“Fifty Shades of Grey” will easily keep the crown when the weekend comes to a close. Plus, there is no holiday to deal with this time around. But, there is the Oscars, where all eyes on the biggest entertainment event of the year. The real business of show is the Oscars.
“Shades” or “50 Shades of Grey,” or “Fifty Shades of Grey” will take in what may be around $30 million. However, one may want to hold off on an estimate since it over-achieved in a big way last weekend.
So, take the new releases this weekend and consider them movies that had no chance at good box office, so they dumped them on Oscar weekend. With Kevin Costner, once a box office draw, comes another film release early in the year. “McFarland, USA” is the latest. Earlier this year it was “Black and White.”
Weekend
1. “Hot Tub Time Machine 2”- 2,880 theaters
2. “McFarland, USA” – 2,755 theaters
3. “The DUFF” – 2,575 theaters
It really is not a contest as “Shades” will still be solid as will “Kingsman: The Secret Service” and “SpongeBob: Sponge Out of Water.”
So, turn the page and think Oscar. With the addition of Dwayne Johnson, the list of presenters and performers for Sunday’s show.
Ben Affleck, Jennifer Aniston, Jason Bateman, Cate Blanchett, Jessica Chastain, Marion Cotillard, Benedict Cumberbatch, Viola Davis, Chiwetel Ejiofor, Idris Elba, Ansel Elgort, Chris Evans, Kevin Hart, Terrence Howard, Josh Hutcherson, Scarlett Johansson, Dakota Johnson, Felicity Jones, Nicole Kidman, Jennifer Lopez, Jared Leto, Shirley MacLaine, Matthew McConaughey, Sienna Miller, Chloë Grace Moretz, Eddie Murphy, Liam Neeson, Lupita Nyong’o, David Oyelowo, Gwyneth Paltrow, Chris Pine, Chris Pratt, Margot Robbie, Zoe Saldana, Octavia Spencer, Meryl Streep, Channing Tatum, Miles Teller, John Travolta, Kerry Washington, Naomi Watts, Oprah Winfrey and Reese Witherspoon.
The performers are: Jack Black, Common, Jennifer Hudson, Anna Kendrick, Lady Gaga, John Legend, Adam Levine with Maroon 5, Tim McGraw, Rita Ora and Tegan and Sara with The Lonely Island.
The Oscars take place Sunday, Feb. 22. It will be live in all times zones.
NOTE: Digital Journal is in Los Angeles and will have live updates throughout the show.
