Box Office: 'Noah' Sails Easily to #1; 'Captain America 2' Earns $75M Overseas

1. Noah- $44M
So much for those who thought Darren Aronofsky's big Hollywood production of Noah would flop after all the negative press. The film starring Russell Crowe as the ark-building animal tamer opened to a sizable $44M, plus another $51M internationally. The $95M debut puts a big dent in the $130M+ budget, and should also quiet the religious purists hoping it would fall short of Son of God, which currently stands at $57M after five weeks of release.
2. Divergent- $26.5M/$95.2M
The 51% slide of Divergent in its second week isn't so bad, and is actually pretty good for the sci-fi genre. The point is that Lionsgate should now feel fully confident in moving ahead with the sequel and wrapping up the entire trilogy.
3. Muppets Most Wanted- $11.3M/$33.2M
Slipping only 33% from last week, Muppets Most Wanted has bounced back well from a mediocre opening weekend.  It's still not likely to come close to matching the haul of the first film, though. 
4. Mr. Peabody & Sherman- $9.5M/$94.9M
5. God's Not Dead- $9M/$22M
The people who were openly bashing and rooting for the failure of Noah ended up at God's Not Dead, which has maintained an incredible hold in its second week. The faith-based drama stars Dean Cain and Kevin Sorbo, and could end up as one of the year's great success stories. The timing couldn't have been better considering all of the religious fervor surrounding movies of late, and it'll be interesting to see just how long this lasts.
6. The Grand Budapest Hotel- $8.8M/$24.4M
Adding an additional 673 theaters didn't slow down Wes Anderson's The Grand Budapest Hotel, which jumped 30% and managed an astounding $9K per site average.
7. Sabotage- $5.3M
Is Sabotage the last gasp of Arnold Schwarzenegger as a top name star? The David Ayer-directed action flick, which boasts a pretty solid cast surrounding the Governator, is one of the lowest grossing debuts in Schwarzenegger's career. Somehow it managed to do worse than The Last Stand, which nobody saw and fewer liked. One would think audiences would turn out to see the follow-up film from Ayer, who last directed End of Watch to great critical and box office success. To me, that means people aren't turning out specifically because of Schwarzenegger, which is sad because this is a different sort of movie for him. Unfortunately, it was marketed as a brainless shoot 'em up and only fans of those flicks turned out.
8. Need for Speed- $4.33M/$37.7M
9. 300: Rise of an Empire- $4.3M/$101.1M
10. Non-Stop- $4M/$85.1M

In other news, Marvel's Captain America: The Winter Soldier opened in a few markets internationally, earning a whopping $75M. That bodes well for its domestic release next week, one that Marvel is expecting to far surpass Captain America: The First Avenger's final tally of $370M. If the trend following The Avengers continues upwards, it should squash those numbers easily.

The Raid 2, only the most anticipated sequel ever for a film few actually saw, opened in only seven locations and racked up a solid $177K. The roll out expands next week and goes semi-wide on April 11th.

The Diego Luna-directed, Michael Pena-starring biopic Cesar Chavez hit 664 theaters and earned $3M, a middling number for a film with middling reviews.

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Box Office: 'Divergent' Opens to Strong $56M; 'Muppets Most Wanted' Not So Much

1. Divergent- $56M
On first glance, the $56M debut of Divergent may seem underwhelming, until you consider that it's more than the opening weekends of the last four YA adaptations outside of The Hunger Games movies. For comparison's sake, the film doesn't come close to matching The Hunger Games' $152M debut, but that was never going to be the case. Shailene Woodley, as great an actress as she is, doesn't enter in on quite the same upswing as Jennifer Lawrence, and these adaptations now come with a certain stigma that wasn't present before. Now it's going to be about managing expectations for the future. The sequel, Insurgent, has already been green lit with a brand new director, which should please the audiences that gave Divergent an 'A' Cinemascore.
2. Muppets Most Wanted- $16.5M
Muppets Most Wanted begins with catchy musical number openly proclaiming the sequel won't be as good as the original, and it turns out it won't make as much money, either. The film opened to only $16.5M, disappointing but not totally unexpected. 2011's The Muppets rode in on a wave of nostalgia and genuine excitement for the return of Jim Henson's popular creations, but the sequel has always felt a little desperate and unnecessary. The soft opening weekend probably wasn't helped by the continued strong performances by Mr. Peabody & Sherman and The LEGO Movie. This may be the last we see of Kermit and the gang on the big screen. Maybe a new weekly TV series would work?
3. Mr. Peabody & Sherman- $11.7M/$81M
4. 300: Rise of an Empire- $8.6M/$93.7M
5. God's Not Dead- $8.5M
Christian-themed dramas continue to do big business in the specialty market, with the mostly unheard of God's Not Dead opening to $8.5M in 780 screens. It's only in movies like this that guys like Dean Cain and Kevin Sorbo can be box office giants. Anyway, this looks to be doing roughly the same business as prior religious hits like Fireproof and Courageous. Maybe this bodes well for Darren Aronofsky's Noah, which opens next week? Eh, probably not. Different audiences, I think.
6. Need for Speed- $7.7M/$30.4M
7. The Grand Budapest Hotel- $6.7M/$12.9M
8. Non-Stop- $6.3M/$78.6M
9. The LEGO Movie- $4.1M/$243.3M
10. Tyler Perry's The Single Moms Club- $3.1M/$12.9M

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Cinema Royale #55- Divergent; Muppets Most Wanted; Jason Bateman

On a very special episode of Cinema Royale, Jason Bateman calls in to talk about his raunchy, R-rated directorial debut, Bad Words.

Does Shailene Woodley and Divergent have what it takes to join The Hunger Games as the next great YA adaptation? We'll take a look at the futuristic action film and what it means for Woodley, Kate Winslet, and the rest of the phenomenal cast. Plus, we'll join Kermit, Miss Piggy, Tina Fey, and the rest of the gang for Muppets Most Wanted!

All this plus the latest news, DVD releases, and more!

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Review: 'Muppets Most Wanted' Starring Tina Fey and Ricky Gervais

Muppets Most Wanted strikes an odd chord right from the very beginning. The opening song, taking place literally moments after 2011's surprisingly charming, nostalgic, and hilarious The Muppets, suggests right off the bat that sequels are never better than the original. It's a catchy tune, and often cites the film's original title, The Muppets...Again. Why change the title but keep it in the title track? Anyway, the song basically admits right up front that all they are doing is giving the audience more of what came before, and it turns out that hanging with Kermit, Miss Piggy, and the gang still hasn't gotten old.

The first film was largely a pet project belonging to Jason Segel, and it was structured as such while in his loving care. With him gone from the sequel, the emphasis is squarely on the Muppets as they try to figure out their next move. With the Hollywood buzz of their last outing having quickly faded, they face the prospect of becoming yesterday's news all over again. It's the perfect time for sketchy agent Dominic Badguy (Ricky Gervais) to swoop in and suggest they take the show to Europe. Trusting in Kermit's judgment, the Muppets enthusiastically agree and head off on a world tour.

What they don't know is that the appropriately named Badguy is little more than a lackey to Constantine, Kermit's evil doppelganger and the "world's most dangerous frog". Having escaped from prison, Constantine worms his way into the Muppets' lives, framing Kermit and getting him sent off to a Russian gulag run by the Kermit-obsessed Nadya (Tina Fey). It also features a crew of heavies played by Danny Trejo (as himself!!), Jemaine Clement, and Ray Liotta. You haven't lived until you've seen Machete performing prison musical numbers. The cameos aren't as pervasive this time around, and some are easily missed (blink and you'll definitely miss James McAvoy), but the major ones connect because everyone seems to be having a good time making fun of themselves.

The introduction of Constantine as a (possibly) recurring nemesis has its ups and downs. While his floundering attempts to mimic Kermit and hide his disgust for Miss Piggy are often very funny, he's afforded a little too much screen time. That's time probably better spent with the other Muppets, who have been allowed by Constantine to indulge in every ridiculous act Kermit would have shot down. It's Walter, the new Muppet introduced in the last film, who begins to suspect something isn't quite right. If only he was as curious about the disappearance of Segel's character, who he supposedly grew up with. But that's a minor nit-pick as returning director James Bobin and co-writer Nicholas Stoller have wisely set it up for us to look at this as a purely standalone effort, one that is more of a heist comedy in the vein of The Great Muppet Caper and The Pink Panther.  Adding to this is the presence of Ty Burrell as a Clousseau-esque Interpol agent teaming with Sam the Eagle to investigate Constantine's crimes. As Kermit tries to escape, Constantine rolls out his global jewel-thieving plot while systematically insulting Badguy at every turn.

Even as Muppets Most Wanted acknowledges its status as a perfunctory sequel, the loving attention to detail, subversive humor, and pure fun haven't been diminished.

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'Muppets Most Wanted' Spoof Posters and TV Spot

The Muppets aren't just back, they are apparently now the Muppets Most Wanted, but there doesn't seem to be a lot of energy behind the sequel. With Jason Segel out of the picture, the human cast consists of Tina Fey, Ty Burrell, Ricky Gervais, and an overload of celebrity cameos. And for a film that is so deeply entrenched in Hollywood, it only makes sense for it to have some fun with a few parody posters and one timely TV spot.

Disney has unveiled four posters spoofing Skyfall, Tinker Tailor Soldier Spy, and what appears to be Face/Off, which is sort of a weird one. All of these goofs may be dated, but the TV spot is right on point as it mentions the John Travolta "Adele Dazeem" flub from the Oscars. Okay, so that joke's been worn-out pretty badly, too, but you can't blame Disney for trying. Included are a couple of clips from the Muppets' Euro-caper, which has them getting mixed up in a scheme involving Kermit's criminal doppelganger, Constantine. Muppets Most Wanted opens March 21st.

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New Sequel Song Trailer for 'Muppets Most Wanted'

A big part of the Muppets has always been the big song & dance numbers, and that was one of the things composer Brett McKenzie and director James Bobin nailed perfectly with The Muppets, winning an Oscar for Best Original Song. With Muppets Most Wanted on the way, they'll be trying to recreate that magic, and they may have just done it with this clever new trailer/music video titled "We're Doing a Sequel".

Beginning mere moments after the prior film, this is the song that kicks off the sequel and it shows plenty of footage, as well as many of the celebrity cameos. It's a fun, joyful track that manages to poke fun at the sequel's prospects a little bit, while recapturing some of the upbeat, nostalgic tone that made The Muppets such a pleasure. We'll see if this feeling can last for the entire movie.

Starring Tina Fey, Ricky Gervais, and Ty Burrell, Muppets Most Wanted opens March 21st.

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New Trailer for 'Muppets Most Wanted'

Now that the nostalgia brought on by the Muppets' return has long since faded, there seems to be a general lack of buzz for Muppets Most Wanted. Perhaps it also has something to do with the loss of Jason Segel, who was an integral part of the first film's popularity, or the feeling that this sequel wasn't absolutely necessary and looks like something designed for the kiddies.

Yet another trailer has been released, and it still looks like someone decided to remake The Great Muppet Caper, which would never be a good idea. Bringing back James Bobin and composer Bret McKenzie, with human stars Tina Fey, Ricky Gervais, and Ty Burrell, the film has Kermit in the middle of a European caper caused by his evil doppelganger, Constantine.

Muppets Most Wanted opens on March 21st.

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'Muppets Most Wanted' Reveals an Extended Super Bowl Spot

The Super Bowl kicks off in just a manner of minutes, and your TV sets will be flooded with far more than just the Denver Broncos and Seattle Seahawks.You'll also be treated to a wealth of new TV spots and trailers, and Disney has just revealed a new, extended web-only one for Muppets Most Wanted. The Euro crime caper features Kermit, Miss Piggy, with human stars Tina Fey, Ricky Gervais, and Ty Burrell along with a host of celebrity cameos too numerous to list. Here's the official synopsis followed by the spot....

PLOT: Disney’s “Muppets Most Wanted” takes the entire Muppets gang on a global tour, selling out grand theaters in some of Europe’s most exciting destinations, including Berlin, Madrid, Dublin and London. But mayhem follows theMuppets overseas, as they find themselves unwittingly entangled in an international crime caper headed by Constantine—the World’s Number One Criminal and a dead ringer for Kermit the Frog—and his dastardly sidekick Dominic, aka Number Two, portrayed by Ricky Gervais. The film stars Tina Fey as Nadya, a feisty prison guard, and Ty Burrell as Interpol agent Jean Pierre Napoleon.

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'Muppets Most Wanted' Delivers Fake Outrage Over Awards Snubs

So not only are 12 Years A Slave fans "outraged" that the film didn't win every single award last night at the Golden Globes, the Muppets are also pissed Muppets Most Wanted didn't even get nominated. Cue the fake Twitter outrage of Kermit and the gang in a clever and quite funny new TV spot, which has two imaginary tweeters arguing over the upcoming film's awards eligibility.

Muppets Most Wanted co-stars Golden Globes host Tina Fey, Ricky Gervais, and Ty Burrell in a story that has the Muppets on a sold out tour, only to get mixed up in an international caper led by an evil Kermit doppelganger.

Muppets Most Wanted opens March 21st.

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Two Full Trailers for 'Muppets Most Wanted' Starring Ricky Gervais and Tina Fey

Disney wants so badly for you to remember they have Muppets Most Wanted coming next year, they've dropped not one but two new trailers to serve as reminders. The sequel to 2011's hit The Muppets has Kermit and the gang on a European tour, only to get mixed up in a jewel heist caper involving Kermit's evil doppelganger, Constantine. Tina Fey, Ty Burrell and Ricky Gervais lead the human crew, with a ton of cameos from P. Diddy, Celine Dion, Ray Liotta (he just can't get enough Muppets), Salma Hayek, and Danny Trejo, who was cut from the first film. Ha! Machete got cut. Anyway, despite bringing back director Jason Bobin and writer Nicholas Stoller, the loss of Jason Segel and Amy Adams is clearly felt because these trailers aren't at all inspiring. Perhaps its the lousy plot which too closely mirrors other Muppet movies. Or maybe the Muppets' resurgence was a short-term thing fueled by nostalgia?

Muppets Most Wanted opens March 21st 2014.





PLOT: Disney’s “Muppets Most Wanted” takes the entire Muppets gang on a global tour, selling out grand theaters in some of Europe’s most exciting destinations, including Berlin, Madrid and London. But mayhem follows the Muppets overseas, as they find themselves unwittingly entangled in an international crime caper headed by Constantine—the World’s Number One Criminal and a dead ringer for Kermit—and his dastardly sidekick Dominic, aka Number Two, portrayed by Ricky Gervais, creator of “Derek” and the Golden Globe®- and Emmy®-winning series “The Office” and “Extras.” The film stars Golden Globe-, Emmy- and SAG Award®-winning actress and writer Tina Fey (“30 Rock,” “Mean Girls,” “Date Night”) as Nadya, a feisty prison guard, and Emmy Award winner Ty Burrell (TV’s “Modern Family”) as Interpol agent Jean Pierre Napoleon.

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Double the Kermit in the First 'Muppets Most Wanted' Poster

Kermit the Frog had an identical twin in 1981's The Great Muppet Caper, although it was really just Fozzie Bear wearing a hat and supposedly nobody could tell the difference. In Disney's Muppets Most Wanted he'll have another twin to contend with, a doppelganger named Constantine who turns out to be the evil, jewel-heisting type. And at least according to the first poster, he also does quite the Dr. Evil impersonation.

Directed by the returning James Bobin, the film has the Muppets touring England only to get caught up in an international jewel caper when Kermit is mistaken for his doppelganger. Tina Fey plays a Russian GULAG officer, and her accent alone will probably be good for a few laughs; Ricky Gervais is Constantine's  #2 guy; and Ty Burrell is an Interpol agent with a pencil-thin mustache that pegs him as a man of mystery.

For whatever reason I'm not at all excited about this one. The first film was fun and it was great to see the Muppets relevant again, but that's over now and I have doubts the magic can be recaptured.  Muppets Most Wanted opens on March 21st 2014.

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First Trailer and Images for 'Muppets Most Wanted'

With Marvel, Star Wars, Pirates of the Caribbean and others under their belt, it's easy to forget that one of Disney's greatest successes was the comeback of The Muppets. The film brought Kermit, Miss Piggy, Gonzo, and the rest back into the spotlight after years out of it, and Disney hopes to keep it going with the sequel, Muppets Most Wanted.

The first teaser for the film has been released, and while Jason Segel and Amy Adams are no longer around, there are plenty of human co-stars popping in for cameos. Ricky Gervais, Ty Burrell, and Tina Fey join in on the fun which has Kermit and the gang involved in an international crime caper that takes them to London, Berlin, and Madrid.

Directed by the returning James Bobin with a script by Nicholas Stoller, Muppets Most Wanted opens on March 21st 2014.

Location:I St NW,Washington D.C.,United States

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