Brad Pitt's 'F1' cruises to top of N.America box office
"This is an outstanding opening for an original action sports drama," said David A. Gross of Franchise Entertainment Research, noting that both critics and audiences have loved the racing film from Apple and Warner Bros.
"How to Train Your Dragon," Universal and DreamWorks Animation's live-action reboot of the popular 2010 film, slipped to second place with $19.4 million, according to Exhibitor Relations.
The family-friendly film tells the story of a Viking named Hiccup (Mason Thames) who strikes up a friendship with Toothless the dragon.
In third place was Disney/Pixar Animation's latest original film "Elio," at $10.7 million in the United States and Canada.
"Elio" tells the story of a young boy who is mistaken by aliens as an intergalactic ambassador for Earth. The voice cast includes Oscar winner Zoe Saldana.
"M3GAN 2.0," the sequel to Universal's 2022 film about a murderous doll, opened in a disappointing fourth place with $10.2 million.
"The idea of a child-sized humanoid robot doll powered by AI generated a lot of interest the first time, but that interest has fallen apart," Gross said.
In fifth place was Columbia Pictures' zombie sequel "28 Years Later," which took in $9.7 million.
Critics' reviews and audience ratings have been strong for the Danny Boyle-directed threequel, which picks up -- as the title suggests -- more than a generation after the initial outbreak of the Rage Virus.
Rounding out the top 10 were:
"Lilo & Stitch" ($6.9 million)
"Materialists" ($3 million)
"Ballerina" ($2.1 million)
© 2025 AFP
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France 24
12 hours ago
- France 24
Brad Pitt's 'F1' cruises to top of N.America box office
"This is an outstanding opening for an original action sports drama," said David A. Gross of Franchise Entertainment Research, noting that both critics and audiences have loved the racing film from Apple and Warner Bros. "How to Train Your Dragon," Universal and DreamWorks Animation's live-action reboot of the popular 2010 film, slipped to second place with $19.4 million, according to Exhibitor Relations. The family-friendly film tells the story of a Viking named Hiccup (Mason Thames) who strikes up a friendship with Toothless the dragon. In third place was Disney/Pixar Animation's latest original film "Elio," at $10.7 million in the United States and Canada. "Elio" tells the story of a young boy who is mistaken by aliens as an intergalactic ambassador for Earth. The voice cast includes Oscar winner Zoe Saldana. "M3GAN 2.0," the sequel to Universal's 2022 film about a murderous doll, opened in a disappointing fourth place with $10.2 million. "The idea of a child-sized humanoid robot doll powered by AI generated a lot of interest the first time, but that interest has fallen apart," Gross said. In fifth place was Columbia Pictures' zombie sequel "28 Years Later," which took in $9.7 million. Critics' reviews and audience ratings have been strong for the Danny Boyle-directed threequel, which picks up -- as the title suggests -- more than a generation after the initial outbreak of the Rage Virus. Rounding out the top 10 were: "Lilo & Stitch" ($6.9 million) "Materialists" ($3 million) "Ballerina" ($2.1 million) © 2025 AFP
France 24
2 days ago
- France 24
Fans celebrate 'Squid Game' finale with Seoul parade
The third and final season was released Friday, concluding the series that sees desperate people compete in deadly versions of traditional children's games for a massive cash prize. Director Hwang Dong-hyuk said he had "poured everything" into the series, which launched nearly four years ago. "So while it's sentimental to see it end," he said, "there's also a sense of relief". Fans gathered near Seoul's Gyeongbokgung Palace, led by marchers dressed in the bright pink uniforms worn by the show's mysterious masked agents. They were followed by others carrying oversize toys from one of the games featured in the series, along with the show's flag. Park Sang-gyu, a fan who stayed up all night watching the final season, said the dystopian drama was "ultimately a story about people". "As you watch, you realise it's not just about the games -- it reflects many aspects of real life." The walls of the Seoul Metropolitan Library were lit up with key scenes, including Young-hee -- the giant motion-sensing animatronic doll featured in one of its brutal games. Lee Byung-hun, who played the masked Front Man overseeing the competition, said the show had become "something of a cultural phenomenon". "One that has drawn one of the boldest lines in the history of Korean content," he said. The first two seasons of the series are among Netflix's most-watched shows, and in 2022, Hwang and the show's leading actor, Lee Jung-jae, became the first Asian men to win Emmy Awards. The final season follows its hero Gi-hun, played by Lee, as he returns to the ultra-violent games to dismantle them from within after surviving the first round. Along with filmmaker Bong Joon-ho's Oscar-winning 2019 thriller "Parasite" and K-pop sensation BTS, "Squid Game" is considered one of the most powerful examples of South Korea's rise as a global cultural force.
France 24
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Anna Wintour steps down as US Vogue editor after nearly 40 years
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