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This Week on DVD and Blu-ray: January 18, 2011

Takers DVDHere are some of the options available this week:

  • Animal Kingdom: DVD, Blu-ray
  • Buried: DVD/Blu-ray combo
  • Death Race 2: DVD, Blu-ray
  • Freakonomics: DVD, Blu-ray
  • Jack Goes Boating: DVD, Blu-ray
  • Lebanon: DVD, Blu-ray
  • The Naked Kiss: DVD, Blu-ray
  • Paper Man: DVD, Blu-ray
  • Shock Corridor: DVD, Blu-ray
  • Stone: DVD, Blu-ray
  • Takers: DVD, Blu-ray

Make sure to also check out the options for this week.

Read More | Amazon

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Box Office Breakdown: Wall Street Rises to a Win

Wall Street: Money Never Sleeps

Twenty-three years after we were first introduced to Gordon Gekko, Michael Douglas and Oliver Stone have both seen their stock go up. , which earned $19 million over the past three days, gave the Oscar-winning actor his first #1 film since 2001’s Don’t Say a Word and Stone his best debut to date. (That total is, of course, considered chump change to Shia LaBeouf.)

The weekend didn’t look quite so rosy for . Although the Zack Snyder-directed adaptation landed in second place, the movie only grossed $16.1 million. (Keep in mind that the movie cost $79 million to produce.)

Meanwhile, Disney proved Betty White’s mere presence doesn’t necessarily mean comedy gold. You Again – also starring Kristen Bell and Sigourney Weaver – debuted in fifth place with $10.6 million. (Somehow I doubt this will help Bell’s chances of ever getting a Veronica Mars movie off the ground.)

Click to continue reading Box Office Breakdown: Wall Street Rises to a Win

Read More | Box Office Mojo

Box Office Breakdown: The Town Takes the Crown

The Town

, Ben Affleck’s second directorial feature, surprised analysts this weekend with a win at the box office. The film, which far surpassed Gone Baby Gone’s $5.5 million debut in 2007, earned $23.8 million—a September-best for Warner Bros. The drama, co-starring Jon Hamm and Jeremy Renner, also gave actor Affleck his first #1 film—outside of He’s Just Not that Into You—since Daredevil.

Although many had topping the charts, the film came in a very respectable second place. The Emma Stone-starrer – which only cost $8 million to produce – generated good reviews and a $17.7 million take.

The weekend’s other two new wide releases also landed in the Top 5. The PG-13 horror film raised $12.3 million while Alpha and Omega, a more family-friendly entry, rang up $9.1 million in ticket sales.

Click to continue reading Box Office Breakdown: The Town Takes the Crown

Read More | Box Office Mojo

Box Office Breakdown: Evil Takes Up Residence at Number One

Resident Evil: Afterlife

Who says the third time’s the charm?

—the fourth movie in that sci-fi series—topped the box office this weekend with franchise-breaking numbers. The movie, which was offered in 3D, had the best Evil debut to date. (Yes - higher ticket prices did play into this.) Afterlife‘s $26.7 million take surpassed the bar set by Resident Evil: Extinction in 2007. (That outing opened to $23.7 million.)

Since Resident was the only new wide release, the other notable events occurred outside the Top Ten. , starring Katie Holmes and Josh Duhamel, opened in limited release with a $45,527 debut. More importantly, the movie averaged $22,764 per theater—the best number for all films over the weekend. In comparison, I’m Still Here—featuring a disheveled Joaquin Phoenix—only had a $5,087 per screen average.

Click to continue reading Box Office Breakdown: Evil Takes Up Residence at Number One

Read More | Box Office Mojo

Box Office Breakdown: The American Defeats Machete

The American

Although it lacked Jessica Alba, Lindsay Lohan and Robert De Niro, did have two things Machete didn’t: George Clooney and a box office win.

Despite only grossing $13.2 million over the weekend ($16.3 million since Wednesday), the Focus Features entry hit its target. The movie - which was produced for approximately $20 million - managed to top the Robert Rodriguez-actioner by less than $2 million. The American also became Clooney’s best opener - outside of any Brad Pitt-related project - since The Perfect Storm in 2000.

, based on a trailer included in the film Grindhouse, came very close to matching the earlier movie. The Danny Trejo starrer debuted to a modest $11.4 million—about $200,000 short of Grindhouse‘s premiere in 2007.

Click to continue reading Box Office Breakdown: The American Defeats Machete

Read More | Box Office Mojo

Box Office Breakdown: Takers Takes the (Close) Win

Takers movie

Although early reports had in first place this weekend, the final numbers told a different story. When the dust finally settled on Monday, Lionsgate’s had squeaked out a slim lead. (Less than $200,000 separated the two films.)

Exorcism, though, did not walk away a loser. The movie “documenting” a priest’s final exorcism earned just over $20 million—and it only cost $1.8 million to produce. The PG-13 flick also surpassed The Unborn‘s 2009 debut ($19.8 million), though it did fall short of The Exorcism of Emily Rose. (That 2005 release opened to $30 million.)

Click to continue reading Box Office Breakdown: Takers Takes the (Close) Win

Read More | Box Office Mojo

In Theaters This Weekend: August 27, 2010


Here are a few selections in theaters this weekend:

  • The Last Exorcism (PG-13): starring Patrick Fabian, Ashley Bell, Iris Bahr (directed by Daniel Stamm)
  • Takers (PG-13): starring Matt Dillon, Paul Walker, Idris Elba (directed by John Luessenhop)
  • Aashayein* (NR): starring John Abraham, Anaitha Nair, Sonal Sehgal (directed by Nagesh Kukunoor)
  • Avatar* (PG-13): starring Sam Worthington, Zoe Saldana, Sigourney Weaver (directed by James Cameron)

Click to continue reading In Theaters This Weekend: August 27, 2010


Box Office Breakdown: Princess and Frog Crowned Winner

The Princess and the Frog

Disney’s latest entry might not have produced Pixar-like numbers, but it was definitely not a frog.

, featuring the first black Disney princess, finally opened wide this weekend to the tune of $24.2 million. Despite having been available in limited release for two weeks, the 2D-film had the best premiere ever for an animated feature in the month of December.

Meawhile, - Clint Eastwood’s next possible Oscar contender - unfolded with a $8.6 million debut and a third place finish. Although the Nelson Mandela drama came in behind box office vet The Blind Side, the director’s films tend to generate more buzz (and money) as the awards seasons progress.

Click to continue reading Box Office Breakdown: Princess and Frog Crowned Winner

Read More | Variety

Box Office Breakdown: Touchdown for Blind Side

The Blind Side

The third time was a charm for Sandra Bullock.

After two weeks of second place finishes, emerged from New Moon‘s shadow to take sole possession of first place. The movie, which added another $20 million to its $100+ million total, has now given Bullock her second chart topper of the year. (And, no—All About Steve is not the other film I was referring to.)

Despite several new wide release entries, the football players and the vampires strongly defended their hold on the top two spots. - starring Tobey Maguire, Jake Gyllenhaal and Natalie Portman - came in third place with only a $9.5 million take. Meanwhile, Everybody’s Fine with Robert De Niro and Drew Barrymore did a less than fine $3.8 million.

Click to continue reading Box Office Breakdown: Touchdown for Blind Side


In Theaters This Weekend (12/4)

Armored

Here are a few selections in theaters this weekend:

  • Armored (PG-13): starring Matt Dillon, Columbus Short, Laurence Fishburne (directed by Nimrod Antal)
  • Brothers (R): starring Natalie Portman, Tobey Maguire, Jake Gyllenhaal (directed by Jim Sheridan)
  • Everybody’s Fine (PG-13): starring Robert De Niro, Drew Barrymore, Kate Beckinsale (directed by Kirk Jones)
  • Transylmania (R): starring Patrick Cavanaugh, James DeBello, Tony Denman (directed by David Hillenbrand, Scott Hillenbrand)

Click to continue reading In Theaters This Weekend (12/4)


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