Box Office: 'Shazam!' Powers to $20.5M Friday; 'Pet Sematary' Unearths $10M - Hollywood Reporter

Elsewhere, the civil rights drama 'The Best of Enemies' may have trouble getting much past $5 million in its debut.

New Line and DC's kid-friendly superhero pic Shazam!  zoomed to an impressive $20.5 million at the Friday box office for a projected domestic debut of $51 million-$54 million.

The movie had already earned $3.3 million in sneaks heading into the weekend. Overseas, Shazam is likewise off to a strong start, earning $44 million through Friday, including an opening day haul of $15.3 million in China.

The seventh title in the DC Extended Universe stars Asher Angel as Billy Batson, a teenager who only has to utter the word "Shazam!" to be transformed into an adult superhero played by Zachary Levi.

Mark Strong, Grace Fulton, Jack Dylan Grazer and Djimon Hounsou co-star in the film, which was directed by David Sandberg, who helmed horror hits Lights Out and Annabelle: Creation.

Shazam!, earning strong reviews and an A- CinemaScore, lured plenty of younger moviegoers on Friday, with 52 percent of ticket buyers under the age of 25. Males made up 66 percent of the audience, according to PostTrak.

Paramount's Pet Sematary, based on the Stephen King novel and a remake of the 1989 pic, is also excavating strong numbers in its debut, earning an estimated $10 million on Friday for a projected $23 million-$25 million weekend and a second-place finish. It earned a C+ CinemaScore (horror fare pics often draw a lower grade).

The R-rated horror pic stars Jason Clarke as Dr. Louis Creed in the story of a mysterious burial ground hidden deep in the Maine woods near the family’s new home. Amy Seimetz and John Lithgow also star in Pet Sematary, which made its world premiere at SXSW. Kevin Kölsch and Dennis Widmyer directed.

Shazam! appears to be making life tough for holdover Dumbo, which grossed $4.9 million on Friday. The Disney pic looks to fall as much as 59 percent in its second weekend with a projected $19 million, putting it at No. 3.

Jordan Peele and Universal's horror hit Us, now in its third weekend, and Disney/Marvel blockbuster Captain Marvel will round out the top five.

That puts the third new offering of the weekend, The Best of Enemies, at No. 6 with an estimated $4.6 million-$5 million after earning $1.6 million on Friday.

From STXfilms, the 1971-set civil rights drama stars Taraji P. Henson as a civil rights activist and Sam Rockwell as a member of the Ku Klux Klan who face off over school integration in Durham, North Carolina.

Best of Enemies, from first-time writer-director Robin Bissell, earned an A CinemaScore.

 

Box Office Updates

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2019-04-06 14:30:29Z
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Box Office: 'Shazam' Superhero Fatigues To Boffo $21 Million Friday - Forbes

Zachary Levi, Grace Fulton, Jovan Armand, Jack Dylan Grazer, Ian Chen, Faithe Herman in 'Shazam'

Warner Bros.

Warner Bros. and DC Films’ Shazam opened with a terrific $20.5 million Friday, including $5.9 million in Thursday previews but not including $3.3 million in national sneak previews from two weeks ago. That gives the film a $23.825 million running domestic cume and a real shot at ending up over $55 million by tomorrow night. Couple that with an A from Cinemascore and we have another DC Films hit. Yes, this will be a lower debut than even Aquaman’s $72 million (counting its own sneak previews) Fri-Sun launch last December, but Shazam is a $90 million New Line joint, so the variables are a little different. At its cost, even a Conjuring-like performance (around $110 million domestic and around $350 million worldwide) would be a solid win.

Moreover, a run like last April’s Rampage ($100 million domestic and $428 million worldwide on a $120 million budget) would be (at worst) a triple. More importantly, the film has earned mostly positive reviews (a 91% fresh and 7.28/10 average critic rating on Rotten Tomatoes) and strong word-of-mouth. Coupled with Wonder Woman and Aquaman, and it’s hard not to argue that DC Films has now earned the benefit of the doubt when it comes to solo superhero flicks. That this film is going to earn around $55 million over the weekend despite being a B-level property and lacking outright movie stars is a sign both to the overall strength of the superhero genre and the general popularity of DC Films as a now somewhat trusted brand.

It also shows that Walter Hamada’s DC Films franchise can turn B-level superheroes into A-level movie stars while playing in different franchise sandboxes. Man of Steel was a sci-fi first contact drama, Wonder Woman was a World War I/Greek mythology tale, Shazam was a kid-friendly horror fantast and Aquaman was uh… “all of the above and more.” Like Marvel initially did with their Phase One movies, DC is taking less-than-top-tier properties and turning them into hugely popular names, while also crafting uniquely compelling cinematic variations on those heroes. If we ever get another team-up movie, the hook will not just be “Hey, it’s the Justice League!” but rather “Hey, Zackary Levi’s Shazam is going to meet Gal Gadot’s Wonder Woman and Jason Momoa’s Aquaman!”

Yes, I am being presumptive in that the film will play well overseas (we’re probably looking at a $100 million-plus foreign bow) and that it’ll leg out at least until April 25 at around 6:00 pm. But the David F. Sandberg-directed horror-tinged foster kid melodrama (that’s also a superhero movie) is a pretty great film. It plays like a mix of Meet the Robinsons, Antwone Fisher, the first Spider-Man and the best part of Green Lantern (a truly horrifying villain with plenty of character development and serious daddy issues) all blended into a kid-friendly throwback that never feels less than unique unto itself and never sells out its drama for spectacle. Shazam, being as good as it is, shows that Wonder Woman and Aquaman were not flukes.

The optimist in me says that we could see legs this weekend like Kong: Skull Island, which pulled a 3x multiplier after a $20 million opening day. That would get Shazam to around $63 million for the weekend, counting the sneak previews. Even an over/under $55 million launch would be a win, specifically because the movie is quite good and I’d expect halfway decent legs. Whether it legs out here and abroad and ends up closer to Ready Player One than The Conjuring 2, it proves that DC Films can do its thing without relying on Batman and Superman. If and when we get more Superman and Batman films, it won’t be because the folks at DC Films had to, but because they chose to.

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https://www.forbes.com/sites/scottmendelson/2019/04/06/box-office-shazam-dc-films-zachary-levi-gal-gadot-jason-momoa-aquaman-wonder-woman-batman/

2019-04-06 14:15:00Z
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Watch: Jimmy Kimmel, Celine Dion gatecrash wedding ceremony - Times of Malta

Saturday, April 6, 2019, 13:25

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Popular presenter Jimmy Kimmel gatecrashed a couple’s wedding in Las Vegas and took singer Celine Dion and actor David Spade along for an unforgettable ceremony. 

Kimmel on Friday concluded his week of broadcasts at Planet Hollywood by interrupting the nuptials of Kate and Jason which were taking place in a nearby chapel.

AS Kimmel presided, via TV link, over the ceremony, Spade was seen taking pre-wedding toast shots.

The biggest surprise for the newlyweds came, however, when Celine Dion walked in as their wedding singer and performed her hit Because You Loved Me.

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2019-04-06 11:25:00Z
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Nipsey Hussle Memorial To Be Held Thursday at L.A.'s Staples Center - TMZ

Nipsey Hussle Memorial Service Thursday at Staples Center

4/6/2019 1:00 AM PDT

EXCLUSIVE

The family of slain rapper Nipsey Hussle will give him a spectacular memorial service at the gold standard for L.A. venues -- The Staples Center ... TMZ has learned.

Sources with direct knowledge tell us, the service will take place Thursday morning at the 21,000 seat venue.  We're told tickets will be sold for the event through a website.  Only ticket holders will gain admission.

Our sources say there was a meeting Wednesday with Nipsey's family and honchos from Staples.  LAPD officials were also present in the meeting to help plan logistics and security for the event.  

It's a massive undertaking to plan such a major event in less than a week.  Staging equipment must be rented, and the rental companies have already been contacted.  We've learned ushers who work Staples have already been asked to reserve the day.

The turnaround for the venue will also be quick -- the final Clippers game for the regular season is the night before.

Staples has a history of serving as the backdrop for many of the biggest events in Hollywood.  As you know, the Michael Jackson memorial was held there in 2009.   

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2019-04-06 08:00:00Z
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Why Meghan Markle and Prince Harry Are Having a Harder Time Picking Baby Sussex's Name - The Cheat Sheet

People around the world are keeping their eyes closely fixated on Meghan Markle’s baby bump, as she could go into labor any day now. The arrival of Baby Sussex is probably the most anticipated birth of 2019, and the entire world will go into a frenzy when it finally happens.

With royal betters and fans speculating on the baby’s gender, birth weight, and even what color hair he or she is likely to have, we know for sure that everyone can’t wait to find out what name Meghan and Prince Harry will ultimately choose.

Kate Middleton and Prince William gave all three of their children traditional royal names that didn’t come as much of a surprise to anyone. So, why is it that Meghan and Harry are having a harder time choosing a name for their new son or daughter?

The name doesn’t necessarily need to be traditional

With so many people offering up suggestions for a traditional name, we may have almost forgotten that the name of Baby Sussex does not need to be! Fans are speculating names such as Elizabeth, Alice, Diana, or Philip.

While any of those names would be absolutely lovely, we should keep in mind that the Duke and Duchess of Sussex can be a little more traditional with the name that they end up choosing! Perhaps they’d prefer a more modern name, such a Taylor for a girl or Noah for a boy. How adorable would either of those be?

Meghan and Harry will choose a name that is common in England and America

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Meghan is officially on Maternity Leave! Meg is over seven months pregnant with her and Prince Harry's first child, but she hasn't stopped her royal duties just yet. After the Duchess of Sussex attended the Commonwealth Day services at Westminster Abbey with the royal family on Monday, we began speculating whether the grand event marked the end of Meghan's public appearances before giving birth, thus starting her maternity leave. However, the answer is a little more complicated than that. It may be a while before we see Meghan in public again, but she's not exactly taking a break from work. "Her public engagements have finished" a Palace aide confirmed. "Meghan will continue working privately behind the scenes, taking meetings," the source added. "She has also been using this period to catch up with those involved in her patronage-related endeavors." As the Duke and Duchess of Sussex prepare for their baby, they're also getting ready to move out of Kensington Palace and into Frogmore Cottage in Windsor. However, they have not relocated yet.

A post shared by Meghan Markle (@hrhofsussex) on Mar 14, 2019 at 8:55am PDT

We also must keep in mind the fact that Meghan is from the United States, so the new baby will need a moniker that can be easily pronounced in both countries! While British names such as Philipa, Freya, or Amelia would be great, a name like that would most likely be often mispronounced in America.

Meghan and Harry are going to want to make sure that they pick a name that both American and British people will be able to pronounce properly. 

What names are in the running?

While Meghan and Harry haven’t made any official announcements as to which names they are considering, we are sure that they are spending a great deal of time choosing one. Royal betters are going wild, with people putting odds on names such as Victoria, Mary, Alexandra, and even Elizabeth should the baby be a girl, and Alexander, James, or Albert should Meghan give birth to a baby boy.

Other names that the royal couple may be thinking about? Well, we can all remember when a young fan suggested the name Amy for a girl! Perhaps they will choose to honor Meghan’s mother, and call a baby girl Doria. Or, if they welcome a new baby boy, they may choose to call him Spencer, which is Princess Diana’s last name. 

Why are Harry and Meghan having a harder time choosing a name?

When we think back to the three times that Kate Middleton was expecting a baby, we will remember that while there were odds being given, it didn’t seem to be so difficult for Kate and William to chose a name. This is because as the future king and queen, they were expected to give their baby a very traditional royal name.

Harry and Meghan, on the other hand, have a little more freedom when choosing a name. Their options are not nearly as limited, and they are even free to be a little creative if they would like! Only time will tell which name the Duke and Duchess of Sussex will decide on for their new arrival, but whatever it is, we are sure to love it!

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2019-04-06 07:18:14Z
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Adam Sandler to host ‘SNL’ for the first time - Fox News

Adam Sandler is hosting "SNL" on May 4. (Getty)

Heads up, Adam Sandler fans: The actor and comedian is slated to host NBC’s “Saturday Night Live” for the first time next month.

Sandler, who first joined SNL as a writer in 1990 before working as a cast member from 1991 to 1995, will host the late-night show for the first time on May 4. The musical guest that evening will be singer and songwriter Shawn Mendes, NBC said in a Friday news release. The appearance will mark Mendes’ second time as a musical guest on the show.

‘GAME OF THRONES’ STAR MAISIE WILLIAMS DROPS BOMBSHELL: EPIC SPOILER OR EPIC PRANK?

“We are happy to welcome Adam back to ‘SNL’ in what is sure to be a special night,” executive producer Lorne Michaels said in a statement.

‘GAME OF THRONES’ STAR EMILIA CLARKE’S MOM KNOWS THE SHOW’S ENDING — BUT SHE DOESN’T REMEMBER

Sandler created “many memorable characters, impressions and musical moments, including “The Chanukah Song,” as a cast member on the late-night show, per the news release.

The 52-year-old currently has a comedy special on Netflix — “100% Fresh” — and stars alongside Jennifer Aniston in the streaming services’ soon-to-be-released film “Murder Mystery."

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2019-04-05 18:09:28Z
CBMiUWh0dHBzOi8vd3d3LmZveG5ld3MuY29tL2VudGVydGFpbm1lbnQvYWRhbS1zYW5kbGVyLXRvLWhvc3Qtc25sLWZvci10aGUtZmlyc3QtdGltZdIBVWh0dHBzOi8vd3d3LmZveG5ld3MuY29tL2VudGVydGFpbm1lbnQvYWRhbS1zYW5kbGVyLXRvLWhvc3Qtc25sLWZvci10aGUtZmlyc3QtdGltZS5hbXA

New 'View' Audio Reveals Elisabeth Hasselbeck's F-Bomb Rant at Barbara Walters - TMZ

Elisabeth Hasselbeck 'F*** That, I'm Not Taking That!!!' Raged at Barbara Walters

4/5/2019 10:10 AM PDT

Elisabeth Hasselbeck has a much shorter fuse than you probably thought ... but it's been revealed in this audio of a backstage tirade at Barbara Walters during a taping of "The View."

The explosive audio was recorded in 2006 after the hosts talked about the so-called morning-after pill -- Elisabeth was incensed and argued against it very passionately on the air. Barbara cut her off and told Elisabeth she needed to discuss things calmly "and not go so crazy that you don't listen to anybody's opinion." 

As they went to commercial, Elisabeth was clearly pissed. She stormed off, but was still wearing a mic and then blew up!!! She raged to Joy Behar, "F**k that! I'm not going to sit there and get reprimanded on the air!"

She went on, "What the f**k? I don't even swear. She has me swearing. This woman is driving me nuts!!"

Variety obtained the audio of the incident ... which is described in a newly released book called, "Ladies Who Punch: The Explosive Inside Story of 'The View.'"

Elisabeth is already apologizing, saying, "I am quite humanly reactive. I used bad words when frustrated. I was pregnant with Taylor and a big conversation about the value and the lives of the unborn took place at the View. It was a battle -but not of the flesh. I used fighting words because I believe that God decides the value of the lives of babies."

She added, "I used big battle words (one in particular that I am not proud of and am sorry for using in the heat of trying to defend the lives of the unborn)."

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https://www.tmz.com/2019/04/05/elisabeth-hasselbeck-angry-rant-audio-barbara-walters-the-view/

2019-04-05 17:10:00Z
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