Steve Carell’s New Movie Has Set A Huge Record
Do it, Steve! Avenger Space Force!
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Netflix may have launched Space Force into oblivion, but that doesn’t mean it’s the end for Steve Carell. The funny man’s new movie Minions: The Rise of Gru is smashing box office records. Not only did the prequel wind up on top of this past weekend’s box office sales, but it did it while earning the highest grossing opening of a July 4th weekend in cinema history.
According to The Hollywood Reporter, the computer-animated comedy led by Steve Carell took home around $129 million domestically over its opening weekend, blowing past 2011’s Transformers: Dark of the Moon ($115.9 million) to become the highest grossing film opening over the July 4th weekend. Previous record holders include 2004’s Spider-Man 2 ($115.8 million) and 2017’s Despicable Me 3 ($99 million). The historic opening knocked Disney’s animated offering Lightyear out of the top 5 movies. The top 5 is now, in descending order; Minions: The Rise of Gru, Top Gun: Maverick, Elvis, Jurassic World Dominion, and The Black Phone.
THR notes the success of Minions: The Rise of Gru is also a good sign for animated features as a whole. Animated films have seen some of the biggest losses as a result of the still not quite dead COVID-19 pandemic, with Steve Carell and co. heading one of the only emerging success stories of the medium. The only other example is the wildly successful Sonic the Hedgehog 2.
No doubt Steve Carell sees this is as more than welcome news. So far 2022 hasn’t been the kindest to him, professionally speaking. As reported by Deadline and others, in April Netflix’s Space Force — Carell’s first leading role on a TV series since he stepped away from The Office — got the axe after only two seasons.
The Anchorman star is far from finding himself on the unemployment line, of course. Steve Carell recently confirmed he’ll be reuniting with The Office alum John Krasinski for the upcoming fantasy comedy film Imaginary Friends. Written, directed by, and starring Krasinski; Imaginary Friends will focus on a man who can speak to other people’s former imaginary friends. There is little information so far on who will play what role in the film, but Carell will be part of an impressive cast. The former Michael and Jim of The Office will be joined by Ryan Reynolds (Deadpool), Phoebe Waller-Bridge (Fleabag), Fiona Shaw (Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows: Part 1), and Louis Gossett Jr. (Enemy Mine).
Steve Carell will soon also get the chance to play hard against type in the upcoming FX mini-series The Patient. Written by Joe Weisberg and Joel Fields — best known for their work on the spy drama The Americans — the psychological thriller will star Steve Carell as a psychotherapist who is made a hostage by a serial killer played by Domhnall Gleeson (About Time), who wants the shrink to cure him of his violent urges. While Carell’s and Gleeson’s roles are the only ones publicly known; the show will also star David Alan Grier (Joe Pickett), Andrew Leeds (Barry), Linda Emond (Succession), Laura Niemi (This Is Us), and Alex Rich (GLOW).
