Hollywood
‘Fifty Shades of Grey’ seduces box office with $239.7 million
MUMBAI: Universal Pictures’ erotica movie Fifty Shades of Grey has seduced the global box office with stupendous collections of $ 239.7 million in its opening weekend.
According to Rentrak’s box office estimates for the weekend of 15 February, 2015, the movie collected a whopping $81.7 million at the box office in North America.
Rentrak senior media analyst Paul Dergarabedian said, “Universal’s erotic drama Fifty Shades of Grey felt the love from audiences as it earned a whopping $239.7 million around the globe this weekend. Generating an impressive $158 million in 58 international territories (and $81.7 million in North America), this is Universal’s second biggest international opening weekend ever behind Fast & Furious 6 at $160.3 million. Also impressive is the super cool Kingsman: The Secret Service from Fox that in its second weekend internationally took no prisoners with $23.1 million in 38 territories. This combined with the $35.6 million it earned in its North American debut gives Kingsman $58.7 million for the weekend and a worldwide total to date of nearly $80 million.”
The top 12 worldwide weekend box office estimates, listed in descending order, per data collected as of Sunday, 15 February, 2015, are below:
1. Fifty Shades Of Grey – $239.7 million
2. Kingsman: The Secret Service – $58.7 million
3. Spongebob Squarepants: Sponge Out Of Water – $44 million
4. Somewhere Only We Know – $30 million
5. Jupiter Ascending – $25 million
6. American Sniper – $20.1 million
7. Big Hero 6 – $9.9 million
8. Taken 3 – $8.3 million
9. The Imitation Game – $7.5 million
10. Night At The Museum: Secret Of The Tomb – $7.1 million
11. Detective K: The Laborer’s Daughter – $6.2 million
12. Paddington – $5.1 million
The top 12 North American weekend box office estimates, listed in descending order, per data collected as of Sunday, 15 February, 2015, are below:
1. Fifty Shades Of Grey – $81.7 million
2. Kingsman: The Secret Service – $35.6 million
3. Spongebob Squarepants: Sponge Out Of Water – $30.5 million
4. American Sniper – $16.4 million
5. Jupiter Ascending – $9.4 million
6. Seventh Son – $4.2 million
7. Paddington – $4.1 million
8. The Imitation Game – $3.5 million
9. The Wedding Ringer – $3.4 million
10. Project Almanac – $2.7 million
11. Black Or White – $2.6 million
12. The Boy Next Door – $1.8 million
Hollywood
Disney chair confident CEO Josh D’Amaro will ‘rise to the occasion’ in Trump–Kimmel row
Board backs new chief as ABC controversy tests leadership early on
NEW YORK: The Walt Disney Company has placed the responsibility of handling the escalating dispute between Donald Trump and late-night host Jimmy Kimmel squarely on its new chief executive, Josh D’Amaro.
Speaking at a business conference in Oslo, Disney chair James Gorman said it would be up to the CEO and his team to determine the company’s response to the controversy surrounding Jimmy Kimmel Live!. He noted that such challenges are not uncommon for large corporations and require careful handling at the leadership level.
The row intensified after both Donald Trump and Melania Trump publicly called for Kimmel’s dismissal following remarks made on his show. The comments, which referenced the First Lady, sparked backlash in the days leading up to a security incident at the White House Correspondents’ Dinner.
Kimmel addressed the issue on-air, clarifying that his joke was intended as a reference to the couple’s age difference and not an incitement to violence. He also expressed sympathy for those affected by the incident and reiterated his stance against violent rhetoric.
Despite mounting pressure, Gorman refrained from offering specific guidance on the future of the show or the host. Instead, he voiced confidence in D’Amaro’s leadership, describing him as “world class” and capable of navigating the situation effectively.
The episode presents an early and high-profile test for D’Amaro, who stepped into the top role just last month. How Disney balances editorial independence, public sentiment and political pressure will likely shape not just the outcome of this controversy, but also the tone of its leadership in the months ahead.
