CinemaCon, an event organized by the National Association of Theatre Owners, is taking place this week and some recent news will likely be on the agenda.
According to The Hollywood Reporter, the event running from April 1-4 will feature footage for upcoming movies as well as several exhibits regarding the industry. Additionally, THR reports that Disney Studios Chair and CEO Alan Horn will make a presentation Wednesday about the company’s purchase of 20th Century Fox.
The presentation, expected to last two hours according to THR, could very well be an informational session on how the company will move forward with various FOX properties, such as “X-Men.”
Another aspect likely to be touched on during the convention, THR reports is the business of streaming and how it relates to theaters. This is especially important as Disney, Warner Bros. and Universal have all expressed interest in creating their own streaming sites.
It’s also likely that box office numbers and predictions will be analyzed this week. With “Captain Marvel” already out and movies like “Aladdin,” “The Lion King,” “Star Wars: Episode IX” and “Avengers: Endgame” still scheduled for release, theaters could be looking at another record breaking year.
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The most recent movie finding success at the box office in 2019 is Disney’s live action adaptation of “Dumbo,” which earned $45 million in its opening weekend. While it was an above average opening, though, “Dumbo” still lagged behind other Disney remakes.
Cinderella” in 2015 opened with $67.8 million, “Maleficent” released with a $69.4 million in 2014 and “Beauty and the Beast” had a whopping $174 million first weekend in 2017. The question moving ahead for “Dumbo” is will it have the legs to carry on in the coming weeks, considering a rather busy month of April at the cinema.
The full top five from this weekend was:
1. Dumbo – $45,000,000
2. Us – $33,605,000
3. Captain Marvel – $20,500,000
4. Five Feet Apart – $6,250,000
5. Unplanned – $6,110,000
For the upcoming weekend, meanwhile, there are a few options for viewers. New flicks include the superhero comedy “Shazam!,” the horror “Pet Sematary” and a drama in “The Best of Enemies.”
On the small screen, films headed to home viewing are:
- Bumblebee, my rating: 3.75 out of 5, Large Association of Movie Blogs rating: 3.64 out of 5, Rotten Tomatoes rating: 93%.
- The Mule, my rating: 2 out of 5, Large Association of Movie Blogs rating: 3.08 out of 5, Rotten Tomatoes rating: 70%.
- Vice, my rating: 2.75 out of 5, Large Association of Movie Blogs rating: 3.05 out of 5, Rotten Tomatoes rating: 66%.
Matthew Liedke on Film 