Monday, November 21, 2011
newsmakers
‘Breaking Dawn’ rises to $283.5M debut
LOS ANGELES
“The Twilight Saga” has staked out another huge opening with a $139.5 million first weekend domestically and a worldwide launch of $283.5 million.
The domestic total gives “The Twilight Saga: Breaking Dawn — Part 1” the second-best debut weekend for the franchise, after the $142.8 million launch for 2009’s “The Twilight Saga: New Moon.” “Breaking Dawn” did more than half of its business, $72 million, on opening day Friday, while the movie’s debut weekend was the fifth-best on record.
But the Warner Bros. dancing-penguin sequel “Happy Feet 2” stumbled in its debut, pulling in just $22 million over opening weekend. That’s barely half what the first film in the animated franchise earned in its 2006 opening.
The previous weekend’s No. 1 movie, Relativity Media’s action tale “Immortals,” fell to third-place with $12.3 million, raising its domestic haul to $53 million.
Taylor Swift wins AMA artist of the year
los angeles
Taylor Swift was crowned artist of the year at the American Music Awards for a second time.
The country superstar beat such contenders as Adele, Lady Gaga and Katy Perry to capture all three awards that she was nominated for at Sunday’s ceremony, including artist of the year, the show’s highest accolade that she previously claimed in 2009.
Nicki Minaj, the pink-loving hip-hop diva, won two awards Sunday: favorite rap/hip-hop artist and favorite rap/hip-hop album for “Pink Friday.”
Other winners included Maroon 5 as favorite pop-rock band/duo/group, Blake Shelton as favorite country male artist, Lady Antebellum as favorite country band/duo/group, Beyonc as favorite soul/R&B female artist, Rihanna for favorite soul/R&B album for “Loud” and Hot Chelle Rae as new artist of the year.
Mila Kunis keeps promise to Marine
GREENVILLE, N.C.
Film star Mila Kunis has made good on her promise to a Marine who had been serving in Afghanistan.
Kunis and Marine Sgt. Scott Moore attended the annual Marine Corps Ball on Friday in Greenville, N.C. The annual event marks the founding of the Marines in 1775.
Back in July, the data- systems technician asked Kunis to be his date for the ball in a YouTube video. He was deployed to Afghanistan at the time. Moore is from Grove City, Pa.
Associated Press