Hollywood
‘Jurassic Park Dominion’ film roars at the box-office
Mumbai: Facing mixed reviews and up against blockbusters such as “Top Gun” in the North American market and “Bhool Bhulaiyaa 2” in India, Universal/Amblin Entertainment’s “Jurassic World Dominion” roared into theatres over the weekend with estimated international box office figures at $389 million placing it on top in numerous markets and showing that it may be critic proof against any bad reviews.
“Dominion” took a bite out of the North American Market with an estimated $143.4 million in ticket sales. The film opened on 4,676 screens in the US and Canada & cost a reported $185 million to produce, not accounting for marketing & promotion.
In India, “Jurassic World Dominion” opened strong and is likely to be the highest opening ever for the franchise. The film opened on 2,749 screens and the final weekend tally could be in the vicinity of Rs 33 – 35 crore net.
The impressive figures are yet another marker that the box office continues to rebound this summer. With blockbusters like “Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness,” “Top Gun: Maverick,” and “Bhool Bhulaiyaa,” audiences are now heading back into theaters with more consistency.
“Jurassic World Dominion” is the sequel to “Jurassic World: Fallen Kingdom” (2018), the sixth installment in the “Jurassic Park” franchise and the conclusion to the storyline that started in the original “Jurassic Park” trilogy.
Colin Trevorrow directs the film and also co-wrote the screenplay with Emily Carmichael which is based on a story by Trevorrow and Derek Connolly.
In an exclusive interview with Trevorrow and cast members streamed before the release of the film at Hollywood Chinese Theatre, he expressed a wish that audience goers, “Get loud! Everyone watching, yell things at the screen, laugh, cry and do it all loudly. We are in theatres watching movies which hasn’t happened for a long time, so let’s enjoy it.”
The film stars an ensemble cast including Chris Pratt, Bryce Dallas Howard, Laura Dern, Jeff Goldblum, Sam Neill, BD Wong, Omar Sy, Isabella Sermon, Justice Smith and Daniella Pineda reprising their roles from previous films in the franchise, and are joined by DeWanda Wise, Mamoudou Athie, Campbell Scott, Scott Haze, and Dichen Lachman.
Dern, Goldblum and Neill reprise their roles from the “Jurassic Park” trilogy, appearing together for the first time since the 1993 film. The film is set four years after the events of “Fallen Kingdom,” with dinosaurs now living alongside humans around the world as locusts begin threatening the world’s food supply.
However, some film critics weren’t biting, with this sixth instalment of the franchise having gained the unwanted distinction of being the worst-reviewed yet with a Rotten Tomatoes score of just 30 per cent from critics. Yet, fans can’t seem to get enough of these dinosaurs with an audience approval rating of 80 percent.
“Jurassic World Dominion” sold itself on a combination of nostalgia and finality, even though it may be extremely unlikely that we’ll never see another one. However, as it is billed as the last instalment of the “Jurassic” era, the film’s stars expressed a certain wistfulness. Leading lady, Bryce Dallas Howard said, “It is a very meaningful, very powerful experience. I think all of us will treasure and hold on to it forever. It’s incredibly bittersweet that it’s coming to a close.” Jeff Goldblum added, “It’s been a profound privilege. Like many moments in life or a passion at work, I’m always inspired by it.”
As for now, you can only see “Jurassic World: Dominion” in theaters. Last year, an unprecedented number of new theatrical movies streamed online the same day they hit cinemas. But this year, as COVID-19 restrictions have eased and audiences returned to cinemas, the practice has nearly vanished. Pretty much all movies now get at least a month and a half in theaters exclusively. However, in the case of “Jurassic World: Dominion,” it may be much longer, it’s unlikely to happen anytime before late July and could be as far out as early October. “Jurassic World Dominion” will stream first on Peacock. Peacock is owned by Comcast’s NBCUniversal, and Universal Pictures is the movie’s distributor.
Elsewhere at the box office, “Top Gun: Maverick’ is still strong at No. 2 with an additional $50 million at the North American box office, bringing its total to $393 million. It flew past $700 million worldwide, earning $747 million globally. “Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness” continued to conjure box office magic at third place, earning an additional $4.8 million.
In India, “Bhool Bhulaiyaa 2” saw an uptick in collections on its fourth Saturday with numbers growing by 60 per cent versus Friday as it netted Rs. 2.10 – 2.25 crore. “Samrat Prithviraj” netted Rs. 54.60 crore in its first week. After Rs 1.80 crore second Friday, the film grew on its second Saturday but the numbers remained on the lower side hovering around the Rs 2.10 – 2.25 crore mark.
Hollywood
WBD sets April 23 vote on $110bn Paramount Skydance merger
Investor approval key step, but regulators loom over mega media deal
NEW YORK: Warner Bros. Discovery has set April 23 as the date for shareholders to vote on its proposed $110 billion merger with Paramount Skydance, marking a crucial step in one of the biggest media deals in recent years.
The all-cash transaction offers WBD shareholders $31 per share, a hefty 147 per cent premium to its unaffected stock price, signalling strong intent to push the deal across the finish line. The company’s board has unanimously backed the merger and is urging investors to vote in favour.
Even if shareholders give the green light, the deal is far from done. Regulators in the United States and Europe are expected to scrutinise the merger closely, weighing concerns around competition and potential price impacts for consumers.
To keep investors on side, WBD has built in a safety net. If the deal is not completed by September 30, shareholders will receive a quarterly “ticking fee” of $0.25 per share until closure.
The proposed merger would significantly reshape the media landscape, combining the assets of Warner Bros. Discovery with those linked to Paramount Global and Skydance Media. It would also cement the growing influence of David Ellison, who has been steering Skydance’s aggressive expansion strategy.
“The WBD Board has been guided by the singular principle of securing a transaction that maximises the value of our iconic assets and delivers as much certainty as possible to our shareholders,” said Warner Bros. Discovery board chair Samuel A. Di Piazza Jr.. “This historic transaction will expand consumer choice and create new opportunities for creative talent.”
Warner Bros. Discovery chief executive officer David Zaslav added that the company is working closely with its counterpart to close the deal and unlock value for stakeholders.
With investor backing likely but regulatory hurdles ahead, the proposed merger is shaping up to be a defining moment for the global entertainment industry, where scale, content and competition are increasingly intertwined.
