The Top 5 Memorial Day Opening Weekends Of All Time

The Top 5 Memorial Day Opening Weekends Of All Time

It's strange to say "Happy Memorial Day weekend," considering the serious holiday. But it is known to be a big weekend for movie openings, and it's been a pretty happy weekend so far for Aladdin. The 2019 remake topped the weekend box office and, depending on how things go tomorrow (Monday, May 27), it has a strong chance of joining the list of Top 4-Day Memorial Day Weekends.

Aladdin has already cracked the top 10 Memorial Day weekend openings just from three days, but does it have a chance at the top 5? Here are the current top five, with this list just covering the domestic box office from the four-day Memorial Day weekend openings in their respective years:

1. Pirates of the Caribbean: At World's End

Opening weekend: $139,802,190

The third film in the Pirates of the Caribbean franchise came out May 25, 2007 and really broke the bank, at least at first. This is the most a film has made over Memorial Day weekend to date. Critics were harsh on At World's End, but fans embraced it with scores/grades and money. When all was said and done, it's total domestic and foreign gross was $963,420,425. That's certainly impressive, but it still placed it third on the list of Pirates movies, behind Dead Man's Chest and On Stranger Tides, which both cracked $1 billion worldwide.

2. Indiana Jones and the Kingdom of the Crystal Skull

Opening weekend: $126,917,373

There were high hopes and expectations for the fourth Indiana Jones movie, which opened May 22, 2008. The movie was met with mixed reviews, and ultimately made $786,636,033 worldwide. There are more measured hopes, I'd say, for Indiana Jones 5, which is taking forever to get off the ground. But better to take the time to get it right than rush, I suppose.

3. X-Men: The Last Stand

Opening weekend: $122,861,157

As you can see, sequels rule when it comes to Memorial Day weekend. Once you've successfully launched a franchise, you can use the holiday weekend to serve eager fans the sequels. The Last Stand was the third movie in the X-Men film series, directly following X2. It came out in May 26, 2006 and faced mixed reviews -- which happens a lot when expectations are high. Ultimately, it made $459,359,555 total worldwide.

4. Fast & Furious 6

Opening weekend: $117,036,995

Fast & Furious 6 opened on May 24, 2013 to strong reviews. The first four movies in the franchise weren't embraced by critics, but it helped that Fast 6 came off the heels of Fast Five, which got even better reviews and was credited with injecting new life into the franchise. Worldwide, Fast 6 made $788,679,850, which puts it third overall behind Furious 7 and The Fate of the Furious (aka Fast 8).

5. X-Men: Days of Future Past

Opening weekend: $110,576,604

Yep, another X-Men. If we kept going, you'd see X-Men: Apocalypse on this list at #11 too. If it ain't broke, don't veer from the Memorial Day opening. Dark Phoenix is coming in a couple of weeks, but apparently it wasn't up to the challenge of Memorial Day 2019. Days of Future Past came out May 23, 2014 as the sequel to X-Men: First Class. It ended up making $747,862,775 worldwide, which places it third on the worldwide charts behind the two Deadpool movies.

There's a solid chance Aladdin will kick X-Men: Days of Future Past off Box Office Mojo's Memorial Day chart (which is not adjusted for inflation), but we'll have to wait and see how the final four-day numbers come in. And then the whole list could be shaken up again in 2020.

Mark Hamill Says Luke Didn’t Die A Virgin

Mark Hamill Says Luke Didn’t Die A Virgin

Through the entire Star Wars saga, fans have had a pretty good beat on exactly where Luke Skywalker has been at all times. The movies have shown everything from his birth to his death, and while there have been some time jumps installed in the storytelling, various exposition and material deemed canonical has filled in the gaps. Despite all of this, however, one question has continued to make fans scratch their heads: did Luke ever have sex?

Because the movies are aimed at audiences of all ages, it's not a subject that has specifically made its way into the movies - though it has been pointed out that Luke has never been shown to have any kind of on-screen romance. This has kept speculation alive, but now Mark Hamill has offered his two cents on the matter via his Twitter account:

Earlier today a Twitter user posed a question to her followers asking if Luke Skywalker died a virgin, and while he wasn't actually tagged in the post, Mark Hamill found it and addressed the topic from his own perspective. He offered that fans can really make up any version of events that they want based on the evidence presented, but according to his own view of the character and his personally-constructed backstory, Luke did at some point find an opportunity to have a sexual relationship.

Of course, knowing this opens up a whole lot of other questions that we may never get specific answers to - unless Mark Hamill decides to offer them at some point down the line. The big one, of course, is the identity of the person with whom Luke had sex - but speculation in that arena comes part in parcel with queries such as when they were together; if they were in a romantic relationship; and what happened between them both before and after the sexual encounter.

One can expect that this revelation will also add some fuel to the flame in the on-going conversation regarding the parentage of Daisy Ridley's Rey. While Star Wars: The Last Jedi told us who Rey's mom and dad were, there are some who continue to not accept the word of Adam Driver's Kylo Ren, and they have continued to wonder if the heroine might be Luke's offspring. Knowing that Luke did have sex at some point in his life does technically increase the chances of a closer familial relationship with Rey... but there is also still plenty of evidence out there that suggests that possibility is not really on the table (not to mention the fact that the statement makes it sound like the topic isn't going to be addressed in the upcoming Star Wars: The Rise Of Skywalker).

Right now this is all the information that we have to go on, but it's certainly a subject that could easily be fleshed out at some point in the future. Beyond the blockbuster movies there are still comics, novels, and television shows being produced at a constant rate, and there is every possibility that one of them will eventually address the subject of Luke's sexuality and sexual history. We'll just have to wait.

Avengers: Endgame Taught Taika Waititi Something About Korg

Avengers: Endgame Taught Taika Waititi Something About Korg

Spoilers ahead for Avengers: Endgame.

The Russo Brothers got a lot right with Avengers: Endgame, especially when it came to the film's myriad cameos. Countless characters popped up throughout the film's runtime, especially during the epic final battle sequence. This includes Taika Waititi's Korg, who also appeared in an earlier scene in New Asgard.

Ahead of Endgame's time heist, Rocket and Bruce Banner traveled to New Asgard to convince Thor to join the team. When they found him, the God of Thunder was in a deep depression, having gained weight and turned to alcohol to help numb the pain. He's also shown playing Fortnite with Korg and Miek, and it's a scene that taught Taika Waititi something about his signature Marvel character. Check it out.

Taika Waititi may have introduced Korg to the Marvel Cinematic Universe, but that doesn't mean the director/actor knows everything about the stone monster. On the contrary, he didn't realize the quirky character only had three fingers until watching Avengers: Endgame in theaters. At least he got to enjoy the movie just like the rest of us, and share his thoughts via Twitter.

Korg entered the MCU in Thor: Ragnarok, while the title character was stuck on Sakaar. Taika Waititi played the character to perfection, and brought a particular sense of humor to the shared universe that was wholly unique. Korg was quick to join Thor's rebellion, and joined the motley crew of Revengers in Ragnarok's big action sequences.

But Korg was noticeably absent from Avengers: Infinity War, alongside Miek and Tessa Thompson's Valkyrie. But they all made their comebacks in Avengers: Endgame, revealing half the Asgardains survived Thanos' opening assault and had found a new home on Earth. Korg and those Asgardian forces ultimately participated in the epic final battle in the rubble of The Avengers Compound, being transported via mystical portals.

Related: Thor: Ragnarok’s Tessa Thompson Maintains Valkyrie Survived Thanos’ Snap

It should be interesting to see how Asgardian characters like Korg function within the MCU's Phase Four. Endgame made it seem like Thor was joining the Guardians of the Galaxy, and Valkyrie was named the leader of New Asgard. Its unclear if another Thor movie is even on the way, or if the cosmic characters will once again take to the skies and interact with the Guardians.

You can watch Korg in all his three fingered glory in Avengers: Endgame-- in theaters now. Be sure to check out our 2019 release list to plan your next trip to the movies.

Josh Brolin Shares Photo Featuring Thanos’ Butt Ahead Of Avengers: Endgame Release

Josh Brolin Shares Photo Featuring Thanos’ Butt Ahead Of Avengers: Endgame Release

Of all the things I thought I'd be talking about on the eve of the release of Avengers: Endgame, I never would have guessed that Thanos' ass would be on the list. And yet, here we are. The meme brought about by fans on Reddit has made that particular orifice a major topic of conversation, and nobody is enjoying the fact more than Thanos himself, Josh Brolin. As we stand here just days before the release of the big MCU finale, Brolin is treating us all to buck naked Thanos. Check it out.

In an image that Josh Brolin calls an April 26 spoiler on Instagram, we see Thanos wearing nothing but his Gauntlet, with a clear view of his backside. We also get a few other fun hashtags, which imply that Thanos is planning to use his powerful ass muscles to squish Ant-Man if he tries to get up in this business.

Your extra helping of naked Thanos is all due a funny thread on Reddit that first supposed one particularly bizarre and terrible way for Thanos to be defeated. It involved Ant-Man shrinking in size, entering Thanos' body, and then enlarging himself, causing the Mad Titan's body to be torn apart. Why the best point of entry was determined to be the rectum, we can only imagine.

Josh Brolin has been having a bit of fun with this theory. He previously, posted a video of himself on a toilet in reference to the theory, seemingly trying to dislodge a troublesome Avenger.

We're all pretty sure that this won't be the way that the Avengers finally win in Endgame. Of course, the movie has been so good about keeping spoilers mostly locked away, that we really don't know how it happens. I mean, making Thanos explode from the inside would certainly get the job done, and there are a lot of methods that would certainly be less successful.

Ant-Man is also one character who wasn't involved in the fight with Thanos the first time around, and it certainly seems likely that if the fight comes down to the same people that were in it last time, it's going to have much the same sort of result.

Of course, if you were expecting a Thanos takes a shower before he puts on his armor scene in Avengers: Endgame, you can probably write that off. If nothing else, the movie is rated PG-13 and an excessive amount of Thanos nudity would put that rating in jeopardy.

Of course, we all want to see how the Avengers truly do triumph over Thanos, assuming of course that they do. To that end, the wait is almost over. Avengers: Endgame arrives in theaters this weekend.

Josh Brolin Hilariously Responds To Viral Ant-Man Theory

Josh Brolin Hilariously Responds To Viral Ant-Man Theory

It's an extremely exciting time in the Marvel Cinematic Universe. Avengers: Endgame is less than a month away, so moviegoers will finally see what happened after Josh Brolin's Thanos snapped his finger and destroyed half the galaxy. But until then, the rabid fandom will continue pouring over the brief trailers and making their own creative (and sometimes ridiculous) theories.

A new fan theory went viral this week that is absolutely bonkers. It involves Paul Rudd's Ant-Man, and alleges that he's the key to killing Thanos one and for all. The theory says that Ant-Man should use his shrinking abilities, and then jump into the big purple butt of the Mad Titan. And once he grows, he should tear the villain apart from the inside out. It's scatalogical and kinda brutal, and now Josh Brolin himself has responded. And in the best way possible.

Seriously, how can you not love this man? On top of bringing a surprisingly vulnerable performance to Thanos through motion-capture, Josh Brolin also has a good sense of humor about playing the Mad Titan. So much that he's willing to record viral content from a porcelain throne.

Josh Brolin's video comes from his personal Instagram, and shows that the actor is definitely aware of what the internet says about his signature MCU villain. While not explicitly referencing the wild theory about Ant-Man, Brolin takes the time to get real punny about Endgame's imminent arrival in theaters. His miming of using the toilet was apparently meant to show the tension of the upcoming blockbuster. He also references the marketing "push" ahead of its release. It's all very delightful and gross.

The theory about Ant-Man using Thanos' butt against him has actually been around for a while, although it gained some serious traction in the last week. Plenty of viral memes and videos have hit social media, each more bonkers than the next. While the fans are almost salivating with anticipation ahead of Avengers: Endgame, it's nice that everyone can lighten up and have some fun in the interim period. Because the stakes for the MCU couldn't be higher leading up to the blockbuster's release.

The ending of Avengers: Infinity War shocked everyone, as Thanos assembled the Infinity Stones and wiped out half the galaxy's life with the snap of his finger. Both the audience and surviving heroes were left to watch in horror as countless fan favorite characters faded to dust. It's been a year since that movie arrived in theaters, so the wait for answers has been excruciating.

It should be especially fascinating to see how Josh Brolin's Thanos functions within Endgame's plot. While he finally succeeded in his quest, he did so at great cost. Gamora and the Black Order all perished during Infinity War, and clearly Nebula has it out for him. Thanos has been noticeably absent from the film's marketing material, save for his armor and a quick shot of his hand in a field. Does retirement suit the Mad Titan? And how will he react to the the upcoming battle against The Survivors?

All will be revealed when Avengers: Endgame arrives in theaters on April 26th. In the meantime, check out our 2019 release list to plan your next trip to the movies.

Why Shazam! Works So Well As A Crowdpleaser, According To The Cast

Why Shazam! Works So Well As A Crowdpleaser, According To The Cast

The DC Comics brand of films has been on the mend, with its most recent efforts in the world of comic adaptations gaining a lot of attention and affection from fans. That trend looks like it’s continuing with the theatrical release of Shazam! set to take the public by storm this weekend, with early reactions trending in the film’s favor. Even the cast of the film knows how latest DC adaptation that makes it a bona fide crowd pleaser, and they weren’t afraid to share their thoughts. While the answers may differ slightly, all roads lead to two key elements; fun and heart.

During the recent press day for the film, CinemaBlend got to sit down with the cast of Shazam! to discuss how this superpowered adventure gives the people what they want. And starting off with Dr. Silvana himself, the always solid Mark Strong, the film’s appeal is very easy to see. In particular, Strong pointed out the following elements that really brought the film together:

It’s just so irreverent, and so much fun. The notion now that we’ve seen a lot of superhero movies in which the superheroes are really capable, and now suddenly we see one who has no idea how to use his powers, is really funny. So I think people will enjoy the humor of that. I hope they also then enjoy, conversely, quite how dark and weird and creepy the bad guy story is as well. And then, of course, there’s the family theme at the heart of it all; which is quite moving, I think.

Mark Strong is certainly not new to the DC Comics rodeo, as his performance in Green Lantern with Ryan Reynolds introduced him as Sinestro, the would-be baddie of that corner of the DC universe. So seeing his thoughts on how Shazam! works as a film come from not only a place of experience, but also of genuinely constructive criticism.

Also, Mark Strong nails it on the head when he mentions the fact that director David F. Sandberg’s film is a great mixture of the fun and the family, with a nice sprinkling of the scary on top. Which also works, considering a big part of the demographic for Shazam! just happens to be kids and teenagers who will be flocking to their local theaters this weekend to partake in the joys this film has to offer.

It helps that there were some kids on hand during the Shazam! press day that could confirm those thoughts are, in fact accurate. With Asher Angel and Jack Dylan Grazer on hand for the festivities, we also got to speak to them about what audiences should expect when seeing Warner Bros’ new comic book movie. And judging by their reaction, and the quotes below, fun is a huge part of the crowd-pleasing energy Shazam! has going for it:

Grazer: ‘They should expect some noise, some laughter, some constant applause because this movie is so damned good. It’s really really fun. When we went to the movie theater to watch it with the fans, they were all over the place. They were ecstatic, they were laughing…’

Angel: ‘They were jumping up and down in their seats.’

Grazer: ‘...on their toes. Yeah, it was great.’

As they were answering the question as to what makes Shazam! such a crowdpleaser, there was this current of energy that filled the room. Both being young, up-and-coming actors, Asher Angel and Jack Dylan Grazer are clearly excited to see this movie about to take off. It sounds like they had a lot of fun watching it with a crowd during one of the several public screenings that have been conducted to really hype up the movie.

But, of course, how can you talk about Shazam! without roping in the man in the suit himself: certified crowdpleaser Zachary Levi. When it came his turn to answer the question of just what makes his big superhero debut in the DC universe something you can watch in a theater, surrounded by fans of the source material, he knew exactly what makes this film work in front of a crowd. The first part of Levi’s answer went as follows:

The everything. It’s got everything, guys. It’s wish fulfillment on the purest level. It’s the little kid in all of us who’s always dreamt about being a superhero, and now can say a magic word and become a superhero. That’s like the most cool, iconic archetype of the hero story I can think of. Plus, it’s layered with so much heart, and so much fun and [it’s] funny. I mean, there’s so much comedy, and some creepy stuff as well, you know.

The fun that shines through in Shazam! is undeniable, and you can literally see it on Zachary Levi’s face, throughout our interview and other venues during the film’s press tour. But the best part is, the fun that went into making the film as thrilling as it turned out to be in the finished product certainly doesn’t betray the message it’s trying to put across.

That fact isn’t lost on Zachary Levi either, as when he continued to answer the question of what makes Shazam! a singular experience as a film, he hit on a couple of points closer to the emotional heart of the film, which find themselves integrated rather well alongside the more spectacular elements. Levi continued by mentioning the following:

I think a lot of people will see themselves represented on screen, particularly people that might not feel as represented on screen, and I think that’s really beautiful. The family dynamic speaks to a lot. We get to tell a story about foster kids. There are 450,000, or so, kids in the United States right now in the foster system, and I love that they have themselves to look up to. To be empowered by, to shine that light, even in a small way, is a very powerful thing.

The DC Comics film franchise has come a long way from the days of people debating its depiction of Superman, as well as the question of whether or not the series on the whole really understood the comics to begin with. Shazam! definitely proves itself to be a course correction in line with the whimsy of Aquaman and the empowerment of Wonder Woman, and it’s going to be particularly interesting seeing the public reaction to the film as it opens wide. In the meantime, check out the reactions of the cast of Shazam!, in regards to their own film, in the clip from our interview shown below.

Shazam! says the magic word on April 5th; but if you’re curious about what’s coming down the pike after you’ve enjoyed this magic powered romp, you can take a look at the 2019 release schedule and choose your next adventure accordingly!

Doc Ock Might Be The Main Villain Of The Spider-Man: Into The Spider-Verse Franchise

Doc Ock Might Be The Main Villain Of The Spider-Man: Into The Spider-Verse Franchise

One of the things that was readily apparent in last year’s Spider-Man: Into the Spider-Verse was that this property is perfectly suited to be a franchise with its own cinematic universe. Fortunately, Sony seems to agree, and a spinoff and sequel are now in development. Although the Spider-Verse franchise is just beginning, it seems that it may already have a big bad in the form of Olivia Octavius, a.k.a. Doctor Octopus.

Spider-Man: Into the Spider-Verse co-director Rodney Rothman hinted at the character’s future in the franchise, saying:

In the end, we found the movie played fine without us tagging every single possible thing. But we definitely think of Liv as someone who is not gone from the story, and who in many ways, is our most powerful bad guy. She's manipulating a lot of things to achieve her own grand ambitions.

Based on his comments to Total Film (via Screen Rant), it seems that Rodney Rothman and the filmmakers of Spider-Man: Into the Spider-Verse didn’t want to reference too much or do too much setting up for the future, but it is clear that Doc Ock is not gone and she may have a significant place in that future. The way he describes her as the most powerful bad guy implies that he sees her as a villain with serious potential in this franchise.

This is quite the turnaround considering that co-director Peter Ramsey previously said that there was a worry at one point (before Kathryn Hahn stepped into the recording booth) that Spider-Verse’s Doc Ock was going to be too goofy and quirky to seem like a real deadly threat that Miles and audiences should be concerned about.

Rodney Rothman’s comments about Liv evoke Thanos in the Marvel Cinematic Universe. Although Miles Morales has already battled with her, the idea that she is still manipulating things behind the scenes, and pulling strings with her mechanical appendages to her own nefarious ends, is very reminiscent of the role Josh Brolin’s character played in The Infinity Saga. Over time we found out Thanos’ ambitions and what he was after, and finding out Liv’s will be something to watch for as this franchise continues.

In Spider-Man: Into the Spider-Verse, Kingpin was the main villain, but the gender-swapped Doc Ock was perhaps the scariest foe Miles Morales encountered. Kathryn Hahn’s deliciously diabolical villain had a positively killer introduction where she went full mad scientist and wanted to watch Peter Parker disintegrate from being in the wrong dimension like Game of Thrones’ Qyburn wanting to keep a decapitated head for research.

Doc Ock is a formidable physical opponent in her own right, but it is her unhinged brilliance and mental game that will likely elevate her above the fray to become the franchise’s big bad. In Spider-Verse, she was the CEO and head scientist of Alchemax, and if she is really manipulating events, I could see that company playing a major role in future films.

We’ll keep you updated as Sony’s animated Spider-Verse develops, and check out our 2019 Release Schedule to see all the biggest movies heading your way in a jam-packed summer season.