Welcome to this week’s edition of “Movie News Monday!” (“MNM!”)
What is ‘MNM’ all about?
In case this is your first time here, “Movie News Monday!” (MNM) is the place to visit on Mondays for a quick recap of trending entertainment news! I’ve collected info, rumors, etc from all over just for you to keep you updated on movies being released, actors/actresses in roles, dvd releases to keep a lookout for, which movie won in the box office over the weekend, etc! Are you ready for your weekly update? Here it is!
This Just In!!…
#1- “The Weekend Winner.” Last weekend, 2 wide new releases entered the box office arena and audiences flooded theaters to watch Noah while Sabotage fell victim to its title. The previous first place winner, Divergent, dropped 51% while The Grand Budapest Hotel moved up 30%. Notably, 300: Rise of an Empire fell from 5th to 9th place but it did cross the total gross mark of $100M over the weekend.
Here are the weekend’s estimated results for Fri, Mar 28-Sun, Mar 30:
- Noah ~$44M
- Divergent ~$26.5M
- Muppets Most Wanted ~$11.4M
- Mr. Peabody & Sherman ~$9.5M
- God’s Not Dead ~$9.1M
- The Grand Budapest Hotel ~$8.8M
- Sabotage ~$5.3M
- Need for Speed ~$4.33M
- 300: Rise of an Empire ~$4.3M
- Non-Stop ~$4.1M
*Actuals may vary as earnings are updated much later on Monday afternoons. For updates, visit boxofficemojo.com.
Congratulations to Noah. (My review)
What did YOU watch this weekend?
#2- “Magic Returns.” The director’s chair has been filled for the upcoming sequel recently rumored to be entitled Magic Mike XXL. Channing Tatum’s 2012 box office hit will see a sequel come to the big screen under the direction of Gregory Jacobs who often occupied the role of first assistant director to director Steven Soderbergh (Magic Mike).
This expected sequel is no surprise as the first film was a fan favorite and earned well over $165 million (on a reported budget of $7 million). Currently, the list of actors attached to this project still remain in the “rumored” category, but I expect Warner Bros to move forward quickly in order to secure another film that fans will be eager to throw their money at. They may dance around the issue of pay with the actors for a while, but fans should expect to see news of cast members returning for more magic soon.
Will the sequel be equally magical for the studios?
#3- “Rolling Out More Details About Rowling’s Beasts“ Back in September (here), I reported about author J.K. Rowling and Warner Bros partnering up again to take magic/movie fans back to the world of Harry Potter with plans for a series of films based on the Harry Potter semi-spinoff Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them. 
This past week, in an interview with the New York Times, Warner Bros. Pictures CEO Kevin Tsujihara spoke in further detail about the project and revealed that current plans are to make the magical experience a trilogy. Set in New York and centering around the adventures of a “magizoologist” by the name of Newt Scarmander, the three “megamovies” will let fans experience the stories referenced in the Harry Potter films themselves. Author J.K. Rowling is currently penning the first movie and is expected to write the following two sequels.
Are you ready for the Future to be the Present?
#4- “See More Skin & Sin.” Here are a few production stills from the highly anticipated sequel Sin City: A Dame to Kill For: (click photo to enlarge and scroll using arrow keys)
Official synopsis:
SIN CITY: A DAME TO KILL FOR weaves together two of Miller’s classic stories with new tales in which the town’s most hard boiled citizens cross paths with some of its more repulsive inhabitants.
Releasing in theaters on August 22, 2014, Sin City: A Dame to Kill For is directed by Robert Rodriguez and stars Eva Green, Jessica Alba, Bruce Willis, Mickey Rourke, Josh Brolin, Rosario Dawson and more. Check out the trailer.
Are you ready for this sequel to finally arrive in theaters?
#5- “This Week’s Blu-ray release.” This week, look for the following films on Blu-ray to possibly add to your collection:
Anchorman 2: The Legend Continues- The news anchor of infamy is kind of a big deal, but his movie was kind of a big dud. This sequel finds the San Diego news anchor in New York City and more craziness and conniving continues. With Ron Burgundy things always escalate quickly. Get this comedy if you must, but I recommend avoiding it…and all the other new releases this week as well. This April 1st, the joke will be on those who buy it expecting it to be great like the first.
Several other films also release this week. Check it out!
Also releasing:
- 47 Ronin (one of THE worst movies of last year)
- Knights of Bada$$dom
- …and more.
Which will you pick up?
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Well, that’s it for this round of “Movie News Monday!”
Thanks for reading! Happy Watching!
-T, The Focused Filmographer
up next: “Time to Vote Tuesday!”
