The entertainment world is dominated by the massive opening of James Cameron’s third Avatar installment and record-breaking performances at the Indian box office.
Box Office: The Na’vi Return
Avatar: Fire and Ash: The third film in the franchise debuted with an estimated $88 million domestically and $345 million worldwide. While it comfortably claimed the #1 spot, it opened significantly lower than its predecessor, The Way of Water ($134 million). However, it saw massive success in China with a $57.6 million start, and industry experts expect it to have long “legs” through the holiday season.
Counter-Programming: Angel Studios’ animated biblical film David secured second place with a strong $22 million opening, while the Lionsgate thriller The Housemaid debuted in third with roughly $19 million.
Holdovers: Disney’s Zootopia 2 remains a powerhouse, adding another $14.5 million to its massive global total, which has now surpassed $1.27 billion.
Celebrity Headlines
Elton John & David Furnish: The couple celebrated a “double milestone” yesterday, marking the 20th anniversary of their civil partnership and their 11th wedding anniversary. Sir Elton shared a heartfelt tribute on Instagram, celebrating their history as the first couple to be legally recognized as civil partners in the UK back in 2005.
Justin Bieber Rumors: Pop star Justin Bieber is trending after being spotted in Tokyo with Kendall Jenner without his wife, Hailey. The sighting has reignited online divorce speculation, though the couple was seen together at a pop-up event earlier in the week.
Travis Kelce: The NFL star is making headlines for his pre-game fashion choices. Interestingly, major outlets like Parade are now referring to him as “Taylor Swift’s fiancé,” further fueling engagement rumors that have swirled throughout the fall.
The Kardashians: Kris Jenner and Khloé Kardashian attended a star-studded birthday dinner for Lauren Sánchez Bezos (who married Jeff Bezos in Venice this past June). Kris reportedly wore an $8,500 shearling coat to the event.
Music News
The Flaming Lips: Longtime member Steven Drozd has officially exited the band after more than 30 years. Drummer Matthew Duckworth Kirksey issued a statement defending frontman Wayne Coyne and assuring fans that new music is still on the way despite the lineup change.
International & Bollywood News
Dhurandhar’s Record: Ranveer Singh’s spy thriller Dhurandhar is a massive phenomenon in India. On its 17th day, it officially surpassed the lifetime domestic collection of Ranbir Kapoor’s Animal, crossing the ₹560 crore mark in India and eyeing the ₹900 crore club globally.
Sreenivasan Passing: The Malayalam film industry is in mourning following the death of legendary actor-screenwriter Sreenivasan at age 69. His funeral has sparked a debate about media ethics after producer Supriya Menon criticized the “intrusive” conduct of vloggers and livestreamers during the final rites.
Arnulf Rainer: The influential Austrian avant-garde artist passed away on Sunday at the age of 96.
In Memoriam
James Ransone: News outlets are also reflecting on the legacy of The Wire and It: Chapter Two star James Ransone, who passed away recently at age 46.
