Tom Hanks swung for the fences in 2016 and came back with one home run, a miserable strike out and a long fly ball. They would be “Sully,” “A Hologram for the King,” and “Inferno.”

The latter made $15 million in its opening weekend, if that (the real count may be lower tomorrow). If “Inferno” hadn’t been released internationally before its US debut, it might have counted as a strike out too. But that worldwide audience saved it with over $130 million in early receipts.

“Inferno” was beaten at the box office by “Boo! A Madea Halloween,” which has triumphed over Toms Hanks and Cruise. Cruise’s “Jack Reacher” meanwhile has taken a beating, with a scant $39 million in the till so far. “Never go back” has proven to be a prescient subtitle.

Hanks was so good as Sully Sullenberger just six weeks ago that there was talk of an Oscar nomination. I still think that’s possible. He’d be wise to let “Inferno” burn out quickly and turn to a “Sully” campaign.

Meanwhile, the other sort of big loser seems to be “The Magnificent Seven” remake. The Antoine Fuqua-Denzel Washington ensemble has stalled at $90 million for the U.S. and a paltry $60 million abroad. With a cost of $100 million, “M7” is a drag. I don’t think sequels will be forthcoming. Too bad. The guys did a very good job.

As for Hanks, the way he’s choosing projects might be up for reconsideration. “Hologram” was a weird one. His upcoming “The Circle” looks even stranger. “Toy Story 4” is a long way off in 2019. We need Tom back in something light and smart, if there is such a thing or a person who can still do that with Nora Ephron gone.

The 2016 British Academy Britannia Awards is BAFTA’s big event in Hollywood, where the Brits honor fellow countryman and anglophiles for their tinseltown contributions. Last night’s gala was quippy, clever and very British. Before the event began, I caught up with lovely Emmy winner Shohreh Aghdashloo; currently starring on the Netflix hit “The Expanse, ” and Mykelti Williamson, who’s already garnering raves for his yet to be released “Fences.” He told me that, “it was an honor of a lifetime, to be in this film with Denzel.”

Then the show began, and Ben “Doc Brown” Smith, an English rapper comedian and actor, whom I didn’t know–he played a Detective in the English version of “Law And Order”– and as they say, he killed it. He started by comparing the Brits and Americans. “”You tricked Tony Blair into going into Iraq. Hey, we tricked you into taking Piers Morgan.” Piers went along with the joke, and stood up and waved to the crowd.

Referring to honoree Samuel Jackson, Doc quipped, “Everyone has a favorite Sam Jackson movie, “Pulp Fiction,” “Jackie Brown,” “Hateful Eight.” I’m cultish, mine is the Capital One Credit Cards.” Sam also played along and gave a thumbs up. Doc went on, “It’s the first time America heard a black man say, “What’s in your wallet?” Referring to honoree Ang Lee’s choice of controversial films, Doc noted, “Ang is still pushing the boundaries. His next movie is a straight musical.” Doc noted that if the audience didn’t like what he was doing, he’d get honoree Ricky Gervais to “go Golden Globes on your asses.”

Jennifer Lawrence then came to give the Stanley Kubrick Britannia Award for Excellence in Film to her good friend Jodie Foster. Jennifer noted, “It’s very rare for a woman to write/produce and direct and be completely normal. “ After extolling her more, Jennifer introduced her by saying, “here’s my vote for the next president of the United States.” Jodie, following video tributes from Julia Roberts and Kristen Stewart, gave a heartfelt speech by saying, “ I make movies. It’s good hard work done with pure love. I’m going to stick around, I’m not done yet.”

Jake Gyllenhaal, paid tribute to his “Brokeback Mountain” director Ang Lee by noting, “Ang knows that to tell a big story, you have to keep it small.” Ang then explained, “Jake says I was modest during Brokeback Mountain. “It wasn’t wisdom. I was so tired. I literally was half asleep during the whole shoot.” He went on to apologize to all the actors he’s worked with by explaining, “Actors have always been tortured by my bad English and my bad sense of humor.”

The lovely Gugu Mbatha-Raw  introduced Ewan McGregor with the Humanitarian Award for his work on behalf of displaced people worldwide. He spoke passionately about his work on behalf of UNICEF and dedicated his award to them. Tom Hanks presented  British Artist of the Year to his “Inferno” co-star Felicity Jones, comparing her to Botticelli’s Venus (they shot the film in Florence). Jones noted, “I’ve never seen one man so obsessed with tiny Italian cars. He was stopping on the streets of Florence to take endless selfies with the tiniest of cars.”

Christopher Guest gave the Charlie Chaplin Britannia Award for Excellence to his good friend Ricky Gervais. Chris noted, “I’m honored to present this award to my good friend. It would be a better honor if he were presenting it to me, would make more sense. Listen “The Office,” “Extras,” — if not for his personality he would be a great person to admire.” Steve Carell on videotape quipped about Gervais, “I get lost in his eyes.” Larry David got more graphic: “He deserves the award for the biggest balls. I don’t know how he walks around with those things.”

A poignant clip was then played with Ricky and David Bowie singing, which prompted applause from the crowd. Ricky said, “I’ve been to a lot of award ceremonies and someone always gets up and says, “Oh I didn’t think I’d win so I didn’t prepare a speech. Well I knew I was going to win, and I didn’t prepare a speech. Which shows you what contempt I have for Hollywood. I humbly accept this award, it’s an honor.”  He took a beat and added: “No it isn’t. “I have so many people to thank, but I’m a star so I can’t be bothered.” Even his longtime girlfriend of 30 years, Jane Fallon, wasn’t spared. “If I’m honest she hasn’t done fuck all, I mean she’s here cause of the free Champagne.” Jane, of course, agreed and held up her glass. Ricky did ask for another award next year, “Come on it’s a free trip.”

Brie Larson ended the night by presenting the Samuel L. Jackson with the Albert R. Broccoli Britannia Award for Worldwide Contribution to Entertainment. The awards were sponsored by Jaguar Land Rover and American Airlines. Also attending; Simon Helberg, Jack Huston, Producer Julia Verdin, Producer Bonnie Arnold, Brit powerhouse agent Duncan Hayes, Producer Manager Eric Ortner, Producer Brian Gott, Screenwriter Marc Iannarino, Nigel Lythgoe, Pixie Lott, Jane Seymour and more. As the Brits would say, “brilliant” show!

The latest Ron Howard-Tom Hanks collaboration is a box office bust… in the United States. Domestically, “Inferno” will make less than $17 million this weekend. An $800,000 opening on Thursday night foretold disaster. A 20 rating on Rotten Tomatoes didn’t help. Critics hate this movie.

But there’s good news. “Inferno” has already made over $100 million abroad. Playing in most countries except China, “Inferno” opened a few days before its US premiere and audiences swarmed to it. They liked seeing Hanks running around an international travelogue. The story was irrelevant. So was the dialogue. This is the beauty of the international release.

So while headlines will blare that “Inferno” has “gone up in flames,” Sony can take some solace in that they will break even in the long run. “Inferno” cost between $75 and $100 million. But with the international sales, DVD, etc and television, Sony will avoid Dante’s seventh ring of hell. And that’s good because right now Sony has bigger challenges coming with “Billy Lynn’s Long Halftime Walk.”

Jeremy Irons is back in the Oscar race playing famed mathematician G.H. Hardy in Matthew Brown’s “The Man Who Knew Infinity.” Last night producers Ed and Annie Pressman– who worked with Jeremy when he won the Oscar for “Reversal of Fortune”– tossed Irons a swell dinner at Bagatelle in the Meatpacking district for about 50 of their closest pals. I sat between the young Princeton math whiz who consulted on the film and Tony winning composer Stephen Schwartz of “Wicked” fame.

(At the next table, by the way, was beautiful Devika Bhise, who co-stars in the movie. She is quickly becoming a star. Last winter I met her at Lynn Hirschberg’s It Girl lunch for W Magazine in Los Angeles. Attention casting directors: she lives in New York and could be the next Priyanka Chopra– or better.)

Across the table were Neil deGrasse Tyson aka “The Man Who Knows Everything” and his wife Alice.  I asked Alice what its like being married to the Man Who Knows Everything. She replied, “I know more.” Good answer. Later, I overheard DeGrasse Tyson quizzing the Princeton math whiz,  Manjul Bhargava, about prime numbers. It was like a scene out of “The Big Bang Theory.”

Lots of New York actors were also in attendance including Bob Dishy and his wife Judy Graubart, Rutanya Alda, and so on.

Before we get to “Infinity,” what about about the upcoming “Justice League” movie? Irons is back as Alfred, loyal butler to Bruce Wayne. Alfred, who used to serve martinis and dust the Batcave, has become a lot more active in recent Batman movies.

Jeremy said: “It’s the same Batcave as in Batman vs. Superman, we used the same set and costumes. There’s not a lot for Alfred to do because there are many superheroes this time. But I do have a thing for Wonder Woman. That’s clear.”

Does she return Alfred’s feelings, I asked?

“No, well, she doesn’t say much,” Irons said with a sigh. “None of them do.”

Irons really makes Hardy come alive in “Infinity,” and he’d be a neat Best Supporting Actor nominee.

What really shows is that he’s very convincing as Hardy while in real life Irons knows absolutely nothing about math. During a short Q&A during dinner with deGrasse Tyson, someone in the audience actually asked a math question. Irons, charming as ever, and accompanied by his little white dog called Smudge, blithely answered: “I don’t know, but I do know my martini is kicking in.”