![](https://www.ctvnews.ca/polopoly_fs/1.6929423.1718626815!/httpImage/image.jpg_gen/derivatives/landscape_800/image.jpg)
Heat back in parts of the country, with temperatures feeling as warm as 45
A heat wave is expected to hit parts of Ontario, Quebec and New Brunswick this week, and it could feel as warm as 45, according to latest forecasts.
"The Fall Guy," the Ryan Gosling-led, action-comedy ode to stunt performers, opened below expectations with US$28.5 million, according to studio estimates Sunday, providing a lukewarm start to a summer movie season that’s very much to be determined for Hollywood.
The Universal Pictures release opened on a weekend that Marvel has regularly dominated with US$100 million-plus launches. (In 2023, that was "Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 3" with a US$118 million debut. ) But last year’s strikes jumbled this year’s movie calendar; "Deadpool & Wolverine," originally slated to open this weekend, is instead debuting in July.
So in place of a superhero kickoff, the summer launch went to a movie about the stunt performers who anonymously sacrifice their bodies for the kind of action sequences blockbusters are built on. Going into the weekend, forecasts had the film opening US$30 million to US$40 million.
"The Fall Guy," directed by former stuntman and "Deadpool 2" helmer David Leitch, rode into the weekend with the momentum of glowing reviews and the buzz of a SXSW premiere. But it will need sustained interest to merit its US$130 million production budget. It added US$25.4 million in overseas markets.
Working in its favor for a long run: strong audience scores (an "A-" CinemaScore) and good reviews (83 per cent fresh on Rotten Tomatoes). Jim Orr, distribution chief for Universal, believes things line up well for "The Fall Guy" in the coming weeks.
"We had a very solid opening," said Orr. "We’re looking forward to a very long, very robust, very successful run throughout the domestic box office for literally weeks if not months to come."
But the modest start for "The Fall Guy" hints at larger concerns for the film industry. Superhero films haven’t been quite the box-office behemoth they once were, leading studios to search for fresher alternative. "The Fall Guy" seemed to check all the boxes, with extravagant action sequences, one of the hottest stars in the business, a director with a track-record for crowd pleasers and very good reviews.
But instead, the opening for "The Fall Guy," loosely based on the 1980s TV series, only emphasized that the movie business is likely to struggle to rekindle the fervor of last year’s "Barbenheimer" summer. "The Fall Guy" stars one from each: Gosling, in his first post-Ken role, and Emily Blunt, of "Oppenheimer." Both were Oscar nominated.
"It’s going to be a very interesting, nontraditional summer this year," said Paul Dergarabedian, senior media analyst for Comscore.
In part due to the effects of last year's work stoppages, there are fewer big movies hitting theaters. Expectations are that the total summer box office will be closer to US$3 billion than the US$4 billion that’s historically been generated.
"The summer season is just getting started, so let’s give ‘The Fall Guy’ a chance to build that momentum over time. It’s a different type of summer kickoff film," said Dergarabedian. "There’s always huge expectations placed on any film that kicks off the summer movie season, but this isn’t your typical summer movie season."
In a surprise, No. 2 at the box office went to the Walt Disney Co. rerelease of "Star Wars: The Phantom Menace." The first episode to George Lucas’ little-loved prequels collected US$8.1 million over the weekend, 25 years after "Phantom Menace" grossed US$1 billion.
Last week’s top film, the Zendaya tennis drama "Challengers," slid to third place with US$7.6 million in its second week. That was a sold hold for the Amazon MGM release, directed by Luca Guadagnino, dipping 49 per cent from its first weekend.
The Sony Screen Gems supernatural horror film "Tarot" also opened nationwide. It debuted with US$6.5 million, a decent enough start for a low-budget release but another example of horror not quite performing this year as it has the last few years.
Estimated ticket sales for Friday through Sunday at U.S. and Canadian theaters, according to Comscore. Final domestic figures will be released Monday.
1. "The Fall Guy," US$28.5 million.
2. "Star Wars: The Phantom Menace," US$8.1 million.
3. "Challengers," US$7.6 million.
4. "Tarot," US$6.5 million.
5. "Godzilla x Kong: The New Empire," US$4.5 million.
6. "Civil War," US$3.6 million.
7. "Unsung Hero," US$3 million.
8. "Kung Fu Panda 4," US$2.4 million.
9. "Abigail," US$2.3 million.
10. "Ghostbuster: Frozen Empire," US$1.8 million.
A heat wave is expected to hit parts of Ontario, Quebec and New Brunswick this week, and it could feel as warm as 45, according to latest forecasts.
The world's nine nuclear-armed states continue to modernize their nuclear weapons as the countries deepened their reliance on such deterrence in 2023, a Swedish think tank said Monday.
The Trooping the Colour marked the first public outing this year for the Princess of Wales, who has not been seen at any official royal engagements since December 2023. We now know that was due to abdominal surgery and preventive chemotherapy, with no return to public life anytime soon. But the Princess of Wales chose this occasion to soft launch her return to royal life, and it was eagerly anticipated.
As Canadians continue to struggle with the extremely high cost of buying a home in some of the country’s major urban centres, a new global report is underscoring just how expensive some of those markets are.
Hundreds gathered at the Guru Nanak Sikh Gurdwara in Surrey on Sunday to mark a solemn anniversary: one year since the temple’s president was killed.
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu dissolved the influential War Cabinet tasked with steering the war in Gaza, Israeli officials said Monday, a move that comes days after a key member of the body bolted the government over frustrations surrounding the Israeli leader's handling of the war.
Many people with diabetes in Canada will soon be able to take insulin once a week instead of daily, drug manufacturer Novo Nordisk announced on Monday.
North Korean state media says Russian President Vladimir Putin will arrive in the country on Tuesday for a two-day visit.
The U.S. surgeon general has called on Congress to require warning labels on social media platforms similar to those now mandatory on cigarette boxes.
The thunderstorm that hit Ottawa Thursday evening was accompanied by heavy rain and lightning that struck a house in Orléans.
Canadian and U.S. ironworkers shook hands across the border as the Gordie Howe bridge deck officially becomes an international crossing.
Age may be just a number to George Steciuk, but it’s just one of many that add up to one inspirational athlete.
It has taken more than 100 years, but Almonte’s forgotten soldier, George B. Monterville has had his name etched back into history.
For Father's Day, CP24.com and CTVNewsToronto.ca reached out to local politicians, community advocates, and other prominent figures in the city to ask them to share what important lesson they have learned from their dads.
Fancy Pokket owner Mike Timani has decided to create a 220-foot long flat bread to celebrate its 35th anniversary.
If certain goals that are in the Paris Climate Accord aren't met, the existence of polar bears in the Hudson Bay may come to an end.
In an attempt to invite one of the most popular recording artists in the world to the land of living skies – the City of Swift Current has offered to rename itself in honour of Taylor Swift.
More than a dozen dogs arrived by Cargojet early Thursday morning to the People for Animal Wellbeing Shelter to find a permanent place to call home in New Brunswick.