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Monday 28 deceMber 2020 people & Arts
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‘Wonder Woman 1984’ debuts with pandemic-best $16.7M

By JAKE COYLE broke records and ex-
AP Film Writer ceeded our expectations
NEW YORK (AP) — Despite across all of our key view-
premiering simultaneous- ing and subscriber metrics
ly by streaming service, in its first 24 hours on the ser-
“Wonder Woman 1984” vice, and the interest and
managed the best box momentum we’re see-
office debut of the pan- ing indicates this will likely
demic, opening with $16.7 continue well beyond the
million over the Christmas weekend,” said Andy Fors-
weekend, according to sell, executive vice presi-
studio estimates Sunday. dent and general man-
That’s only a faint glimmer ager for WarnerMedia’s
of typical business dur- direct-to-consumer opera-
ing the holiday season, tions. “During these very
when cinemas are usually difficult times, it was nice to
packed and box-office re- give families the option of
ceipts are among the best enjoying this uplifting film at
of the year. Last year, “Star home, where theater view-
Wars: Rise of Skywalker” ing wasn’t an option.”
exceeded $32 million on “Wonder Woman 1984”
Christmas Day alone. Ac- wasn’t the only big movie
cording to data firm Com- This image released by Warner Bros. Entertainment shows Gal Gadot in a scene from “Wonder that detoured into homes
score, 35% of North Ameri- Woman 1984.” over Christmas. The Walt
can theaters are currently Associated Press Disney Co. steered the lat-
open. Gross, who runs the movie ecutive John Stankey said wobbled in its initial rollout. est Pixar release, “Soul,” to
But Warner Bros. never- consultancy FranchiseRe. the service has 12.6 million Reports circulated over the Disney+. It opened theatri-
theless celebrated the “With more than half of activated users, up from weekend of some users cally in some international
performance of “Won- North American theaters 8.6 million on Sept. 30. In having technical difficulties markets, most notably in
der Woman 1984,” which closed and the pandem- 2017, “Wonder Woman” streaming “Wonder Wom- China where it earned $5.5
landed in 2,150 theaters ic surging, the majority of opened with more than an 1984,” particularly when million. Streaming numbers
and bettered the approxi- moviegoers and fans have $100 million in ticket sales playing the film through weren’t provided for “Soul”
mately $10 million launch little choice but to watch from 4,100 theaters, set- Roku. HBO Max went live or “Wonder Woman 1984.”
of Warner Bros.’ “Tenet” in the film on television. Early ting a record for biggest on Roku in mid-December WarnerMedia said nearly
North America. (Universal foreign openings have opening by a female film- after months of negotia- half of HBO Max’s sub-
Pictures’ “The Croods: A been weak as well.” maker. It ultimately grossed tions. scribers watched “Won-
New Age” opened similarly Warner Bros. has come un- $822 million worldwide. The Warner Bros. nevertheless der Woman 1984” on its
in late November.) “Won- der criticism throughout sequel, made for about seized on the returns for first day on the streaming
der Woman 1984” grossed Hollywood on its plans to $200 million, had been ex- “Wonder Woman 1984” platform, though it didn’t
an additional $19.4 million divert “Wonder Woman pected to approach $1 bil- as the best as could be say how long constituted a
in international markets 1984” and all of its 2021 lion in box office before the expected, given the cir- watch.
where it began playing a titles to HBO Max through pandemic but is on course cumstances. The studio on Universal Pictures also
week earlier. The Patty Jen- a hybrid release plan in- to make about $180 mil- Sunday announced that released “News of the
kins-directed sequel, star- tended to boost subscrib- lion, according to Gross’s it would fast-track a third World,” a Western starring
ring Gal Gadot, has made ers. “Tenet” director Chris- projections. But WarnerMe- “Wonder Woman” film, Tom Hanks and directed
$85 million globally to date. topher Nolan called the dia is counting on “Wonder with Jenkins and Gadot re- by Paul Greengrass, only
“This is a very weak theat- strategy “a mess.” Earlier Woman 1984” to matter turning. in theaters. The Comcast-
rical opening,” said David this month, AT&T chief ex- more to HBO Max, which “Wonder Woman 1984 owned studio has pursued
a different approach dur-
Michael Jackson’s Neverland Ranch sold to billionaire ing the pandemic, cutting
deals with exhibitors to rad-
LOS ANGELES (AP) — Mi- 2016 then dropped to $67 ically shorten the exclusive
chael Jackson’s Neverland million a year later. theatrical window to as lit-
Ranch in California has In addition to a 12,500 tle as 17 days, before then
found a new owner in bil- square-foot main residence moving movies to premium
lionaire businessman Ron and a 3,700 square-foot video-on-demand. “News
Burkle. pool house, the property of the World” grossed an
Burkle views the 2,700-acre boasts a separate building estimated $2.4 million do-
property in Los Olivos, near with a 50-seat movie the- mestically q
Santa Barbara, as a land ater and a dance studio. Solution Sudoku
banking opportunity, his Other features on the
spokesman said Thursday ranch are a “Disney-style” 12/28 2 9 6 8 5 7 3 4 1 Difficulty Level
in an email. train station, a fire house
The Wall Street Journal re- and barn. 8 3 7 1 2 4 9 6 5
ports the property was sold Burkle’s spokesman said the 1 4 5 6 3 9 8 7 2
for $22 million to Burkle, an billionaire had been eyeing This Dec. 17, 2004, file photo shows the rear entrance to pop star 2020 Conceptis Puzzles, Dist. by King Features Syndicate, Inc. 7 2 4 9 1 6 5 8 3
Michael Jackson’s Neverland Ranch home in Santa Ynez, Calif.
associate of the late pop Zaca Lake — which adjoins Associated Press 5 1 3 7 8 2 4 9 6
star and co-founder of the the property — for a new 9 6 8 5 4 3 1 2 7
investment firm Yucaipa Soho House, a members- ultimately decided the lo- shareholder of Soho House. 4 8 2 3 7 1 6 5 9
Companies. only club with locations in cation was too remote and After Burkle saw the prop- 3 5 9 2 6 8 7 1 4
The asking price of the Los Angeles, Miami, New expensive for a club. erty from the air, he put in 6 7 1 4 9 5 2 3 8
property was $100 million in York and Toronto. Burkle Burkle is the controlling an offer to purchase.q Puzzle on Page 13