Entertainment

“Box Office: ‘Best Man’ Nearly Topples ‘Thor’ as it’s Referred to as a Race Themed Film by USA Today”

 

 

Scott Bowles of USA Today wrote a piece titled “‘Holiday’ nearly beats ‘Thor’ as race-themed film soars” and when outrage poured in, he changed it to “‘Holiday’ nearly beats ‘Thor’ as diverse films soar.  Is it a problem  that there was a movie with professional educated black people that struck a nerve? Does Hollywood call all white casted movies a Race-Themed Film?

After nearly 15 years comes the long-awaited next chapter to the film that ushered in a new era of comedy. When the college friends finally reunite over the Christmas holidays, they will discover just how easy it is for long-forgotten rivalries and romances to be ignited.

The performance of Malcolm D. Lee’s “The Best Man Holiday” continued an ongoing trend. Movies that appeal particularly to black audiences have often been surpassing expectations at the box office.

“It’s a familiar refrain, and it’s getting a little tired,” said Lee. “I thought we had a chance to do something special.”

“Lee Daniels’ The Butler” led the box office for several weeks in August, leading to a cumulative total of $115.5 million domestically. The Oscar-contender “12 Years a Slave” has made $25 million in five weeks of limited release.

Lee said that while black audiences “see everything” at the movies, from action movies to romantic comedies, he hopes broader audiences begin responding to so-called “black films.” The audience for “Best Man Holiday” was 87 percent African-American.

Regardless, a third “Best Man” film now seems a likely bet.

“If there is going to be a sequel, it won’t take 14 years,” granted Lee.

Marvel’s Norse superhero, however, has been hammering audiences around the globe. “Thor: The Dark World” made $52.5 million internationally over the weekend, bringing its worldwide total to $479.8 million. With Chris Hemsworth as the title character and Tom Hiddleston as the popular villain Loki, the Thor franchise has proven to be one of Marvel’s most successful.

Just as “Thor” approached the half-billion mark, Warner Bros.’ space adventure “Gravity” crossed it. In seven weeks of release, “Gravity” has made $514.9 million globally.

“The Best Man Holiday” was the only new wide-release opening over the weekend, as the marketplace clears out for the release of “The Hunger Games: Catching Fire.” In limited release, Alexander Payne’s black-and-white Midwest road trip “Nebraska” opened in four locations with a solid $35,000 per theater average for Paramount Pictures.

Martin Scorsese’s “The Wolf of Wall Street” was originally slated to open, but was postponed to Dec. 25 by Paramount.

Expected to be one of the year’s biggest debuts, Lionsgate’s “Catching Fire” will abruptly close the box-office window for “Thor” next weekend. “Catching Fire” opened in Brazil over the weekend, earning $6.3 million.

Estimated ticket sales for Friday through Sunday at U.S. and Canadian theaters, according to Rentrak. Where available, latest international numbers for Friday through Sunday are also included. Final domestic figures will be released Monday.

1. “Thor: The Dark World,” $38.5 million ($52.5 million international).

2. “The Best Man Holiday,” $30.6 million.

3. “Last Vegas,” $8.9 million ($3.5 million international).

4. “Free Birds,” $8.3 million ($1.2 million international).

5. “Jackass Presents: Bad Grandpa,” $7.7 million ($5.5 million international).

6. “Gravity,” $6.3 million ($18.5 million).

 

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