The Flick Chicks

NYT > Warner Bros. Entertainment Inc.

1. ‘Joker’ Sequel Falls Far Short of Original at the Box Office
   The bleak musical drama is on track to open to around $40 million, significantly less than what the 2019 version made on its first weekend.
2. Michael Crichton’s Estate Calls New Show an Unauthorized ‘ER’ Remake in Lawsuit
   The best-selling author’s estate has filed suit over “The Pitt,” an upcoming series, claiming that it is an unauthorized reboot of the hit hospital drama.
3. ‘Barbie’ Was Supposed to Change Hollywood for Women. Why Didn’t It?
   The film was a global phenomenon and seemed to herald a new era of embracing stories by, about and for women.
4. Costner’s Costly ‘Horizon’ Bites Box Office Dust
   “Horizon: An American Saga — Chapter 1” was a distant third at theaters in North America this weekend, as “Inside Out 2” dominated, reaching $1 billion in worldwide ticket sales.
5. ‘The Hunt for Gollum’ Is Announced, Then ‘Lord of the Rings’ Fan Film Disappears
   When Warner Bros. greenlit a new “Lord of the Rings” movie and a 15-year-old fan film with the same title disappeared, its devotees sprang into action.
6. New ‘Lord of the Rings’ Movie Will Put Gollum Center Stage
   Andy Serkis, who played the creature in the trilogy, will direct and star in “The Hunt for Gollum,” an expansion of the fantasy epic scheduled for 2026.
7. 5 Things to Do This Weekend
   A selection of entertainment highlights this weekend, including the second installment of Denis Villeneuve’s “Dune” series.
8. Why China Has Lost Interest in Hollywood Movies
   No American films ranked among the 10 highest grossing in China last year as viewers who once flocked to foreign blockbusters continued to disappear.
9. ‘Color Purple’ Struggles at Box Office After Big Christmas Opening
   The musical adaptation of the Pulitzer Prize-winning novel seemed an instant hit, but it sold less than $5 million in tickets in its second weekend.
10. ‘Oppenheimer’ Will Be Released in Japan After Earlier Backlash
    Critics said the film’s cross-promotion with “Barbie” trivialized the U.S. nuclear attacks on Japan during World War II, but the biopic will be released in 2024.