WEEKEND BOX OFFICE: Men in Black International tops the chart with 28.5MM, less than half of where its predecessors debuted, even before adjusting for inflation.  And the budget was 110MM, about what it made globally so far.  No wonder Chris Hemsworth is agitating to continue playing Thor.  The Secret Life of Pets 2 places with 23.8MM on a 49 percent drop; this should still make money, but it's nowhere near the success of the original.  The live-action Aladdin shows with 16.7MM on a 32 percent drop; if it falls short of 200MM domestic, it will be due to Toy Story 4 arriving this weekend.  Dark Phoenix plummets 73 percent to the fourth slot with 9MM, sealing its fate as one of the year's biggest bombs.  Rocketman rounds out the Top Five with 8.8MM on a 36 percent drop.  Below the fold, the sixth-place debut of Shaft and the continuing slide of Godzilla: King of the Monsters add up to another big disappointment at the cineplex.  Woody and Buzz cannot get here fast enough. 

FRANCO ZEFFIRELLI the Italian director renowned for his extravagantly romantic opera productions, popular film versions of Shakespeare and supercharged social life, died on Saturday at his home in Rome.  He was 96. 

...with HARRY NILSSON!  He would have celebrated a birthday yesterday, so let's revisit the BBC's "The Music of Nilsson from 1971, including a mashup of "Mr. Richland's Favorite Song" and "One," "Gotta Get Up," a medley of "Walk Right Back," "Cathy's Clown" and "Let The Good Times Roll," and really moving take on "Life Line."  Then there are two videos from The Point! -- " Think About Your Troubles" and "Are You Sleeping" -- sandwiching "Joy."  The set concludes with "Without Her," "Coconut" and "1941." 

NOW SHOWING: This weekend's new wide releases are Men in Black International, which is currently scoring 27 percent on the ol' Tomatometer; and the third Shaft, which is scoring 37 percent.  Late Night expands wide at 82 percent. 

JESSICA BIEL lobbied against a California state bill that would limit medical exemptions from vaccinations without approval from a state public-health officer.  Biel posted on Instagram Thursday morning that she supports children getting vaccinated and she also supports families having the "right to make educated medical decisions for their children alongside their physicians." 

BRYAN SINGER agreed to pay 150K to resolve allegations that he raped a 17-year-old boy in 2003.