Page 30 - ARUBA TODAY

A30 PEOPLE & ARTS
Monday 23 July 2018

‘Equalizer 2’ squeaks past ‘Mamma Mia 2’ and takes top spot

By LINDSEY BAHR came in third with $23.2 mil-
AP Film Writer lion in its second weekend,
In the battle of two very “Ant-Man and the Wasp”
different sequels at the took fourth place with $16.1
box office this weekend, million in its third weekend,
Denzel Washington’s ac- “Incredibles 2” landed in
tion pic “The Equalizer 2” fifth with $11.5 million, and
has narrowly won out over “Jurassic World: Fallen King-
the ABBA jukebox musical dom” came in sixth with
“Mamma Mia! Here We Go $11 million. The weekend’s
Again.” other big new opener, “Un-
Studios on Sunday estimate friended: Dark Web,” also a
that the R-rated Denzel sequel, scared up $3.5 mil-
Washington joint grossed lion for a ninth-place start.
$35.8 million from North The only two originals in the
American theaters over top 10 were “Skyscraper”
the weekend. It’s Wash- and “Sorry to Bother You.”
ington’s first ever sequel “People are enjoying these
and the biggest opening films,” said Dergarabedian.
of director Antoine Fuqua’s “It doesn’t matter if there’s
career. The first “Equalizer,” a number after the title.”
from 2014, opened similarly And yet there are still origi-
and went on to earn over In this Monday, July 10, 2017 file photo, Sir Paul McCartney performs at Amalie Arena in Tampa, nal films and documenta-
$190 million worldwide. Fla. ries making their own mod-
Second place went to Uni- Associated Press est impact on the charts,
versal Pictures’ “Mamma ed Cher, Andy Garcia and knowing the audience for ers are,” said comScore including “Blindspotting,” a
Mia 2,” which took in $34.4 Lily James to the mix. Crit- these types of films, we senior media analyst Paul buddy comedy with some
million, a sum that was driv- ics overall gave the sequel are going to have a very Dergarabedian. “Both stu- serious themes about race
en by an audience that better marks than the first, healthy run at the domes- dios really did a great job and class starring Tony-
was 83 percent female which still went on to gross tic and worldwide box of- of marketing each of these winner Daveed Diggs that
and 64 percent over the over $600 million worldwide fice. This is a very fun, very movies to their target audi- opened in 14 theaters
age of 25. The film brought 10 years ago. uplifting movie that people ence. It’s classic counter- and made an estimated
back much of the origi- “We consider this a terrific need right now.” programming.” $332,500.
nal cast, like Meryl Streep, opening,” said Jim Orr, Uni- It’s also a rare showdown Sequels powered the top “Movies like ‘Sorry to Bother
Amanda Seyfried and versal’s president of do- of two star-driven films that six spots at the domestic You’ and ‘Blindspotting’
Pierce Brosnan, and add- mestic distribution. “And succeeded in targeting box office this weekend are showing that in the
two very different audienc- and eight out of the top 10 summer people don’t live
es. “It’s amazing how well- overall. “Hotel Transylva- by blockbusters alone,”
matched these contend- nia 3: Summer Vacation” Dergarabedian said.q

Margaret Thatcher’s spouse not

happy about McCartney invite

at 10 Downing Street. in public.
Newly released papers “Whilst I accept of course
show that the late husband that not everyone who
of former British Prime Min- comes to our receptions
ister Margaret Thatcher put are necessarily on ‘our’
a question mark next to the side I find it both unpleas-
former Beatle’s name on a ant and embarrassing to
proposed guest list he was entertain those who pub-
reviewing. licly insult the PM,” he said.
The papers, released Satur- The April 1988 reception
day, show Denis Thatcher was planned as a way to
In this Monday, July 10, 2017 leaving check marks next reward 45 celebrities who
file photo, Sir Paul McCartney to the guests he approved had attended a rally during
performs at Amalie Arena in and question marks next to Margaret Thatcher’s suc-
Tampa, Fla. those he was less comfort- cessful 1987 general elec-
Associated Press able with. tion campaign.
By GREGORY KATZ The papers didn’t offer All four went on to greater
Associated Press an explanation of why he honors: McCartney — one
LONDON (AP) — Most hosts questioned the inclusion of of the most popular en-
would be quite happy the ex-Beatle. In a note, he tertainers in the world —
to have Paul McCartney wrote that he didn’t mind and Coe were later made
come to a shindig. But that inviting guests who didn’t knights and Bassey be-
wasn’t the case with De- back the prime minister but came a Dame Command-
nis Thatcher in 1988 when questioned inviting those er of the Order of the British
planning a gala reception who had criticized his wife Empire in 2000.q