He’s still not hosting the Academy Awards, but Kevin Hart has a No. The movie’s performance is especially notable given the controversy that has embroiled Hart while he’s been trying to promote it. In December, shortly after Hart was announced as the Oscar host, he dropped out when several tweets and comments that were deemed homophobic resurfaced from his past. But audiences didn’t seem to want to punish Hart: They bought enough tickets to allow “The Upside” to beat out the titanic “Aquaman” and claim the top spot at the box office. [Read the New York Times review of “The Upside.”]Not that Warner Bros., the studio behind “Aquaman,” has much to complain about.

Source: New York Times January 13, 2019 20:03 UTC