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A30 PEOPLE & ARTS
Monday 17 February 2020
'Sonic' speeds to $57M debut; 'Parasite' sees big Oscar bump

Hedgehog" showed plenty very forgiving. Now that land," "Downhill" — seeking
of teeth at the box office, they've seen the movie, to capitalize on both Val-
speeding to a $57 million they love the movie. It all entine's Day on Friday and
debut, according to studio worked out." Presidents Day on Monday.
estimates Sunday, while The Sega video game ad- "Fantasy Island," the Blum-
"Parasite" saw one of the aptation, directed by Jeff house horror remake of the
largest post-Oscars bumps Fowler, drew decent re- '70s TV show, fared the best,
in years following its best views (63% fresh on Rotten collecting $12.4 million in
picture win. Tomatoes) and an A Cine- ticket sales despite terrible
Paramount Pictures' "Sonic maScore from moviegoers. reviews. Sony Pictures han-
This image released by Paramount Pictures shows Sonic, voiced the Hedgehog" came in The $87 million production dled the release of the low-
by Ben Schwartz, in a scene from "Sonic the Hedgehog ." (Para- well above expectations, co-stars Jim Carrey as Dr. budget, PG-13 film, which
mount Pictures/Sega of America via AP especially for a movie Robotnik with Ben Schwartz earned just a 9% fresh score
By JAKE COYLE AP Film NEW YORK (AP) — The that just months ago was supplying Sonic's voice. on Rotten Tomatoes.
Writer redesigned "Sonic the a laughing stock. After its Bong Joon Ho's "Parasite" Universal Pictures "The Pho-
first trailer was greeted with had its biggest weekend tograph," a romance star-
ridicule on social media in its 19th week of release. ring Issa Rae and Lakeith
last year, "Sonic" was post- Neon put "Parasite" into its Stanfield and produced by
poned three months to widest release yet (2,001 Will Packer ("Girls Trip," "Ride
give its title character a de- theaters) following its histor- Along"), opened with $12.2
sign overhaul — including ic win at the Oscars. ("Para- million. The film, written and
fixing Sonic's eerily human site" was the first non-Eng- directed by Stella Meghie,
teeth. lish-language film to win cost $15 million to make.
The makeover worked and best picture in the 92-year "Downhill," from Disney's
audiences responded by history of the Academy Fox Searchlight Pictures,
making "Sonic the Hedge- Awards.) And despite the debuted with $4.7 million,
hog" the weekend's top film already being avail- a modest start for a film
film and the highest-gross- able for weeks on digital starring Julia Louis-Dreyfus
ing opening for a video platforms and on DVD, its and Will Ferrell. A remake
game adaptation, not ac- $5.5 million weekend is the of the acclaimed Swed-
counting for inflation. For largest Oscars bump for a ish film "Force Majeure" by
Paramount, it's a welcome best-picture winner since Ruben Östlund, "Downhill"
success following misfires "Gladiator" in 2001. didn't do great with critics
such as "Gemini Man" and Last week's opening of "Birds but fared even worse with
"Terminator: Dark Fate." The of Prey" followed up its limp audiences. They gave it a
studio estimates "Sonic" will debut by sliding to second D CinemaScore.
gross $68 million over the with $17.1 million. Following Neon followed up its "Para-
four-day Presidents Day its disappointing opening, site" Oscar win with the Val-
holiday weekend. some theaters retitled the entine's Day release of "Por-
"If you don't listen to your movie "Harley Quinn: Birds trait of a Lady on Fire," one
customer, and this goes for of Prey," instead of "Birds of of 2019's most acclaimed
any business, then you're Prey (and the Fantabulous films. Following a one-week
going to fail," said Chris Ar- Emancipation of One Har- qualifying run in December,
onson, distribution chief for ley Quinn)." Celine Sciamma's French
Paramount. "We retooled It was a busy weekend in period romance opened
Sonic in a way that was theaters, with a handful of in 22 theaters with a strong
obviously very satisfying other new releases — "The per-theater average of
for the fans and they were Photograph," "Fantasy Is- about $20,000.q

Elton John, sick with pneumonia, cuts

New Zealand show short

AUCKLAND, New Zealand give you the best show hu- any longer.
(AP) — An emotional Elton manly possible," he wrote. "I The New Zealand Herald
John had to cut short a played and sang my heart reported that John, 72,
performance in New Zea- out, until my voice could told his fans earlier that he
land on Sunday after he sing no more. I'm disap- had walking pneumonia
lost his voice due to walk- pointed, deeply upset and and his voice was shot, but
ing pneumonia and had to sorry. I gave it all I had. that he didn't want to miss
be assisted off stage. Thank-you so much for your the show. At one point, af-
John reached out to his extraordinary support and ter performing "Someone
fans on Instagram on Sun- all the love you showed Saved My Life Tonight,"
day, apologizing for end- me during tonight's per- John slumped on his stool
ing his show at Auckland's formance. I am eternally and required medical at-
Mt Smart Stadium early. grateful. Love, Elton xx" tention, the newspaper re-
"I want to thank everyone Video clips posted online ported. But John recovered
who attended tonight's by fans who were at the and continued to play. Lat-
gig in Auckland. I was di- performance showed John er, as he he attempted to
agnosed with walking breaking down in tears as sing "Daniel," he realized he
pneumonia earlier today, he told the cheering crowd had no voice left and was
but I was determined to that he could not go on escorted off stage. q