Box Office Breakdown: Titans Disappoints Date Night

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

Looks like Sunday wasn’t a great day for a Date Night.

Despite early predictions that the Steve Carell/Tina Fey laugher would end the weekend with a $27.1 million take and a first place finish, the movie wound up falling slightly short. When the final numbers were turned in, the Shawn Levy-directed comedy had raked in just $25.2 million in ticket sales - positioning it right between Clash of the Titans and How to Train Your Dragon.

Although Date Night did not come close to surpassing Carell’s personal best (Get Smart opened to $38.7 million in 2008), it did top Fey’s previous high (Baby Mama‘s $17.4 million from 2008).

Meanwhile, the only other entry in this weekend’s Top 10 was a movie that only opened in 897 theaters. Letters to God - which only grossed $1.1 million and a $1,228 per screen average - helped push Shutter Island and She’s Out of My League off the charts.

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Read More | Box Office Mojo

Box Office Breakdown: Titans Rules Over Competition

Posted by Veronica Santiago Categories: 20th Century Fox, DreamWorks, Disney, MGM, Lionsgate, Paramount, Sony, Warner Bros, Action, Adaptation, Adventure, Animation, Drama, Family, Remakes, Sequels, Comedy, Thrillers, Box Office, Lists,

Clash of the Titans’ use of 3D may not have been favorably reviewed, but that didn’t keep the remake from conquering the box office.

The Warner Bros. film, which was delayed for a last-minute technology upgrade, officially became the biggest Easter weekend opener to date. Titans’ $61.2 million topped previous holiday champ Scary Movie 4 and bested 1999’s The Matrix to become the best April release ever. (That 1999 film debuted to $27.8 million.)

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Read More | Box Office Mojo

Box Office Breakdown: How to Train Your Dragon Soars to #1

Posted by Veronica Santiago Categories: 20th Century Fox, DreamWorks, Disney, Fox Searchlight, MGM, Paramount, Sony, Universal, Action, Adaptation, Adventure, Animation, Family, Remakes, Romance, Science Fiction, Comedy, Thrillers, Box Office, Lists,

Jay Baruchel may be dating a girl out of his league, but he’s now got a dragon under his command.

Friday’s premiere of How to Train a Dragon had both Baruchel and Gerard Butler pulling double-duty over the weekend. The animated feature easily surpassed both Out of My League, Bounty Hunter and - most importantly - the reigning champ (Alice in Wonderland) to take the win with a $43.7 million take.

Unfortunately, even higher ticket prices couldn’t lift the 3-D feature past a previous Dreamworks entry. Last March, Monsters vs. Aliens towered over the competition with a $59.3 million bow.

Meanwhile, Hot Tub Time Machine - the weekend’s only other new wide release - warmed up to a $14 million debut and a third-place finish.

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Read More | Box Office Mojo

Box Office Breakdown: Wimpy Kid Bests the Bounty Hunter

Posted by Veronica Santiago Categories: 20th Century Fox, Disney, Fox Searchlight, Paramount, Sony, Universal, Action, Adaptation, Adventure, Animation, Drama, Family, Romance, Science Fiction, Comedy, Thrillers, Books, Box Office, Lists,

Two out of three ain’t bad.

Although Hollywood has yet to present a real threat to Alice in Wonderland, two studios this weekend made strong attempts. Diary of a Wimpy Kid, based on a series of Jeff Kinney books, proved there was more than enough room for kid-friendly fare at the box office. Fox’s adaptation unfolded to over $22 million in ticket sales - approximately $12 million shy of the three-time winner, but enough for second place.

The Bounty Hunter - starring Jennifer Aniston and Gerard Butler - also managed to nab a decent bounty for itself during this frame. Sony’s critically-panned comedy grossed over $20 million, falling just short of Diary.

Meanwhile, Repo Men, Friday’s only other wide release, came a distant fourth with $6.1 million.

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Read More | Box Office Mojo

In Theaters This Weekend: March 19, 2010

Posted by Veronica Santiago Categories: 20th Century Fox, Columbia Pictures, FOCUS, IFC Films, Sony, Universal, Adaptation, Adventure, Biopics, Documentary, Foreign, Foreign Language, Horror, Music, Romance, Science Fiction, Comedy, Thrillers, Lists, New Releases,

Here are a few selections in theaters this weekend:

• The Bounty Hunter (PG-13): starring Jennifer Aniston, Gerard Butler, Jason Sudeikis (directed by Andy Tennant)
• Diary of a Wimpy Kid (PG): starring Zachary Gordon, Steve Zahn, Rachael Harris (directed by Thor Freudenthal)
• Repo Men (R): starring Jude Law, Forest Whitaker, Liev Schreiber (directed by Miguel Sapochnik)

Click to continue reading In Theaters This Weekend: March 19, 2010

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.)

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Read More | Variety

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.

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Read More | Variety

Box Office Breakdown: New Life for Oscar Contenders

Posted by Veronica Santiago Categories: 20th Century Fox, Fox Searchlight, Lionsgate, Paramount, Sony, Warner Bros, Action, Adaptation, Adventure, Family, Horror, Music, Period, Science Fiction, Sequels, Comedy, Thrillers,

Nominations? Clint Eastwood doesn’t need any stinkin’ nominations…

Although the 78-year-old was recently overlooked by the Academy, the actor/director still got some respect from the paying public. This past weekend, Gran Torino landed softly into third place and, most importantly, topped the actual Best Picture contenders.

But that’s not to say a nomination is pointless. Last week’s #10, Slumdog Millionaire, jumped 5 positions this week after nabbing 10 nods on Thursday. (It also bested Torino’s per screen average.) Meanwhile, The Curious Case of Benjamin Button - thanks to 13 nominations - found itself reentering the Top Ten.

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Read More | Variety

Box Office Breakdown: Mall Cop Rolls Over Clint Eastwood

Posted by Veronica Santiago Categories: 20th Century Fox, Lionsgate, Paramount, Sony, Warner Bros, Adaptation, Drama, Family, Horror, Music, Period, Romance, Comedy, Box Office, Lists,

Mall Cop? Mall Cop?

As strange as it may sound, Kevin James just took down Clint Eastwood, Notorious B.I.G. and a serial killer to become the current box office champ. Paul Blart: Mall Cop‘s $40 million take was the second biggest ever for a January opener. (Cloverfield took in $46.1 million at this same time last year.) The comedy was also partially responsible for giving the industry its largest MLK weekend of all time.

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Read More | Yahoo! Box Office

In Theaters This Weekend: January 16, 2009

Posted by Veronica Santiago Categories: Columbia Pictures, DreamWorks, Fox Searchlight, Lionsgate, Sony, Warner Bros, Action, Adventure, Drama, Family, Foreign, Horror, Period, Comedy, Lists, New Releases,

Here are some possible suggestions for your upcoming weekend:

• Defiance** (R): starring Daniel Craig, Liev Schrieber, Jamie Bell (directed by Ed Zwick)
• Hotel for Dogs (PG): starring Emma Roberts, Don Cheadle, Johnny Simmons (directed by Thor Freudenthal)
• Last Chance Harvey** (PG-13): starring Dustin Hoffman, Emma Thompson, Kathy Baker (directed by Joel Hopkins)
• My Bloody Valentine 3D (R): starring Jensen Ackles, Jaime King, Kerr Smith (directed by Patrick Lussier)

Click to continue reading In Theaters This Weekend: January 16, 2009