Entertainment

‘Civil War’ declares victory at box office

Published

10 months ago

April 15, 2024

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Alex Garland’s provocative “Civil War” didn’t only ignite the discourse. The film also inspired audiences to go to the cinemas this weekend where it surpassed expectations and earned $25.7 million in ticket sales in North America, according to studio estimates Sunday.

It’s the biggest R-rated opening of the year to date and a record for A24, the studio behind films like “Everything Everywhere All At Once” and “The Iron Claw.” “Civil War” also unseated “Godzilla x Kong” from its perch atop the box office. The titan movie from Warner Bros. had held the No. 1 spot for the past two weekends.

“Civil War,” starring Kirsten Dunst, Wagner Moura and Cailee Spaeny as front-line journalists in the future covering a devastating conflict in the U.S. and trying to make their way to Washington, D.C. The story, written by Garland, who is also the mind behind “Ex Machina” and “Annihilation,” imagines a U.S. in which California and Texas have united against a president who has disbanded the FBI and given himself a third term.

Though entirely fictional, “Civil War” has been inspiring debates since the first trailer that have extended beyond the musings of film critics and traditional reviews. This weekend, The New York Times ran two opinion pieces related to the movie, one by Stephen Marche and another by Michelle Goldberg. There were also pieces on CNN and Politico.

Going into the weekend, projections pegged the film to debut in the $15 to $24 million

range. The studio said, “Civil War” overperformed in markets “from LA to El Paso.” The data analytics company EntTelligence reported that the film has attracted over 1.7 million patrons this weekend and that the top three markets were Los Angeles, New York and Dallas.

“The title alone is enough to spark a conversation in a year where the political discourse is top of mind,” said Paul Dergarabedian, the senior media analyst for Comscore. “And they couldn’t have picked a better date. This movie is perfectly timed in a month that is very quiet.”

The film opened on 3,838 screens in the U.S. and Canada, including IMAX. It’s the most expensive movie that the studio has ever made, with a production budget of $50 million, which does not account for millions spent on marketing and promotion.

IMAX showings of “Civil War,” which was playing on 400 of the large format screens, accounted for $4.2 million, or 16.5% of the domestic total.

Reviews have been largely positive. It’s currently at 83% on Rotten Tomatoes, with a 77% audience score. Its CinemaScore was a B-, which has sometimes indicated that word of mouth might not be strong going forward. But that might not be the case with “Civil War,” which doesn’t have a tremendous amount of competition over the next few weeks until “The Fall Guy” opens on May 3.

“You have to take all the metrics together, including the competitive landscape,” Dergarabedian said.

But it is a notable win for the studio, which doesn’t always open films nationwide out of the gates. Before “Civil War,” A24’s biggest debut was the Ari Aster horror “Hereditary,” which opened to $13.6 million in 2018.

“This isn’t destined to be a $200 million global blockbuster. But it’s a very high-profile win for A24,” Dergarabedian said. “They’re a studio that pushes the envelope. They’re a brand associated with a certain level of quality and filmmaking expertise, pushing boundaries and taking risks. It’s well-earned over the years.”

Second place went to “Godzilla x Kong: The New Empire,” which earned $15.5 million in its third weekend to bring its running domestic total to nearly $158 million. Another “Empire” movie, Sony’s “Ghostbusters: Frozen Empire,” took third place in its fourth weekend with $5.8 million. It’s now at $160 million worldwide.

Rounding out the top five was Universal and DreamWorks’ “Kung Fu Panda 4,” in fourth with $5.5 million in weekend six, and “Dune: Part Two” with $4.3 million in its seventh weekend. “Dune 2” has now earned $272 million domestically.

This weekend also saw the box office year-to-date comparisons take a big hit. Last year, “The Super Mario Bros. Movie” brought in over $92 million in its second weekend in theaters. On the same weekend in 2023, the top 10 accounted for over $142 million, compared to this year’s $68.4 million. The year to date is back down to 16% after seeing some recovery with the success of “Dune: Part Two.”

“The box office has been a seesaw,” Dergarabedian said. “But we all knew this was going to be a rough month for comps because of ‘Mario.'”

Estimated ticket sales for Friday through Sunday at U.S. and Canadian theaters, according to Comscore. Final domestic figures will be released Monday.

1. “Civil War,” $25.7 million.

2. “Godzilla x Kong: The New Empire,” $15.5 million.

3. “Ghostbusters: Frozen Empire,” $5.8 million.

4. “Kung Fu Panda 4,” $5.5 million.

5. “Dune: Part Two,” $4.3 million.

6. “Monkey Man,” $4.1 million.

7. “The First Omen,” $3.8 million.

8. “The Long Game,’ $1.4 million.

9. “Shrek 2,’ $1.4 million.

10. “SUGA – Agust D Tour ‘D-DAY’ The Movie,” $990,881.

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Staff Reporter

Entertainment

Salman Khan’s ‘Nepotism’ Joke Steals the Show at Nephew Ayaan’s Song Launch in Dubai

Published

1 day ago

February 21, 2025

Michael Gomes

Salman Khan has never been one to hold back, and at a recent event in Dubai, he added his signature dose of humour to the oft-debated topic of nepotism in Bollywood. The superstar, fondly known as Sallubhai, was in town to launch his nephew Ayaan Agnihotri’s debut song, “Universal Laws”, and in true Salman style, he had the audience in splits with his witty remark.

As Dubai’s DJ Bliss – who hosted the event – praised the Khan family for their unwavering support for Ayaan, Salman quipped, “That’s what nepotism is!” His playful jab left everyone in the room in splits.

And as the crowd cheered, Salman officially launched the song, marking Ayaan’s much-anticipated entry into the music world.

A Star-Studded Affair

The event turned into a Bollywood reunion, with stars like Arbaaz Khan, Sohail Khan, Neha Dhupia, Angad Bedi, and other celebrities coming together to celebrate Ayaan’s big moment.

During his speech, Salman highlighted that Ayaan, the son of Atul Agnihotri and Alvira Khan Agnihotri (Salman’s sister), hails from a family of seasoned film producers. He also mentioned that Ayaan’s cousin, Alizeh Agnihotri, who recently made her Bollywood debut, shares the same film-driven lineage.

Ayaan and Salman’s Previous Collaboration

This isn’t the first time the uncle-nephew duo has joined forces. Salman and Ayaan previously worked together on the track, “You Are Mine”, where the young artist showcased his rap skills alongside the Bollywood megastar. The song, composed by Vishal Mishra, became a talking point among fans.

Salman & Sanjay Dutt Spotted in Saudi Arabia

Meanwhile, Salman is keeping busy with multiple projects. A recent video circulating on social media showed him and actor Sanjay Dutt filming on the streets of Saudi Arabia. The clip, shared by an X user, captured the two actors casually chatting with crew members.

The buzz is that Salman and Sanjay are working on a cameo appearance in the Bollywood remake of the 2021 Argentine film Seven Dogs. While details remain under wraps, fans are excited to see the duo share screen space again.

From family celebrations in Dubai to shooting in Saudi Arabia, Salman Khan is proving yet again that his star power knows no boundaries.

(Inputs from Hindustan Times, Zee News)

Announcements

From Bollywood to Britain: Kumar Sanu’s soulful voice wins big in UK

Published

3 days ago

February 20, 2025

Michael Gomes

If you grew up vibing to Bollywood singer Kumar Sanu’s golden hits, here’s some news that’ll make you smile — Britain just honoured him with not one, but two prestigious awards.

The legendary singer, whose soulful voice defined Bollywood music in the ’90s and beyond, was recognised by the UK Parliament for his incredible contributions to music. And that’s not all, he also bagged the Lifetime Achievement Award from the World Book of Records, a double win for the veteran singer, whose is fondly called ‘Sanu Da’.

Special Honour at UK Parliament
The House of Commons, UK, celebrated Kumar Sanu’s impact on global music. This is actually the second time the UK Parliament has recognised the singer’s status in the music world.

Talking about the honour, Sanu said: “I’m overwhelmed and deeply grateful. Recording 28 songs in a single day is one of my proudest milestones, and to be recognised for my music means the world to me. This award is for my incredible fans. Thank you from the bottom of my heart.”

A musical celebration in London
Sanu’s daughter, Shannon K, was by his side for this special occasion, and the two even performed together at a star-studded event in London. Music lovers, dignitaries, and Bollywood fans came together to celebrate the voice that defined a generation.

In his acceptance speech, he said: “Music has been my lifelong passion. Being recognised internationally, especially by the UK Parliament again, is beyond humbling. I dedicate this to my fans — you are my biggest strength.”

A record-breaking career

Holds a Guinness World Record for recording the most songs in a single day 
Won five consecutive Filmfare Awards for Best Playback Singer  
Honoured with India’s Padma Shri award for his contributions to music

From Bollywood soundtracks to international recognition, Kumar Sanu’s legacy continues to shine.Music lovers will be happy Sanu is still making music that spans generations.

Entertainment

Megastar Salman Khan coming to Dubai to launch nephew’s musical debut

Published

4 days ago

February 18, 2025

Michael Gomes

One of India’s biggest movie stars, Salman Khan, is set to back his nephew Ayaan Agnihotri as he takes his first step into the music industry with a grand debut in Dubai.
Performing under his stage name, Agni, Ayaan will launch his first track, Universal Laws, on February 20. The song marks his entry as a singer, composer, and rapper, and the event promises to be a star-studded celebration with Salman leading the charge.
According to sources, the launch will see the presence of several famous Bollywood stars including Arbaaz Khan, Sohail Khan, Alvira Khan Agnihotri, Arpita Khan Sharma, Bobby Deol, and Sonakshi Sinha, making it one of the most glamorous musical debuts of the year.
More than just a song, Universal Laws showcases Agni’s artistic versatility. As a singer, rapper, lyricist, and composer, he has infused the track with deep emotions and powerful storytelling, set to dynamic beats. The song has been produced, mixed, and mastered by Aditya Dev, ensuring a high-quality sonic experience. Following its grand launch in Dubai, Universal Laws will be available on Agni’s official YouTube channel and all major streaming platforms.
Ayaan, the son of Atul Agnihotri and Salman’s sister Alvira Khan Agnihotri, has already had a taste of the industry. He previously collaborated with his uncle Salman on the track You Are Mine, composed by Vishal Mishra.
The debutant shared in an earlier interview that his superstar uncle and composer Vishal had been working on the song for some time and were close to finalizing it when Salman felt it needed something extra. That’s when he reached out to Alvira, suggesting that Ayaan rap for an eight-bar section of the track.
Ayaan revealed that he ‘wrote two versions of the rap in just 20 minutes, and when his uncle (Salman) heard them, he immediately asked his nephew to meet Vishal and finalise the tracks.
With Salman Khan’s unwavering backing and a promising start, Agni’s musical journey is set to be an exciting one.