‘Elvis’ in Box Office Dead Heat With ‘Top Gun: Maverick’ With $30 Million Opening

J. Kim Murphy It’s official —the Minions are back.Universal’s “Minions: The Rise of Gru” is setting off fireworks at the Fourth of July box office, projecting a $129.2 million opening over the four-day holiday weekend.

Clayton Davis Multiverses, flying jets and a film that speaks to the horrors of our political reality make up only some of the movies from the first half of 2022. As we approach the midway point, the return to movie theaters has become a hopeful development for the biggest blockbusters.

Baz Luhrmann's "Elvis" took the No. 1 spot at the box office after a close tie with "Top Gun: Maverick," with "Elvis" reporting $31.1 million in weekend sales.

Top Gun: Maverick has hit another big milestone, surpassing $1billion (£813million) at the global box office.The new sequel, which follows on from Tom Cruise’s 1986 blockbuster, has now overtaken Marvel‘s Doctor Strange In The Multiverse Of Madness to become the highest-grossing film of the year, and is now Cruise’s first film to pass the billion mark.It is also only the second film to pass the mark since the pandemic, alongside last year’s Spider-Man: No Way Home.Maverick began breaking records upon its release last month, achieving the highest-grossing opening on its debut weekend for a non-superhero film since COVID-19, taking in $248million (£196million) when it opened.The film follows Cruise’s character Pete ‘Maverick’ Mitchell three decades after the events of the original film, as he trains up a new group of young pilots while confronting his past.Miles Teller and Jennifer Connelly also star, the former taking on the role of Bradley ‘Rooster’ Bradshaw, the son of Nick ‘Goose’ Bradshaw.Speaking recently about performing stunts for the film, Teller admitted recently that he thought he was “going to die”.“I think when there’s that much adrenaline and a healthy bit of fear, I was able to hold [vomit] down. I guess that’s a secret skill I have,” he told LADBible.“If anything I think it made me really appreciate how nice it is not to have to, you know, go 500 knots an hour all the time,” he added of his new appreciation for commercial flights.

Sir Elton John dedicated his performance of Don’t Let the Sun Go Down on Me to late friend George Michael during his Friday night show at British Summer Time (BST) Hyde Park festival in London. Introducing the track, which found a second wave of success in 1991 as a live cover version between Sir Elton and Michael, the Candle In The Wind chart-topper said: ‘I miss him, and we all miss him, and we miss his visage. So, George, I love you and I miss you – here we go.

Elton John wowed concert-goers on Friday with a spectacular farewell gig which kicked off the American Express presents BST Hyde Park 2022  concert series - but it was his kids, Zachary, 11, and Elijah, 9, who got the biggest cheer of the night when their dad gave them an emotional shout out in the crowd, and pictures of their little faces were beamed onto the huge screens either side of the stage. RELATED: 10 rare photos of Elton John's childrenStaying up past their bedtimes to watch one of their father's last ever performances in London as part of his Goodbye Yellow Brick Road tour, the two little boys melted the hearts of concert goers when the doting father took a moment to thank them for coming along and cheering him from their special VIP seats.  The camera panned across Elton's kids and their school friends (PHOTO CREDIT BST)The Rocket Man paused his performance mid-way to give thanks to the important people behind the show - including his band. But the crowd went wild when he revealed that his two sons were actually watching the gig that evening, and he went on to then name both the boys, and also their school friends who had come along for the event. SEE: Elton John's husband David Furnish melts hearts with incredible video of their sonsMORE: Elton John and David Furnish 'so proud' of sons as they make a surprise appearance with Lady GagaThe big screens on either side of the stage then cut to a video showing the kids waving wildly, wrapped up warm in hoodies, beaming with pride from their exclusive vantage point. A post shared by Elton John AIDS Foundation (@ejaf)Elton is a proud dad to his two boysElton's performance was a real crowd-pleaser, kicking off the BST Hyde Park event in style for 2022.

Baz Luhrmann’s “Elvis” made $3.5 million in its preview screenings at the box office on Thursday from over 3,400 screens (inclusive of sneak previews on Tuesday), while “The Black Phone” also made $3 million in its own Thursday preview screenings from 2,800 theaters with showings beginning at 5 p.m. “Elvis,” the biopic about The King Elvis Presley from Warner Bros., is projected to earn in the $28-30 million range.

Warner Bros’ Baz Luhrmann directed Elvis has grossed $3.5M from all previews off 3,400 locations, which includes Tuesday fan events and last night’s showtimes. Meanwhile Universal/Blumhouse’s Black Phone took in $3M from showtimes that began at 5PM yesterday at 2,800 sites.

More than 5,000 miles from her Las Vegas disaster in the residency that never was, Adele is making amends with a special two-day concert spectacular.

Bohemian Rhapsody,” and Elton John, who got his own movie with “Rocketman,” Presley comes with more pop-culture baggage than you could stuff into a million Gracelands.There’s the campy Vegas impersonators, the “thank you, thank you very much” catchphrase, the white jumpsuit, the late-in-life weight gain and, of course, dying on the toilet at age 42. For such a singular figure in music — still instantly recognizable to teens today in a way that Bruce Springsteen and Paul Simon are not — he’s not allowed much dignity.Luhrmann’s hugely entertaining film and Butler’s sensational performance are dead set on righting that wrong. A movie that runs on jet fuel and confetti, “Elvis” is a tribute to Presley’s innovative spirit, deep passion for fusing blues, country and gospel music and the intense connection he had with his audience. Elvis taking inspiration from black musicians like B.B.

Kerry Katona has made a heartbreaking admission about Sarah Harding's death following the Girls Aloud star passing away following a battle with cancer last year. It comes as Kerry does Race for Life in Hyde Park in memory of the singer.

Duran Duran have announced the full line-up for their BST Hyde Park show next month, with AURORA and Laura Mvula among some of the additions.The pop legends headline the show at London’s Hyde Park on July 10, with Nile Rodgers & Chic previously confirmed to support. Now, Warmduscher, Charlotte Adigéry, Rozzi, Stacey Ryan, Faux Real and Love Sick have been confirmed as additional supports alongside AURORA and Mvula.Duran Duran frontman Simon Le Bon said: “It’s an extraordinary line-up – it so happens that I’ve featured five of the acts on my radio show, WHOOOSH! – looks like I’ll be spending the entire day dipped in music.”Bassist John Taylor added: “We are incredibly excited for Hyde Park with so many sensational guests like Aurora and Warmduscher, and our old friends Nile Rodgers & CHIC.

Freddie Mercury died on November 24, 1991, his funeral service was conducted by a Zoroastrian priest at West London Crematorium three days later. The 45-year-old's family, Queen and 35 of his close friends including Elton John were in attendance. His former girlfriend Mary Austin was given his ashes and buried them secretly in a spot that she will never reveal.

BST Hyde Park has announced details of their Open House series for 2022, featuring workshops, film screenings and more.This year, the London gig series will feature headline shows from The Rolling Stones, Eagles, Adele,  Duran Duran, Elton John, Pearl Jam and more.Across two weeks (June 27-30 and July 4-7), the free Open House series will feature open air screenings, live music and entertainment, pop-up bars and street food, workshops from Joe Wicks and much more.From Monday to Thursday on both weeks, film screenings will include Mamma Mia, Spice World, Bohemian Rhapsody, The Batman and many more.See the full list of screenings and times below, and get more details on the Open House series here.Monday June 27 7PM – Spice WorldTuesday June 28 6PM – Encanto 8:30PM – Mamma MiaWednesday June 29 6PM – Moana 8:30PM – GreaseThursday June 30 6PM – The Lion King (1994) 8:30PM – Back to the FutureMonday July 4 7PM – SoulTuesday July 5 5PM – Never Ending Story 7:30PM – The Batman (2022)Wednesday July 6 5:30PM – Mary Poppins Returns 8PM – Bohemian RhapsodyThursday July 7 6PM – The Greatest Showman 8:30PM – Dirty DancingEarlier this month, Elton John announced the curated support bill for his BST Hyde Park show, featuring Rina Sawayama, BERWYN and more.The show on June 24 comes as part of the legendary songwriter’s ‘Farewell Yellow Brick Road’ tour – his final ever series of live shows. It means that the gig could be his final ever London tour date.Pearl Jam also recently announced a number of new additions to their BST Hyde Park shows next month.The gigs on July 8 and 9 will be the band’s biggest ever London shows.

George Ezra is heading for a hat-trick of Number 1s on the Official Albums Chart, with Gold Rush Kid on course to claim the top spot this week.

making bank at the box office, but Leah Remini won’t be cashing in.The “Kings of Queens” star, 51, is a former Scientologist and warned fans who are itching to see the action film that Cruise, 59, is still an active member of the Church.Remini posted a screenshot of her friend and fellow ex-Scientologist Claire Headley’s Facebook post that accused Cruise of “crimes against humanity.”“Thank you to my friend @claireheadley for your courage. You have continued to speak out despite the non-stop attacks from Scientology,” Remini tweeted on Saturday.“And as Claire says in her post below, Tom Cruise knows exactly what goes on in Scientology. Don’t let the movie star charm fool you,” she continued.

Rod Stewart and Elvis Costello have laughed off a so called spat between the two.It comes after it was reported that Costello branded the recent Platinum Jubilee concert, which was headlined by Queen, Diana Ross and Elton John, “shite” and singled out Stewart for criticism.“I mean, I know you all love him and he’s one of yours and everything, but Rod. What the fuck? I must say, listen we all have bad nights vocally, but for fuck’s sake, Sweet fucking Caroline,” he is reported to have said, according to the Mirror.“Are you fucking kidding me? I mean I’ve been in showbusiness 45 years so I do know a thing or two.