Page 31 - ARUBA TODAY

PEOPLE & ARTS Monday 26 June 2017
A31

‘Transformers: The Last Knight’ debuts to a franchise low

By JAKE COYLE
AP Film Writer
NEW YORK (AP) — The hulk-
ing machines of “Trans-
formers” are no longer box-
office behemoths in North
America. But they’re still big
in China.
Michael Bay’s “Transform-
ers: The Last Knight,” the
fifth installment in the Has-
bro series, scored a fran-
chise-low domestic debut
with an estimated $43.5
million in ticket sales over
the weekend and a five-
day total of $69.1 million
since opening Wednesday.
All previous “Transformers”
sequels opened with $97
million-plus.
But Paramount Pictures’
“The Last Knight,” the sec-
ond “Transformers” movie
to star Mark Wahlberg, still
showed its might overseas.
It took in $196.2 million in-
ternationally, including an
impressive $123.4 million in
China. This image released by Paramount Pictures shows Optimus Prime in a scene from, “Transformers: The Last Knight.”
Future business will tell Associated Press
whether those grosses are
enough to cover a hugely
expensive movie: $217 mil- abroad. “Wonder Woman” contin- million for the Judd Apa- Festival last month, Cop-
lion to make, plus nearly as “Transformers’ is built for a ues to be a major draw. In tow-produced Sundance pola won best director,
much to market. Studios global audience,” said Kyle four weeks, it has surpassed Film Festival hit. Lionsgate becoming only the second
reap a smaller percentage Davies, president of distri- $300 million domestically. is handling the theatrical woman to do so.
of ticket sales from Chi- bution for Paramount. “You And at $652.9 million glob- release. Both “The Big Sick” and
nese theaters. And reviews really have to consider how ally, it’s the highest grossing Sofia Coppola’s “The Be- “The Beguiled” expand
— though never much of we did in the overall and it film directed by a woman, guiled” wasn’t far behind. nationwide in the coming
a factor in “Transformers” was really strong overseas not accounting for infla- In four theaters, it earned weeks.
land — were worse for “The and in China. That’s how tion. a per-screen average of Estimated ticket sales for Fri-
Last Knight” than the earlier we treat ‘Transformers’: It’s In limited release Kumail $60,136. The Focus Features day through Sunday at U.S.
films. Audiences gave this a global property. So we’re Nanjiani’s acclaimed ro- release, starring Nicole Kid- and Canadian theaters,
one a B-plus CinemaScore. hopeful that we’re going to mantic comedy “The Big man, Kirsten Dunst and according to comScore.
Yet “Transformers” has get to a good place.” Sick” landed the best Colin Farrell, is a remake of Where available, the latest
been increasingly skewing “Wonder Woman” and per-screen average of Don Siegel’s 1972 Civil War- international numbers also
international. The previous “Cars 3” tied for second the year. It opened in five era gothic thriller about a are included. Final domes-
film, 2014’s “Age of Extinc- place, both with $25.2 mil- theaters, grossing an aver- wounded Union soldier tak- tic figures will be released
tion,” made $858.6 million lion. Nearly a month after age of $87,000 from each. en in by a Southern all-girls Monday.
of its $1.1 billion global haul opening, Patty Jenkins’ Amazon plunked down $12 school. At the Cannes Film

Actress Mira Sorvino urges support for trafficking victims

By EDITH M. LEDERER U.N. meeting that “govern- more victim-centered re- to ramp up our response to slavery.
Associated Press ment and private sector sponse” that puts survivors effectively combat and ul- “Often the treatment of
UNITED NATIONS (AP) — funding is sorely lacking in at the negotiating table timately stamp out human survivors inadvertently re-
Oscar-winning actress Mira providing the life-rebuilding where the global plan is trafficking.” victimizes them, keeping
Sorvino urged all nations shelter, services and legal readjusted. Survivors know “But we must fully commit them in an atmosphere of
and the business commu- help survivors desperately “exactly what policies are our political will and re- incarceration and re-trau-
nity on Friday to ramp up need.” needed ... as well as how to sources,” she said. matizes them as they must
financial support for victims The session was part of the attack underlying causes,” Sorvino’s Oscar-winning re-live their experiences ...
of human trafficking, saying preparatory process for a she said. role as a prostitute with a multiple times,” she said.
the services such funds pro- high-level U.N. meeting in More than 15 years after golden heart in Woody Al- Adequate funding to
vide “mean the difference September to review the the protocol to prevent and len’s “Mighty Aphrodite” groups that help trafficking
between life and death.” Global Plan of Action to punish human trafficking might have cast the world’s victims means the differ-
Sorvino, who has been a Combat Trafficking in Per- was opened for signatures oldest profession in comic ence between “slavery or
U.N. goodwill ambassador sons. by a U.N. General Assembly light. But she has become the redemption of a free,
for the global fight against Sorvino said world leaders resolution, Sorvino said, “I a crusader against the sex productive life,” Sorvino
human trafficking, told a need “to craft a better, do believe we stand ready trade and modern-day stressed.q