And the week belongs to … Terminator Genisys, the worldwide winner. Hold it: didn’t the last installment of the franchise that has launched the careers of both James Cameron and Arnold Schwarzenegger have its debut during the Independence Day weekend? And with a domestic total below $90 million and a production cost of twice as much, wasn’t Genisys considered a failure just a few weeks ago? The film that blew the last chance for Arnold’s Hollywood comeback after his break playing the real-life role of Governor of California? All this was and is true, but that was before the overseas market started pumping money, an estimated $238 million into the film’s coffers. And before China, the real game changer, came onto the scene. Yes, we have been reading and hearing a lot in these past few days about the difficulties and the struggles of the Chinese economy. A serious crisis, but Chinese audiences apparently have not lost their appetite, and the yuan at their disposal, to flock to American blockbusters. On opening day, the movie generated $27 million. After eight days, Genisys was standing at $83 million. Now, thanks to China, the Arnold vehicle has crossed the $400 million worldwide mark and is considered a clear hit. It’s actually the first film ever to reach that mark by generating less than $100 million domestically. And in light of these new numbers, the talks of putting a stop to the historic franchise have ended. Actually, the next Terminator is expected to be ready for a May 2017 debut. So Arnold was first. And – no it’s not a typo – Tom Cruise came in second. With over $15 million worldwide generated in 65 markets, Paramount’s Mission: Impossible – Rogue Nation has reached a global total of $480 million, with China still to come. The number three spot belonged to Straight Outta Compton, that had its debut in the UK and in Germany as the top grosser and that held to the top spot in the domestic market, adding $13 million, for a total of $141 million.
 
Zac Efron’s music drama We Are Your Friends, in which the actor plays the role of a DJ attempting to turn into a music producer, had the ambition to displace the film on the origins of the iconic and controversial hip-hop band N.W.A., but it has entered the history books of Hollywood for a different reason: with $1.8 million, this is the worst number of all times for a new major studio vehicle opening in over 2,000 theaters (the exact number is 2,333). On the other hand news was good for the faith-based drama War Room. Featuring a mostly African-American cast and directed by Alex and Stephen Kendrix, the two brothers who have produced other Christian films such as Fireproof and Courageous, it has earned $11 million. Not so bad for a film that was made with barely $3 million.
 
There was another entry these last few days, and its debut was not as good: No Escape, a political thriller starring Owen Wilson, Pierce Brosnan and Lake Bell. It did $10 million and its audience was mostly adults, 80% over 25. In another piece of news that may induce readers to believe they are reading old news, this last week also saw a resurgence of Jurassic World, engaged in a titanic battle against … Titanic. The dinosaur sequel was back again this week, exhibited in 350 Imax theaters. And it is back with the clear mission to pass Titanic, an operation now within reach. Jurassic World is at $643 million. Titanic is close, with $658 million. And Avatar? Still at a safe distance, over $100 million ahead.
Lorenzo Soria