'West Side Story' Opens to $10.5M

►Cause for concern? Steven Spielberg’s critically acclaimed West Side Story had a subdued domestic debut, opening to $10.5 million from 2,800 theaters. THR's Pamela McClintock writes that Disney had hoped the big-budget event pic would clear at least $13 million domestically. Some tracking services had first-weekend estimates as high as $15 million more. Overseas, the musical debuted to an even more disappointing $4.4 million from 37 material markets for a global start of $14.9 million, well behind the $25 million Disney was predicting.

Musicals face a huge challenge in the pandemic era, since they rely on older adults, and particularly older females. Yet moviegoers over the age of 35 are the most leery in terms of returning to theaters, especially with the Omicron variant on the rise. 

There are still reasons for Disney to be hopeful, however. Stellar reviews from critics and glowing audience scores could help West Side Story build momentum throughout the year-end holidays and Oscar season. The box office report.  

—"We have worked tirelessly as an organization to be better." The scandal-plagued Hollywood Foreign Press Association announced the nominations for the Golden Globes on Monday morning, with the organization hoping that Hollywood hasn't completely cast the event adrift. Snoop Dogg was on hand to help announce the nominations that had Belfast and The Power of the Dog lead the film nominations, with seven each, and HBO's Succession lead in the TV categories, with five nods. The full list of nominees. 

—"I wanted to speak up." Aaron Sorkin has responded to the New Yorker's recent and viral profile of Succession star Jeremy Strong, writing in a letter that his contributions to the piece may have helped create a “distorted picture” of the actor and his approach to his performances. The story.

 —Short-lived. Diana, The Musical, which made its debut not on Broadway but on the screen in a filmed version that streamed on Netflix, will be ending its run just a short month after it opened. The show’s Dec. 19 performance will serve as its closing night at the Longacre Theatre. The story. 

Chris Wallace Leaving Fox News for CNN+

►"I want to try something new." Chris Wallace, one of Fox News Channel’s most high profile journalists, is leaving the channel for CNN’s upcoming streaming service, CNN+. Wallace, and 18-year FNC veteran and anchor of Fox News Sunday since 2003, announced his departure on the program on Sunday. Wallace’s new CNN+ show will be a weekday program featuring interviews with "newsmakers across politics, business, sports and culture." The story. 

—Bad news is good news? Following the shocking Peloton-involved death of a major character on HBO Max's And Just Like That, the bike company is looking to capitalize (I guess?) on the notoriety with a cheeky ad knocked up by Ryan Reynolds and his marketing company Maximum Effort. The ad features [redacted] flirting with Peloton star trainer Jess King. The story. 

—ICYMI. After a two-week hiatus, Saturday Night Live's cold open tackled COVID-19 vaccines, the omicron variant, the scandal-plagued Cuomo brothers, and the Fox News Christmas tree arsonist.The episode featured the return of Kate McKinnon’s Dr. Anthony Fauci, Aidy Bryant’s Ted Cruz, Pete Davidson’s Andrew Cuomo and Cecily Strong’s Marjorie Taylor Greene. The recap. 

—Boom time for Blighty. The U.K.’s film and TV production boom, which began years before the pandemic, has exploded since lockdowns were eased. According to the BFI, for the rolling year October 2020-September 2021 — the first four quarters since production restarted — combined spend on high-end TV and film reached $7.86 billion, more than 25 percent higher than the figure spent in 2019, then a record. The story. 

—Awful haircut. Time Magazine has selected Elon Musk, the richest man in the world and CEO of electric car marker Tesla and rocket company SpaceX as its Person of the Year. 2021 also marks an expansion of the Person of the Year brand for Time. In addition to its main honoree, Time also announced an Entertainer of the Year, and Athlete of the Year, and Heroes of the Year. The story.

Julia Ducournau on How Writers Block Nearly Kept Her From Making 'Titane'

►"You never stop thinking about it." THR's Seth Abramovitch spoke to French director Julie Ducournau on her Palme d’Or winning head trip Titane. The filmmaker, just the second female winner of Cannes' top prize and now carrying France's hopes at the Oscars, discusses the “excruciating pain” of writer’s block, why gender fluidity is inspiring and how she finally got up the “fuck-it energy” to make her radical new movie. The interview.   

—"There’s a lack of authenticity in music." Seth also spoke to rock icon Belinda Carlisle about the recent renaissance for The Go-Gos. The lead singer reflects on the groundbreaking new wave band's long-overdue induction into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame — and the reason a new generation is coming around to their sound. The interview. 

—"TOUCHDOWN has a new meaning now!!!" Football star and TV celebrity Michael Strahan caught a ride to space with Jeff Bezos’ rocket-launching company Saturday. Blue Origin’s New Shepard rocket blasted off from West Texas, sending the capsule on a 10-minute flight with the two VIP guests and four paying customers. The story.

—C'est à propos de la musique. Brad Pitt is set to reopen Studio Miraval, the legendary the French recording studio that sits on his $60 million 900-acre vineyard but fell into disrepair. The studio, where the likes of Pink Floyd, AC/DC and The Cure recorded some of their most famous albums, will rise again after a spectacular renovation and will open for business in the summer of 2022. The story. 

—The Scandinavians are coming. Nordic streaming service Viaplay will debut on Comcast’s Xfinity platforms in the U.S. on Wednesday. The service will offer Scandi drama offerings, with more than 1,100 hours of Nordic film and series content as well as the platform’s growing volume of drama originals. With the U.S. launch, Viaplay will expand its footprint to 10 countries. The story. 

'Quo Vadis, Aida?' Dominates European Film Awards

►Another win for Tony Hopkins. Euro Jasmila Zbanic’s Quo Vadis, Aida?, a stirring drama about the 1995 Srebrenica massacre has won the best European film prize at the 34th European Film Awards, given out in a virtual ceremony from Berlin Saturday night. The film also won best directing honors for Zbanic and the European actress prize went to star Jasna Duricic. Best actor honors went to Anthony Hopkins for The Father. The full list of winners. 

—Macabre. Tourists are flocking to New Mexico's Bonanza Creek Ranch, the location of the tragedy-stricken Western Rust. Selfie-taking tourists are descending upon the ranch for photo ops and to peer over the gates at filming location where cinematographer Halyna Hutchins was killed on Oct. 21 when Alec Baldwin discharged a firearm. The story.  

In other news... 

—Theater review: Eddie Redmayne and Jessie Buckley in Rebecca Frecknall's Cabaret 

—Doja Cat tests positive for COVID-19, pulls out of iHeartRadio Jingle Ball Tour

—Miss Universe crowns winner after politics seeps into pageant

—Hollywood flashback: Asghar Farhadi’s A Separation won Iran’s first Oscar in 2012

—How to rent the Italian villas featured on Succession season 3

—Hawaii travel: How to avoid being a White Lotus-style visitor

—Doogie Kamealoha, M.D. showrunner Kourtney Kang on how to be a respectful tourist in Hawaii

—Larry Sellers, actor on Dr. Quinn, Medicine Woman, dies at 72

—Vicente Fernandez, towering icon of Mexican music, dies at 81

—Cara Williams, sitcom star and Oscar nominee for The Defiant Ones, dies at 96

What else we're reading...

—There’s No Better Set Than New York City: An Iconic Scene Was Shot On Nearly Every Corner Of The City [Vulture]

—Maggie Gyllenhaal: From "Difficult" Roles to Lauded Hollywood Director [The Guardian]

—Paul Thomas Anderson on What Makes a Movie Great [New Yorker]

—J. Smith-Cameron Knows What You’re Thinking About Gerri [New Yorker]

—The Big Question: Could Peloton Sue Over Its And Just Like That Appearance? [New York Times]

Today... 

...in 1989, Warner Bros. debuted Driving Miss Daisy in theaters nationwide. The acclaimed film went on to nab four honors at the 62nd Academy Awards, including best actress for Jessica Tandy and best picture. The original review. 

Today's birthdays: Dick Van Dyke (96), Taylor Swift (32), Emma Corrin (26), Harry Gregson-Williams (60), NeNe Leakes (54), Emily Peachey (31), Wendie Malick (71), Jamie Foxx (54), Katherine Schwarzenegger (32), Steve Buscemi (64), Tony Curran (52)