Box Office: ‘Sonic the Hedgehog 2’ Looks to Speed Past Jake Gyllenhaal’s ‘Ambulance’ and ‘Morbius’

Patrick Frater Asia Bureau ChiefBox office in mainland China over the weekend was the lowest this year as thousands of cinemas remained closed due to the expanding COVID outbreak.Data from consultancy Artisan Gateway showed that nationwide cinema revenue between Friday and Sunday sank to just $8.2 million. That compared with $10.5 the previous weekend.“Fantastic Beasts: The Secrets of Dumbledore” was again the highest grossing title, with $1.7 million (RMB11.0 million), advancing its aggregate to $17.3 million (RMB111) since release on April 8, 2022.

Patrick Frater Asia Bureau ChiefChina’s theatrical box office fell to a new low over the weekend as anti-COVID restrictions forces thousands of cinemas to close. Data from consultancy Artisan Gateway showed that nationwide box office across the world’s most populous country amounted to just $10.5 million.

Deadline has launched the streaming site for its Contenders Television, which launched the TV awards season this weekend with 48 series and almost 150 panelists converging at the Paramount Theatre in Los Angeles to discuss their buzzworthy shows in front of a full house of industry voters.

Patrick Frater Asia Bureau Chief“Fantastic Beasts: The Secrets of Dumbledore” dominated the box office in China since its opening on Friday. But, with the country on high alert for COVID, the weekend’s cinema business remained close to recent lows.Data from consultancy Artisan Gateway shows “The Secrets of Dumbledore” earning RMB62.2 million ($9.7 million at current exchange rates) between Friday and Sunday. That gave it a huge 63% market share on a weekend worth just $15.5 million.In 2016, “Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find” them produced a $85.9 million total in China.

“Saturday Night Live” paid tribute to future Supreme Court Justice Ketanji Brown Jackson in a cold open that had her visiting the ghosts of historical figures in the Oval Office.Jackson, played by Ego Nwodim was greeted by James Austin Johnson’s President Joe Biden, who she teased about not being able to pronounce her name.“Bet you can’t say that three times fast,” Nwodim said.“I’m shocked I was able to say it one time slow,” Johnson admitted, before bragging about fulfilling his campaign promise to place a black woman on the nation’s highest court.“One campaign promise down, 74 more to go,” the fake Biden cracked.“I was happy to do my part. Work twice as hard as white man all my life, then spend a week listening to Ted Cruz call me a pedophile,” the new justice said of her contentious confirmation hearings.Biden then left Jackson in his office to commune with the spirits of Americans that paved the way for her historic confirmation.Kate McKinnon’s Ruth Bader Ginsberg delivered one of her trademark “Gins-burns” about Cruz.

Imagine if Chucky was a workplace comedy.

Jake Gyllenhaal is back on Saturday Night Live!

video-game-inspired flick grossed $26.5 million on its opening night, according to IMDB’s Box Office Mojo database.“Ambulance,” a Michael Bay thriller starring Jake Gyllenhaal, came next, grossing $3.2 million on its premiere.“Morbius,” the latest movie based on a Marvel Comics character, followed with $2.9 million Friday and $49.8 million cumulatively.

Brent Lang Executive Editor of Film and MediaParamount’s “Sonic the Hedgehog 2” opened to a sterling $6.3 million in Thursday previews, as the video game adaptation looks to outrace “Morbius” and “The Batman” at the box office. It won’t have much trouble lapping Universal’s “Ambulance,” the weekend’s other new release, which is expected to debut to $10 million, a disappointing result for a Michael Bay production.

Eiza González stars alongside Jake Gyllenhaal and Yahya Abdul-Mateen II in the must see action thriller Ambulance, which hits theaters April 8th. The Mexican actress and singer plays EMT Cam Thompson, who gets caught in the middle of a hijacking when Will Sharp (Abdul-Mateen II), desperate for money to cover his wife’s medical bills, asks for help from his adoptive brother Danny (Gyllenhaal). HOLA! USA had the opportunity to talk to González, who opened up about how the role held a special place in her heart in terms of Latina representation in Hollywood, working with Michael Bay, singing, and more.It must have been awesome working with Jake Gyllenhaal and Yahya Abdul-Mateen II and it looks like you all had such a great connection. Do you have a favorite onset memory that, you know, you’ll never forget?I mean, the whole process was just really unique, you know, there were moments that Yahya was driving and Jake was losing his mind and I was just dying laughing in the back and we have to be serious.

wide. Think less Harmony Korine Dickies throwback, more fancy dress zoot suit – of which a direct facsimile has landed in the real world. Last night at the LA premiere of Ambulance (the latest Michael Bay spectacle that puts paramedics at the centre of his signature pyrotechnic show), two of its stars in Jake Gyllenhaal and Yahya Abdul-Mateen II went for these such trousers.

Patrick Frater Asia Bureau ChiefCinema box office in mainland China crumbled to its lowest weekend total this year as the film industry was once again hit by the impact of anti-coronavirus lockdowns. Nationwide, cinemas recorded just $12.6 million of business.Virus infections are spiking sharply upwards in some parts of the country, caused by the spread of the highly infectious Omicron variant of the COVID-19 disease, though in comparison with many other countries absolute numbers remain low.

Rebecca Rubin Film and Media Reporter“Morbius,” the latest comic book adventure from Sony’s Universe of Marvel Characters, opened in first place at the domestic box office, though ticket sales were considerably softer than recent superhero blockbusters.Dinged by comically terrible reviews, “Morbius” sunk its teeth into $39.1 million from 4,268 North American theaters in its first weekend of release. That initial tally is at once a sign that audiences truly love comic book movies (in pandemic times, a non-superhero film with a 17% on Rotten Tomatoes wouldn’t stand a chance at the box office) and an indication that not every superhuman character will be greeted equally on the big screen.

With an Oscar, a top-selling band and two blockbuster movie franchises under his belt, it’s understandable why fans want to know about Jared Leto‘s net worth and if he makes more from his music or movie career.

Jem Aswad Senior Music EditorThe Grammy Awards have announced the roster of presenters for the big show on Sunday night: current nominees Megan Thee Stallion, Joni Mitchell and Questlove; Grammy winners Lenny Kravitz, Dua Lipa, Ludacris, Billy Porter, Bonnie Raitt, and Keith Urban; past Grammy nominees Kelsea Ballerini and Avril Lavigne; actor-musicians Jared Leto and Michaela Jaé Rodriguez; and actor Anthony Mackie.Previously announced Grammy performers include J Balvin with Maria Becerra, Jon Batiste, Brothers Osborne, BTS, Brandi Carlile, Billie Eilish, Cynthia Erivo, H.E.R., Lady Gaga, John Legend, Lil Nas X with Jack Harlow, Maverick City Music, Nas, Aymée Nuviola, Leslie Odom, Jr., Ben Platt, Olivia Rodrigo, Silk Sonic, Chris Stapleton, Billy Strings, Carrie Underwood, and Rachel Zegler. The show will also have a special tribute to Foo Fighters drummer Taylor Hawkins, who died at the age of 50 last week while the band was on tour in South America.

Marvel is hard to explain. He's a man and yet also a bat. No, not Batman.

The latest Marvel film has been released in the UK and sees actor/musician Jared Leto (Lord of War, Dallas Buyers Club) step into the role of the franchise's most iconic anti-hero. The film was directed by Daniel Espinosa and also stars Tyrese Gibson, Jared Harris, Adria Arjona, Matt Smith and Al Madriga.