NEWSMAKERS

NEWSMAKERS

‘Pan’ lacks magic at the box office; ‘The Martian’ soars

LOS ANGELES

“Pan” produced no Neverland magic at the box office.

The fantasy, which cost an estimated $150 million to produce, earned $15.5 million in its opening weekend, according to Rentrak estimates Sunday, making it one of the worst bombs of the year. Early tracking did not look promising for the Joe Wright-directed film but still predicted that “Pan” would open at least in the $20 million range.

Sony’s high-wire spectacle “The Walk” also stumbled in its first weekend in wide release, after debuting on IMAX screens last week. The tale of Philippe Petit’s tightrope walk between the towers of the World Trade Center earned $3.7 million this weekend, bringing its total to $6.4 million.

Not all was bleak at the box office, though. Ridley Scott’s space adventure “The Martian” earned a solid $37 million in its second week in theaters, nabbing the top spot once more. Its domestic total now stands at $108.7 million.

“Hotel Transylvania 2” took second place in its third weekend with $20.3 million, bumping its total to $116.8 million. “Pan” came in at No. 3.

Aerosmith frontman asks Donald Trump to stop using song

LOS ANGELES

Aerosmith frontman Steven Tyler is asking Republican presidential candidate Donald Trump to stop using the power ballad “Dream On” at campaign events.

Attorneys for Tyler sent a second cease-and-desist letter to Trump’s campaign committee Saturday.

The letter says that Trump does “not have our client’s permission to use ‘Dream On’” or any of Tyler’s other songs and that it “gives the false impression that he is connected with or endorses Mr. Trump’s presidential bid.”

Tyler, who is a registered Republican, attended the GOP contenders’ first debate in August.

Associated Press