‘Shang-Chi’ Nears $200 Million at US Box Office as ‘Dear Evan Hansen’ Struggles

Rebecca Rubin Film and Media Reporter“Halloween Kills,” the horror sequel starring Jamie Lee Curtis, should slash its way to the top of box office charts when it opens in 3,700 North American theaters on Friday.From Universal Pictures and Blumhouse Productions, the latest “Halloween” installment is projected to generate $35 million to $40 million in its first three days of release.

After over 18 months of pandemic delays, “No Time to Die” opened on target. The final James Bond film of the Daniel Craig era grossed $56 million from 4,407 North American theaters, according to studio estimates on Sunday, to easily take the first-place spot.It didn’t break any pandemic or 007 records, but it didn’t fall significantly short either and is in fact the fourth-best opening in the 25-film series.

Tyson Fury and Deontay Wilder are back in the ring for a third time as they look to bring an end to their long-standing feud.

J. Kim Murphy administratorNorth American audiences are showing up for Daniel Craig’s final bow as James Bond.

After a long wait, “No Time to Die” has finally opened in North American theaters, and on Thursday it brought in $6.3 million in preview screenings. It opens at approximately 4,407 screens this weekend.

Patrick Frater Asia Bureau ChiefCinema box office in China hit RMB4.2 billion ($651 million) over the seven-day National Holiday period, according to government sources on Friday.By far the top title was “The Battle at Lake Changjin,” which had grossed RMB3.50 billion ($543 million) by 5pm local time on Friday, its ninth day of release. In second place over the holiday period was “My Country, My Parents” with RMB1,08 billion ($167 million).Like “Battle,” “Parents” was released on Sept.

Disney+ has given a straight-to-series order for “American Born Chinese,” with “Shang-Chi” director Destin Daniel Cretton attached.Cretton will direct the series and will executive produce alongside Kelvin Yu, Melvin Mar and Jake Kasdan. Yu will write and serve as showrunner.

“No Time to Die” starring Daniel Craig reeled in $119 million from 54 international markets, including the UK, Germany, Spain, Hong Kong and Japan. That makes “No Time to Die” the first title from Hollywood to crack $100 million without opening in China, which recently became the word’s largest movie market overtaking the US.

EXCLUSIVE: Disney+ has given a straight-to-series order to American Born Chinese, an action-comedy series based on the 2006 graphic novel of the same name by Gene Luen Yang. Destin Daniel Cretton, helmer of Marvel’s Shang-Chi and the Legend of the Ten Rings, is set to direct and executive produce the Disney Branded Television series produced by 20th Television.

Artisan Gateway, the film made $235 million since Thursday during China’s National Day holiday period, which runs from Oct. 1-7.

China’s ‘The Battle at Lake Changjin’ was the highest grossing film anywhere in the world over the past weekend, with a $203 million haul.That score was fractionally lower than the combined total earned by “No Time to Die” ($119 million in international markets) and by “Venom: Let There Be Carnage” ($90.2 million in North America).The film was the far away winner in mainland China, where it was released on Thursday, a day ahead of the National Day holiday.

No Time to Die is a hit!

Rebecca Davis editorChina’s box office slowed to one of its lowest points of the year this week, bringing in a total of just $24.6 million over the three-day weekend, the last before the break-out of patriotic National Day holiday blockbusters arriving Sept.

Rebecca Rubin Film and Media Reporter“Dear Evan Hansen,” the Universal Pictures adaptation of the smash Broadway musical, didn’t strike a chord with moviegoers.Marred by negative reviews and COVID-19 concerns, the film fell short of expectations and collected a muted $7.5 million from 3,365 North American theaters in its debut.

In third this weekend is 20th Century’s “Free Guy” with $4 million in its seventh weekend, giving it a total of $114 million. Universal/MGM’s “Candyman” is fourth with $2.46 million in its fifth weekend and a $56.8 million total, and Warner Bros.’ “Cry Macho” is No.

Rebecca Rubin Film and Media Reporter“Dear Evan Hansen,” the big-screen adaptation of the beloved Broadway musical, premieres in theaters this weekend. Will it be found at the top of box office charts?The Universal film, which sees Ben Platt reprising his Tony-winning role, is projected to debut to approximately $10 million from 3,300 North American cinemas.

Rebecca Davis editorFollowing a dismal summer, China’s box office over this year’s three-day Mid-Autumn Festival holiday hit its lowest point since 2014.Chinese citizens had to work on Saturday, Sept. 18, but enjoyed a three-day vacation for the holiday from Sept.

Rebecca Davis editorA battalion of producers and stars worked the opening night red carpet of the Beijiing Intl. Film Festival Tuesday for the world premiere of their mammoth Chinese war film “The Battle of Changjin Lake,” which is expected to rank amongst China’s highest grossing films of the year.The nearly three-hour-long historical epic is a grind through the blood, sweat and tears of the real-life People’s Volunteer Army as they fight against all odds to defeat the U.S.

Jordan Fisher, who was playing the title role in Dear Evan Hansen on Broadway when the Covid pandemic shutdown hit in March 2020, will return to the role when the musical reopens at the Music Box Theatre Dec. 11.

Rebecca Davis editor“Free Guy” has retained enough charm to stay at second in China in its fourth weekend in theaters, but it slid in just a mere hair ahead of Chinese titles setting themselves up for box office success over the current Mid-Autumn Festival holiday.The 20th Century Studios film starring Ryan Reynolds grossed $4.8 million in the three days of Friday, Saturday and Sunday, bringing its China cumulative so far up to $85.1 million, according to data from  consultancy Artisan