Box Office Breakdown: Watchmen Loses to Race
Posted by Veronica Santiago Categories: 20th Century Fox, FOCUS, Disney, Fox Searchlight, Lionsgate, Sony, Universal, Warner Bros, Action, Adaptation, Adventure, Animation, Drama, Family, Romance, Science Fiction, Comedy, Thrillers, Box Office, Lists,
Win or lose, this weekend’s box office race was a success for at least one person: Carla Gugino.
Last week, the actress saw her movie, Watchmen, sitting at the top of the pack with a hefty $55 million. Unfortunately, the film’s strong start quickly turned into a disappointing ride. In just seven days, the comic book adaptation fell a whopping 67%. Nevertheless, a $17.8 million gross was still good enough for a 2nd place finish.
Meanwhile, another Gugino feature, Race to Witch Mountain, was having a nice time on Earth. The Disney remake’s $24 million surprised many industry watchers for its solid lead over Watchmen.
Click to continue reading Box Office Breakdown: Watchmen Loses to Race
Read More 
| Variety
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Is Freida Pinto the Next Bond Girl?
Posted by Veronica Santiago Categories: Columbia Pictures, MGM, Action, Sequels, Casting, Celebrity Gossip, Rumors,
Hollywood definitely recognizes a hot gem when it sees one.
Although her Oscar-winning film is still charting in the Top Ten, Slumdog Millionaire’s Freida Pinto is already moving on to the next phase of her career. Just weeks ago, the former model was cast alongside Naomi Watts, Josh Brolin and Anthony Hopkins in an untitled Woody Allen project. Now she is being rumored for something with an even higher profile.
According to a British newspaper, the 24-year-old is now being considered for the next Bond film. A source for The Sun claims Pinto’s name was actually known to them prior to her recent success. “Freida came to the attention of the Bond team when they were casting Quantum of Solace. She was too young at the time to have a part as a love interest for a secret agent. But she has blossomed into an incredibly stunning young woman and would look perfect on Daniel Craig’s arm,” the insider stated.
If the reports are true, it’s possible Freida could be reuniting with her Slumdog director for the 007 flick. The same paper also claims Danny Boyle has been asked to helm the latest installment.
Read More | The Sun
Box Office Breakdown: Watchmen Finally Gets Its Time to Shine
Posted by Veronica Santiago Categories: 20th Century Fox, FOCUS, Disney, Fox Searchlight, Lionsgate, Sony, Warner Bros, Action, Adaptation, Adventure, Animation, Drama, Family, Music, Romance, Comedy, Thrillers, Box Office, Lists,
When is a $55.7 million weekend considered a slight disappointment?
- When the film is the only new major release that weekend.
- The movie involves superheroes.
- The story is based on a popular graphic novel.
- The project has received a significant amount of attention due to a lengthy court battle.
- The director earned more for his last film. (300 grossed $70.9 million over its first three days back in 2007.)
- The R-rated film features plenty of gore and nudity.
- It cost between $120-$150 million to make.
Click to continue reading Box Office Breakdown: Watchmen Finally Gets Its Time to Shine
Read More | Variety
Box Office Breakdown: Tyler Perry Surprises the Jonas Brothers
Posted by Veronica Santiago Categories: 20th Century Fox, FOCUS, Disney, Fox Searchlight, Lionsgate, Sony, Warner Bros, Action, Adaptation, Drama, Family, Music, Romance, Comedy, Thrillers, Box Office, Lists,
Back in February 2008, Hannah Montana grossed a record $31.1 million during its first weekend. Now, just over a year later, the Jonas Brothers can say they pulled in less than 1/2 as much.
Although there were high hopes for Jonas Brothers: The 3D Concert Experience, the musical trio was unable to match the work of dual personalities. (The movie even played in twice as many screens as the Miley Cyrus version.) As it was, the teen heartthrobs were only the second biggest draw this weekend. The good news? The boys did have the best per screen average of any entry in the Top Ten.
Click to continue reading Box Office Breakdown: Tyler Perry Surprises the Jonas Brothers
Read More | Variety
Box Office Breakdown: Madea Sets Record for Lionsgate
Posted by Veronica Santiago Categories: 20th Century Fox, FOCUS, Disney, Fox Searchlight, Lionsgate, Sony, Warner Bros, Action, Adaptation, Animation, Drama, Family, Horror, Sequels, Comedy, Thrillers, Box Office, Lists,
While Slumdog Millionaire was making news for India, Tyler Perry was busy breaking records for his studio.
The latest installment in Tyler Perry’s franchise surpassed all expectations this weekend. Madea Goes to Jail, with its $41 million premiere, was the box office’s biggest opener since November’s Twilight. It was also the best debuter for Lionsgate…ever. (October 2006’s Saw III was the previous topper at $33 million.)
Unfortunately, Friday the 20th didn’t go as well for Friday the 13th. After only one week on the charts, last weekend’s record breaker dropped a frightening 81% to 6th place.
Click to continue reading Box Office Breakdown: Madea Sets Record for Lionsgate
The 2009 Academy Awards: Live Commentary
Posted by Veronica Santiago Categories: Awards,
After a year away from live Oscars coverage, I’m thrilled to be back for the 2009 Academy Awards.
Even though Dark Knight‘s snub will probably keep a number of viewers away (how many can honestly say they’ve seen The Reader?), I’m eagerly anticipating several moments from this evening’s broadcast.
Will Heath Ledger’s family bring the house to tears? Is Mickey Rourke going to make the producers wince? Will the cameras pan to Brangelina after Jennifer Aniston’s presentation? Are Vanessa Hudgens and Zac Efron really (really?) going to do a song and dance number?
To find out if this will be the year of the Slumdog or the underdog, stay tuned here for the live results!
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Read More | Oscars
Box Office Breakdown: Friday the 13th Slashes the Holiday Competition
Posted by Veronica Santiago Categories: 20th Century Fox, FOCUS, Disney, Fox Searchlight, Sony, Warner Bros, Action, Adaptation, Animation, Drama, Horror, Romance, Sequels, Comedy, Thrillers, Box Office, Lists,
Twelve turned out to be a lucky number for good old #13.
Blood-thirsty audiences helped push Friday the 13th into the record books this holiday weekend. (There’s no better way to spend a Valentine’s Day than scared in your honey’s arms.) The franchise’s twelfth installment scared up $43.6 million over the last four days to become the top horror opener of all time. Friday also had the second best showing ever for a President’s Day weekend debut. (Ghost Rider pulled in $52 million in 2007.)
The horror film wasn’t the only newsmaker this February. Paul Blart: Mall Cop, this week’s sixth-place finisher, added on another $13.8 million to officially break the $100 million mark. (The comedy currently stands at $112.3 million.) That’s the first time a January opener has ever done that.
Click to continue reading Box Office Breakdown: Friday the 13th Slashes the Holiday Competition
Read More | Variety
Box Office Breakdown: He’s Just Not That Into You Debuts on Top
Posted by Veronica Santiago Categories: 20th Century Fox, FOCUS, Fox Searchlight, New Line, Paramount, Sony, Warner Bros, Action, Adaptation, Adventure, Animation, Drama, Family, Horror, Romance, Sequels, Comedy, Thrillers, Box Office, Lists,
Brad Pitt and Angelina Jolie may have returned home with more losses this weekend, but Jennifer Aniston was a big winner.
For the third time in a row, the Friends star found herself in a familiar position. Although it is technically an ensemble piece, He’s Just Not That Into You became the 39-year-old’s latest chart topper. (The Break-Up and Marley & Me also debuted at #1.) The adaptation’s $28 million gross helped push another romantic comedy offering, New in Town, completely out of the Top Ten. (The Renee Zellweger film had only been there for one week.)
Click to continue reading Box Office Breakdown: He’s Just Not That Into You Debuts on Top
Read More | Variety
Winslet, Rourke Awarded with BAFTAs
Posted by Veronica Santiago Categories: Awards,
While it’s looking pretty clear that Slumdog Millionaire will take home the Oscar later this month, the race for Best Actor and Best Actress remains a bit muddy.
At yesterday’s Orange British Academy Film Awards, Mickey Rourke (The Wrestler) and Kate Winslet (The Reader) both took home the top honors for acting. Although this is similar to how they performed at the Golden Globes, neither actor was a winner at the recent SAG Awards. (Sean Penn and Meryl Streep took home the statues that evening.)
Click to continue reading Winslet, Rourke Awarded with BAFTAs
Read More | British Academy of Film and Television Arts
Box Office Breakdown: Audiences are Taken with Liam Neeson
Posted by Veronica Santiago Categories: 20th Century Fox, Fox Searchlight, Lionsgate, Paramount, Sony, Warner Bros, Action, Adventure, Drama, Family, Horror, Romance, Sequels, Comedy, Thrillers, Box Office, Lists,
While it would seem logical to find a female-oriented movie on top after Super Bowl Sunday, an action thriller proved there was more than enough testosterone to go around. Taken, starring Oscar-nominee Liam Neeson, took in $24.7 million making it the second best opener ever during the same football period. (Last year’s Hannah Montana concert film grossed $31.1 million.)
Meanwhile, a romantic comedy starring an actual Oscar winner, failed to do what counterprogramming options are meant to do: score a touchdown. New in Town, starring Renee Zellweger and Harry Connick Jr., earned $6.7 million and a disappointing 8th place. (Apparently Academy Awards don’t guarantee future success.) The romantic comedy raked in about 1/2 as much as Zellweger’s Leatherheads did…and that’s saying a lot.
Click to continue reading Box Office Breakdown: Audiences are Taken with Liam Neeson
Read More | Variety
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