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A30 PEOPLE & ARTS
Monday 14 october 2019
'Joker' tops box office again, beats 'Addams Family'

By LINDSEY BAHR that "Joker" added an es- efited from a marketplace
Associated Press timated $55 million from with relatively few fam-
LOS ANGELES (AP) — The North American theaters ily friendly options in the-
first weekend was no fluke: this weekend, bringing its aters right now, aside from
"Joker" is a hit. domestic total to $192.7 "Abominable" which is now
The R-rated comic book vil- million. in its third weekend.
lain origin story had a phe- Not only are the pure gross- The ambitious, star-driven
nomenal second weekend es impressive, but "Joker" "Gemini Man" was not so
at the box office, topping also dropped only 43% lucky. The visual effects-
the charts once more over from its record-breaking heavy Ang Lee film about
newcomers such as the an- debut. an assassin on the run from
imated "The Addams Fami- For comic book films, which a younger version of himself
ly" and the Will Smith action are often front-loaded and (both played by Smith us-
pic "Gemini Man." regularly see second week- ing state of the art de-ag-
Warner Bros. said Sunday end falls that are over 50%, ing technology) opened in
This image released by Warner Bros. Pictures shows Joaquin third place with only $20.5
Phoenix in a scene from the film "Joker." million. Even Smith's disas-
Associated Press trous "After Earth" had a
it's a notably small dip. It's above all the noise over better debut ($27.5 million).
also a slightly lower drop whatever controversy or Reviews were overwhelm-
than "Wonder Woman" security concerns there ingly poor (it's currently at
and "Black Panther" — both were," he added. "You're 26% on Rotten Tomatoes)
of which had higher initial totally left out of the water but "Gemini Man" also had
openings and went on to cooler conversation if you the "Joker" factor to con-
have long lives in theaters. haven't seen 'Joker.'" tend with, which may have
"These are incredible num- Internationally, "Joker" add- contributed to the disap-
bers and really reflect how ed $123.7 million from 79 pointing opening, accord-
interested and excited markets, bringing its global ing to Dergarabedian.
people were," said Paul total to $543.9 million after "Gemini Man" was not a
Dergarabedian, senior me- just 12 days in theaters. cheap endeavor either.
dia analyst for Comscore. "Joker's" second weekend The film from Paramount
The film had a rollercoaster success played well along- and Skydance cost a re-
ride to release, with highs side the counterprogram- ported $140 million to make
like winning the top prize ming of the kid-friendly after rebates and will have
at the Venice Film Festival, "Addams Family," which ex- a difficult time breaking
and lows when concerns ceeded expectations and even.
about the film inciting vio- came in a strong second Rounding out the top five
lence made headlines and with $30.3 million. were "Abominable," with
prompted increased secu- United Artists Releasing dis- $6.2 million, and "Downton
rity at many theaters across tributed the film from MGM Abbey," with $4.9 million.
the country. But audiences and BRON Creative that In limited release, Bong
have spoken with their dol- features the voices of Os- Joon-Ho's "Parasite" had
lars and "were not going to car Isaac, Charlize Theron an extraordinary weekend,
be deterred," Dergarabe- and Bette Midler. "The Ad- earning $376,264 from only
dian said. dams Family" defied mid- 3 locations. Its $125,421 per
"It shows that content wins. dling reviews (43% on Rot- theater average is a record
A great movie will rise up ten Tomatoes) and ben- for 2019.q

Kurt Cobain's 'Unplugged'

sweater, guitar, head to

auction

Associated Press orabilia this month. The tur-
LOS ANGELES (AP) — The quoise-bodied left-handed
olive green cardigan that guitar was on display for
Kurt Cobain wore during several years at the Rock
Nirvana's MTV "Unplugged" and Roll Hall of Fame.
performance and one of Cobain, one of the big-
the late rocker's custom gest stars of the grunge
guitars are headed to auc- rock music scene of the
tion. early 1990s, was 27 when This combination photo of
Julien's Auctions said he killed himself on April 5, images released by Julien's
Wednesday that the 1994. Auctions shows the front and
back of a turquoise-bodied
sweater and a custom Other pieces in the auction left-handed Fender guitar
Fender guitar built in 1993 include handwritten lyrics built in 1993 and used by
that Cobain used during by Bob Dylan, Eric Clapton Nirvana frontman Kurt Cobain
the band's In Utero tour will and Bruce Springsteen. during the band’s In Utero
be offered during a two- The auction will be held tour.
day auction of rock mem- Oct. 25 and 26.q Associated Press