Box Office Breakdown: Avatar Leaps Further Up the Charts

Posted by Veronica Santiago Categories: 20th Century Fox, Disney, Lionsgate, Paramount, Universal, Warner Bros, Action, Adaptation, Adventure, Animation, Drama, Family, Horror, Musicals, Romance, Science Fiction, Sequels, Comedy, Sports, Thrillers, Box Office, Lists,

Hear that sound? That’s Avatar knocking on Titanic‘s door.

Over the past three days, Fox’s sci-fi blockbuster padded another $50.3 million to its total, officially making it the top entry of 2009. (Sorry, Transformers!) The movie now stands directly behind Jim Cameron’s other film on the international charts ($1.34 billion compared to $1.84 billion) and is ranked 7th on the domestic charts. (The Dark Knight sits on that list at #2 with $533,345,358.)

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Read More | Box Office Mojo

Box Office Breakdown: Avatar Dominating the Globe

Posted by Veronica Santiago Categories: 20th Century Fox, Disney, Paramount, Sony, Universal, Warner Bros, Weinstein Company, Action, Adaptation, Adventure, Animation, Biopics, Drama, Family, Music, Period, Romance, Science Fiction, Sequels, Comedy, Sports, Box Office, Lists,

An absence of new movies meant very little change for the overall box office standings. A lack of competition, though, meant lots of movement for Avatar.

Over the weekend, the sci-fi extravaganza packed an additional $68.5 million to its already-impressive domestic total. The figure - a record for any entry in its third week - brought the film that much closer to becoming one of the top domestic grossers ever. Avatar ($352.1 million) is now only days away from passing 10th place finisher Star Wars: Episode III—Revenge of the Sith ($380.3 million).

Internationally, James Cameron is just a few rungs away from one of his other films. In just 17 days, the 20th Century Fox release has pulled in approximately $1.02 billion. That places Avatar behind only Titanic ($1.84 billion), The Lord of the Rings: The Return of the King ($1.12 billion) and Pirates of the Caribbean: Dead Man’s Chest ($1.07 billion).

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Read More | Variety

Box Office Breakdown: Sherlock, Avatar Both Winners

Posted by Veronica Santiago Categories: 20th Century Fox, Disney, Paramount, Sony, Universal, Warner Bros, Weinstein Company, Action, Adaptation, Adventure, Animation, Biopics, Drama, Family, Musicals, Period, Romance, Science Fiction, Sequels, Comedy, Sports, Box Office, Lists,

A collection of wide releases contributed to the biggest weekend for movies in box office history.

Over the past three days, theatergoers shelled out over $275 million—a good portion of that going to Avatar. Despite slightly disappointing results last week, an improvement in weather - and strong word of mouth - helped the sci-fi flick pack on another $75.2 million to its $212 million domestic total.

Meanwhile, Sherlock Holmes debuted in second place with first place-like numbers. The Guy Ritchie directed-film started its run with a record breaking haul on Christmas Day, only to fall behind the sci-fi entry. But Warner Bros. really has nothing to complain about. Holmes still closed the weekend with $62.4 million in ticket sales.

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Read More | Variety

Box Office Breakdown: Avatar Stifled by Blizzard

Posted by Veronica Santiago Categories: 20th Century Fox, Disney, Lionsgate, Paramount, Sony, Warner Bros, Action, Adaptation, Adventure, Animation, Biopics, Drama, Family, Music, Remakes, Science Fiction, Sequels, Comedy, Sports, Box Office, Lists,

How big could Avatar‘s debut really been? Thanks to a blizzard, we may never know. James Cameron’s first feature in 12 years pulled in approximately $77 million this weekend, enough to win first place but slightly lower than expectations. The movie, which was produced for around $310 million, never reached its full potential due to weather conditions on the East Coast.

As it was, the movie came in behind 2007’s I Am Legend for the best December opener ever. (The Will Smith film debuted to $77.2 million.) The 3D entry also ranked sixth - behind Star Trek, Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince, X-Men Origins: Wolverine, Transformers: Revenge of the Fallen and New Moon - for domestic debuts this year.

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Read More | Yahoo! Movies

Box Office Breakdown: Princess and Frog Crowned Winner

Posted by Veronica Santiago Categories: Disney, Lionsgate, Sony, Warner Bros, Action, Adaptation, Adventure, Animation, Biopics, Drama, Family, Period, Political, Romance, Science Fiction, Sequels, Comedy, Sports, Thrillers, Box Office, Lists,

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

The Princess and the 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, Invictus - 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.

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Read More | Variety

In Theaters This Weekend (12/11)

Posted by Veronica Santiago Categories:

Here are a few selections in theaters this weekend:

• Invictus (PG-13): starring Morgan Freeman, Matt Damon (directed by Clint Eastwood)
• Broken Embraces* (R): starring Penelope Cruz, Blanca Portillo, Lluís Homar (directed by Pedro Almodovar)
• The Lovely Bones* (PG-13): starring Rachel Weisz, Mark Wahlberg, Saoirse Ronan (directed by Peter Jackson)
• Me and Orson Welles** (PG-13): starring Ben Chaplin, Claire Danes, Zac Efron (directed by Richard Linklater)

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In Theaters This Holiday Week: November 25, 2009

Posted by Veronica Santiago Categories: Disney, Warner Bros, Action, Adaptation, Adventure, Animation, Drama, Family, Foreign, Independent, Musicals, Period, Romance, Comedy, Lists, New Releases,

Here are a few selections in theaters this weekend:

• Ninja Assassin (R): starring Ji-hoon “Rain” Jung, Rick Yune, Naomie Harris (directed by James McTeigue)
• Old Dogs (PG): starring John Travolta, Robin Williams, Seth Green (directed by Walt Becker)
• The Road (R): starring Viggo Mortensen, Robert Duvall, Kodi Smit-McPhee (directed by John Hillcoat)

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Box Office Breakdown: Gran Torino Expands to a Win

Posted by Veronica Santiago Categories: 20th Century Fox, Disney, MGM, Paramount, Sony, Universal, Warner Bros, Drama, Family, Horror, Period, Political, Comedy, Thrillers, Box Office, Lists, New Releases,

He may have lost out to Bruce Springsteen last night, but Clint Eastwood was still a big winner this weekend. After 4 weeks in limited theaters, the 78-year-old’s film became the top movie in wide release.

Eastwood’s directorial project not only pulled in $29.4 million over the last three days ($40.5 million to date), it outranked the vehicles from Brad Pitt, Tom Cruise and Will Smith. Gran Torino also earned the best per screen average of any charter in the Top Ten.

Despite opening on approximately 600 more screens than the first place finisher, #2’s Bride Wars grossed nearly $4000 less per theater. The Kate Hudson-Anne Hathaway comedy also averaged less than #3’s The Unborn.

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Read More | Variety

In Theaters This Weekend: January 9, 2009

Posted by Veronica Santiago Categories: 20th Century Fox, IFC Films, Sony, Warner Bros, Weinstein Company, Action, Adaptation, Adventure, Drama, Horror, Period, Political, Romance, Comedy, Lists, New Releases,

Here are some possible suggestions for your upcoming weekend:

• Bride Wars (PG): starring Kate Hudson, Anne Hathaway, Candice Bergen (directed by Gary Winick)
• Gran Torino** (R): starring Clint Eastwood, Geraldine Hughes, John Carroll Lynch (directed by Clint Eastwood)
• Not Easily Broken (PG-13): starring Morris Chestnut, Taraji P. Henson, Jenifer Lewis (directed by Bill Duke)
• The Reader** (R): starring Kate Winslet, Ralph Fiennes, David Kross (directed by Stephen Daldry)
• The Unborn (PG-13): starring Gary Oldman, Odette Yustman, Cam Gigandet (directed by David Goyer)

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In Theaters This Weekend (12/7)

Posted by Veronica Santiago Categories: Fox Searchlight, New Line, Action, Adaptation, Adventure, Documentary, Drama, Foreign, Independent, Music, Period, Romance, Comedy, Sports, Thrillers, Lists, New Releases,

Here are some possible suggestions for your upcoming weekend:

• The Golden Compass (PG-13):  starring Nicole Kidman, Daniel Craig, Dakota Blue (directed by Chris Weitz)
• Atonement* (R):  starring Keira Knightley, James McAvoy, Saorise Ronan (directed by Joe Wright)
• Billy the Kid* (NR):  (directed by Jennifer Venditti)
• Dirty Laundry* (PG-13):  starring Loretta Devine, Rockmond Dunbar, Jenifer Lewis (directed by Maurice Jamal)
• Grace is Gone* (PG-13):  starring John Cusack, Marisa Tomei, Zach Grey (directed by James C. Strouse)

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