This Summer, Hollywood Could Use a Hero
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Hollywood studio chiefs were all smiles after the Vin Diesel-Dwayne Johnson testosterone fest kicked off the summer box-office season with an $86 million opening weekend on Apr. 29. That was Hollywood's biggest debut since November, when the seventh movie took in $125 million. also helped shore up hopes for an end to the slump in ticket sales that's dogged the industry since Christmas.
"I think we've jumpstarted the summer," says Nikki Rocco, president of distribution at NBCUniversal's Universal Pictures. "I'm very enthusiastic about what the future looks like for the rest of the year."