The sci-fi film “Dune: Part Two” dominated the box office over the weekend‚ bringing in an impressive $81.5 million domestically‚ the highest opening weekend result for any movie in 2024 so far.  “This is just what the box office needed and much higher than any of us could predict‚” Jeff Goldstein‚ president of domestic distribution at Warner Bros. Pictures‚ said in response to the results‚ per CNN. “That’s especially true given that it’s a sci-fi movie‚ which is a genre that is a hard nut to crack. And we grossed $178.5 million worldwide‚ which is quite a standup.” “We created a cultural moment‚ and it started with this extraordinary movie that [film director] Denis Villeneuve told in a really compelling way‚ and a cast has worked their butt off around the world for this movie‚” Goldstein continued. The results were notably higher compared to opening weekend for the first “Dune” movie‚ which premiered in October 2021 with $41 million to start.  Both films are based on the 1965 novel by the same name written by Frank Herbert. The original installment featured an ensemble cast including Timothée Chalamet‚ Rebecca Ferguson‚ Oscar Isaac‚ Josh Brolin‚ Stellan SkarsgÃ¥rd‚ Dave Bautista‚ Stephen McKinley Henderson‚ Zendaya‚ Chang Chen‚ Sharon Duncan-Brewster‚ Charlotte Rampling‚ Jason Momoa‚ and Javier Bardem. “Part Two” brought back several familiar faces from the first movie‚ including Chalamet and Zendaya‚ plus added familiar names such as Florence Pugh and Christopher Walken. The first “Dune” went on to become a huge success‚ bringing in $434.8 million against a $165 million production budget. It was nominated for ten Academy Awards‚ including Best Picture‚ and won six. One thing that sets both of these sci-fi films apart from other contemporary films is audiences prefer to experience the visuals in a theater. CNN reported that 48 percent of total domestic box office sales this weekend came from premium large formats like IMAX 70 mm‚ IMAX Digital‚ and Dolby Cinema‚ meaning higher revenue overall due to the high cost of tickets. Villeneuve used special IMAX cameras while shooting the sequel. CLICK HERE TO GET THE DAILYWIRE+ APP “Dune: Part Two” currently has a 93% critic score and 95% audience rating on Rotten Tomatoes.  “The second Dune installment is jaw-on-the-floor spectacular. It elegantly weaves together top-tier special effects and arresting cinematography; it layers muscle‚ sinew and savagery on to the bones of Part One‚” the Observer critic wrote.  “This is what movie theaters exist for‚ this type of visual and complete story immersion‚” the reviewer from Forbes agreed.

The Supreme Court issued a ruling on Monday that determined the state of Colorado cannot remove former President Donald Trump from the primary ballot using Section 3 of the 14th Amendment. All nine justices agreed with the decision. Colorado’s primary is set to take place on Tuesday‚ March 5. “BIG WIN FOR AMERICA!!!” Trump said in a post to Truth Social. Colorado voters challenged Trump’s eligibility over his actions leading up to the U.S. Capitol breach on January 6‚ 2021. The Colorado Supreme Court issued a 4-3 ruling in December that found Trump to be disqualified from holding the office of the presidency. Citing Section 3 of the 14th Amendment‚ an insurrection clause dating back to the Civil War‚ the ruling said Trump should not appear on the primary ballot. Two other states — Maine and Illinois — also moved to bump Trump from the ballot using Section 3 of the 14th Amendment‚ but the Supreme Court decision on Monday ends those efforts as well. “States have no power under the Constitution to enforce Section 3 with respect to federal offices‚ especially the Presidency‚” the Supreme Court said. Trump‚ who is running for another term in the White House for a second time this year‚ is the clear GOP frontrunner as he holds a wide delegate lead over his next closest rival‚ Nikki Haley. The Dhillon Law Group‚ led by founder and managing partner Harmeet Dhillon‚ served as counsel of record for Trump’s case to keep him on the ballot in Colorado. “Today’s unanimous Supreme Court decision underscores the bedrock principles of our democracy and the rule of law. This victory is not just for President Trump but for the integrity of our electoral system and the rights of voters across the country‚” Dhillon said. “The attempt to use the 14th Amendment in this manner was a dangerous overreach that‚ if left unchallenged‚ could have set a perilous precedent for future election‚” she added. “We are proud to have defended the constitutional rights at stake and grateful for the Supreme Court’s unequivocal affirmation of these fundamental principles.” Colorado Secretary of State Jena Griswold‚ a Democrat‚ also reacted to the ruling on Monday with a post to X. “I am disappointed in the U.S. Supreme Court’s decision stripping states of the authority to enforce Section 3 of the 14th Amendment for federal candidates‚” Griswold said. “Colorado should be able to bar oath-breaking insurrections from our ballot.” Despite the unanimous decision on the topline issue in the case‚ only five of the justices agreed that the only way to enforce Section 3 is through Congress. Conservative Justice Amy Coney Barrett joined with her liberal colleagues in opposing this view. CLICK HERE TO GET THE DAILYWIRE+ APP In a separate matter‚ the Supreme Court announced on Wednesday that it was taking up the issue of whether Trump can invoke presidential immunity to shield himself from federal prosecution in a 2020 election case brought by special counsel Jack Smith. The Supreme Court scheduled an oral argument for the week of April 22‚ 2024‚ raising doubts among legal experts that a trial in the case brought by Smith could be held before the election in November.

“The Batman” actor Paul Dano is weighing in on the debate over “superhero fatigue‚” the current trend of comic book-themed films like “Madame Web” and “The Marvels” underperforming at the box office.  The 39-year-old says all hope is not lost for future films in this genre. He says the concept just needs some tweaking.  “It’s an interesting moment where everybody has to go like‚ ‘OK – what now?’ Hopefully from that‚ somebody either breathes new life into [comic book movies]‚ or something else blossoms which is not superheroes‚” Dano told The Independent during an interview published Friday. “I’m sure there will still be some good ones yet to come‚ but I think it’s kind of a welcome moment.” “It’s a larger thing‚ too‚” he continued. “As soon as the word ‘content’ came into what we do – meaning making movies or TV – it meant quantity over quality‚ which I think was a big misstep. And I certainly don’t need that as a viewer or as an artist.” Dano went on to speculate why “The Batman” succeeded where so many others had failed. “There are enough comic book movies where you just know what you’re gonna get‚” the actor said. “Reading the script for ‘The Batman‚’ you knew it was a real film. Every sentence… that’s just [writer/director] Matt Reeves.” A sequel to The Batman is slated to be released on October 3‚ 2025. Dano is currently promoting his newest film‚ “Spaceman‚” a sci-fi movie starring Adam Sandler about an astronaut sent on a mission to the edge of the solar system while encountering a giant spider-like creature who will help him solve his problems. CLICK HERE TO GET THE DAILYWIRE+ APP The conversation about superhero films not performing as strongly in Hollywood has been a hot topic lately. In November‚ the newest Marvel Cinematic Universe (MCU) installment‚ “The Marvels‚” had the lowest opening weekend in the franchise’s history with just $47 million. “Captain America: A Brave New World‚” “Thunderbolts‚” and “Blade” — all initially slated for 2024 — are being pushed to 2025‚ at least in part because of strike-related production delays. That means the only Marvel release scheduled for 2024 is “Deadpool 3.”

Providence College‚ a Catholic university in Rhode Island‚ donated thousands of dollars in grant awards to several nonprofit organizations that openly promote gender ideology to children. Two organizations — Youth Pride RI and Young Voices — directly solicit LGBTQIA+ or gender and sexuality programs to children. Another grant recipient‚ Rhode Island Kids Count‚ testified in support of bills teaching gender identity to students and supported the Rhode Island Department of Education’s guidance on transgender school policies keeping secrets from parents. Lifespan‚ a current Community Partner with Providence College‚ provides “gender and sexual health services” to children. The most egregious error in religious discernment is found in the $10‚000 grant award to Youth Pride RI in 2021‚ the same year Youth Pride RI launched a program titled “Little Unicorns” for adults to talk to children ages 5 to 9 about gender and sexuality on weekly Zoom sessions without parents. Youth Pride RI also consults with RI public school gender and sexuality (GSA) clubs‚ organizes a multi-state GSA conference‚ and backed a bill making Rhode Island a sanctuary state for “gender-affirming care” and abortion. Youth Pride RI’s support for transgender and abortion sanctuary state status came after the Providence College Partnership was established. How did a Catholic college in the most Catholic state in America fail to vet such an anti-Catholic organization as a grant recipient? Its name alone should have acted as Catholic repellant to any Catholic institution vigilant of the two things that nearly broke the Catholic church in 2002 — kids (“Youth”) and sexuality (“Pride”). Youth Pride RI is “the only nonprofit in Rhode Island specifically dedicated to meet the needs of LGBTQIA+ Youth 25 and under.” It received $165‚000 in government grants in 2019. The $10‚000 Providence College grant was awarded by the Making A Difference Board (MAD) consisting of students in a philanthropy class taught by Dr. Rick Battistoni. Dr Battistoni is a professor of Political Science and of Public and Community Service Studies‚ as well as the Director of the Feinstein Institute for Public Service. He has been at Providence College since 1994. In a separate 2017 interview‚ Dr. Battistoni explained that his students learn to be “engaged in the issues and the root causes that create the need for philanthropy in the first place‚” because philanthropy is “more than just writing a check.” The students act as a philanthropy foundation board deciding which local RI nonprofits should receive Providence College grants. Organizations donated $50‚000 for the class to distribute in grants this year. Each student writes a research advocacy paper to decide “the most pressing injustice … that needs philanthropic support in Rhode Island.” MAD decided that an organization promoting gender ideology to children and soliciting sexuality conversations with kindergartners was the best recipient for a grant from a Catholic college. In the past‚ MAD has decided that certain organizations were “not appropriate” as grant recipients. Apparently‚ organizations promoting gender ideology — which was deemed incontrovertibly antithetical to the Catholic faith even by the liberal Pope Francis because it would “‘destroy at its roots’ God’s most basic plan for human beings” — do not fall squarely into the category of “not appropriate.” Perhaps this lapse in judgment had something to do with Dr. Battistoni’s affinity for Youth Pride RI since he donated to it as an individual in 2014. Students invite organizations to apply for the grant with a request for proposals and visit finalists on-site. It is hard to believe Dr. Battistoni and his MAD students were unaware that Youth Pride RI furthered goals antithetical to Catholic teachings given Dr. Battistoni’s stringent research standards and his own familiarity with the organization. Dr. Battistoni stated in 2017‚ “Students learn that philanthropy can be leveraged to create greater change in a community.” Catholic money should never be “leveraged” to support organizations that promote sex changes to children or have sexual conversations with kindergartners. Compare Providence College’s transgression to The Catholic University of America‚ which fired a professor for inviting an abortion doula to a required lecture. That was one class. This is $10‚000 of Catholic money supporting anti-Catholic schemes. Also compare this to the Rhode Island priest removed from active ministry after allegations that he talked to adolescents about their sexual orientations. Catholic institutions should not fund or otherwise support organizations engaging in the same sexualized interactions with children it prohibits from priests after the massive sex abuse scandal of 2002. Another organization‚ RI Kids Count‚ received $20‚000 from Dr. Battistoni’s MAD board in January 2024. RI Kids Count is “a children’s research and policy advocacy organization that works to improve the health‚ economic well-being‚ safety‚ and development of Rhode Island’s children‚” and recently declared that it “stands firmly in support of trans youth” at a “Speak Up For Trans Youth” event on October 18‚ 2023. This event was meant to demonize my earlier event educating parents about gender ideology in school. Deputy Director Stephanie Geller stated RI Kids Count opposes “hateful legislation” excluding gender identity from sex education. Youth Pride RI was also in attendance. Oversight for the MAD student board appears to lie solely with Dr. Battistoni‚ but Providence College exercised dubious judgment beyond Dr. Battistoni’s philanthropy class. For example‚ Young Voices‚ is a current Community Partner of Providence College‚ and it solicits children to complete an interest form on its landing page. Children completing the form are required to provide their name‚ grade‚ school‚ email address‚ and phone number. A child interested in Young Voice’s “LGBTQIA+ Networking Night” will receive a “follow-up email with more information.” No parental consent or minimum age is required to fill out the form. Young Voices’ mission is to “to transform urban youth into powerful advocates who have a voice in every aspect of their lives.” The goal of its Providence College partnership is‚ in part‚ to “[b]uild a more inclusive bridge for high school students in Providence‚ Pawtucket‚ and Central Falls to access and learn about life after college including higher education options at PC and beyond.” What do “LGBTQ+ network nights” for kids have to do with “higher education options at PC and beyond?” Lifespan is another questionable Providence College community partner because Lifespan provides “gender and sexual health services” to children. Lifespan and some member providers‚ including Michelle Forcier‚ were sued last October by detransitioner Isabelle Ayala who alleges she was rushed into a sex change at 14 years old. My own former Lifespan pediatrician discharged my children after I complained about “safe zone” stickers promoting gender identity on the walls of children’s exam rooms. If vetting is too burdensome to ensure Catholic money does not promote anti-Catholic initiatives‚ perhaps Providence College can include an eligibility clause on grant applications disqualifying applicants whose organizational activities — specifically promotion of gender ideology and abortion — are in contravention to the Catholic faith. Additionally‚ require a certification that applicants have read the eligibility requirements and make it clear that misrepresentations will result in a return of funds. Providence College and Dr. Battistoni did not respond to a request for comment. * * * Nicole Solas is a senior fellow with the Education Freedom Center at Independent Women’s Forum (iwf.org/EFC). The views expressed in this piece are those of the author and do not necessarily represent those of The Daily Wire.

U2 finished its residency at the Las Vegas venue Sphere over the weekend with a tribute to first lady Jill Biden. Frontman Bono dedicated the song “All I Want Is You” from the 1988 U2 album “Rattle and Hum” to Mrs. Biden‚ who was in attendance. “This song‚ when we wrote it‚ I tried to write the lyrics from the point of view of the woman or the bride‚ in this case‚ which is pretty arrogant‚ I suppose. That was a trick for me to get to the lyric I was playing on myself‚” Bono said.  “Tonight‚ I want to dedicate it to all the great women in our lives — our partners‚ our mothers‚ our daughters‚ all the women on the U2 crew‚ all the great women in our audience that we feel we know‚ and all the great women in parts of the world going through very difficult circumstances that we could never know. And one woman in particular who is with us tonight‚ she’s a teacher. She’s your first lady‚ so this is for Jill Biden.” At another point in the show‚ Bono mentioned Russian opposition leader Alexei Navalny‚ which he’s been doing on stage since Navalny’s death was announced last month. NEWS: Bono announces they will break from Achtung Baby for experiment: Next song will be recorded as they perform new rendition of Crowded House’s “Don’t Dream it’s Over” thanks to Neil Finn who sent in vocals so they could dedicate it to Alexei Navalny widow Yulia. For freedom! pic.twitter.com/kv0Mma41jb — Chris Gardner (@chrissgardner) March 3‚ 2024 “This is a tightly constructed show‚ but as it’s our last night‚ we wondered if it might be OK to experiment on you a little bit. The idea is to record something special to honor Alexei Navalny’s widow‚ Yulia‚ who is continuing a fight against Vladimir Putin for a free‚ free Russia‚ which is what we want for the Russian people‚” Bono said before playing “Don’t Dream It’s Over.” “The other day we got a beautiful email from Neil Finn‚ who wrote this bewildering beautiful song and he attached to the email a version of this song that he said we could play on or whatever we wanted. It’s a new version that he did‚ and we thought if we are going to record it‚ well‚ maybe if you would be on that recording and we could make that session the last night recording session and dedicating it to Yulia‚” he continued‚ calling the single “a song about freedom.” The band has played 40 shows at the visually stunning music and entertainment arena beginning in September. U2 was commemorating one of its most successful records‚ “Achtung Baby” (1991)‚ by playing the album in its entirety along with other selected tracks from the band’s catalog. During the performance‚ Bono welcomed the album’s producer‚ Daniel Lanois‚ to the stage. He also made mention of drummer Larry Mullen Jr.‚ who was in the audience but unable to play due to his recent neck surgery.  “The rumors that Larry will be playing with us tonight are not true‚ sadly. But he is here with us‚” Bono said of Mullen Jr. “That is the man who pinned the note on the notice board at Mount Temple Comprehensive School all those years ago. We are very grateful that he did‚ and that he’s here with us tonight. We wish him a speedy‚ speedy‚ speedy recovery. We love you‚ Larry Mullen Jr.” CLICK HERE TO GET THE DAILYWIRE+ APP Per The Hollywood Reporter‚ other celebs in attendance at shows over the weekend included Lenny Kravitz‚ Dave Grohl‚ and Brett Ratner. Bono wished a happy birthday to Coldplay frontman Chris Martin and to Mick Jagger’s daughter‚ Elizabeth Jagger‚ who were both born on March 2.

There are certain moments in life where a nice treat is the perfect mood boost. That’s certainly how Lisa Bert felt right after she and her boyfriend officially broke up. To help mend the heartbreak she’s been feeling‚ Lisa stops for a coffee and snack. Her intention is to get a sweet drink‚ but in the end‚ she gets so much more than that thanks to a very thoughtful Starbucks barista. Lisa retells the story on her Facebook page. Typically‚ her account is all about coffee‚ both the kind she buys from stores and the kind she makes at home. But this post is about so much more than drinks. From the way Lisa describes it‚ she must seem visibly upset when ordering — because the barista surprises her with a free drink and a kind message. Act of Kindness by Starbucks Barista Makes Heartbroken Woman’s Day Facebook “I broke up with my boyfriend‚ walked in‚ told her to just made me something sweet‚” Lisa shares. “She didn’t even charge me for it.” This thoughtful barista even takes the time to write a simple yet powerful message on her cup. “Feel better!” the message reads. “You are loved.” Every single person you cross paths with is going through something. That’s why random acts of kindness like this one can leave such a lasting impact. Truly‚ there’s no doubt that this moment will stuck with Lisa for years to come. “Thank you for making my day better‚” Lisa says‚ adding‚ “I also got a cake pop.” You can find the source of this story’s featured image here! The post Woman Struggling After Breakup Gets Sweetest Pick-Me-Up From Starbucks Barista appeared first on InspireMore.