Wednesday, December 4, 2024

Movies: Universal Basically Pulls “Blackhat” from Circulation, Johnny Depp’s “Mortdecai” MIA

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So much good news about “American Sniper” — heading to $250 million this weekend at the domestic box office. Biggest hit of Clint Eastwood’s career. A real bonanza for Warner Bros.

But then: Universal has yanked Michael Mann’s “Blackhat” basically from all but 236 theaters. It had been in 2,568. It’s the 6th biggest drop in history for a third week film.

And no one knows where Johnny Depp’s “Mortdecai” is. Lions Gate didn’t give box office results for Friday night. It’s probably being quietly euthanized as we speak.

The “Blackhat” situation is more dire than the “Mortdecai” episode. Mann is a serious filmmaker. He’ll come back in a big way. But this has to be a blow to him.

Roger Friedman
Roger Friedmanhttps://www.showbiz411.com
Roger Friedman began his Showbiz411 column in April 2009 after 10 years with Fox News, where he created the Fox411 column. His movie reviews are carried by Rotten Tomatoes, and he is a member of both the movie and TV branches of the Critics Choice Awards. His articles have appeared in dozens of publications over the years including New York Magazine, where he wrote the Intelligencer column in the mid 90s and covered the OJ Simpson trial, and Fox News (when it wasn't so crazy) where he covered Michael Jackson. He is also the writer and co-producer of "Only the Strong Survive," a selection of the Cannes, Sundance, and Telluride Film festivals, directed by DA Pennebaker and Chris Hegedus.

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