Newsmakers

Newsmakers

‘Tomorrowland’ takes top spot at box office

LOS ANGELES

The future doesn’t look so bright for “Tomorrowland.”

Disney’s expensive fantasy adventure essentially had Memorial Day weekend to itself and still only pulled in a modest $41.7 million in its first four days in theaters according to Rentrak estimates Monday.

It’s a disappointing debut for a film that cost a reported $180 million to produce. Disney put its full weight behind the Brad Bird-directed film with an ambitious George Clooney-led promotional campaign.

“It’s not ever ideal to be below your estimate before the weekend starts, but it feels like it’s too early to judge the run,” said Disney’s Distribution EVP Dave Hollis.

Going into the weekend, tracking put the film in the $40 to $50 million range. And yet, he said, this is the gamble that studios must take when trying to introduce an original film to the marketplace.

Hollis noted that “Tomorrowland” will be one of the only PG-rated family films in theaters until Disney and Pixar’s “Inside Out” opens June 19, which could be promising for its longevity.

Last weekend’s well-received holdovers “Pitch Perfect 2” and “Mad Max: Fury Road” helped prop up the holiday weekend totals.

But, hope is certainly not lost for a banner 2015 at the box office, with more surefire blockbusters such as “Jurassic World” and “Mission: Impossible-Rogue Nation” yet to open.

Estimated ticket sales for Friday through Monday at U.S. and Canadian theaters, according to Rentrak. Final domestic figures will be released today.

1. “Tomorrowland,” $41.7 million.

2. “Pitch Perfect 2,” $38.5 million.

3. “Mad Max: Fury Road,”$32.1 million.

4. “Avengers: Age of Ultron,” $27.8 million.

5. “Poltergeist,” $26.5 million.

Agent: Omar Sharif has Alzheimer’s

LOS ANGELES

Legendary “Lawrence of Arabia” actor Omar Sharif is battling Alzheimer’s disease, his agent, Steve Kenis, confirmed to The Associated Press on Monday.

No additional details were provided about the 83-year-old or his care. His son, Tarek Sharif, revealed the diagnosis in an interview with Spanish newspaper El Mundo on May 23.

The Egyptian-born Sharif rose to international stardom with his role in the 1962 epic “Lawrence of Arabia”– Sharif’s first English-language film. He earned an Oscar nomination for his turn as Sherif Ali in David Lean’s iconic film opposite Peter O’Toole.

Sharif followed the breakthrough performance with the title role in Lean’s “Doctor Zhivago,” co-starring Julie Christie. He then played Fanny Brice’s husband, Nicky Arnstein, in “Funny Girl” alongside Barbra Streisand.

Associated Press