‘Heights’ falls short at box office
“In the Heights,” the acclaimed adaptation of Lin-Manuel Miranda’s Broadway show, didn’t hit all the right notes in its box office debut.
The Warner Bros. musical generated a wane $11.4 million from 3,456 U.S. theaters in its first four days of release, below earlier expectations suggesting the feel-good film would reach $20 million. “In the Heights” also opened on HBO Max, the streaming service owned by the studio’s parent company WarnerMedia, though the company didn’t report its digital viewership.
In a surprise defeat, Paramount’s “A Quiet
Place Part II” returned to the No. 1 spot in its third outing with $11.65 million from 3,800 screens. To date, the sequel has amassed $108.9 million, making it the first blockbuster since the onset of COVID-19 to cross the $100 million mark in the U.S. At the international box office, “A Quiet Place” had collected $75 million, bringing its global bounty to a strong $183 million.
The disappointing commercial reception for “In the Heights” is puzzling because critics embraced the joyous film, showering it with some of the best reviews of the pandemic era. Moreover, Warner Bros. put substantial marketing heft behind the picture, and director Jon M. Chu and Miranda devoted a great deal of energy into promoting the movie, which compensated for the fact that its cast was comprised of mostly unknown stars and emerging actors.
Though it’s impossible to know the full impact, the film’s hybrid release on HBO Max likely affected its box office business. However, that’s not the sole reason that
inaugural ticket sales for “In the Heights” were underwhelming. Recent Warner Bros. releases like “Godzilla vs. Kong,” “Mortal Kombat and “The Conjuring: The Devil
Made Me Do It” still pulled in solid receipts despite being offered simultaneously on streaming.
Rapper Polo G arrested:
Rapper Polo G has been arrested on charges including battery on a police officer, resisting arrest with violence and criminal mischief.
Records show the rapper, whose name is Taurus Bartlett, was booked into jail in Miami early Saturday on five charges and released on bond hours later.
The Miami Police Department released arrest affidavits in which officers stated Bartlett, 22, and others were pulled over early Saturday, and the rapper ended up in a struggle on the ground with officers. One of the documents says an officer who was trying to handcuff Bartlett was struck multiple times.
The documents say Bartlett was aggressive as he resisted arrest in
downtown Miami. One of the officers said he had ordered him and all the passengers in the car he was traveling in to get out of the vehicle to pat them down for firearms, saying he suspected they carried weapons because they heard a passenger claim the vehicle was bulletproof.
The police department said it was reviewing the incident, including examining all camera footage, saying the arrest was captured on several body-worn cameras. Police spokesman Michael Vega said it also was investigating several threats received against personnel and facilities in response to the rapper’s arrest.
The Chicago-based artist had just released his newest album “Hall of Fame” on Friday. His single “Rapstar” debuted at No. 1 on the Billboard Hot 100 in April.
June 14 birthdays:
Actor Marla Gibbs is 90. Singer Janet Lennon is 75. Singer Boy George is 60. Actor Yasmine Bleeth is 53. Screenwriter Diablo Cody is 43. Actor J.R. Martinez is 38. Actor Daryl Sabara is 29.