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A30 PEOPLE & ARTS
Monday 20 august 2018

‘Crazy Rich Asians’ shines bright at the box office

By LINDSEY BAHR
AP Film Writer
LOS ANGELES (AP) — Glitz
won over guns as the gild-
ed romance “Crazy Rich
Asians” debuted at No. 1
in North American theaters
this weekend, surpassing
industry expectations and
beating out action-packed
fare like “Mile 22.”
Warner Bros. estimates that
the film earned $25.2 mil-
lion over the weekend and
$34 million since its opening
Wednesday. It’s a surefire
win for the film, which cost
$30 million to produce and
went into the weekend
with months of buzz and a
93 percent “fresh” rating
on Rotten Tomatoes.
Breakout star Henry Gold-
ing told The Associated
Press on Sunday that the
film’s performance is a “tes-
tament to the people who
are turning up.”
“It’s not just the Asians who
are coming. It’s people of
all colors from all walks of
life who are enjoying this This image released by Warner Bros. Entertainment shows Michelle Yeoh, from left, Henry Golding and Constance Wu in a scene
cinematic experience,” from the film “Crazy Rich Asians.”
Golding said. “It’s a real Associated Press
shift in Hollywood.” Kwan’s best-seller, “Crazy stance Wu as an American 25 years. The filmmakers Peter Berg, debuted in third
Adapted from Kevin Rich Asians” stars Con- woman who gets a culture even turned down a big of- place with an estimated
shock meeting her boy- fer from Netflix to give the $13.6 million. The STX film
friend’s obscenely wealthy historically significant film had a $35 million produc-
family in Singapore. The stu- a theatrical platform. Cast tion budget. Launching
dio strategically bumped members and fans started with $10.5 million, “Alpha,”
up the film’s opening to a using the hashtag #GoldO- an Ice Age-set adventure
Wednesday earlier in the pen to try to encourage tale, tied for fourth place in
summer. “We knew we’d more opening weekend its opening weekend with
get avids who read the support. Director Jon M. “Mission: Impossible — Fall-
book and a large Asian fol- Chu tweeted his apprecia- out.” In limited release, Sony
lowing,” said Warner Bros. tion Sunday and asked au- Pictures Classics’ “The Wife”
domestic distribution presi- diences to keep spreading opened with $111,137, and
dent Jeff Goldstein. “We the word. “We still have a Roadside Attractions’ “Ju-
figured OK, we get good long run to go but our mes- liet, Naked” debuted with
reviews, open on Wednes- sage to the world has been $60,922. Both films opened
day, word of mouth will heard. We have arrived,” in four theaters. One film
spread and really propel Chu wrote. “Now let’s go that did not find much of
the movie into the week- tell more of our stories! We an audience was Kevin
end, and that’s exactly have a lot more to say. And Spacey’s “Billionaire Boys
what happened.” I don’t want to wait anoth- Club,” which Vertical Enter-
As recently as July 26, box er 25 years to see them. This tainment released in eight
office experts were pre- is only the beginning.” theaters this weekend af-
dicting that the film would Despite the success of ter making it available for
open to at least $18 million “Crazy Rich Asians,” other purchase on Video on De-
over its first five days, but no films still found audiences mand last month. Official
one expected a launch of this weekend, including earnings were not reported
over $30 million. Warner Bros. shark movie to comScore, but industry
“I think the audience isn’t “The Meg,” which fell only trade publication The Hol-
an obvious audience,” 53 percent in its second lywood Reporter said Sun-
Goldstein said. “When you weekend, adding $21.2 mil- day that the film earned a
get a culturally important lion. The Jason Statham-led dismal $425.
event like this movie, I think film has now grossed over Hollywood’s winning streak
it just takes off like wildfire.” $300 million worldwide. continues with the summer
The stakes were high for the Mark Wahlberg’s action- season up 12.4 percent
first studio-produced movie packed “Mile 22,” his fourth from last year and the year
led by Asian-Americans in collaboration with director overall up 8.9 percent.q