B.C. seeks ban on public drug use, dialing back decriminalization
The B.C. NDP has asked the federal government to recriminalize public drug use, marking a major shift in the province's approach to addressing the deadly overdose crisis.
"John Wick: Chapter 4," the fourth installment in the Keanu Reeves assassin series, debuted with a franchise-best US$73.5 million at the box office, according to studio estimates Sunday.
The Lionsgate film, starring Reeves as the reluctant-but-not-that-reluctant killer John Wick, exceeded both expectations and previous opening weekends in the R-rated franchise. Since first launching in 2014 with "John Wick" ($14 million on its opening weekend), the Chad Stahelski-directed series has steadily grown as a ticket-seller with each sequel. The 2017 follow-up opened with $30.4 million, and the 2019 third chapter, "Parabellum," debuted with $56.8 million.
But "Chapter 4," running two hours and 49 minutes and costing at least $100 million to produce, is the biggest film yet in the once-lean action series. Critics also said it was a franchise high point, scoring 95 per cent fresh on Rotten Tomatoes. The film, which drew a 69 per cent male audience, added $64 million overseas. It's Lionsgate's biggest success of the pandemic era.
"When you make a fourth in an action franchise, you have to expect it to go down. That is the nature of these franchises," said Joe Drake, chairman of Lionsgate Motion Picture Group. "But we kept seeing signals and it was wonderful to see the movie they delivered. We saw the audience wanting more."
Though "John Wick" has been bigger at the box office with each new release -- an enviable and rare trajectory among Hollywood franchises -- "Chapter 4" brings some finality to Reeves' character. The actor hasn't entirely dismissed continuing the series, telling interviewers "never say never."
Regardless, the franchise is set to keep humming. A spin-off titled "Ballerina" starring Ana de Armas and co-starring Reeves has already been shot. The miniseries "The Continental," with Mel Gibson, is upcoming on Peacock.
"Chad and Keanu have created this world and that world continues to expand. I don't know what all the edges of that world are, still," said Drake. "As best they can, they'll continue to try to seduce Keanu to come back and do things. He gets beat up in these shows. He really does. And at the end he's like, `I'm not doing it anymore.' Then you watch him sit in the theatre and feel that audience."
"So we're going to continue to look for ways to meet that demand."
The release of "John Wick: Chapter 4," which included a surprise premiere at SXSW, was also bittersweet. Lance Reddick, who plays the Continental Hotel concierge, Charon, in the films, unexpectedly died at the age of 60 a week before the film's release.
But the success of "John Wick: Chapter 4" adds to a strong start in 2023 for Hollywood. After ticket sales rebounded to about 67 per cent of pre-pandemic levels last year, the release lineup is steadier and more packed this year. Sequels have led the way, including "Creed III" and "Scream VI." Ticket sales are up 28 per cent from last year, according to data firm Comscore.
But there have been some exceptions. After its disappointing $30.5 million debut last weekend, the superhero sequel "Shazam! Fury of the Gods" slumped to second place with $9.7 million in its second weekend. The Warner Bros. release dropped steeply, tumbling 68 per cent from its launch.
"Scream VI" took third place with $8.4 million in its third weekend, bringing its total thus far to $90.4 million domestic and $139.3 million worldwide. "Creed III" followed in fourth with $8.4 million. Michael B. Jordan's sequel is up to $140.9 million domestic.
The weekend's other new releases were more modest.
Zach Braff's "A Good Person," starring Florence Pugh and Morgan Freeman, opened on 530 theatres. The MGM release grossed $834,000. IFC Films' "The Lost King," with Sally Hawkins and Steve Coogan, debuted with $575,000 in 753 locations.
Estimated ticket sales for Friday through Sunday at U.S. and Canadian theatres, according to Comscore. Final domestic figures will be released Monday.
1. "John Wick: Chapter 4," $73.5 million.
2. "Shazam! Fury of the Gods," $9.7 million.
3. "Scream VI," $8.4 million.
4. "Creed III," $8.4 million.
5. "65," $3.3 million.
6. "Ant-Man and the Wasp: Quantumania," $2.4 million.
7. "Cocaine Bear," $2.1 million.
8. "Jesus Revolution," $2 million.
9. "Champions," $1.5 million.
10. "Avatar: The Way of Water," $1.4 million.
The B.C. NDP has asked the federal government to recriminalize public drug use, marking a major shift in the province's approach to addressing the deadly overdose crisis.
More than 115 people who viewed the solar eclipse in Ontario earlier this month experienced eye damage after the event, according to eye doctors in the province.
An orca whale calf that has been stranded in a B.C. lagoon for weeks after her pregnant mother died swam out on her own early Friday morning.
George Mallory is renowned for being one of the first British mountaineers to attempt to scale the dizzying heights of Mount Everest during the 1920s. Nearly a century later, newly digitized letters shed light on Mallory’s hopes and fears about ascending Everest.
Sophie Gregoire Trudeau says there is 'still so much love' between her and Prime Minister Justin Trudeau, as they navigate their post-separation relationship co-parenting their three children.
An Ontario man who took out a loan to pay for auto repairs said his car was repossessed after he missed two payments.
Donald Trump's defence team attacked the credibility Friday of the prosecution's first witness in his hush money case, seeking to discredit testimony detailing a scheme between Trump and a tabloid to bury negative stories to protect the Republican's 2016 presidential campaign.
An American Airlines flight attendant was indicted Thursday after authorities said he tried to secretly record video of a 14-year-old girl using an airplane bathroom last September.
Devastating tornadoes tore across parts of eastern Nebraska and northeast Texas Friday as a multi-day severe thunderstorm event ramped up in the central United States.
Mounties in Nanaimo, B.C., say two late-night revellers are lucky their allegedly drunken antics weren't reported to police after security cameras captured the men trying to steal a heavy sign from a downtown business.
A property tax bill is perplexing a small townhouse community in Fergus, Ont.
When identical twin sisters Kim and Michelle Krezonoski were invited to compete against some of the world’s most elite female runners at last week’s Boston Marathon, they were in disbelief.
The giant stone statues guarding the Lions Gate Bridge have been dressed in custom Vancouver Canucks jerseys as the NHL playoffs get underway.
A local Oilers fan is hoping to see his team cut through the postseason, so he can cut his hair.
A family from Laval, Que. is looking for answers... and their father's body. He died on vacation in Cuba and authorities sent someone else's body back to Canada.
A former educational assistant is calling attention to the rising violence in Alberta's classrooms.
The federal government says its plan to increase taxes on capital gains is aimed at wealthy Canadians to achieve “tax fairness.”
At 6'8" and 350 pounds, there is nothing typical about UBC offensive lineman Giovanni Manu, who was born in Tonga and went to high school in Pitt Meadows.