Page 31 - ARUBA TODAY

PEOPLE/ARTS Monday 28 august 2017
A31

In this June 1, 2017 file photo, author Stephen King speaks at
Book Expo America, Thursday, June 1, 2017, in New York.
Associated Press
Twitter retaliation:

Stephen King blocks

Trump from film ‘It’ This image released by Lionsgate shows Samuel L. Jackson, left, and Ryan Reynolds in “The Hit-

man’s Bodyguard.”
BANGOR, Maine (AP) — The movie “It” is about a Associated Press
Stephen King is retaliating group of children who con- Box-office eclipse: Hollywood has
against President Donald front their fears while con-
Trump for blocking him on fronting the evil balloon- worst weekend in years
Twitter. carrying clown, Pennywise.
In a post late Thursday, the The movie is due out next
Maine horror author said month.“Mr. Mercedes” is By JAKE COYLE was Saturday night’s Floyd Score estimates that this
he would block Trump from about a killer who drives AP Film Writer Mayweather-Conor Mc- will be the first summer in a
seeing the upcoming mov- a stolen Mercedes into a NEW YORK (AP) — Holly- Gregor match. The Fathom decade not to cross $4 bil-
ie “It” or the currently show- crowd. The series began wood effectively took the Events simulcast of the fight lion in domestic ticket sales.
ing television series “Mr. airing earlier this month on weekend off, resulting in was one of the more popu- The summer as a whole is
Mercedes,” both based on the Audience network. one of the most dismal box- lar offerings in theaters, tak- running 14 percent behind
his books. King was blocked by the office results in 16 years. ing in $2.4 million from 481 last year — and the deadly
King’s tweet says “No president this summer. He An already slow August screens. quiet August is a big rea-
clowns for you, Donald. Go has a long history of being came to a screeching halt But the bigger problem son.Hurricane Harvey had
float yourself.” critical of Trump.q at the multiplex, where no was the death of signifi- a minimal effect on nation-
Cincinnati Zoo’s baby major new releases were cant releases. The six major wide grosses. Instead, me-
studios have released only diocre offerings were large-
unveiled. That left the Sam-
hippo to star in uel Jackson-Ryan Reyn- two new wide-release films ly to blame. The Bruce Lee
olds action-comedy “The this August: Sony’s poorly homage “Birth of the Drag-
Facebook video series Hitman’s Bodyguard” to received Stephen King ad- on” opened with $2.5 mil-
top all films for the second aptation “The Dark Tower” lion in 1,618 theaters for BH
week with an estimated and Warner Bros.’s suc- Tilt and WWE Studios. The
$10.1 million in ticket sales. cessful horror spinoff sequel low-budget Sony Christian
But the entire slate of films “Annabelle: Creation.” The film “All Saints” took in $1.6
grossed only about $65 mil- latter came in second this million from 846 theaters.
lion in North America and weekend with $7.4 million, One of the few bright spots
the top 12 films generat- bringing its three-week to- on the weekend was the
ed just $49.6 million. There tal to $77.9 million. expansion of the Weinstein
have been similarly slow The Weinstein Co. animat- Co.’s “Wind River,” Taylor
weekends in recent years, ed release “Leap!” was Sheridan’s thriller set on an
including early September one of the few new films Indian Reservation in Wyo-
in 2014 and in 2016. But to hit theaters. It earned a ming. The Jeremy Renner-
not since September 2001 scant $5 million, according led film expanded to 2,095
have the numbers been to studio estimates Sunday. theaters and earned $4.1
quite so dreadful. “It’s a black eye for Holly- million in its fourth weekend.
Mid-August through early wood but not a knock-out Steven Soderbergh’s heist
September is historically the punch,” said Paul Derga- comedy “Logan Lucky”
In this May 31, 2017 file photo, Fiona makes her debut to the me- sleepiest time of the year rabedian, senior media an- also held well in its second
dia in Hippo Cove at the Cincinnati Zoo and Botanical Garden, for the movie business, but alyst for comScore. “Make week, taking in $4.4 million.
in Cincinnati. it’s been especially so this no mistake about it, there The film’s $15 million two-
Associated Press year. This August is down was little foot traffic in the- week total, though, isn’t
CINCINNATI (AP) — The Tuesday. It’s not clear how a whopping 35 percent aters this weekend. But the the movie industry game-
Cincinnati Zoo says its pop- many videos are planned from last year, according story line will change in two changer its makers hoped
ular baby hippo will star or how regularly they will to comScore. Next week is weeks when ‘It’ opens.” it would be.With so little ac-
in an internet video series be produced. expected to be just as bad: That second recent King tion, Warner Bros. put one
called “The Fiona Show” Fiona has already gar- No new wide releases are adaptation is the only near of the summer’s biggest
starting next week. nered millions of views on scheduled for Labor Day light on the horizon for the- hits — “Wonder Woman” —
The zoo says the first video the zoo’s Facebook page weekend. aters, which are struggling back into theaters ahead
will be available on the since her premature birth in For many, the weekend’s through the lowest-grossing of its home entertainment
show’s Facebook page on January. q top entertainment option summers in years. Com- release. q