‘1917’ Battles to $3.25 Million at Thursday Box Office in Expansion to Wide Release
Sam Mendes’ war epic opens against new releases “Like a Boss” and “Underwater”
Brian Welk | January 10, 2020 @ 7:34 AM
Last Updated: January 10, 2020 @ 9:13 AM
Universal
Fresh off a Golden Globe win for Best Picture, Universal and DreamWorks’ war epic “1917” earned $3.25 million in box office previews from 2,900 on Thursday as the film expands into wide release on 3,434 North American screens this weekend.
So far the movie has earned an estimated $5.97 million at the box office after opening in limited release on Christmas Day. It opens wide against Warner Bros.’ “Just Mercy,” which also expanded after a holiday limited opening, as well as 2020 new releases “Like a Boss” from Paramount and “Underwater” from Disney and Fox.
“1917” is projected to earn between $20-25 million at the box office, and it should be enough to topple “Star Wars: The Rise of Skywalker” from the top spot.
Set during the first World War, “1917” stars George MacKay and Dean-Charles Chapman as two soldiers tasked to deliver a message to a battalion to call off an attack that will lead them, including one of the soldiers brothers, into a trap. The film is executed as though it’s done in one, unbroken take, which has earned raves about its technology from critics and audiences thus far. And it won the Golden Globe for Best Motion Picture – Drama, and Best Director for Mendes.
Warner Bros.’ “Just Mercy” starring Michael B. Jordan as civil rights lawyer Bryan Stevenson expanded to wide release today, and in preview showings last night it took in $800,000. Another Oscar contender from earlier this year “Harriet” did only $600,000 in Thursday previews and opened to $11.6 million.
The film has strong reviews and in its limited release scored an impressive A+ CinemaScore with audiences. “Just Mercy” is directed by Destin Daniel Cretton and also stars Brie Larson and Jamie Foxx, and it’s the true story of Stevenson’s early work as a civil rights lawyer defending a black man who was wrongly condemned to death row.
“Underwater,” the action and horror thriller starring Kristen Stewart and from Disney and 20th Century Fox, earned $500,000 at the box office Thursday. The thriller is projected to earn around $10 million at the box office in this second weekend of January.
Around this same time in 2018, the action film “Den of Thieves” made $950,000 in Thursday previews and opened to $15.2 million. Also in 2018, the female-fronted “Proud Mary” did not have Thursday showings, but made just shy of $10 million in its opening weekend
Stewart stars in the film as part of a crew of researchers in a subterranean laboratory who have to scramble to safety after an earthquake – and possibly some underwater monsters – threaten their lives. William Eubank directed the film that also stars T.J. Miller, Vincent Cassel, John Gallagher Jr., Mamoudou Athie, Jessica Henwick and Gunner Wright. It currently has a 47% score on Rotten Tomatoes.
The other new release is “Like a Boss,” the Paramount comedy starring Tiffany Haddish, Rose Byrne and Salma Hayek. The studio is projecting an opening in the low double digits for the film, and it made $1 million on Thursday night from 2,428 screens. It opens on approximately 3,000 screens this weekend.
Miguel Arteta directed the film from a screenplay by Sam Pitman and Adam Cole-Kelly that finds two best friends running a cosmetics company who go head to head with a titan of the beauty industry who tries to buy them out and put their friendship in jeopardy. “Like a Boss” also stars Billy Porter, Jennifer Coolidge, Ari Graynor, Natasha Rothwell, Jessica St. Clair and Karan Soni. It has a 24% score on Rotten Tomatoes.
Finally, “Star Wars” brought in another $2.2 million domestic last night, bringing its overall domestic total to $463.1 million, and its global total still climbing towards $1 billion at $952.1 million.
The Evolution of Tiffany Haddish, From 'The Carmichael Show' to 'Like a Boss' (Photos)
Tiffany Haddish has gone from stand-up comic to guest star to full-fledged movie star, starring in a string of comedies and even some dramatic roles. She's taken so many, she rivals her co-star Kevin Hart as one of the hardest working people in Hollywood. This weekend, Haddish stars with Rose Byrne and Salma Hayek in "Like a Boss." See how the actress has evolved through the years.
Getty Images
Haddish was born in Los Angeles on Dec. 3, 1979. After she became the primary caregiver for her family after her mother suffered an accident, she opted to go to the Laugh Factory Comedy Camp when she was 17 years old. There, she received mentorship from people like Richard Pryor and Dane Cook.
Getty Images
"Bill Bellamy's Who's Got Jokes?" (2007)
Haddish got her break on the comedy competition "Bill Bellamy's Who's Got Jokes?", and had guest appearances on shows such as "Chelsea Lately," "That's So Raven," "My Name Is Earl" and "It's Always Sunny in Philadelphia."
TV One
"The Carmichael Show" (2015)
Haddish landed a recurring role on "Real Husbands of Hollywood" in 2013 followed by another part in the Oprah Winfrey series "If Loving You Is Wrong" the following year. However, she left that role after one season when she got a bigger break on NBC's "The Carmichael Show" for three seasons. She played Nekeisha on the show, the estranged wife to Lil Rel Howery's character Bobby.
NBC
"Keanu" (2016)
One of Haddish's biggest film roles cast her as Hi-C opposite Jordan Peele, Keegan-Michael Key and an adorable cat in the action comedy "Keanu" in 2016.
New Line Cinema
"Girls Trip" (2017)
Haddish exploded as a household name after she starred in Universal's raunchy comedy "Girls Trip" alongside a stellar cast that included Regina Hall, Queen Latifah and Jada Pinkett Smith. Her party animal energy and tendency to hide contraband in her "booty hole" made her an instant star after the movie grossed $140 million worldwide.
Universal
"Tiffany Haddish: She Ready! From the Hood to Hollywood" (2017)
Almost immediately after the success of "Girls Trip," Haddish landed a stand-up comedy special on Showtime called "Tiffany Haddish: She Ready! From the Hood to Hollywood" that helped audiences really get to know her humble roots in foster care and prove she was ready for the big time.
Showtime
"Saturday Night Live" (2017)
Within just another few months, Haddish became the first black, female stand-up comic to host "Saturday Night Live." In her monologue, she joked that she would re-wear her expensive, white, Alexander McQueen dress numerous times, a promise she later fulfilled.
NBC
"Night School" (2018)
Haddish kicked off a wave of movie comedies after her whirlwind 2017 and starred alongside Kevin Hart in the 2018 comedy "Night School." That year alone she was everywhere, appearing in "Uncle Drew," "The Oath" and "Nobody's Fool." She even popped up in music videos with Drake and Maroon 5 feat. Cardi B.
Universal Pictures
"Tuca & Bertie" (2019)
Haddish proved to be just as prolific as Kevin Hart in the last few years, as she managed to star in a pair of TV shows in addition to her movies. She starred alongside Tracy Morgan in the TBS sitcom "The Last O.G.," and then played a talking, cartoon toucan on "Tuca & Bertie" from the creator of "Bojack Horseman." Though Netflix cancelled the show after just one season.
Netflix
"The Kitchen" (2019)
Haddish had a strictly dramatic turn alongside Elisabeth Moss and Melissa McCarthy in the crime drama "The Kitchen," though the film flopped with critics and the box office.
New Line Cinema
"Kids Say the Darnedest Things" (2019)
ABC picked Haddish as the host for its revival of the TV variety show "Kids Say the Darnedest Things," which is continuing into the start of 2020.
ABC/Eric McCandless
"Like a Boss" (2020)
Haddish's latest film "Like a Boss" is another female-fronted, raunchy comedy that pairs her with Rose Byrne as they're business partners locked in a battle against a famous designer played by Salma Hayek.
Paramount Pictures
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The stand-up comedian appears opposite Salma Hayek and Rose Byrne in “Like a Boss,” opening this weekend
Tiffany Haddish has gone from stand-up comic to guest star to full-fledged movie star, starring in a string of comedies and even some dramatic roles. She's taken so many, she rivals her co-star Kevin Hart as one of the hardest working people in Hollywood. This weekend, Haddish stars with Rose Byrne and Salma Hayek in "Like a Boss." See how the actress has evolved through the years.