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Tag: Disney

  • The Avengers likely to gross $ 1 billion by Sunday

    The Avengers likely to gross $ 1 billion by Sunday

    MUMBAI: Disney‘s The Avengers is expected to cross the $800 million mark Thursday and might gross $1 billion globally by Sunday or early next week. It is said that if it reaches the milestone on Sunday, its 19th day in release, it will be on par with Avatar and Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows Part 2 in terms of record-breaking speed.

    Through Wednesday, the film directed by Joss Whedon had grossed $775.4 million worldwide, including a Wednesday take of $31.2 million. Last weekend, it scored the biggest domestic debut of all time with an intake of $207.4 million.

    This weekend Avengers could well gross $100 million domestically and $100 million overseas. But those numbers could come in lower if the drop is bigger than expected.

    The only new wide release of the weekend is Tim Burton‘s campy adaptation of the 1966-71 daytime soap Dark Shadows.The film that has Johnny Depp in the lead as a vampire is likely to open between the $35 million to $40 million range domestically. It also opens in 42 markets overseas, where Depp is a huge international star.

    Dark Shadows could beat Avengers in certain territories but might not be able to match Avengers‘ overall weekend international gross. Burton‘s film got off to a strong start Wednesday in France, grossing roughly $770,000 to beat Avengers on its third Wednesday.

    Made at a cost of $100 million, Dark Shadows should go well among women though interest has picked up among men in recent days.

  • The Avengers collects $218 million till Monday

    The Avengers collects $218 million till Monday

    MUMBAI: Disney and Marvel Studios appear to have a runaway hit on their hands. Joss Whedon‘s superhero film The Avengers has been continuously doing a terrific business overseas, where its total through Monday has reached $218 million.

    The Avengers, which only began rolling out at the international box office late last week, is easily on track to become the most successful title produced in-house by Marvel Studios, besting the $623 million worldwide gross of 2010‘s Iron Man 2.
    And the 3D film which unites many of Marvel‘s marquee superheroes has also reportedly done good business on Tuesday as a May Day holiday was observed in many foreign markets.
    At this pace, Avengers‘ foreign gross likely will grow to $350 million-$400 million by Sunday, boosted by its debut in Russia and China this weekend.
    Avengers will open on Thursday in North America, where it‘s widely expected to debut north of $150.
    Bullish box office observers believe Avengers could finish the weekend with a global gross well north of $500 million if not closer to $600 million.
    Last summer, Marvel‘s Thor grossed $449.3 million worldwide, while Captain America: The First Avenger earned $368.6 million.

  • Avengers gets off to a flying start overseas

    Avengers gets off to a flying start overseas

    MUMBAI: Opening last Wednesday, the Marvel Studios and Disney latest release The Avengers has got off to a flying start in the international box office scene after it notched up the second-highest opening of all time in Australia behind Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows Part 2.

    The film grossed $6 million compared to $7 million (Deathly Hallows Part 2) while it opened 214 per cent ahead of Iron Man 2 ($1.8 million). To boot, Avengers posted the biggest opening day ever in New Zealand after earning $800,000. The film also grossed $3 million when it also opened in France.
    Avengers, which has begun its foreign rollout a week ahead of its domestic launch scheduled on May 4. The film is setting down in a total of 42 foreign markets this weekend.

    The film is expected to break all box office records both domestically and overseas. IMAX is playing the film in many of its theatres overseas.

  • Disney, Mumbai Indians launch ‘Mickey Cricket’ merchandise

    Disney, Mumbai Indians launch ‘Mickey Cricket’ merchandise

    MUMBAI: Disney and IPL franchise Mumbai Indians have kicked off their one year relationship with the launch of ‘Mickey Cricket‘, a limited edition merchandise range.

    The products will include apparel and accessories, footwear, stationary, home and toys, all featuring Disney’s Fab Five in fun cricketing attire.

    The merchandise range is created for kids aged 4-14 and will be available at shopping destinations across the nation, including Reliance Trends and Hyper City, and also online at www.shopatdisney.in and www.mumbaiindians.com.

    Walt Disney Company (India) VP, consumer products and retail Roshini Bakshi said, “Creating memorable experiences for kids and families is at the heart of everything we do at Disney. India is a cricket crazy nation and the popularity of Mumbai Indians is unmatched. We are excited to bring our India fans this amazing opportunity to experience the most celebrated sport in the country with their favourite characters Mickey and friends in fun clothing avatar”.

    The focus will be in the Western part of the market.

    “We also expect some orders to come from other parts of the country where there are fans of Mumbai Indians residing. Already stores have placed orders wroth Rs 140 million,” Bakshi said.

    Disney‘s consumer products business has seen double-digit growth over the past few years. The business has been helped by products from the ‘Cars‘ film franchise as well as Hannah Montana.

    “We are talking to other IPL franchises. Mumbai Indians are trying to build a 360 degree brand, extending it beyond the cricket field. This year this tie up is a key focus area for us. We want to make the connection between Mickey and Indian kids stronger. That is why we have launched Mickey Cricket,” Bakshi said.

    Mickey cricket merchandise price points range from Rs 50-Rs 2000.

    Mumbai Indians owner Nita Ambani said, “We hope to make the Season V of IPL special for our young Mumbai Indians fans with the launch of this exciting Mickey and friends merchandise. We are very excited about this tie-up with Disney and hope to surprise our fans with more exciting offerings in the future”.

    Disney will also run a consumer promotion ‘Scratch it!‘ during the IPL season to offer an opportunity for fans to meet Mumbai Indians players, win free tickets to Mumbai Indians matches and take ‘Mickey Cricket’ merchandise home.

  • Disney, Mumbai Indians in licensing pact

    Disney, Mumbai Indians in licensing pact

    MUMBAI: Mukesh Ambani-owned IPL franchise Mumbai Indians has inked a licensing deal with The Walt Disney Company India to launch co-branded merchandise products targeted at under-14 kids segment.

    The co-branded merchandise will be sold in around 5,000 Reliance retail outlets and will be also be promoted through the digital medium.

    The two partners see a brand fit. Mumbai Indians have India’s favourite cricket icon Sachin Tendulkar at its helm who has huge following among kids particularly under-14. Mickey Mouse, Disney’s famous cartoon property, is also a popular character among kids..

    With this association, the merchandise revenue of Mumbai Indians is expected to climb in comparison to last year’s revenue of Rs 50-60 million, according to Mumbai Indians co-owner Nita Ambani.

    Ambani further said that her vision for Mumbai Indians was to make it a strong and satisfactory brand that is financially independent without the support of RIL. She also said that the franchise will break even in the long run.

    Walt Disney India MD Ronnie Screwvala is delighted with this alliance. “Disney being the most acclaimed brand internationally has only bonded with brands that are commercially feasible in its nature,” he said.

    He also feels that this coalition of Mumbai Indians and Walt Disney will expedite the aggrandizing of brand equity for both .
    The former entrepreneur cum CEO of UTV also mentioned that the under 14 segment has high potential and will keep burgeoning in the next few years. He pegs the licensing market for kids in 4-14 age group at Rs 14 billion.

  • Sequel to The Muppets in offing

    Sequel to The Muppets in offing

    MUMBAI: Disney has decided to make a sequel of The Muppets.The family movie, starring Jason Segel and Amy Adams alongside the late Jim Henson‘s puppet creations, claimed the Best Song Academy Award for Man or Muppet at the recent Oscars.

    The film proved to be a hit with film fans when it raked in $ 154.8 million worldwide upon its release last year.
     
    Segel, who co-wrote The Muppets with screenwriter Nicolas Stoller, will not be involved in the writing process this time around due to his other film and TV commitments. "My goal was to bring The Muppets back and I think that I achieved that. It was half a decade of my life and I just want to take a minute to concentrate on more human related projects," Segel has been quoted to have said.

    The Muppets director James Bobin will help Stoller come up with a new adventure for Kermit the Frog and Miss Piggy.

  • Journey… stays strong in 4h week too

    Journey… stays strong in 4h week too

    MUMBAI: With no strong competition, Journey 2: The Mysterious Island held on to the top box office spot grossing $14.7 million from 6,600 screens in 52 territories.

    The family adventure co-starring Josh Hutcherson and Dwayne Johnson opened at No. 4 in Germany by roping in $1.7 million from 438 screens. Till now, Journey 2’s total foreign box office stands at $184.5 million, that is 29 per cent more than the overseas tally compiled by Journey To The Center Of The Earth.

    Universal’s 3D animation title, Dr. Seuss’The Lorax, that opened No. 1 domestically, tested international waters on the weekend by way of 43 Middle Eastern dates, grossed $500,000. The distributor plans a big overseas push late this month for Easter holidays. More than 60 territories will play the adaptation of the children’s classic over the next five months.
     
    Opening in eight markets, Twentieth Century Fox’s romantic comedy This Means War drew in $14.1 million in the weekend playing at 3,962 screens in 51 markets and grossing an overseas gross total to $43.2 million.

    Making its debut in five markets, Universal’s Safe House hoisted its foreign gross total to $51.6 million thanks to $10.8 million weekend at 3.500 situations in 50 territories.

    Fourth was DreamWorks/Disney’s young-man-and-horse drama, War Horse, that made $10.6 million in the weekend playing in 52 territories. The total foreign gross total of the film now stands at $79.1 million.

    No 5 was Director Martin Scorsese’s Hugo that grossed $9.6 million in the weekend at 2,091 venues in 34 territories.

  • Twilight Saga still on top in 3rd week

    Twilight Saga still on top in 3rd week

    MUMBAI: The Twilight Saga: Breaking Dawn – Part 1 has topped the box office for the third week.

    The latest ‘Twilight‘ film has so far reaped in $16.9 million for a third-straight No. 1 finish during one of the year‘s slowest weekends at the box office. The Summit Entertainment blockbuster raised its domestic haul to $ 247.3 million.

    Coming in the second place again was Disney‘s The Muppets with a collection of $ 11.2 million dollars thereby enhancing the film‘s domestic total to $ 56.1 million.

    With no new wide releases opening after the busy Thanksgiving weekend, ticket sales nose-dived with other holdover films managing so-so revenues. 

  • Paramount to release Star Trek sequel in May 2013

    Paramount to release Star Trek sequel in May 2013

    MUMBAI: Paramount Studios has revealed that it will release its next Star Trek sequel, shot in 3D. on May 17, 2013. This means that the film would follow Marvel/Disney‘s Iron Man 3 and Warner Bros.‘ Guillermo del Toro-directed Pacific Rim.

    The delay of the film‘s release has been caused by director-producer J.J. Abrams not being able to make up his mind as he was tied up with Super 8. This made the studio backtrack on his earlier decision to release the film in June 2012.

    Earlier, the 2009 edition of Star Trek had grossed $386 million worldwide.

    Parmount hopes that the sequel will achieve much greater a success looking at how Christopher Nolan and Warner Bros. re-launched the Batman franchise with Batman Begins.

  • Real Steel reigns at No. 1 at domestic b-o

    Real Steel reigns at No. 1 at domestic b-o

    MUMBAI: Real Steel, distributed by Disney has topped the domestic box office chart with an intake of $27.3 million. Overseas, the DreamWorks film starring Hugh Jackman grossed an impressive $22.1 million for a worldwide debut of $49.4 million.

    In North America, the film succeeded in luring younger moviegoers, who have been noticeably absent from the multiplex in recent months, as well as posting one of the better openings for early October.

    Real Stee, a film on Robot boxing, l launched over the weekend in 19 foreign territories, of which only three of which are major markets like Russia, Australia and Mexico. The film opened on top in each of the territories grossing $6.9 million in Russia, $5.4 million in Australia and $2.9 million in Mexico.

    “The film succeeded in playing to a variety of demos,” said Disney executive vice president of distribution Dave Hollis, adding that families made up 25 per cent of the audience, teenagers 15 per cent and couples 60 per cent, many of whom were younger.

    The George Clooney-directed The Ides of March ranked at No. 2 in its debut, grossing $10.4 million. “The acting is absolutely tremendous. You coudn‘t take your eyes off any one of these actors,” Sony president of worlwide distribution Rory Bruer said of the film.