Hollywood
The Angry Birds movie flies to the top of the box office with gross opening weekend of Rs. 12.8 crore
MUMBAI: Rovio Entertainment and Sony Pictures’ The Angry Birds Movie was #1 at the Indian box office this weekend with a box office gross of approximately Rs. 12.8 crore (USD 1.91m) making it the highest opening weekend for a non-franchise animated film and the second biggest opening for an animated film on the whole. It also had the distinction for being the widest animated release in India with 696 locations in English, Hindi and Tamil and released in both 2D and 3D.
The trans-created Hindi version of the film was also very popular and contributed a strong 27% to the total collection – the highest ever for an animated Hollywood film.
Sony Pictures India managing director Vivek Krishnani commented on opening saying, “The movie had huge anticipation, particularly for one that is not a sequel. This can be attributed to the fact that the awareness of the franchise in India is 98% amongst the target audience and that we promoted it as an event film that could not be missed. Families are enjoying the film but the humour is connecting with youth as well. This positive reception amongst all ages, combined with the vacations continuing across the country, gives us confidence that the film will continue its strong run in the weeks to come.”
Hollywood
David Zaslav could net up to $887m as Warner Bros Discovery sells up
Media mogul strikes gold as Paramount Skydance deal triggers massive windfall
NEW YORK: While the average office worker might hope for a nice clock and a round of applause upon leaving, David Zaslav is looking at a slightly more substantial parting gift. The chief executive officer of Warner Bros Discovery is positioned to receive a windfall of up to $887 million following the company’s blockbuster $110 billion sale to Paramount Skydance.
In a twist of corporate fate that feels scripted for the big screen, the deal marks the finale of a high-stakes bidding war. It comes after Netflix, once the frontrunner, decided to exit stage left and abandon its pursuit of the HBO Max parent company.
While most people receive a standard final paycheck, the filing released on Monday suggests Zaslav’s exit package is built a little differently. If the deal closes as expected in the third quarter of 2026, the numbers break down like this:
The cash out: A severance package of $34.2 million, covering his salary and bonuses.
The equity: $115.8 million in vested shares he already owns.
The future fortune: A massive $517.2 million in unvested share awards, essentially “future stock” that turns into real money the moment the ink dries on the merger.
Perhaps the most eye-catching figure is the $335 million earmarked for tax reimbursements. However, this particular pot of gold has an expiration date.
The company noted that these reimbursements are tied to specific tax-code rules that significantly decline as time passes. If the deal hits a snag and drags into 2027, that tax payout drops to zero. With hundreds of millions on the line, the chief executive officer likely has every incentive to ensure the closing process moves at double-speed.
