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PEOPLE & ARTS Monday 21 May 2018
‘Deadpool 2’ ends Avengers’ box-office reign, rakes in $125M

By ANDREW DALTON mula can become a long-
Associated Press term franchise, and builds
LOS ANGELES (AP) — Dead- its possibilities with the addi-
pool and his foul-mouthed tion of antihero teammates
crew of misfits and malcon- from Marvel Comics for the
tents have taken down the title character, including
Avengers. Josh Brolin’s Cable and Za-
Fox’s “Deadpool 2” zie Beetz’s Domino.
brought in $125 million this “The source material is so
weekend, giving it the sec- vast and rich that I don’t
ond-highest opening ever think there’s any question
for an R-rated movie and that it just opens the door
ending the three-week for more,” Aronson said.
reign of Disney’s “Aveng- Along with the earnings
ers: Infinity War” at the top and acclaim for last year’s
of the North American box R-rated “Logan,” Fox has
office, according to studio This image released by Twentieth Century Fox shows Ryan Reynolds in a scene from “Deadpool made itself the early lead-
estimates Sunday. 2.” Fox’s “Deadpool 2” brought in $125 million according to studio estimates Sunday, May 20, 2018 er in the burgeoning sub-
“Deadpool 2,” with Ryan Associated Press genre.
Reynolds returning as the our second weekend we’ll tically and $1.2 billion over- “Deadpool 2” dwelled “The R-rating may be re-
title character and co-writ- catch ‘Deadpool’ if not seas. It’s now the fifth high- overwhelmingly on young strictive in terms of the audi-
ing this time, fell somewhat exceed it,” said Chris Ar- est grossing film of all time men. ence make-up, but it’s cer-
short of the $130 million the onson, distribution chief for worldwide. “There are definitely audi- tainly not restrictive in the
studio predicted and the 20th Century Fox. In a whole different corner ences out there for whom creative freedom it offers,
$132.4 million that its pre- The film grossed $176.3 of the cinematic universe, superhero movies are not so when movies like these
decessor earned two years million internationally and “Book Club” was third with their cup of tea,” said Paul hit, they can hit big,” Der-
ago. opened better overseas a $12.5 million weekend Dergarabedian, senior me- garabedian said. “There is
Analysts and the studio than the first, especially that exceeded expecta- dia analyst for comScore. a place for the R rating. In
said the difference can finding audiences in Latin tions. “Deadpool 2” follows the the superhero genre it of-
be attributed to the first America. It was a successful piece of proudly foul formula of the fers endless and really cool
film opening on a holiday The Avengers are hardly counter-programming for first, mixing the usual super- possibilities.”
weekend, and could easily hurting. Disney and Mar- Paramount, which used the hero set pieces with gore, “Deadpool 2” next faces
be made up with Memorial vel’s “Avengers: Infin- modestly budgeted come- gross-out jokes, 80s pow- off with “Solo,” but the two
Day coming, despite the ity War” brought in an esti- dy starring Jane Fonda, Di- er ballads and frequent films along with the still-
looming competition from mated $29 million in North ane Keaton and Candice fourth-wall violations. earning “Avengers” ought
“Solo: A Star Wars Story.” America for a four-week Bergen to find older audi- The box office of the sec- to make for a major Memo-
“I think with a holiday on take of $595 million domes- ences and women while ond film suggests that for- rial Day for the industry.q

Janet Jackson, Ariana Grande, BTS set for Billboard Awards

By MESFIN FEKADU Kendrick Lamar, Bruno
Associated Press Mars and Ed Sheeran tie for
After celebrating her 52nd the most nominations with
birthday and the 25th anni- 15 each. They are up for
versary of her groundbreak- the night’s biggest award
ing “janet.” album, Janet — top artist — along with
Jackson will be capping off Taylor Swift and Drake. La-
an epic week with her first mar’s Grammy-winning
televised performance in “DAMN.” album — which
nine years at the Billboard won the Pulitzer Prize for
Music Awards. music — will compete for
Jackson will also receive top Billboard 200 album
the Icon Award on Sunday along with Swift’s “reputa-
at the MGM Grand Garden tion,” Sheeran’s “Divide,”
Arena in Las Vegas, where Drake’s “More Life” and
today’s hitmakers will also Post Malone’s “Stoney.”
hit the stage, from Ariana Nominees for top Hot 100
Grande to John Legend. song are Lamar’s “Hum-
Jackson, who will perform a ble,” Mars’ “That’s What I
number of her hit songs, is Like,” Post Malone’s “Rock-
expected to be the night’s star,” Sheeran’s “Shape of
biggest highlight. The show You” and “Despacito,” by
will air live on NBC at 8 p.m. Luis Fonsi, Daddy Yankee
Eastern. Others set to take and Justin Bieber. Present-
the stage include K-pop Ariana Grande, left, attends The Metropolitan Museum of Art’s Costume Institute benefit gala ers at the Billboard Awards
group BTS, Jennifer Lopez, celebrating the opening of the Heavenly Bodies. Janet Jackson, right, attends the 22nd Annual include Tyra Banks, The
Shawn Mendes, Camila OUT100 Celebration Gala at the Altman Building on Thursday, Nov. 9, 2017. Chainsmokers, Andy Co-
Cabello, Khalid, Dua Lipa, Associated Press hen, Simon Cowell, Halsey,
Christina Aguilera, Demi Lo- Salt-N-Pepa, En Vogue, Kelly Clarkson, who has a judge on “The Voice,” Mila Kunis, Padma Lakshmi
vato, Macklemore, Kesha, Zedd and Maren Morris. become a fan favorite as will host the awards show. and Rebel Wilson.q