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PEOPLE & ARTS Tuesday 11 February 2020
'Birds of Prey' flies low on Oscars weekend with tepid debut

By JAKE COYLE AP directs the "Suicide Squad" a sequel to the acclaimed
LOS ANGELES (Associated spinoff, which Robbie also whodunit. Greta Gerwig's
Press) — "Birds of Prey," the produced. Robbie stars as Louisa May Alcott adapta-
DC Comics' Harley Quinn Quinn, the crazed crimi- tion "Little Women," up for
spinoff, made a tepid de- nal who after splitting with six Oscars including best
but in theaters over the Joker is a solo vigilante. picture, also ranked in the
weekend, opening in No. Reviews were mostly fa- top 10 with $2.3 million. Its
1 but below expectations vorable, with an 80% fresh seven-week domestic total
with $33.3 million domesti- rating on Rotten Toma- is $102.7 million. That gives
cally, according to studio toes. Audiences gave it a the best-picture category
estimates Sunday. B-plus CinemaScore. After five $100 million-grossing
"Birds of Prey (and the three weeks atop the box movies, including "1917,"
This image released by Warner Bros. Pictures shows Margot Fantabulous Emancipation office, Sony Picture's "Bad "Joker," "Ford v Ferrari" and
Robbie in a scene from "Birds of Prey."
(Claudette Barius/Warner Bros. Pictures via Associated Press) of One Harley Quinn)," an R- Boys for Life" dropped to "Once Upon a Time ... in
rated Warner Bros. release, second with $12 million in its Hollywood." (Counting
arrived in theaters while its fourth weekend. The action overseas sales, "Parasite"
star — Margot Robbie — is comedy, which reunites has also surpassed $100
nominated for an Acad- Will Smith and Martin Law- million.) Netflix hasn't re-
emy Award for her perfor- rence, has grossed $336 ported box-office data for
mance in "Bombshell" and million worldwide. its two best-picture con-
the previous DC film, the $1 Though analysts are fore- tenders, "The Irishman" and
billion-grossing "Joker," is up casting a down year for "Marriage Story." Holdovers
for a leading 11 Oscars. Hollywood at the box of- "Doolittle" ($6.7 million in its
But despite those lead-ins, fice, the success of "Bad fourth weekend) and "Jum-
"Birds of Prey" came in for a Boys for Life" has helped aji: The Next Level" ($5.5 mil-
rocky landing. It had been drive the year's ticket sales lion) rounded out the top
expected to open around to an almost 10% uptick five. Estimated ticket sales
$50 million. It fared similarly over the first five weeks of for Friday through Sunday
overseas, grossing an esti- 2019, according to data at U.S. and Canadian the-
mated $48 million from 78 firm Comscore. aters, according to Com-
international markets. Ahead of the Academy score.
Warner Bros. said the coro- Awards, several nominees 1. "Birds of Prey," $33.3 mil-
navirus impacted sales in padded their ticket-sales lion ($48 million internation-
Asia, though in South Ko- totals. Universal's "1917," al).
rea, where "Birds of Prey" the Sam Mendes-direct- 2. "Bad Boys for Life," $12
made $1.9 million, it came ed World War I film, took million.
in second to a local release. in another $9 million in its 3. "1917," $9 million.
"Birds of Prey" doesn't have seventh weekend, good 4. " Doolittle," $6.7 million.
a China release scheduled, for third place. The film, a 5. "Jumanji: The Next Level,"
and "Suicide Squad" never favorite for Sunday night, $5.5 million.
opened there. Cinemas has grossed $132.5 million 6. "The Gentlemen," $4.2
in the country, the world's domestically and $287.4 million.
second largest movie mar- million globally. Rian John- 7. "Gretel & Hansel," $3.5
ket, have shut down amid son's "Knives Out," nomi- million.
the coronavirus outbreak. nated for best screenplay, 8. "Knives Out," $2.4 million.
"Birds of Prey," the week's added $2.4 million, bring- 9. "Little Women," $2.3 mil-
lone new wide release, ing its North American total lion.
cost approximately $100 to $158.9 million. Lionsgate 10. "Star Wars: The Rise of
million to make. Cathy Yan earlier this week confirmed Skywalker," $2.2 million. q

South Korea’s ‘Parasite’ wins
international feature Oscar

By JOHN ROGERS Associ- evening he won the best
ated Press director Oscar and "Para-
LOS ANGELES (AP) — "Par- site" was honored for best
asite," director Bong Joon film.
Ho's dark comedy about A jubilant Bong accepted
wealth inequality, won the international feature
the Oscar for best inter- award to a standing ova-
national feature at Sun- tion, noting he had won in
day's Academy Awards, a category that until this
becoming the first South year had been named
Korean film to capture an best foreign film.
Oscar. "I am so happy to be its Bong Joon Ho accepts the
It was the second win of first recipient under the award for best international
the night for Bong, who new name," he said in Ko- feature film for "Parasite,"
earlier shared the best rean, adding, "I applaud from South Korea, at the
original screenplay award and support the new di- Oscars on Sunday, Feb. 9,
2020, at the Dolby Theatre in
with his "Parasite" co-writer rection that this change Los Angeles.
Han Jin Won. Later in the symbolizes."q (AP Photo/Chris Pizzello)