Canadians across the country mark Remembrance Day
Today Canadians will remember and honour the sacrifice of men and women in uniform who gave their lives in service of the country's values and principles.
In a movie match-up almost as unlikely as "Barbie" and "Oppenheimer," Martin Scorsese took on Taylor Swift in cinemas over the weekend. And while the box office belonged for a second time to "Taylor Swift: The Eras Tour," Scorsese's "Killers of the Flower Moon" got off to a strong start in Apple Studios' first major theatrical gambit.
After a record-breaking opening weekend of $92.8 million, "Taylor Swift: The Eras Tour" took in an estimated $31 million over the weekend from 3,855 locations, according to AMC Theaters. In an unconventional deal, the theatre chain is distributing Swift's concert film, and playing it only Thursdays through Sundays.
Most Swifties rushed to see the film on opening weekend, when a large percent of sales were driven by advance ticketing. Sales dropped a steep 67% in its second weekend, potentially signifying that "The Eras Tour" was predominantly an opening-weekend phenomenon.
But "The Eras Tour" has still proved to be a movie event unlike any other. Within days, it became the highest grossing concert film ever in North America, not accounting for inflation. It's quickly accumulated $129.8 million domestically.
More was riding on "Killers of the Flower Moon," a historical crime drama about a string of murders against the Osage nation in the early 1920s. The film, which cost at least $200 million to make, is the largest production yet from Apple Studios. The streamer partnered with Paramount Pictures to release Scorsese's adaptation of David Grann's bestseller in 3,628 theatres, with plans to later stream it on a not-yet-announced date on Apple TV+.
"Killers of the Flower Moon" debuted with $23 million, marking the third best opening for the 80-year-old Scorsese, following "Shutter Island" ($41 million in 2010) and "The Departed" ($26.9 million in 2006). Though Scorsese's latest opus, starring Leonardo DiCaprio, Lily Gladstone and Robert De Niro, will have a hard road to reaching profitability, it's a successful launch for a 206-minute-long adult-skewing drama -- a type of movie that, outside "Oppenheimer," has struggled mightily at the box office in recent years.
And "Killers of the Flower Moon," with rave reviews, an "A-" CinemaScore from audiences and the backing of a robust Oscar campaign, should continue to play well over the long haul. It added $21 million overseas.
"Killer of the Flower Moon" also marks the best wide-release debut for a film from a streaming company. While Netflix (which backed Scorsese's last narrative feature, "The Irishman," in 2019) has charted a mostly limited approach to theatrical release, Apple and Amazon, which last year closed its purchase of MGM, have pursued more expansive theatrical strategies.
Earlier this year, Apple said it plans to spend $1 billion a year making movies that will have theatrical releases before reaching its streaming service. Apple is also behind Ridley Scott's upcoming "Napoleon," with Joaquin Phoenix, which Sony Pictures will distribute Nov. 22, and has partnered with Universal for Matthew Vaughn's "Argylle," due out Feb. 2.
Paramount had initially signed on to produce and distribute "Killers of the Flower Moon," but transitioned into the deal with Apple when costs of project, shot during the pandemic, rose.
"If `flexibility' is the new mantra of the theatrical movie business, then this is a significant success -- it establishes a viable option for the companies," David A. Gross, who runs the movie consulting firm Franchise Entertainment Research, said of the "Killers of the Flower Moon" launch.
As dissimilar as "Taylor Swift: The Eras Tour" and "Killers of the Flower Moon" are, they're alike in their extended run times. A double features of the weekend's top two movies would have taken you six hours and 14 minutes, not counting ads and trailers.
"Killers of the Flower Moon" also reeled in more young moviegoers than you might have expected. Paramount said 44% of ticket buyers were under the age of 30.
"Exorcist: The Believer," the horror sequel directed by David Gordon Green, came in a distant third with $6.7 million in its third weekend of release. The Universal, Blumhouse film has grossed $54.2 million domestically.
"PAW Patrol: The Mighty Movie" came in at No. 4 with $4.3 million in its fourth weekend. The fifth spot went to the rerelease of Tim Burton's "The Nightmare Before Christmas," which collected $4.1 million 30 years after it first landed in theatres.
Estimated ticket sales for Friday through Sunday at U.S. and Canadian theatres, according to Comscore. Final domestic figures will be released Monday.
Today Canadians will remember and honour the sacrifice of men and women in uniform who gave their lives in service of the country's values and principles.
U.S. President-elect Donald Trump says that Tom Homan, his former acting U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement director, will serve as "border czar" in his incoming administration.
Researchers are uncovering deeper insights into how the human brain ages and what factors may be tied to healthier cognitive aging, including exercising, avoiding tobacco, speaking a second language or even playing a musical instrument.
Applause erupted over and over at the Canada Life Centre in Winnipeg Sunday as the son of Murray Sinclair, a former judge, senator and chair of the Truth and Reconciliation Commission into residential schools, spoke about his father.
The union representing some 1,200 dockworkers at the Port of Montreal has overwhelmingly rejected a deal with their employers association.
Since the U.S. Supreme Court鈥檚 2022 Dobbs decision eliminated the federal right to abortion, miscarriage management has become trickier and in some cases, deadlier.
A children's book written by British celebrity chef Jamie Oliver has been withdrawn from sale after it was criticized for causing offense to Indigenous Australians.
A man who was critically injured in a police-involved shooting in Hamilton late Sunday afternoon has died in hospital, says the province鈥檚 police watchdog.
In his column for CTVNews.ca, personal finance contributor Christopher Liew offers a step-by-step guide on how to make the shift from renting to becoming a homeowner, and what you can start doing today to help the process go smoother.
A congestion crisis, a traffic nightmare, or unrelenting gridlock -- whatever you call it, most agree that Toronto has a congestion problem. To alleviate some of the gridlock, the Ontario government has announced it plans to remove bike lanes from three major roadways.
For the second year in a row, the 鈥楪ift-a-Family鈥 campaign is hoping to make the holidays happier for children and families in need throughout Barrie.
Some of the most prolific photographers behind CTV Skywatch Pics of the Day use the medium for fun, therapy, and connection.
A young family from Codroy Valley, N.L., is happy to be on land and resting with their newborn daughter, Miley, after an overwhelming, yet exciting experience at sea.
As Connor Nijsse prepared to remove some old drywall during his garage renovation, he feared the worst.
A group of women in Chester, N.S., has been busy on the weekends making quilts 鈥 not for themselves, but for those in need.
A Vancouver artist whose streetside singing led to a chance encounter with one of the world's biggest musicians is encouraging aspiring performers to try their hand at busking.
Ten-thousand hand-knit poppies were taken from the Sanctuary Arts Centre and displayed on the fence surrounding the Dartmouth Cenotaph on Monday.
A Vancouver man is saying goodbye to his nine-to-five and embarking on a road trip from the Canadian Arctic to Antarctica.