According to multiple media reports, Chase died after complications from meningitis and a serious blood infection that progressed to sepsis. Hernandez said she had been hospitalized in Los Angeles earlier this month after suffering from malnutrition and that her condition deteriorated rapidly in recent weeks.

For millions of fans, Chase will forever be remembered as the voice of Lilo Pelekai in Disney’s 2002 animated hit Lilo & Stitch. The film became a worldwide success and remains one of Disney’s most beloved modern animated features. Chase continued voicing the character in sequels and television adaptations, helping establish Lilo as one of the studio’s most recognizable young protagonists.

That same year, Chase delivered another performance that would define her career. In the American horror film The Ring, she portrayed Samara Morgan, the ghostly child whose terrifying appearance became one of the most iconic images in modern horror cinema. Her performance earned widespread praise and helped make the film a box office success. The role later earned her an MTV Movie Award for Best Villain.

Born July 24, 1990, in Las Vegas, Nevada, Chase entered the entertainment industry at a young age. In addition to her work in Lilo & Stitch and The Ring, she provided the English-language voice of Chihiro in the acclaimed animated film Spirited Away. She also appeared in several television series and films, including Donnie Darko, ER, Sabrina the Teenage Witch, and HBO’s Big Love, where she played Rhonda Volmer in a recurring role spanning multiple seasons.

While her early career was marked by significant success, reports indicate that Chase faced numerous personal challenges later in life. Hernandez described a difficult childhood, estrangement from family members, and struggles finding stability after her years as a child star. A fundraising campaign launched before her death sought assistance during her medical crisis and highlighted the hardships she endured in recent years.

The news of Chase’s death has sparked an outpouring of tributes across social media, with fans remembering both the warmth she brought to the character of Lilo and the chilling impact of her portrayal of Samara. For many millennials who grew up in the early 2000s, her performances became defining parts of their childhood movie experiences.

Although her life was marked by both remarkable success and personal struggles, Daveigh Chase leaves behind a legacy that continues to resonate with audiences around the world. Her work helped shape some of the most memorable films of her generation, ensuring that her performances will continue to be discovered and appreciated by future audiences.

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The resort’s “Stars, Stripes & Sizzle” celebration will take place June 26-28 and again July 3-5, featuring fireworks, live music, DJs, carnival-style games and themed dining specials throughout the property.

The festivities will officially begin June 26 with a fireworks display scheduled for 9 p.m. Resort officials said the event is intended to give visitors an early start to Independence Day celebrations while recognizing the nation’s semiquincentennial, marking 250 years since the signing of the Declaration of Independence.

Throughout both weekends, guests can enjoy live entertainment on multiple stages, poolside activities, interactive games and promotional giveaways.

A centerpiece of the celebration will be Morongo’s “Rev, White, and Blue” vehicle giveaway promotion on June 28. The festivities continue July 3 with the resort’s “250 for 250” promotion, which will award a total of $250,000 in prizes in honor of the nation’s 250th anniversary.

On July 4, guests will also have an opportunity to receive a commemorative 250th anniversary hat while supplies last.

Amy Hunstock, vice president of marketing for Morongo Casino Resort & Spa, said the resort wanted to create an event that brings together entertainment, community and summer traditions.

“As the country prepares to celebrate 250 years, we’re excited to bring guests together for a series of events centered around entertainment, celebration, and community,” Hunstock said. “From fireworks and live music to gaming, dining, and special promotions, this summer lineup reflects the energy and experiences guests have come to expect at Morongo.”

In addition to entertainment and gaming promotions, visitors will find a variety of limited-time food and beverage offerings inspired by classic fair and carnival favorites.

Featured menu items include a giant Bavarian pretzel with beer cheese sauce, fried chicken tenders paired with French toast sticks, corn esquites topped with Flamin’ Hot Cheetos, caramel apples, specialty frappuccinos and dessert shakes. Additional themed beverages and treats will also be available at various dining locations throughout the resort.

Owned and operated by the Morongo Band of Mission Indians, Morongo Casino Resort & Spa is located along Interstate 10 near Cabazon. The AAA Four-Diamond resort features gaming, dining, entertainment, lodging, a full-service spa and access to the nearby Morongo Golf Club at Tukwet Canyon.

The celebration will include dining specials across the Morongo Casino Resort & Spa, including:

• Good Times Cafe – Giant Bavarian Pretzel with whole grain mustard and beer cheese sauce | $14
• Ruffled Feathers – Fried Chicken Tenders & French Toast Sticks with maple syrup and powdered sugar | $13
• Fiesta Taco – Corn Esquite with Flamin’ Hot™ Cheetos | $12
• Pink Coffee – Assorted Caramel Apples | $8.50 or Carnival Candy Crunch Rich chocolate Frappuccino topped with colorful carnival sprinkles and whipped cream | $8
• Mozen Express – Carnival Cake Shake, Strawberry confetti shake topped with whipped cream and a vanilla cupcake | $14
• Marketplace – The Carnival Cruiser in a Souvenir Cup Baja Sipper, tropical fruit, pineapple, cherry, and island flavors | $19.99

Additional information about the Stars, Stripes & Sizzle celebration and event schedules can be found through Morongo Casino Resort & Spa.

Source: Morongo Casino Resort & Spa press release.

About the Morongo Casino, Resort & Spa

The AAA 4-Diamond Morongo Casino, Resort & Spa is located along the 10 Freeway near Palm Springs, Calif. Owned and operated by the Morongo Band of Mission Indians, the Morongo Casino, Resort & Spa offers the hottest slots and an array of table and high-limit gaming at one of the largest tribal gaming centers in the United States. The towering 27-story resort features top-rated restaurants, a stunning swimming pool with private cabanas, a world-class spa, legendary live entertainment and, nearby, the 36-hole championship Morongo Golf Club at Tukwet Canyon. Learn more at morongocasinoresort.com.

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“ Nicki Minaj is not here,” Noah said, to big cheers from the audience at Crypto.com Arena. “She is still at the White House with Donald Trump discussing very important issues.”

Minaj this week visited and praised the president, the culmination of a move toward MAGA that she’s made in recent months.

Noah broke into a Trump impression. “Actually Nicki, I have the biggest ass, everybody’s saying it Nicki.”

In his sixth time hosting the show — and what he says will be his last — Noah mostly played it safe during his monologue, not delving too much into much politics or controversy, at least during his monologue. There was no mention of U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (on a night when many attendees were wearing “ICE OUT” buttons).

But Noah got more pointed later in the show, after Billie Eilish won song of the year.

“Wow. That is a Grammy that every artist wants,” Noah said, “almost as much as Trump wants Greenland. Which makes sense. I mean, because Epstein’s island is gone, he needs a new island to hang out with Bill Clinton.”

After the show in a Truth Social post, Trump reacted.

“Noah said, INCORRECTLY about me, that Donald Trump and Bill Clinton spent time on Epstein Island. WRONG!!! I can’t speak for Bill, but I have never been to Epstein Island, nor anywhere close, and until tonight’s false and defamatory, statement, have never been accused being there, not even by the Fake News Media,” the post said. “Noah, a total loser, better get his facts straight, and get them straight fast. It looks like I’ll be sending my lawyers to sue this poor, pathetic, talentless, dope of an M.C.”

After the crowd’s reaction to the joke during the show, Noah said, “Oh, I told you, it’s my last year. What are you going to do about it?”

At a different point in the show, Noah joked about the president’s penchant for suing TV networks when he said the Grammys were airing “completely live” because “if we edited any of the show, the president would sue CBS for $16 billion,” referring to Trump’s recent history with CBS News and a settlement he got from Paramount last summer.

It had seemed at first like he wasn’t going to go very far into such material.

He said during the monologue Lauryn Hill was performing on the show for the first time since 1999.

“Do you understand how long ago that is?” he said. “Back in 1999, the president had had a sex scandal, people thought computers were about to destroy the world, and Diddy was arrested.”

Later in the show, Noah cozied up to the night’s biggest nominee, Kendrick Lamar, and only congratulated him.

“I actually thought about writing a few jokes roasting you, but then I remembered what you can do to light-skinned dudes from other countries,” Noah, who is from South Africa, said in a reference to Lamar’s beef with the Canadian rapper Drake that culminated in last year’s big Grammy winner “Not Like Us.”

Later, he sat with Bad Bunny, and asked if he could come live with him in his native Puerto Rico if things got too bad in the U.S.

“Trevor I have some news for you,” Bad Bunny said. “Puerto Rico is part of America.”

The Recording Academy announced less than three weeks ago that Noah was returning “one final time.”

“I believe in term limits,” Noah said during the show.

Only singer Andy Williams, who hosted the Grammys seven times in the 1970s, has hosted more often.

Noah himself is a four-time Grammy nominee, and was up this year in the best audio book recording category for “Into The Uncut Grass,” a children’s story. He lost to the Dalai Lama.

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Catie Stanley, a long-time Hemet resident and Hemet High School graduate, has stepped into the role of General Manager with a passion rooted deeply in her memories of the iconic theater.

“I remember coming here as a child when it was a two-dollar cinema,” she said. “Those experiences helped shape my love for the arts. I want this place to feel like a home for everyone; a place where everyone feels welcome and inspired.”

The Historic Hemet Theater is already seeing a wave of enthusiasm as locals return to enjoy the unique ambiance of this cherished historic venue and Stanley is eager to keep that momentum going.

“Our goal is to nurture a theater atmosphere that is welcoming, inspiring, and full of energy,” she said. “This is more than a performance space; it’s a place to connect, celebrate, and create memories together.”

Stanley’s vision for the future centers on making it a space where the entire community can come together, enjoy diverse entertainment, and feel proud of their local arts scene.

“This is about bringing the community back into the heart of the Historic Hemet Theatre,” she said. “We want to be a gathering place that celebrates community and offers experiences that resonate with people of all ages.”

This summer, the venue will showcase an exciting lineup of performances designed to appeal to a wide range of tastes and bring the community out in force. Highlights include Swing, Soul, and Rock ’n Roll, May 24; The Doobie Doubles, a Doobie Brothers tribute, May 31; Disney in Concert featuring Anne Martinez, June 7; Buffett Beach, a tribute to Jimmy Buffett, June 14; Southern Fried, celebrating southern rock legends Lynyrd Skynyrd, Molly Hatchet, The Marshall Tucker Band, the Allman Brothers, and more, June 21; and Led Zeppelin IV, a tribute to Led Zeppelin, June 28. All shows begin at 7 p.m.

These performances underscore the theater’s commitment to providing diverse, high-quality entertainment while also cultivating a sense of belonging and excitement within the community.

With an entertainment destination that has been in the community for more than a century, it seems hard to find something new that will excite audiences, but Stanley and her team have big dreams. For those who want to support the theater’s mission, opportunities to become members or participate in seat naming are available, fostering a closer connection between patrons and this cultural cornerstone. There is also a place for lovers of the arts to volunteer their time to help make these dreams a reality.

As the theater continues its revitalization efforts, the focus remains clear: to bring the community back, build new memories, and keep the spirit of the Historic Hemet Theatre alive for generations to come.

For more information and tickets, call 951-658-5950 or visit www.HemetTheatre.org.

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RHP | Contributed

Ramona Hillside Player’s second feature for the play is on its way: An Inspector Calls. Written by J. B. Priestly and Directed by Peggy McQuown, the Dramatic Full-Length Play will premiere on November 4th and will continue until November 13th, 2022.

The Plot

The action of the play occurs in an English industrial city, where a young girl commits suicide and an eminently respectable British family is subject to a routine inquiry in connection with the death. An inspector calls to interrogate the family, and during the course of his questioning, all members of the group are implicated lightly or deeply in the girl’s undoing. The family, closely knit and friendly at the beginning of the evening, is shown up as selfish, self-centered or cowardly, its good humor turning to acid, and good fellowship to dislike, before the evening is over. The surprising revelation, however, is in the inspector—who turns out to be no copper at all but a mysterious individual with full knowledge of everyone’s connection with the suicide. After the false inspector has been shown up, and it is discovered that no suicide had been recorded, an actual copper shows, and a last-minute suicide is reported, which ties in mysteriously with the foregoing.

Characters

ARTHUR BIRLING – family patriarch, successful businessman. Worked his way up from a lower-class upbringing. Imperious, but still able to appreciate the merits of having a good time.

ERIC BIRLING – the youngest member of the family, still trying to find his way in life. He’s acquired a significant drinking problem.

GERALD CROFT – the family friend, recently engaged to Shiela. He’s a better fit to be Arthur’s son than Eric is, and that’s perhaps part of Shiela’s attraction to him.

SYBIL BIRLING – family matriarch. The script indicates she’s her husband’s social superior, so she works hard to make sure the family attains its stature. She’s rich and always has been. She’s also cold and sort of a bitch, and probably always has been.

SHEILA BIRLING – the Birlings’ eldest child, recently engaged to Gerald. She’s her mother’s daughter in some ways, but not nearly as cold.

EDNA – the family’s maid. She’s lower-class and knows her place. [This character’s stage time will be significantly increased in production.] Flexible (may be cast as either male or female)

INSPECTOR GOOLE – is an interrogator who comes to the house with a distinct agenda. We’re not always sure what his/her motives are, though s/he does have a knack for getting people to reveal information. S/He’s a figure who instantly commands respect from others.

About the Event

Single Admission (everyone) is $20.00 per seat.

Opening Night Admission is $15.00 per seat.

Group Discount available for 10 or more seats.

To buy tickets, check https://ramonahillsideplayers.org or Call (951) 658-5300 for reservations.

Note:

The 1st Saturday of every production we allow a local organization to use our theater as a fundraiser. On Saturday, November 5th there will be a fundraiser performance. If you would like to attend this show, please contact the organization listed below.

Saturday, November 5th @ 7:30pm – TBD

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Ramona Hillside Players | Contributed

A hit comedy similar in vein to Shakespeare’s comedies of merry misadventures and mistaken identities, Boeing Boeing tells the exploits of French bachelor Bernard and his lovely female flight attendants. Three flight attendants, to be exact, from three different countries: and they all believe they’re engaged to Bernard! In the past, Bernard has been able to juggle these women due to his detailed timetable of his fiancés’ flight schedules. When the situation changes and all of the women end up at his apartment on the same day, Bernard (with help from his bewildered friend Robert) struggles to keep them from learning the truth. Will the lying lothario be able to keep up this charade, or will a disaster occur? As they say: all’s well that ends well! Directed by J. Kay Weldon and Written by Marc Camoletti, Boeing Boeing is a comedy that you will not want to miss!

Play’s start date: Saturday, Sep 24th 2022, 2:30pm, nad will end on Saturday, Sep 24th 2022, 4:30pm PDT. Doors Open at 2:00 PM PDT. The capacity for each show is for 97 people, please book your seat.

All Ages.

Location: Ramona Hillside Playhouse, 27402 Ramona Bowl Road, Hemet, CA.

About Ramona Hillside Players

Community Theater serving the Hemet / San Jacinto area. The mission of the Ramona Hillside Players is to promote quality entertainment offering creative live theatre productions.

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Thrillville, LLC | Contributed

This 10-day extravaganza will have adrenaline-pumping rides, games, fair food, music, vendors, a rodeo, a circus, and entertainment for the whole family!

Thrillville is bringing FUN to the Riverside County Fairgrounds! This 10-day extravaganza will have adrenaline-pumping rides, your favorite carnival games, delectable food, live music, craft vendors, trapeze artists, stilt walkers, unicyclists, contortionists, jugglers, and a variety of world-class entertainment for the whole family!

Join us February 18-27, 2022 for this family-friendly community event. More details including ticket pricing, promotions, and show schedules can be found at TheThrillville.com/Indio

Where: Gate 6 off Dr. Carreon Blvd. – Riverside County Fairgrounds

When: February 18-27, 2022

Fair Hours:

12PM Open Friday – Monday

3PM Open Tuesday – Thursday

Box Office Pricing:

$10 Admission

Ages 5 & Under – Free Admission

Ages 65 & Older – Free Admission

Veterans – Free Admission

Promo Pricing Available for Online (theThrillville.com/indio)

Carnival Rides, Games, and Food

Tuesday – Friday Armbands – $30

Saturday, Sunday, & Monday Armbands – $35

Individual ride credits will be available for purchase on-site

Entertainment provided with Admission:

LIVE Shark Encounter

Cartoon Poodles

Flying Royal Circus

Petting Zoo

Walk-Around Magic

Stilt Walkers

Contortionist

Live Music:

Voz de Mando – February 27th – Separate Ticket Required

Bone Thumpers

Bumptown

King Sol & The Vibes

dysFUNKsion

Lakeside

LawKnee

Pescaterritory

Metalachi

No Raja

Mariachi Tierra Mexicana de Coachella

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SACRAMENTO, Calif. (AP) — Disability rights activists and advocates for Britney Spears backed a California proposal Wednesday to provide more protections for those under court-ordered conservatorships, while promoting less-restrictive alternatives.

Their move came as the volatile Spears case again boiled over in a Los Angeles County courtroom.

The hearing to settle lingering issues in the aftermath of Spears’ conservatorship, which was terminated in November, quickly descended into a series of angry accusations between attorneys for Spears and her father, and the case appears headed for a long trial to determine the truth of allegations of misconduct against him.

The case is Exhibit #1 for groups including Disability Voices United, Disability Rights California, Disability Rights Education and Defense Fund, and Free Britney L.A. who say that what are known as probate conservatorships are overused and misused in California.

They most often involve people with developmental or intellectual disabilities or those with age-related issues like dementia or Alzheimer’s.

But the advocacy groups contend that conservatees like Spears can become trapped in a system that removes their civil rights and the ability to advocate for themselves.

The Professional Fiduciary Association of California, which represents many of those appointed as conservators, did not immediately comment, but said answers to many questions about the process can be found at https://californiaconservatorshipfacts.com

“Conservatorships should be rare, and the last resort,” said Judy Mark, president of Disability Voices United, a Southern California advocacy group. “The default should be that people with disabilities retain their rights and get support when they need it.”

The groups backed legislation by Democratic Assemblyman Brian Maienschein that will also make it easier to end conservatorships for people who want out.

They are promoting instead what are known as “supported decision-making” agreements as a less restrictive alternative. They allow people with disabilities to choose someone to help them understand, make and communicate their choices, but allow the person to still make the decision.

That option has already been adopted in Alaska, Colorado, Delaware, Illinois, Indiana, Louisiana, Nevada, North Dakota, Rhode Island, Texas, Washington, Wisconsin and Washington, D.C., advocates said.

California law says conservatorships should only be ordered if a judge rules they are the least restrictive alternative. But the advocates contend they are often imposed without examining other options.

Maienschein’s bill would require that before granting a conservatorship, judges first document that all other alternatives including supported decision-making have been considered.

It would write supported decision-making into California law and back that alternative with grant programs, training and technical assistance.

The bill also would make it easier to end probate conservatorships by mandating a periodic review, including asking conservatees if they want to make the conservatorship less restrictive or end it entirely.

Conservators would also be required to consult with the conservatees and make decisions that reflect the conservatee’s wishes or previously expressed preferences.

Before his election to the Legislature, Maienschein was a law clerk for a San Diego Superior Court judge who oversaw conservatorships.

“I saw firsthand the role that the court plays in establishing conservatorships, and the potential for abuse,” he said during an online news conference. “The system in California is in desperate need of reform.”

He called Spears “arguably the world’s most famous conservatee,” but said his bill would aid the many others who don’t have “the benefit of worldwide fame to shine a light on her case.”

Spears drew widespread attention to the issue, culminating in November when a Los Angeles judge ended the conservatorship that controlled the pop singer’s life and money for nearly 14 years.

But the fallout continued at Wednesday’s hearing, when Spears’ attorney Mathew Rosengart objected to Superior Court Judge Brenda Penny approving the many outstanding attorneys’ fees in the case until the trial is held.

Rosengart repeated allegations from a New York Times documentary that James Spears bugged his daughter’s phone and home, saying they were among many instances of “serious misconduct, potentially criminal misconduct, on the part of Mr. Spears.”

James Spears’ attorney Alex Weingarten said the accusations, along with allegations of financial misdealing, are “all nonsense.”

“Virtually everything that is alleged in those objections is either demonstrably false or out of context,” Weingarten said.

Weingarten plans to file a motion for a mass unsealing of documents from throughout the conservatorship, saying “we need that truth to come out.” Rosengart said he would object to this too.

Penny ordered the final transfer of Spears’ assets back to her from the court conservator, and ruled that the November order terminating the conservatorship be sealed. She told the attorneys to return to court in July, when she may decide to order the trial.

Britney Spears did not take part in the hearing.

“I believe that if AB1663 had been in effect 13 years ago, the court would have been unable to conserve Britney Spears, and now Britney’s story lights the way for where changes in our laws need to be made,” said Mark, of Disability Voices United.

Advocates said it is unclear how many people are under conservatorships in California because the data isn’t collected. They said Spears’ battle is an example of how conservatorships are too easily imposed and too difficult to end.

She was a 26-year-old new mother who’d had several public mental health struggles during the height of her career in 2008, when her father sought the conservatorship, at first on a temporary basis.

Spears was not present at the court hearing where her constitutional rights were assigned to her father, nor were less-restrictive measures attempted before putting her under a conservatorship, said Free Britney L.A. organizer Leanne Simmons.

It ended only after Spears engaged in a multiyear struggle, and after she won the right to pick her own attorney.

“While unique in many ways, it follows a very common pattern of exploitation within the probate court system here in California,” Simmons said.

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LOS ANGELES (AP) — Kevin Spacey and his production companies must pay the studio behind “House of Cards” more than $30 million because of losses brought on by his firing for sexual misconduct, according to an arbitration decision made final Monday.

A document filed in Los Angeles Superior Court requesting a judge’s approval of the ruling says that the arbitrators found that Spacey violated his contract’s demands for professional behavior by “engaging certain conduct in connection with several crew members in each of the five seasons that he starred in and executive produced House of Cards.”

MRC, the studio behind “House of Cards,” had to fire Spacey, halt production of the show’s sixth season, rewrite it to remove Spacey’s central character, and shorten it from 13 to eight episodes to meet deadlines, resulting in tens of millions in losses, the document said.

“The safety of our employees, sets and work environments is of paramount importance to MRC and why we set out to push for accountability,” MRC said in a statement Monday.

A representative for Spacey did not immediately respond to an email seeking comment. His attorneys argued that the actor’s actions were not a substantial factor in the show’s losses.

The ruling came after a legal fight of more than three years and an eight-day evidentiary hearing that was kept secret from the public, along with the rest of the dispute.

Spacey appealed the decision to a panel of three more private arbitrators, who found for the plaintiffs, making the decision final, and public, on Monday.

“MRC stood its ground, pursued this case doggedly, and obtained the right result in the end,” plaintiff’s attorney Michael Kump said in a statement.

The 62-year-old Oscar winner’s career came to an abrupt halt late in 2017 as the #MeToo movement gained momentum.

Actor Anthony Rapp, who has appeared in “Rent” on Broadway and film as well as in “Star Trek: Discovery” on television, said Spacey made a sexual advance on him when he was 14 at a party in the 1980s.

At the time, Spacey issued a statement saying he didn’t remember the encounter but apologized.

Several other accusers followed. Some, including Rapp, have filed lawsuits.

Independent investigations found widespread sexual harassment of those who worked under him.

Spacey was fired or removed from several projects, most notably “House of Cards,” the Netflix political thriller where for five seasons he played lead character Frank Underwood, a power-hungry congressman who becomes president.

The one criminal case brought against him, an indecent assault and battery charge stemming from the alleged groping of an 18-year-old man at a Nantucket resort, was dismissed by Massachusetts prosecutors in 2019.

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Busting ghosts is still a fairly lucrative business after almost 40 years.

Heading into Thanksgiving weekend, the latest attempt to revive “Ghostbusters” drew a sizable audience to theaters, while the awards darling “King Richard,” like most dramas in the pandemic era, is struggling.

With a reverence for nostalgia and a few high-profile cameos in its arsenal, “Ghostbusters: Afterlife” opened above industry expectations with $44 million in ticket sales from 4,315 locations, according to studio estimates Sunday. The Sony movie directed by Jason Reitman and starring Paul Rudd, Finn Wolfhard and Mckenna Grace is playing exclusively in theaters.

“Afterlife’s” first weekend is actually trailing that of Paul Feig’s “Ghostbusters” with Melissa McCarthy and Kristen Wiig, which had a $46 million opening in June 2016. Aside from the somewhat unpredictable pandemic-era moviegoing habits, the crucial difference is that “Afterlife” cost about half as much to make.

“It’s a really solid number,” said Paul Dergarabedian, Comscore’s senior media analyst. “Part of that is the theatrical exclusive release. This shows that this brand is really powerful even some 37 years after the original became a cultural phenomenon.”

The weekend’s other high-profile offering didn’t fare as well. “King Richard,” the well-reviewed drama starring Will Smith as the father of tennis greats Venus and Serena Williams, earned $5.7 million from 3,302 locations, missing its modest expectations by almost half. The Warner Bros. film was released simultaneously on HBO Max and in theaters.

“It really is have and have nots,” said Jeff Goldstein, Warner Bros. head of domestic distribution. “Clearly the avid moviegoers are starting to come back, but more casual moviegoers are more reluctant.”

Although traditional blockbusters have managed to draw decent audiences, dramas have disproportionately struggled during the pandemic. Most have debuted in the $3 million range. One of the more successful launches was the Aretha Franklin biopic “Respect,” which opened to $8.8 million.

But the outlook could be promising for “King Richard” with its 92% fresh rating on Rotten Tomatoes, A CinemaScore from audiences and long awards season runway. In 2018, “Green Book” opened on Thanksgiving weekend to only $5.5 million, but by the end of awards season it had grossed $85 million.

Meanwhile, in limited release from A24, Mike Mills’ “C’mon C’mon” had the best limited platform debut since February 2020 with $134,447 from five screens. The film stars Joaquin Phoenix as man looking after his 9-year-old nephew.

The box office is still far from where it was pre-pandemic. The weekend leading into Thanksgiving usually usually gets around $200 million in ticket sales, but this weekend will net out around $83 million.

At this point, the 2021 North American box office could net out with around $4 billion. In 2019 it was $11.4 billion. And there are still some major movies on the horizon in December, like “West Side Story,” “Spider-Man: No Way Home” and “The Matrix Resurrections.”

“Thanksgiving and the holidays are usually a really good time at the box office. The marketplace every week is a building block in that road to recovery for movie theaters,” Dergarabedian said. “These last six weeks are going to be critical. This is a final push.”

Estimated ticket sales for Friday through Sunday at U.S. and Canadian theaters, according to Comscore. Final domestic figures will be released Monday.

1. “Ghostbusters: Afterlife,” $44 million.

2. “Eternals,” $10.8 million.

3. “Clifford The Big Red Dog,” $8.1 million.

4. “King Richard,” $5.7 million.

5. “Dune,” $3.1 million.

6. “Venom: Let There Be Carnage,” $2.8 million.

7. “No Time to Die,” $2.7 million.

8. “The French Dispatch,” $970,000.

9. “Belfast,” $940,000.

10. “Ron’s Gone Wrong,” $888,000.

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