NEWSMAKERS

NEWSMAKERS

‘Boss Baby’ dethrones ‘Beauty and the Beast’

NEW YORK

The taskmaster toddler of “The Boss Baby” dethroned Disney’s “Beauty and the Beast” at the box office with a $49 million debut, handing its star, Alec Baldwin, what President Donald Trump might call a “huge” No. 1 opening.

Paramount Pictures suffered another flop with its controversy-plagued “Ghost in the Shell.”

The DreamWorks Animation release from 20th Century Fox, starring Baldwin as a suit-clad baby, narrowly edged out the previous two-week leader, according to studio estimates Sunday. The live-action “Beauty and the Beast” took in $48 million in its third weekend. Final North American ticket sales will be released today.

“We expected a decent opening. We didn’t expect to be No. 1,” said Chris Aronson, Fox distribution chief.

Estimated ticket sales for Friday through Sunday at U.S. and Canadian theaters, according to comScore. Where available, the latest international numbers also are included. Final domestic figures will be released today.

1. “The Boss Baby,” $49 million ($36.5 million international).

2. “Beauty and the Beast,” $48 million. ($67 million international).

3. “Ghost in the Shell,” $19 million ($40.1 million international).

4. “Power Rangers,” $14.5 million ($8.1 million international).

5. “Kong: Skull Island,” $8.8 million ($34.6 million international).

6. “Logan,” $6.2 million ($5.2 million inter-national).

7. “Get Out,” $5.8 million ($2.3 million international).

8. “Life,” $5.6 million ($6.3 million inter-national).

9. “Chips,” $4.1 million ($1.4 million international).

10. “The Zookeeper’s Wife,” $3.4 million.

Birthday surprise for Doris Day

LOS ANGELES

To Doris Day’s many admirers, the pert and fresh-faced charmer who starred in “Pillow Talk” and “Move Over Darling” is ageless.

But Day turns 95 today – which is a birthday surprise to even the star herself, who has long pegged her age to a 1924 birthdate that would make her 93. Media outlets have variously reported her as between 93 and 95.

A copy of Day’s birth certificate, obtained by The Associated Press from Ohio’s Office of Vital Statistics, settles the issue: Doris Mary Kappelhoff, her pre-fame name, was born on April 3, 1922, making her 95. Her parents were Alma and William Kappelhoff of Cincinnati.

“I’ve always said that age is just a number, and I have never paid much attention to birthdays, but it’s great to finally know how old I really am!” Day said in a statement Sunday.

She’s in excellent company with other vibrant Hollywood standouts lucky enough to reach that milestone year, including Betty White, a close friend, and Carl Reiner.

“There has long been speculation and rumors about Doris’ age, and we get this question a lot. Looks like we finally have the answer,” said Day’s spokesman, Charley Cullen Walters.

Associated Press