Sunday, October 6, 2024

“Minions” Breaks July 4th Opening Record for Animated Films, Universal Pictures Takes 3 of Top 5 for Weekend

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“Minions” is not about gatherings for prayer of 13 bar mitzvahed men. That’s “Minyans,” coming this winter at Sundance.

Just kidding!

“Minions” (subtitled “The Rise of Gru,” which is not a leavened bread) is the Universal Pictures animated film, sixth in its series, which just broke the 3 day July 4th weekend box office record for animated films. Total take (including the 4th): $128 million. As I noted yesterday, that’s more than Pixar’s “Lightyear” has made in three weeks.

Universal must have prayed, though and their prayers were answered. They have 3 of the top 5 movies this weekend. The others are the massive hit, “Jurassic Park Dominion” (which is not about dinosaurs eating voting machines) and “The Black Phone” (about the horrors of not being able to get an iPhone 13 in matte black).

Plus, Universal Focus is still on the charts with “Downton Abbey: A New Era,” which is also showing on Peacock (and has ruffled some feathers).

The kids obviously love “Minions,” and adults don’t mind taking them. Donna Langley, the amazing head of Universal, runs that studio with perfection. She is tops in Hollywood, and also a very smart lady. So congrats to her and the whole gang.

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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