Like it or not, Fifty Shades of Grey was the number one movie over the weekend, breaking numerous records grossing over $80 million and spicing up the Valentine’s Day weekend for many. It also performed well in many international markets grossing another $158 million outside of North America.
In an ingenious bit of counter-programming, Kingsman: The Secret Service performed well with a gross north of $35 million. It will be interesting to see how both fare next weekend as Kingsman is receiving stronger word-of-mouth than Fifty Shades so expect the latter to have a bigger drop in business than the former.
The three new openings will not likely pose much of a threat to last weekend’s winners, but they will definitely bring some variety to the choices of movies this weekend.
Already getting critical recognition is McFarland, USA, starring the man who I would call the “comfort food” of actors, Kevin Costner, in the genre that he is best known for: The sports movie.
The reason why I think of Costner as comfort food—think of the movies he has been in and in most cases I know I will be satisfied in the end.
His latest is based on the true story of a coach who lands in a predominantly Latino high school in an economically challenged community and discovers that his students have exceptional running ability. With his help and the incredible work ethic and determination of the teens, they start a championship legacy that lasts for over a dozen years.
If you are looking for a raunchy comedy, jump into the Hot Tub Time Machine 2. The sequel to the cult hit from five years ago features most of the cast of the original—Rob Corddry, Craig Robinson, Clark Duke and Chevy Chase; however, John Cusack is noticeably absent.
I would get into the story, but with a movie called Hot Tub Time Machine with the number 2 after it, do you really need to know the plot?
And finally, The Duff is a teen comedy which tells the tale of a high school senior whose life is turned upside down when she discovers that she is viewed as ‘The DUFF,’ and acronym meaning Designated Ugly Fat Friend. Not happy with that title, she enlists the help of a popular athlete to help her achieve a makeover. While it will likely not have appeal outside the teen audience, it does feature the always enjoyable Ken Jeong (The Hangover) and Allison Janney (Mom).
