Latest from Leo B, McDonald’s, and the box office

Burnett celebrates the top-performing agencies in global network

Last week in Chicago, Leo Burnett Worldwide hosted the 20th annual Leo Burnett “Agency of the Year.” This global celebration recognized the best agencies in the global network by reviewing what Burnett has based their credos on — creative prowess and business results.

Leo Burnett Beirut took home the top honor for 2017. The team has been the most awarded agency in Lebanon for the past five years and recorded stable revenue despite an incredibly challenging socio-economic and political environment.

Four major pieces of business, in addition to organic growth, were added to the agency’s roster in 2017: P&G Fairy, UNICEF, Societe Generale de Banque Au Liban and Ahlam Real Estate.

The agency also brought home 29 awards at the most prestigious global award shows, and is the only agency in the world to have won three consecutive Cannes Glass Lions.

It’s worth noting that the Beirut team behind the Abaad “#Undress522” campaign received the HumanKind Award. This honor is for the top piece of work that embraces Burnett’s signature HumanKind philosophy. You can watch the video below:

 

 

Leo Burnett Chicago, London, Melbourne and Toronto were recognized as Bright Star winners, awarded to finalists for Agency of the Year.

Lastly, the Creative Excellence Awards are for the network’s top creative ideas of the year:

   • Gold Pencil – Leo Burnett Chicago’s “The Ostrich” for Samsung
   • Silver Pencil – Leo Burnett Mumbai’s “Roads that Honk” for HP Lubricants
   • Bronze Pencil – Leo Burnett Madrid’s “December 21” for the Spanish Lottery
   • Design Pencil – Leo Burnett Toronto’s “Cook This Page” for IKEA

 
 
McDonald’s brings back the dollar menu

According to the Associated Press, The Dollar Menu is making a comeback. McDonald’s said Tuesday that it is reviving the name of the once-popular value menu next month after a two-year absence, but this time the items will cost $1, $2 or $3.

Offering cheap eats has become a winning strategy for the fast-food chain, and a way to fight off other low-priced chains.

 
 
Coco tops weekend box office, again

The weekend was relatively quiet compared to the amount of craze that is going to happen next weekend when LucasFilm’s Star Wars: The Last Jedi opens.

Disney-Pixar’s sweet and joyful animated comedy Coco, led the top five for the third week in a row earning $18.3 million at 3,748 sites.

Last week, "Coco" earned $18.3 million at 3,748 sites.
Last week, “Coco” earned $18.3 million at 3,748 sites.

Coco joined The Hitman’s Bodyguard, Fate of the Furious and Split as 2017 titles to top the domestic box office for three weekends in a row. Its performance is similar to Disney’s animated Moana, which opened at the same time last year and had totaled $144.7 million after three weekends.

Warner Bros.-DC Entertainment’s superhero team-up Justice League finished second with just over half of Coco with $9.6 million at 3,508 locations with a 42% decline.

The League has gained somewhat steady legs in its fourth weekend and has just crossed $600 million globally. Its performance pushed Warner Bros. past the $5 billion mark worldwide for 2017.

Lionsgate’s third weekend of inspirational drama Wonder finished in third place with $8.5 million at 3,519 North American sites with a 35% decline.

A24’s expansion of James Franco’s excellent comedy-drama The Disaster Artist came in fourth with a solid $6.4 million, edging the sixth weekend of Disney-Marvel’s Thor: Ragnarok with $6.3 million.

 
 
Ready Player One trailer drops

Warner Bros. Pictures dropped the first trailer on Sunday and a new poster for Steven Spielberg’s Ready Player One today, and it’s pretty dang rad. Set in a future world where virtual reality is a lot better than the real thing, Ready Player One reminds me of when I first saw The Matrix. And it features The Iron Giant and Van Halen’s 1984 hit, Jump. Watch below:

 
 
Jurassic World: Fallen Kingdom trailer has bite

Universal finally released the trailer for the highly-anticipated sequel that brings back Chris Pratt, Bryce Dallas Howard and first JP alum, Jeff Goldblum. Of course, there are a slew of dinosaurs as well.

 
 
Contact Colin Costello at colin@reelchicago.com or follow him on Twitter @colincostello10.