Another blockbuster opening, another arrow in FX’s quiver. The network group has procured exclusive U.S. TV premiere rights to Minions, coming off the second-biggest domestic opening for an animated film. The Despicable Me spinoff banked $115.7 million in North America and has passed $400 million worldwide. FX Networks…

Actuals are in with us seeing a wide enough margin between Universal’s Jurassic World and Disney’s Pixar’s Inside Out for the respective No. 1 and 2 spots after a fierce battle last weekend. The whole Uni-Disney duke out is a bit deja-vu, reminiscent of the holiday season when we saw two films within hairs of each…

UPDATED, 12:25 PM, 2:28 PM: Paramount Pictures just released its final grosses for the international start of its Terminator: Genisys and it earned $8.4M in 10 markets so it’s off to a good start ahead of its holiday bow stateside this weekend. Universal’s next is its worldwide animated franchise Minions, its raunch…

6TH UPDATE, Sunday 9:20AM after 7:55 AM post: The gap between No. 1 and No. 2 has widened with Universal’s Jurassic World taking the weekend crown away from Disney Pixar’s Inside Out after an intense, neck and neck frame. JW rang up $54.2M per Universal estimates in its third FSS, which isn’t that far from  industry…

It shouldn’t be too surprising that after grossing more than a half-billion dollars worldwide, we would get a sequel to the 2012 smash hit Ted. But as I say in my video review above, this is a comic follow-up worth its weight in jokes — jokes that land just about every time. That’s thanks to the talents of Seth MacFarl…

How do you high-five a T-Rex? Fandango is on track to have the best month in its company’s 15-year history, selling the most tickets ever as Universal’s Jurassic World, Disney/Pixar’s Inside Out and Ted 2 are racking up ticket sales. This could also be the first week that three pictures make over $50M in one…

Everyday is like a Saturday. Because it’s summer. That’s why distributors are beaming, and they’re extra giddy about this weekend, which looks to be another monster after Universal’s Jurassic World set more records last weekend for best second frame, highest title in its franchise and the fastest film ever to cross…

Accepting the Critic’s Choice Genius Award tonight during the 5th annual Critics’ Choice TV Awards, Seth MacFarlane took no prisoners, least of all himself. Mocking the award for calling him a genius in Hollywood, saying it’s “like being called thin at Disneyland,” he also turned his sights on the award show’s…

The Golden Trailer Awards nominations were announced for their 16th annual edition today with Universal leading all studios with 44 nominations for its marketing campaigns on such films as Furious 7, Jurassic World, Minions, Unbroken and Ted 2 as well as its Focus Feature fare. The Golden Trailers laud the year’s most…

Sure, sure, the New England Patriots won that other Super Bowl, between two NFL teams. But the real winner in Hollywood during and after the game was Ted 2, the studio behind it, Universal, and the social-media platform they used so effectively, Facebook. In the 24 hours during and after the game, the foul-mouthed…

Mark Wahlberg and his furry sidekick go hunting for a sperm donor in Ted 2, though their approach to a potential donor lacks a bit of, shall we say, diplomatic panache. Seth MacFarlane directs and co-wrote the script. Liam Neeson and Amanda Seyfriend co-star. The film debuts June…

Universal Pictures and MRC’s first Ted in 2012 created a bull market with Seth MacFarlane’s teddy bear with a mouth of a truck driver, with a global gross of $549.4 million easily securing a sequel. Now comes the first look at Ted 2, which features Ted marrying his sweetheart and taking on the U.S. justice system to…