newsmakers

newsmakers

‘Ender’s Game’ blasts to top of box office

LOS ANGELES

Weekend moviegoers chose sci-fi over slapstick.

“Ender’s Game” scored the No. 1 slot at the weekend box office, earning $28 million in its opening weekend and sending “Jackass Presents: Bad Grandpa” into second place, according to studio estimates Sunday.

Lionsgate’s adaptation earned an additional $2 million in five international territories.

Based on the novel by Orson Scott Card, “Ender’s Game” stars Asa Butterfield and Harrison Ford as intergalactic soldiers.

Paramount’s candid-camera comedy starring Johnny Knoxville disguised as an old man brought in an additional $20.5 million in its second weekend, with a domestic total reaching more than $62 million. It also picked up $6 million in international ticket sales.

CBS Films’ “Last Vegas,” featuring an all-star cast of silver-screen veterans including Michael Douglas, Robert De Niro, Morgan Freeman and Kevin Kline, opened in third place, with $16.5 million.

Paula Abdul connects to Jewish roots in Israel

JERUSALEM

Paula Abdul, an award-winning singer, dancer, choreographer and TV personality, can add a new title to her resume: religious pilgrim.

The former “American Idol” and “The X-Factor” judge is on her first trip to Israel, where she is connecting to her Jewish roots and planning on having a belated bat mitzvah — the Jewish coming-of-age ceremony girls typically have at age 12 or 13.

An official guest of Israel’s ministry of tourism, Abdul has been touring the country and visiting holy sites, museums and markets in Jerusalem. Israeli President Shimon Peres also hosted the former Lakers Girl.

Associated Press