[Weekend Box Office] Captain America Saluted at the Box Office
In a surprise to nobody, Marvel's Captain America: The Winter Soldier topped domestic box offices this weekend with a resounding $96.2m opening, making the film's release the largest April release in history. What's more interesting is the film's international gross, surpassing the $207m mark this weekend. For a film so deeply rooted in American patriotism, it's surprising to see Captain America perform so well overseas.
Ever since Marvel Studios officially began producing their own films with 2008's Iron Man, the studio has been on a box office tear, with each subsequent film generating millions, if not billions, in returns. Analysts have noted the The Avengers effect, which has shown to help every Marvel film released since 2012's The Avengers, and that effect has been as clear as day, with Iron Man 3, Thor: The Dark World, and now Captain America: The Winter Soldier raking in the big bucks following the superhero team-up film. Of course, the real test for Marvel, as I've been saying for over the past year, is whether or not Guardians of the Galaxy can make as much at the box office as the aforementioned films have.
In other box office news, Noah dropped to the second spot with a $17m weekend, which was a dramatic downturn from last weekend's $44m showing. Wes Anderson's The Grand Budapest Hotel climbed a spot to 5th with $6.3m, while 300: Rise of an Empire completely fell out of the Top 10. This weekend's openings include the family-friendly Rio 2, the NFL-related Draft Day, and the horror film Oculus. However, the biggest news is that The Raid 2: Berandal expands to more theaters this week; I implore every single one of you to catch The Raid 2 this weekend. Trust me, you won't regret it.
1. Captain America: The Winter Soldier - $96,200,000
2. Noah - $17,000,000
3. Divergent - $13,000,000
4. God's Not Dead - $7,726,000
5. The Grand Budapest Hotel - $6,300,000
6. Muppets Most Wanted - $6,285,000
7. Mr. Peabody and Sherman - $5,300,000
8. Sabotage - $1,908,000
9. Need for Speed - $1,836,000
10. Non-Stop - $1,827,000
[via Collider]
[Weekend Box Office] Noah Sails to Top Spot
After a minor break in the action, Weekend Box Office is back, and what a week to return to. Darren Aronofsky's Biblical epic, Noah, debuted in the top spot despite Paramount Pictures' worries about the film's reception from religious groups. Perhaps the supposed "controversy" surrounding the film's artistic reimagining of the Biblical Flood, buoyed by positive critical reviews, is what helped the Russell Crowe-led film to a resounding $44m. This weekend's other big release, the David Ayer-directed (End of Watch), Arnold Schwarzenegger-starring Sabotage opened to a dismal $5.3m, landing in 7th place.
The weekend's two other limited release films, Diego Luna's Cesar Chavez and Gareth Evans' The Raid 2: Berandal, didn't place in the Top 10. The Michael Pena-starring Cesar Chavez did end up in 12th place with $3m while opening in 664 theaters, however. The Raid 2: Berandal, meanwhile, was only released in a handful of theaters, but will be getting a rollout release over the next few weeks and should track well amongst the 18-34 male audience.
You can check out the rest of this weekend's box office numbers below!
1. Noah - $44,000,000
2. Divergent - $26,500,000
3. Muppets Most Wanted - $11,373,000
4. Mr. Peabody and Sherman - $9,500,000
5. God's Not Dead - $9,075,421
6. The Grand Budapest Hotel - $8,825,000
7. Sabotage - $5,330,000
8. Need For Speed - $4,335,000
9. 300: Rise of an Empire - $4,300,000
10. Non-Stop - $4,086,975
[via Rentrak]
[Trailer 2] Divergent
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Ever wondered what a futuristic Chicago would look like? The first official trailer for Divergent displays exactly that. Despite sharing some of the same footage from the first look seen during this year's VMAs, this trailer delves deeper into the world of Divergent, both thematically and visually. It's great seeing Chicago landmarks such as the Navy Pier ferris wheel and Sears Tower displayed so prominently.
Of course, Chicago is just the setting for the film. Based on the young adult novel of the same name by author Veronica Roth, Divergent is about a futuristic Chicago where the entire city is split into different factions based on their personalities and character traits. However, every once in awhile, a "Divergent," embodying all of the traits of the various factions, is discovered when teenagers are tested to see which faction they'll join for the rest of their lives. Tris (Shailene Woodley) is found to be Divergent; however, her discovery unearths a secret government plot that is withholding the community.
I feel mixed about the boom in Young Adult film adaptations. On the one hand, series like Harry Potter and Lord of the Rings have cemented themselves as amazing films and adaptations. Others, like Twilight are, well... Twilight. I have high hopes for Divergent, and not just because it's set in Chicago. I guess we'll find out where Divergent falls on the YA film adaptation scale when it hits theaters on March 21st, 2014.
First posters for Divergent released
You've seen the first trailer for Divergent last month; now, the first official posters for the YA film adaptation have been released. The posters, which you can see in the gallery below, showcase the lead actors Shailene Woodley and Theo James surrounded by strong shadows. Very foreboding and dark, no? The focal points of the two posters are in the characters' tattoos characterizing their divergency from the established factions in the futuristic Chicago they live in.
Are we ready for yet another Young Adult, dystopian film focused on class structures a la The Hunger Games (and Battle Royale before that)? With Shailene Woodley making Jennifer Lawrence-esque waves in Hollywood, I'd be willing to look past these formulaic YA fad just to see her showcase her range.
[Trailer] Divergent
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Another week, another Hollywood Young Adult (YA) film adaptation. This time, it's Veronica Roth's Divergent that's getting the film treatment. Directed by Neil Burger (Limitless), the film's universe takes place in a future Chicago where people are split into five different factions according to their personality traits: Daunting (The Brave), Abnegation (The Selfless), Amity (The Peaceful), Erudite (The Intelligent), and Candor (The Honest). However, there are some people who are considered "Divergent," having the ability to fit into more than one faction.
For some reason, the government doesn't trust Divergent people and would rather kill them than let them live. This poses a problem for the film's protagonist, Tris (Shailene Woodley), who must find a way to fight back... or something. Divergent is very YA-oriented with its subversive message about self-identity, but the trailer did showcase some instances of action scenes that might attract older audiences, too. The film's definitely targeting the Harry Potter and Hunger Games audiences, so hopefully it'll catch on in the box office.
Divergent hits theaters on March 21st, 2014. For the film's official synopsis and an infographic on the five factions featured in the film, click below.
DIVERGENT is a thrilling action-adventure set in a future world where people are divided into distinct factions based on their personalities. Tris Prior (Woodley) is warned she is Divergent and will never fit into any one group. When she discovers a conspiracy to destroy all Divergents, she must find out what makes being Divergent so dangerous before it's too late. DIVERGENT is based on the best-selling book series by Veronica Roth.
