River without harming a soul. The film stars Tom Hanks and is directed by Clint Eastwood, which is about as apple pie a tag team as you can get these days. The combination of the two and the feel good nature of the story should bode well for the film’s success. Look for a first place debut for Sully with $32 million.
PlayStation VR is the wave of the future
This past weekend I once more spent multiple days visiting Fan Expo Canada, our country’s version of San Diego Comic-Con. There were celebs galore, and one of the highlights was having the chance to take a picture with my little Princess and her Godfather, BBP’s own JP Fallavollita, and Burt Ward and Adam West, the original Batman and Robin. This was at my girl’s request, by the way. I’m pretty luck, I’d say.
While that moment was certainly routed in the past, another highlight was an amazing glimpse into the future. Our friends at Media Profile, Warner Brother Games Canada and PlayStation gave me the chance to test drive PlayStation VR, the company’s new Virtual Reality head set. It is, safe to say, mind blowing.
This morning I talked about my VR experience with Matt Gurney on National Post Radio on SiriusXM Canada Talks, which you can listen to below.
My little princess took this photo of me test driving the new Batman game for PlayStation VR.
Thanks again to Media Profile, Warner Brother Games Canada, PlayStation and Touchwood PR for the support and opportunities this year at Fan Expo Canada!
Money Monster feels like old school Hollywood
I’ve been a George Clooney fan since I first saw him as “George” on The Facts of Life back in the 1980s. I thought he was suitably charming as Booker on Roseanne, and while I wasn’t a big E.R. fan, I thought he was knockdown, drag out awesome in From Dusk ‘Til Dawn. All this was before he really became GEORGE CLOONEY – HOLLYWOOD ICON ™. While I don’t go out of my way to watch his every film, when I do sit down to watch something, as I did with Money Monster from director Jodie Foster, I usually enjoy George’s work. Which was mostly true this time out.
“Don’t Breathe” Hits the Top of the Box Office
Forget me and the dog days of summer. For this weekend, at least, theatres got a second wind, thanks to the arrival of a new horror film. Here’s what went down:
Don’t Breathe, the new collaboration between director Fede Alvarez and producer Sam Raimi, opened with an outstanding $26 million to land in first place at the box office. Audiences were interested in the movie which, with a budget of just $10 million, is already a big hit. While genre films tend to have steep drop offs week to week, in this case it won’t matter, as the core audience has clearly been well served. Read the rest of this entry
