‘Dark Tower’ tops a slow weekend; ‘Detroit’ disappoints

‘Dark Tower’ tops a slow weekend; ‘Detroit’ disappoints

NEW YORK

After a decade of development and several postponements, the long-awaited Stephen King adaptation “The Dark Tower” debuted with an estimated $19.5 million in North American ticket sales, narrowly edging out the two-week leader “Dunkirk.”

The modest result for “The Dark Tower,” starring Idris Elba and Matthew McConaughey, was in line with expectations heading into the weekend but well shy of initial hopes for a possible franchise-starter.

J.J. Abrams and Ron Howard are among the directors who previously tried to tackle King’s magnum opus, a seven-book series that melds sci-fi with horror and other genres.

But the long battle to make “The Dark Tower” ended with poor reviews and few fireworks. Still, the movie was made for a relatively modest amount: about $60 million, or half of what many other summer movies cost. Sony Pictures also split costs with Media Rights Capital.

“It was always an ambitions and bold undertaking, but it was made at the right price,” said Adrian Smith, president of domestic distribution for Sony Pictures.

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 Dark Tower,” $19.5 million ($8 million international).

2. “Dunkirk,” $17.6 million ($25 million international).

3. “The Emoji Movie,” $12.4 million ($12 million international).

4. “Girls Trip,” $11.4 million ($1.7 million international).

5. “Kidnap,” $10.2 million.

6. “Spider-Man: Homecoming,” $8.8 million ($9.6 million international).

7. “Atomic Blonde,” $8.2 million ($5 million international).

8. “Detroit,” $7.3 million.

9. “War for the Planet of the Apes,” $6 million ($31.5 million international).

10. “Despicable Me 3,” $5.3 million ($21.2 million international).

Actor makes shift from Norman Bates to ‘Good Doctor’

BEVERLY HILLS, Calif.

Freddie Highmore sees his move from “Bates Motel” to “The Good Doctor” as a refreshing change.

“It’s nice to save people after years of killing them,” Highmore said, dryly, of the surgeon he plays in the upcoming ABC drama. He portrayed an adolescent Norman Bates On “Bates Motel,” A&E’s prequel to the classic thriller “Psycho.”

Highmore’s Dr. Shaun Murphy, who has autism and savant syndrome, joins a hospital’s prestigious surgical unit despite staff bias and skepticism. Richard Schiff (“The West Wing”) co-stars as his advocate and mentor.

The series is from David Shore, who produced the medical drama “House,” and actor Daniel Dae Kim of “Lost” and “Hawaii Five-O.”

Associated Press