Box Office: Genteel “Downton Abbey” Takes Brad Pitt's “Ad Astra” and Stallone's “Rambo,” Gives Studio Highest Debut Ever - Showbiz411

Home Movies Box Office: Genteel “Downton Abbey” Takes Brad Pitt’s “Ad Astra” and Stallone’s...

Gentility and peak TV won the day at the box office Friday, and should command the weekend as well.

Julian Fellowes’ delightful “Downton Abbey” transfer to the big screen knocked out both Brad Pitt’s “Ad Astra” and Sylvester Stallone’s “Rambo: First Blood” last night. Including Thursday previews, the Crawley family and their friends are the big box office winners today.

This means that Focus Features, the literary end of Universal Pictures, will have its biggest opening weekend ever with $31 million. This is quite an achievement. It’s due to Universal being under the same roof as NBC, which also owns Carnival Productions, the company that made the hit TV series broadcast here on PBS. Imagine if NBC had broadcast “Downton.”

On Thursday night, “Downton” easily took “Ad Astra” and “Rambo” in previews. This isn’t to say anything negative about “As Astra,” a gorgeous film with a sensitive lead performance from Pitt.

But “Downton” has its huge, devoted fan base as a foundation. And then, it’s really a lovely film, so well written, directed, and acted, you’re ready to see it again. And I’m pretty sure fans will do exactly that. Word of mouth should be excellent.

As Michelle Dockery (Lady Mary) and I joked at the splendid premiere this past week at the Plaza Hotel, “Downton Abbey” could become like the “Avengers” series, with 11 episodes! But really, we can expect a sequel or two definitely. Smartly, Fellowes has left the door open for Maggie Smith to return as the Dowager Countess even though she suggests that this is her last rodeo.

It should be noted too that “Downton Abbey” had the lowest theater count of the three movies in competition.

Friday numbers including Thursday previews: “Downton” $13.8 million, “Ad Astra” $7 million, “Rambo”–$7.1 million. The latter two are basically tied.

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Roger Friedman began his Showbiz411 column in April 2009 after 10 years with Fox News. He writes for Parade magazine and has written for Details, Vogue, the New York Times, Post, and Daily News and many other publications. He is the writer and co-producer of "Only the Strong Survive," a selection of the Cannes, Sundance, and Telluride Film festivals.

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2019-09-21 15:02:00Z
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T.I. Thinks 6ix9ine Will Be Welcomed in the Hood When He's Released From Jail - XXLMAG.COM

After 6ix9ine's testimony in the case of two accused Nine Trey Gangsta Bloods gang members earlier this week, which includes making statements about the alleged gang status of rappers like Trippie Redd, Casanova, Jim Jones and Cardi B, protective custody on some secret outpost on Mars might be a smart option for the rapper who will no doubt be the target of animosity for assisting authorities. However, T.I. thinks Tekashi will be welcomed with open arms when he gets released.

Tip recently sat down for an interview with Big Boy of Real 92.3, which was published on Friday (Sept. 20), when the topic of the disgraced Brooklyn rhymer came up. "He can't go back to the hood after snitching," the co-host asserted.

"Yes he can," Tip countered around the 54 minute mark. "It's a bunch of rats walking 'round right now. And that's the thing that really hurts. They riding 'round with somebody they know done told in they hood right now, because, 'Well, he didn't tell on me.' This cat can come home and throw parties and the parties be popping. It be full. If muthafuckas don't fuck with rats, how the hell is this party so packed? And everybody know how cous' came home. Everybody know what happened."

Tekashi has had the internet going nuts as he took the stand multiple times this week and testified against former associates Aljermiah "Nuke" Mack and Anthony "Harv" Ellison as part of his plea agreement in a racketeering case. On top of that, he mentioned seemingly unrelated rappers' ties to alleged crimes as well. It is yet to be determined what type of reduced sentencing he will receive for his cooperation.

See 18 Rappers Who've Been Arrested in 2019

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2019-09-21 14:54:00Z
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Kevin Hart Lawsuit Almost Certain in Car Crash - TMZ

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Kevin Hart and the 2 people in his car that crashed Sept. 1 have all lawyered up, TMZ has learned, and everyone's expecting a big lawsuit.

Sources with direct knowledge tell us, the driver, who sustained serious back and chest injuries has an attorney, as does the passenger in the backseat, who sustained only minor injuries. Kevin has a lawyer as well.

We're told Kevin is in the crosshairs of the other 2 people in the 1970 Plymouth Barracuda because the car did not have safety harnesses or airbags. The argument is ... Kevin should have worried less about keeping the car authentic and more about safety -- and not doing so constitutes negligence.

The driver could also be on the hook for Kevin and the backseat passenger, but it's a little premature since the CHP is still investigating the cause of the crash.

The big issue ... we're told the company that customized the car could be looking at a lawsuit. The argument goes like this ... the company is the expert and even if Kevin wanted a custom job without safety harnesses, the company should have refused the job because it wasn't safe ... especially with a powerful, 720 horsepower engine.

We contacted 10 custom car companies around the country and asked if Kevin's crash has opened their eyes and changed their minds about customizing classic cars without installing safety harnesses. 8 out of the 10 said they would if that's what the customer wanted. Only 2 said they would not.

It's interesting because it opens these companies up to a lawsuit, especially if there are passengers in the car who get injured.

Our law enforcement sources tell us ... the CHP may lobby the California State Legislature to prohibit custom car companies from rolling out products without harnesses ... whether the customer wants them or not.

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2019-09-21 08:00:00Z
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Joe Giudice Denied Bond Pending Deportation Appeal - TMZ

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Joe Giudice just got shot down by a judge in his immigration case -- he's been ordered to stay locked up while his deportation case plays out.

Joe petitioned the court earlier this month -- where he appeared via video conference -- asking to be released pending his appeal of his deportation. Now the judge has ruled, and it's not in his favor.

He will remain locked up in the ICE detention facility he's been a resident of since his release from prison in March -- the Clinton County Correctional Facility.

The Giudice family attorney, James Leonard Jr., tells TMZ, "We are absolutely devastated. Our system of justice has failed this family. We are now at the mercy of the Third Circuit Court of Appeals. God willing they will return this man home to his four daughters."

TMZ broke the story ... Joe's homesick and tired of being kept behind bars and he feels he should be let out from ICE custody while he's appealing. Joe says the least the judge can do is let him see his family, especially if he's in danger of getting deported soon anyway.

As we've previously reported ... Joe was immediately transferred to ICE custody when a judge ordered his deportation to his native Italy. This after serving a 41-month sentence for conspiracy to commit wire and bankruptcy fraud.

Joe appealed that decision and lost. But, he appealed again to a higher court ... and that's where we're at now. Joe wanted to be home in New Jersey with his family as he awaits the judge's final ruling.

Joe has the opportunity to appeal this bond decision within the next 30 days, but Leonard says that's off the table, and they are just holding tight to see how the deportation appeal plays out.

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2019-09-21 02:51:00Z
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What Took Prince William so Long to Propose to Kate Middleton? - Showbiz Cheat Sheet

Theirs is a royal love story that captivated the attention of multiple nations, and after nearly two decades together, their relationship is still going strong. Prince William and Kate Middleton first started dating while attending university, and throughout many ups and downs, they have stayed solid.

Now that they have three young children, many royal fans are more impressed than ever with how they have managed to stay so close throughout scandals and intense public pressure. Keep reading to find out how Kate Middleton and Prince William first started dating and what took them so long to get engaged.

When did Prince William and Kate Middleton start dating?

Catherine, Duchess of Cambridge and Prince William, Duke of Cambridge | Clive Mason/Getty Images

It all started for Kate Middleton and Prince William in the early 2000s, when they were both students attending St. Andrew’s University. They spent a great deal of time together both on campus as well as off, and even shared a house together, along with some other roommates. By 2003, Middleton and the prince started dating, and the paparazzi began capturing photos of the young couple on vacations and getaways, apparently very happy together.

Their relationship continued to progress all throughout their university years, and by 2006, Middleton was spotted at Prince William’s Army officer graduation. Still, in 2007, their romance hit a snag and in April, it was reported that they had broken up.

Years later, both Prince William and Kate Middleton reflected on their breakup, stating that they had both been very young and that they had needed a bit of time and space in order to properly “find themselves.” Some royal insiders also recently opened up about the 2007 split, saying that Prince William had believed at the time that all the fun was out of their relationship and that he just wasn’t ready yet to make a commitment to Kate Middleton.

Prince William wanted to make sure the timing was right

By the summer of 2007, only a few months after they had broken up, media outlets were reporting that Prince William and Kate Middleton were back together again. For the next several years, they would prove that they were as solid as ever, making appearances at both formal events and escaping away to private vacations. Speculation about a possible engagement started ramping up, with media outlets even dubbing Middleton “Waity Katie” because they had been dating for years without a commitment.

In 2010, it seems as though the pressure for Prince William to propose started ramping up. Some reports suggest that Prince William felt ready to propose after spending more time around Middleton’s loving, close-knit family, while many believe that it was simply the perfect timing for the two to make a big commitment to each other.

It seems likely that Prince William also wanted to be sure that Kate Middleton could handle the intense pressure of being married into the royal family, and after the length of time that they had been together, he knew that he could rely on her. Either way, Middleton wouldn’t have to wait much longer for her proposal.

When did Kate Middleton and Prince William get engaged?

In November 2010, Prince William and Kate Middleton announced their engagement. To seal the deal, Prince William had gifted Middleton with his late mother’s sapphire and diamond ring. The couple seemed more in love than ever before – and their wedding in early 2011 drew thousands of spectators, as well as thousands of fans who watched the wedding as it was televised around the world.

These days, Middleton and Prince William are still happily married. There’s no doubt that they provide inspiration to couples everywhere, providing an example of how love can sometimes succeed, even under intense scrutiny.

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2019-09-20 10:42:32Z
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Kevin Hart Back Home and Can't Believe He's Alive - TMZ

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Kevin Hart has checked out of his in-patient rehab facility and is back home where he's receiving intensive physical therapy, but the big takeaway ... he's "grateful" and "shocked" he's alive.

Sources very close to Kevin tell us, he's looked at the photos of the car crash and can't believe anyone walked out alive. TMZ broke the story, Kevin messed up his back something bad -- 3 spinal fractures that required fusion.

He spent 10 days in the hospital under heavy pain meds and was then transferred to the in-patient facility, but he's home now. He has a physical therapist coming to his house most days ... and he's doing lots of stretching and exercises with therapy bands.

He's still in a lot of pain but says he's handling it without all the meds that knocked him out.

We're also told he's not worried about the injuries torpedoing his career ... doctors and the P.T. have assured him he'll be pretty much back to where he was before the accident, and he had nothing immediate on his plate work-wise, so he can focus on bouncing back.

Kevin says he's grateful to be alive and has "a new perspective on life." We asked what that meant and were told, "He really cherishes the fact that he's alive, and wants to make the most of it in every respect. The crash had a huge impact on him."

One more thing ... Kevin's a gym rat -- something that has helped him through this because he's in such good shape -- but he's taking a break from working out and is only doing physical therapist-approved exercises.

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2019-09-20 08:00:00Z
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Prince Harry Needs His Brother Prince William's Support Now More Than Ever - Showbiz Cheat Sheet

These are trying times in the royal family. Most notably, Prince Harry and Meghan Markle are under so much pressure to perform, and it seems like every move they make is cast in a negative light. Even though Prince Harry is used to getting so much attention, the strain it’s putting on their marriage is likely significant.

In the whole entire world, there’s only one person who fully understands what the Duke of Sussex is going through and that’s his older brother, Prince William. These two used to be so close until something drove them apart. Rumor has it the issue stems from Prince William warning Harry not to rush into marriage. But who knows if that’s what really happened?

It’s true that Prince William and Prince Harry have vastly different roles to fill in the world. However, the best thing Harry can do right now is lean on his older brother for support.

Prince William and Prince Harry | Toby Melville – WPA Pool/Getty Images

Prince William has been in the spotlight longer

It’s only recently that the media began taking such a keen interest in everything Prince Harry was doing. Before he met and married Meghan Markle, plus had his son Archie, the Duke of Sussex was seen as more of a sidekick. They even used to call him “the spare heir” as a rude nickname.

Meanwhile, the world has been obsessed with the man who will eventually become king for his entire life. Both Prince William and Kate Middleton had frequent run-ins with overly aggressive photographers while they were dating, even when they were just 20-somethings in college.

If anyone has advice for handling life in the limelight and not letting it break down the relationship, it’s Prince William and Kate Middleton.

Prince William, Kate Middleton, Prince Harry, and Meghan Markle | Stephen Pond/Getty Images

The Duke and Duchess of Cambridge have a rock-solid marriage

Not only have they been dealing with fame longer, but Prince William and Kate Middleton have a remarkably strong relationship. Plus they’ve been married for almost ten times longer than Prince Harry and Meghan Markle. It may not seem like a lot, but they likely have relationship advice to share as members of the royal family who are clearly making it work.

Royal expert Angela Mollard discussed this exact issue on the Royals podcast. “If Harry does have any sense, he will rely on William and that relationship will be repaired going forward. He does have tremendous wisdom as a brother, so fingers crossed,” she said.

Prince Harry and Meghan Markle face one major problem

Prince Harry and Meghan Markle | Chris Jackson/Chris Jackson/Getty Images

Mollard also alluded to the reality that both Meghan Markle and Prince Harry come from homes with divorced parents. This makes them statistically more likely to split up themselves. “I think they have to have a marriage that is stronger than most, and I think that’s going to be very, very hard. The reason I think it’s going to be hard is that neither of them have had a model of a successful relationship,” she explained.

“I don’t like the phrase ‘broken family’, but they haven’t seen people solve their problems. That’s not their model of a mum and dad, solving issues.” 

It’ll be interesting to see if Prince Harry follows through with this advice and finally rekindles his relationship with his older brother, or if he continues assuming he can do everything by himself.

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2019-09-19 12:17:12Z
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