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
Iger’s final act: Disney boss wraps up epic saga with a new captain at the helm
After 15 turbulent years, two stints in the c-suite, and billions spent on blockbuster acquisitions, Bob Iger is stepping away from the Magic Kingdom.
CALIFORNIA: The 75-year-old chief, hailed as one of the most transformative leaders in modern media, officially hands over to former parks chief Josh D’Amaro on 18 March. And this time, he’s getting the succession right.
Iger’s legacy glitters with big bets and epic wins: the $7.4bn Pixar buy, $4bn Marvel swoop, and the colossal $71bn 21st Century Fox deal. He dragged Disney into the streaming age, fought off activist investor Nelson Peltz, and saw off a political scrap with Florida governor Ron DeSantis.
But it hasn’t all been pixie dust. The forced return of Iger in 2022—after the short, shaky reign of successor Bob Chapek—tarnished an otherwise stellar run.
Now, D’Amaro takes the wheel with a streamlined leadership team and Disney firing on all cylinders. The firm’s streaming business is in the black, theme-park attendance is soaring, and five global films have hit $1billion at the box office in the past two years. Not bad for a firm that was on the ropes just months ago.
D’Amaro’s first move? A slick reorg under new president and chief creative officer Dana Walden, folding film, tv, streaming and gaming into one punchy unit. Sean Shoptaw, heading up the gaming division, now reports directly to Walden—bringing Fortnite and Epic Games collaborations closer to Disney’s creative heart.
Iger isn’t sailing off into the sunset just yet. He’ll keep busy with Angel City FC, the women’s football club he owns with his wife. And as Ann Mooney Murphy of Stevens Institute predicts: “A guy like that never truly retires.”
One era ends. Another begins. And the House of Mouse bets big on a future beyond the king.
