
Keanu Reeves, Ana de Armas stun at ‘Ballerina' special screening
(From left) Catalina Sandino Moreno, Daniel Bernhardt, Anjelica Huston, David Castañeda, Ana de Armas, Gabriel Byrne, Norman Reedus, Len Wiseman, Victoria Comte, Ian McShane and Keanu Reeves attend the world premiere of 'Ballerina', presented by Lionsgate, at TCL Chinese Theatre in Hollywood, California. -- AFP photos
The Los Angeles special screening of 'Ballerina' took place at the TCL Chinese theatre in Hollywood, California on Tuesday, featuring a star-studded lineup led by Keanu Reeves. 'Ballerina', a spin-off of the popular 'John Wick' movies starring Ana de Armas, is one of the most highly anticipated movies in a busy 2025 schedule for moviegoers.
Coming releases also include a live-action remake of DreamWorks Animation's 'How to Train Your Dragon', and another installment in the long-running science fiction series, 'Jurassic World Rebirth.'
'From now up until mid-August, there is at least one new release coming out every weekend with the potential of making $100 million at the domestic box office,' said Daniel Loria, senior vice president of The BoxOffice Company, which provides online ticketing services for movie theaters.
Movie ticket sales in the US and Canada are up 21 percent from a year ago, when the 2023 Hollywood strikes disrupted film production and truncated movie slates, according to Comscore analyst Paul Dergarabedian. Still, the box office is off nearly 29 percent from 2019, before the global pandemic shuttered movie theaters and fueled the growth of video streaming. – Reuters
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Kuwait Times
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Two BTS megastars released from South Korea military
Two members of K-pop supergroup BTS were released from South Korea's mandatory military service on Tuesday and announced they wanted to start performing again "as soon as possible", prompting a fan frenzy. BTS, South Korea's most lucrative musical act, has been on a hiatus since 2022 while its seven members complete their military service. Hundreds of fans gathered at a site near the two army bases where band leader RM -- recently named "Favorite K-pop Artist" at the American Music Awards -- and singer V were separately discharged. Cheers broke out as they stepped out of different vehicles and hugged, with RM playing a quick song on the saxophone as V stood next to him smiling, holding bunches of flowers. "What we want most right now is to perform again," RM, still wearing his army uniform, told reporters and fans after his discharge. "We're working hard on the new album so we can return to the stage as soon as possible." RM said there had been "many difficult and painful moments" during his 18 months of military service. "Since returning, I've grown closer with my father and old friends — many of whom had already completed their military service," he added. V said military service was "a time for me to reset and rebuild both my body and mind". "Now that I've done that, I truly want to run straight to ARMY as soon as possible," he said, referring to the band's official fandom name. This week, four BTS members will complete their service. Two were discharged last year, and the final member, SUGA -- who has been working as a social service agent for alternative non-active duty service -- will be released later this month. HYBE, the band's agency, had urged fans not to go to the discharge location, citing safety concerns. Flouting the warning, dozens gathered outside V's military base, eagerly awaiting the return of their star. "Honestly, I came here with such high expectations," Yang Ho-hee, 28, told AFP outside the base. Fans had hung colourful banners to welcome the 29-year-old back to civilian life. "Taehyung, let's never be apart again," one said, referring to V's real name, Kim Tae-hyung. Reunion tour? On a football field where the newly released BTS members spoke, hundreds of fans from around the world gathered, hoping to catch a glimpse of their idols. "Actually, it's mixed emotions. I feel like I'm crying already," said Arlene Mendoza, a fan from the Philippines. "I've been travelling to Korea so many times, but this is actually the first time I'll see V." In addition to the army releases, Friday is so-called FESTA -- a celebration that marks the anniversary of the group's debut and typically draws thousands of global fans to Seoul. Mendoza told AFP she plans to attend fellow member J-Hope's concert on Friday, plus join other BTS FESTA events. All the band members signed new contracts with HYBE in 2023, and once SUGA is released on June 21, analysts expect profit-driving reunion activities. "In the case of HYBE share prices, the current market consensus is seen as not fully reflecting BTS's impact," Lim Soo-jin, an analyst at Daishin Securities, told AFP. Despite an ongoing police investigation into the company chairman for suspected insider trading and a recent raid by authorities, analysts say HYBE's shares are up, rising by 10 percent over the past week through June 9. GDP impact Prior to their mandatory military service, the boy band generated more than 5.5 trillion won ($4 billion) in yearly economic impact, according to the Korea Culture and Tourism Institute. That accounts for roughly 0.2 percent of South Korea's total GDP, according to official data. HYBE has hinted at a BTS comeback this year, but has also said the members "need time for reflection and preparation". "Normally, the process goes from song production to album release, then a tour," Lee Jae-sang, CEO of HYBE, told a shareholder meeting in March. "But since BTS have already become global top-tier artists, we are continuing discussions about their vision and what's next," Lee added. Outside HYBE headquarters in Seoul, banners from fans read: "Thank you for making even the waiting feel joyful." The building was wrapped with the slogan "WE ARE BACK", the official logo for the upcoming BTS FESTA. HYBE shares opened nearly three percent higher Tuesday morning, reaching their highest level in two years.--AFP

Kuwait Times
a day ago
- Kuwait Times
Rap star Snoop Dogg wants to open burger van at Celtic
US rapper Snoop Dogg attends the 2025 TIME100 gala at The Jazz at Lincoln Center in New York, April 24, 2025.--AFP Legendary rapper Snoop Dogg has revealed he wants to show his love for Celtic by opening a burger van outside the home of the Scottish champions. he American music icon has previously expressed interest in buying a stake in the Glasgow club after being inspired by the success of Hollywood celebrities Ryan Reynolds and Rob McElhenney at English second-tier side Wrexham. ut the 53-year-old has now set his sights on a more modest connection with a team he has long admired. Snoop Dogg, who has published a recipe book called 'From Crook to Cook', once described Celtic supporters as "special" and said he identified with the club's mascot Hoopy the Hound. e told the Sunday Mail that Celtic fans would flock to the burger van and that it would become a foodie "Paradise", the nickname give to the club's Parkhead stadium. "I would love to bring a pop-up burger van to a sports stadium to show fans that food at stadiums can be good," he said. It's got to be Celtic Park, man. The secret to a good burger is the love in the preparation. The ground beef has got to be mixed with some secret spices, then add a good quality cheese and some maple-cured bacon. "The Celtic fans are gonna love it, and to make sure they are just right, Snoop is going to be serving them himself." noop Dogg worked as a correspondent for NBC at the Paris Olympics last year, has launched two youth football leagues, and has been a vocal advocate for pay equality for female athletes. e claimed he would not be taking his culinary ventures to Celtic's arch rivals Rangers. Am I going to bring my burgers to Rangers as well? Nah, I think we will give that a miss," he said.--AFP

Kuwait Times
a day ago
- Kuwait Times
Disney's 'Lilo & Stitch' tops N.America box office for third week
Disney's family-friendly "Lilo & Stitch" kept up its dominance of the early summer North American box office, winning for a third week in a row with $32.5 million in ticket sales, industry estimates showed Sunday. he live-action remake of a 2002 animated film of the same name has so far raked in $335.8 million in the United States and Canada, and another $436 million abroad, Exhibitor Relations said. Maia Kealoha (as Lilo), Hannah Waddingham, Courtney B. Vance and Zach Galifianakis star, while Chris Sanders again provides the voice of the chaos-creating blue alien Stitch. ebuting in second place at $25 million was Lionsgate's "Ballerina," a "John Wick" spin-off starring Ana de Armas as a dancer turned contract killer, and co-starring Anjelica Huston. Keanu Reeves makes a brief appearance as the hitman Wick. "This is a weak opening for an action thriller spin-off," said David A. Gross of Franchise Entertainment Research. Mission: Impossible -- The Final Reckoning" -- the latest, and ostensibly last, in the hugely successful Tom Cruise spy thriller series based on a 1960s TV show -- took third place with $15 million. he Paramount film has now grossed more than $449 million worldwide. In fourth place was Sony's "Karate Kid: Legends," a sequel featuring Ralph Macchio -- the star of the original 1984 classic -- and action flick icon Jackie Chan, along with Ben Wang in the title role. t made $8.7 million at the domestic box office in its second week in theaters. nd finishing up the top five was Warner Bros. and New Line's horror film "Final Destination: Bloodlines," at $6.5 million. It has grossed $123.6 million so far at the domestic box office. Rounding out the top 10 were: "The Phoenician Scheme" ($6.25 million) "Bring Her Back" ($3.5 million) "Dan Da Dan: Evil Eye" ($3.1 million) "Sinners" ($2.9 million) "Thunderbolts" ($2.5 million)--AFP