‘Fantastic Four’ bombs on opening weekend

‘Fantastic Four’ bombs on opening weekend

NEW YORK

Hollywood’s summer has had runaway sensations (“Jurassic World”) and heartwarming hits (”Inside Out”). It now has its fiasco.

“Fantastic Four,” 20th Century Fox’s attempt to reboot the superhero team-up franchise, debuted with just $26.2 million at North American theaters over the weekend, according to studio estimates Sunday. The result was bad enough that last week’s leader, Tom Cruise’s “Mission: Impossible — Rogue Nation,” held the top spot with $29.4 million in its second week.

The overwhelming flop for “Fantastic Four” is a rare humbling for a Marvel superhero film, which often grosses more than $20 million in just one night. The film has been savaged by critics and was dogged by reports of creative difficulties.

Rounding out the top five were “The Gift,” $12 million, third place; “Vacation,” $9.1 million, fourth; and “Ant-Man,” $7.8 million, fifth place.

Cumberbatch to fans: Don’t film ‘Hamlet’

LONDON

Actor Benedict Cumberbatch has urged fans not to film his stage performance of Shakespeare’s play “Hamlet.”

The star, who is playing the lead in the play at London’s Barbican theater, says there is “nothing less supportive or enjoyable” than being on stage and seeing a “big red light” in the audience.

Cumberbatch told fans gathered outside the stage door after Saturday’s show that spotting the filming while he was performing was “mortifying.” He told fans to spread his message through social media, and warned that future offenders could be evicted from the show.

The actor made his debut as Hamlet on Wednesday, receiving mixed reviews from critics.

The play is one of the most popular in recent years, and tickets were snapped up within minutes when they were released last year.

Boy, 13, hurt in fall at Taylor Swift show

SEATTLE

A 13-year-old boy at a Taylor Swift concert was hurt when he fell from an upper level of Seattle’s CenturyLink Field.

The Seattle Times reported that the call to the Seattle Fire Department came in six minutes after the 7 p.m. Saturday show was scheduled to begin. He fell from the stadium’s 300 level to the 200 level, but fire spokesman Kyle Moore says he was stable, alert and conscious when medics took him to Harborview Medical Center.

Moore said the boy couldn’t remember what happened to make him fall.

Associated Press