HUMOR: Mike ‘The Situation’ spoofs The Blind Side movie on Lopez Tonight

March 4th, 2010 | By Rick From Chicago

Forget about Spencer Pratt as the annoying bad guy on reality TV, it’s all about The Situation!

BOX OFFICE REPORT: ‘Avatar’ reaches No. 3 domestic record

January 18th, 2010 | By Rick From Chicago

‘Avatar’ nears $500 million mark

Twentieth Century Fox’s “Avatar” remained king of the box office, but Warner Bros.’ “The Book of Eli” and Paramount’s “The Lovely Bones” also did strong business as they debuted nationwide over the Martin Luther King Jr. holiday weekend.

Nothing can seem to slow James Cameron’s “Avatar,” which posted a worldwide cume of $1.6 billion through Sunday, meaning that in the next two weeks it will surpass Cameron’s “Titanic” to become the highest grossing film of all time. “Titanic” cumed $1.8 billion.

Domestically, “Avatar” declined a slim 18% to an estimated $41.3 million for a cume of $491.8 million in its fifth fame. Holiday biz should help the pic jump the $500 million mark today. Overseas, “Avatar” also dipped just 18% to an estimated $125 million for the sesh, putting the foreign total at $1.11 billion.

Denzel Washington topliner “Book of Eli,” financed and produced by Alcon Entertainment and distributted by Warners, opened to an estimated $31.6 million from 3,111 theaters to place No. 2. It’s the second straight victory for Alcon after “The Blind Side,” which remains on the top 10 chart after nine weeks.

Peter Jackson’s “The Lovely Bones” was the surprise victory of the weekend, grossing an estimated $17.1 million from 2,563 runs through Sunday (Par says that number will grow to $20 million through Monday). Film suffered in its initial limited run, but Par was able to successfully retool its marketing campaign and target young femmes for the nationwide expansion.

Opening below expectations was Lionsgate’s family pic “The Spy Next Door,” which grossed an estimated $9.7 million from 2,924 to place No. 6. The Jackie Chan-George Lopez-Billy Ray Cyrus headliner was financed and produced by Relativity Media.

“Spy Next Door” was unable to take on Fox holdover “Alvin and the Chipmunks: The Squeakquel,” which declined 31% to an estimated $11.5 million for a cume of $192.6 million in its fourth frame. Overseas, “Squeakquel” grossed $14.3 million for a cume of $158.5 million and worldwide total of $351.1 million, less than $10 million shy of the
$360.6 million cumed worldwide by the original “Alvin and the Chipmunks.”

At the specialty B.O., highlights included the Metropolitan Opera’s live, hi-def broadcast of Bizet’s “Carmen,” which grossed $2.94 million from 700 theaters, the best number ever for the Met’s program. Overseas, 100,000 tickets were sold in 27 countries, also a record.

Scoring the best location average of the weekend was Sony Pictures Classics’ “The Last Station,” which debuted to an estimated $81,704 from three theaters for a $27,235 per location.

“Avatar” will reach the $500 million in 32 days, faster than either “Titanic” or “The Dark Knight,” the only films that have jumped $500 million. “Dark Knight” reached it in 45 days; “Titanic,” in 98.

“Titanic was built for comfort, Avatar was built for speed,” Fox senior VP of domestic distribution Chris Aronson said. Overseas, “Avatar” debuted in Italy, its last territory opening. Film grossed $14.5 million, the industry’s top opening of all time. It also is doing record business in Japan and China.

Fox execs say “Avatar” will surpass the $1.2 billion earned by “Titanic” sometime this week.

Estimated ticket sales for Friday through Sunday at U.S. and Canadian theatres, according to Hollywood.com. Final figures will be released Tuesday.

1. “Avatar,” $41.3 million.

2. “The Book of Eli,” $31.6 million.

3. “The Lovely Bones,” $17.1 million.

4. “Alvin and the Chipmunks: The Squeakquel,” $11.5 million.

5. “Sherlock Holmes,” $9.8 million.

6. “The Spy Next Door,” $9.7 million.

7. “It’s Complicated,” $7.7 million.

8. “Leap Year,” $5.8 million.

9. “The Blind Side,” $5.6 million.

10. “Up in the Air,” $5.5 million.

[Credit: Variety / Hollywood.com]

BOX OFFICE REPORT: ‘Avatar’ continues to soar, grosses another $48.5 million

January 11th, 2010 | By Rick From Chicago

Sci-fi epic hits $1.34 billion worldwide in fourth frame.

“Avatar’s” first post-holiday weekend was a test of its potential to pass “Titanic” and become the top-grossing film of all time — and the results are optimistic.

With just okay showings by new pics and strong holdovers, 20th Century Fox’s James Cameron blockbuster held on to the No. 1 spot.

It grossed $143 million in its fourth sesh overseas — up 4.5% from the previous weekend — for a foreign total of $906.2 million. Domestically, the film dipped just 29% to $48.5 million for a cume of $429 million and worldwide tally of $1.34 billion, $460 million shy of Cameron’s “Titanic” ($1.8 billion).

Box office observers knew “Avatar” would do well, but its performance beat all expectations.

“We thought we would do $100 million overseas, but we really didn’t know, because we’re outside of holidays and kids are back in school,” Fox co-prexy of international distribution Paul Hanneman said.

Among the new domestic players, Lionsgate’s horror-actioner “Daybreakers” was the only one that turned in a strong performance, grossing an estimated $15 million from 2,523 runs.

Universal’s broad romantic comedy “Leap Year” and Dimension Films’ Michael Cera laffer “Youth in Revolt” were both soft.

“Leap Year,” starring Amy Adams and Matthew Goode, grossed an estimated $9.2 million from 2,511 runs to come in No. 6 behind U’s other femme-driven comedy, “It’s Complicated.”

Placing No. 9, “Youth in Revolt” grossed an estimated $7 million from 1,873 locations.

Holdovers continued to dominate, with Warner Bros.’ “Sherlock Holmes” at No. 2 and Fox’s “Alvin and the Chipmunks: The Squeakquel” at No. 3 at the domestic B.O.

“Sherlock” declined 55% in its third frame to an estimated $16.6 million from 3,626 for a domestic total of $165.2 million.

Estimated ticket sales for Friday through Sunday at U.S. and Canadian theatres, according to Hollywood.com. Final figures will be released Monday.

1. “Avatar,” $48.5 million.

2. “Sherlock Holmes,” $16.6 million.

3. “Alvin and the Chipmunks: The Squeakquel,” $16.3 million.

4. “Daybreakers,” $15 million.

5. “It’s Complicated,” $11 million.

6. “Leap Year,” $9.2 million.

7. “The Blind Side,” $7.8 million.

8. “Up in the Air,” $7.1 million.

9. “Youth in Revolt,” $7 million.

10. “The Princess and the Frog,” $4.7 million.

[Credit: Variety / Hollywood.com]

BOX OFFICE REPORT: ‘Avatar’ hits $1B worldwide

January 4th, 2010 | By Rick From Chicago

James Cameron sci-fi pic the fourth highest grosser of all time

Twentieth Century Fox’s “Avatar” reached a worldwide cume of $1.02 billion through Sunday, leading the most lucrative Christmas season in history.

“Avatar” becomes the fourth highest grosser ever, behind James Cameron’s “Titanic” ($1.8 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). “Avatar” should soon eclipse the latter two pics.

Over New Year’s weekend, “Avatar” grossed an estimated $68.3 million from 3,461 runs at the domestic B.O. — the best number ever for a film in its third weekend — for a cume of $352.1 million in its 17th day in release.

Overseas, the 3D sci-fi fantasy added $133.5 million for a foreign cume of $670.2 million in 21 days in release.

Of “Avatar’s” global total, $66.4 million has come from Imax theaters, a record for the large-format exhib.

“Avatar” may have been the mega-grosser, but there were still plenty of presents for other pics to unwrap over the holiday. Domestic B.O. revenues between Dec. 18 and Jan. 3 reached an estimated $985.4 million, up 31% on last year.

Over New Year’s weekend, Warner Bros.’ Robert Downey Jr.-Jude Law topliner “Sherlock Holmes” declined 38% to an estimated $38.4 million from 3,626 runs for a domestic cume of $140.7 million in its first 10 days.

Overseas, “Sherlock” grossed an estimated $37.6 million from 4,600 screens in 33 markets for a foreign cume of $88.3 million and worldwide total of $229 million.

Fox’s “Alvin and the Chipmunks: The Squeakquel,” which opened Dec. 23, saw a domestic cume of $157.3 million through Sunday, including an estimated second weekend take of $36.6 million from 3,747.

Overseas, “Squeakquel” earned $32 million from 6,105 playdates in 54 markets for a cume of $99.1 million. Worldwide total is $256.4 million.

Estimated ticket sales for Friday through Sunday at U.S. and Canadian theatres, according to Hollywood.com. Final figures will be released Monday.

1. “Avatar,” $68.3 million.

2. “Sherlock Holmes,” $38.4 million.

3. “Alvin and the Chipmunks: The Squeakquel,” $36.6 million.

4. “It’s Complicated,” $18.7 million.

5. “The Blind Side,” $12.7 million.

6. “Up in the Air,” $11.4 million.

7. “The Princess and the Frog,” $10 million.

8. “Did You Hear About the Morgans?”, $5.2 million.

9. “Nine,” $4.3 million.

10. “Invictus,” $4.1 million.

[Credit: Variety / Hollywood.com]

BOX OFFICE REPORT: ‘Avatar’ tops record big weekend for Hollywood, ‘Sherlock’ and ‘Alvin’ close behind

December 29th, 2009 | By Rick From Chicago

The estimated $278 million in weekend box-office revenue broke the previous record of roughly $253 million set in July 2008, the weekend “The Dark Knight” was released.

Warner Bros.’ period action pic “Sherlock Holmes” raked in $24.9 million yesterday, notching the best Christmas day opening ever at the domestic box office.

Directed by Guy Ritchie, “Sherlock” marks the Blighty helmer’s first wide release stateside after making his mark with a string of high-octane actioners such as “Snatch” and “Lock, Stock and Two Smoking Barrels.” The film, in play at 3,626 venues, easily becomes the best opening for Ritchie as his previous pics received platform bows. “Sherlock” also served up runner-up opening day records for producer Joel Silver and leading thesp Robert Downey, Jr., whose respective highs are “The Matrix Reloaded” ($42.5 million) and “Iron Man” ($38.7 million). “Sherlock” is Ritchie’s second collaboration with Silver after last year’s Gerard Butler shoot-em up “RockNRolla.”

In addition, “Sherlock” filed the second best Friday bow in December for Warner Bros. behind 2007’s “I Am Legend” ($30.1 million).

Overall, the top 10 films totaled a spectacular $82.9 million, repping a 24% gain on Christmas 2008 (which fell on a Thursday) and a 31% rise over the same Friday, December 26th, a year ago.

Undeterred by the onslaught of another tentpole in the marketplace, Fox’s “Avatar” dipped 12%, taking $23.5 million off 3,456. Behind “Titanic’s” $600 million-plus domestic B.O, New Line’s “Lord of the Rings: Return of the King” remains December’s second highest grosser with $377 million. With an estimated running take of $160.8 million, “Avatar” is currently pacing ahead of “Return of the King” through its first eight days by 2%.

Fox’s holiday moppet fav “Alvin and the Chipmunks: The Squeakquel” will no doubt catapult past its first installment’s seven-day gross of $55.9 million. “Squeakquel” crooned $14.5 million in its third day off 3,700 for a current domestic B.O. of $41.4 million.

Universal’s Nancy Meyers romantic comedy “It’s Complicated” starring Meryl Streep, Alec Baldwin and Steve Martin opened in fourth with $7.1 million off 2,887. The last minute R-rating for “It’s Complicated” didn’t taint its aud turnout with the pic besting the opening days of Meyers’ previous two December romantic laffers: 2003’s “Something’s Gotta Give” ($5.3 million) and 2006’s “The Holiday” ($4.4 million) which posted respective three-day weekends of $16.1 million and $12.8 million.

Paramount’s expansion of George Clooney headliner “Up in the Air” flew to fifth yesterday with $3.7 million from 1,895 and a running estimated domestic cume of $16.4 million. “Air’s” Friday shot up close to threefold over a week ago when the pic played at 72 locales.
Estimated ticket sales for Friday through Sunday at U.S. and Canadian theatres, according to Hollywood.com. Final figures will be released Monday.

1. “Avatar,” $75 million.

2. “Sherlock Holmes,” $65.4 million.

3. “Alvin and the Chipmunks: The Squeakquel,” $50.2 million.

4. “It’s Complicated,” $22.1 million.

5. “Up in the Air,” $11.8 million.

6. “The Blind Side,” $11.7 million.

7. “The Princess and the Frog,” $8.7 million.

8. “Nine,” $5.5 million.

9. “Did You Hear About the Morgans?” $5 million.

10. “Invictus,” $4.4 million.

[Credit: Variety / Hollywood.com]

BOX OFFICE REPORT: ‘Avatar’ nabs $73 million, including $220 million worldwide

December 21st, 2009 | By Rick From Chicago

Avatar grossed $27 million on the first day alone.

Twentieth Century Fox and James Cameron’s 3D sci-fi epic “Avatar” posted a worldwide bow of $232.2 million, led by a very merry $159.2 million overseas and a strong $73 million domestically. Global launch was the largest ever for a nonsequel and the sixth biggest international launch overall.

At this point, it’s impossible to gauge the film’s eventual box office, because there were so many factors affecting its opening, including its domestic battle with an unexpected enemy: Mother Nature, as a major blizzard hit the East Coast over the weekend, paralyzing some cities, and slowing down others.Fox execs can take comfort from the film’s glowing reviews and, more importantly, glowing exit polls among all demos, including an A from CinemaScore. Of the U.S. audience, 62% were over age 25, while moviegoers under 25 rated the film even higher, giving the movie an A+. As expected, the pic skewed male at 57%.

Also throwing off long-term projections is the fact that auds, particularly females, can be distracted with holiday shopping and parties the weekend before Christmas. Successful films bowing at year’s end can do four and five times their opening weekend gross because of the lucrative Christmas-New Year’s stretch vs. the usual multiple of three. So the film’s big tests will come in the next few weeks.

Given the long buildup to the “Avatar” bow, Fox has been working hard to manage expectations. With pic one of the most expensive productions ever, and Cameron’s first feature since the record-shattering “Titanic,” some were expecting a gargantuan bow. Also adding to the anticipation is the fact that the 3D technology was touted as revolutionary. But the movie’s long running time (2 hours, 41 minutes) and the fact that it’s a nonfranchise title are mitigating factors.

Studio insiders confirm that “Avatar” cost $310 million to produce, but that its number goes down to $280 million when factoring in production tax credits. Fox has two co-financing partners, Dune Entertainment and Ingenious Film Partners. The marketing budget is also sizable.

It is a movie unto itself. Originality always has the greatest risk, but it also has the greatest upside. And we couldn’t have dreamed of a better start,” Fox co-chair/CEO Tom Rothman said. “This film, in particular, was made to go the distance.”

On the strength of “Avatar,” weekend was up 51% over the same weekend last year, when “Yes Man” and “Seven Pounds” opened to $18.3 million and $15 million, respectively.

News wasn’t so bright for the only new wide release going up against “Avatar,” Sony’s Hugh Grant-Sarah Jessica Parker topliner “Did You Heart About the Morgans?” Romantic comedy grossed $7 million from 2,718 theaters to place No. 4 after “Avatar,” Disney’s “The Princess and the Frog” ($12.2 million) and Warner Bros.’ “The Blind Side” ($10 million).

At the specialty box office, the Weinstein Co.’s Rob Marshall-directed musical “Nine” dazzled with the best per-location average of the weekend at $71,733.

Avatar” is Cameron’s first feature since “Titanic,” released on the same weekend in December 1997 and still the No. 1 grosser of all time worldwide at $1.8 billion (including $1.2 billion internationally). “Titanic” opened to just $28 million.

Cameron waited so long to make his next film so that technology could catch up with his vision for “Avatar,” the first all-audience 3D tentpole and the widest 3D release to date, both domestically and overseas. Most 3D movies thus far have been animated titles.

Estimated ticket sales for Friday through Sunday at U.S. and Canadian theatres, according to Hollywood.com. Final figures will be released Monday.

1. “Avatar,” $73 million.

2. “The Princess and the Frog,” $12.2 million.

3. “The Blind Side,” $10 million.

4. “Did You Hear About the Morgans?”, $7 million.

5. “The Twilight Saga” New Moon,” $4.4 million.

6. “Invictus,” $4.2 million.

7. “Disney’s a Christmas Carol,” $3.4 million.

8. “Up in the Air,” $3.1 million.

9. “Brothers,” $2.6 million.

10. “Old Dogs,” $2.3 million.

[Credit: Variety / Hollywood.com]

BOX OFFICE REPORT: Disney’s ‘Princess’ reigns at #1

December 14th, 2009 | By Rick From Chicago

Disney scored the biggest opening for an animated film debuting nationwide in December.

Disney’s “The Princess and the Frog” leapfrogged over the competish to top the domestic box office, grossing an estimated $25 million from 3,434 theaters in a solid start for the traditionally animated pic.

Opening in a handful of market overseas, “Princess” grossed $7 million for a worldwide total of $32 million.

Warner Bros. took the Nos. 2 and 3 spots domestically with holdover “The Blind Side” and new entry “Invictus,” respectively.

“Invictus,” the latest from Clint Eastwood, grossed an estimated $9.1 million from 2,125 runs, drawing a largely older adult aud. Drama, co-financed by Spyglass Entertainment, saw a slightly more modest bow than Eastwood’s other recent films, but box office observers are taking a wait-and-see attitude before judging the pic’s prospects.

On the specialty side, Paramount and DreamWorks’ “The Lovely Bones,” directed by Peter Jackson, posted the best location average of the sesh — $38,666 — as it opened in three locations in New York and L.A., grossing an estimated $116,000.

Also debuting was the Weinstein Co.’s “A Single Man,” which pulled in an estimated $216,328 from nine theaters in its debut, giving it a per-location average of $24,306. The film marks Tom Ford’s directorial debut.

Paramount’s George Clooney starrer “Up in the Air” continued to impress in its second frame as it expanded to 72 locations, grossing an estimated $2.5 million for a per-location average of $34,722 and cume of $4.1 million. (Film expands nationwide on Christmas Day.)

Pics bowing over the weekend are jockeying for position in the Christmas season, a crowded time for commercial tentpoles and dramas vying for adult eyeballs — and awards attention. The week between Christmas and New Year’s can generate enormous business for all sorts of fare.

For specialty films, the name of the game right now is to be on the list of Golden Globe nominations to be announced Tuesday. This year, prestige pics could find themselves competing for awards attention with a number of more commercial releases, including “Invictus,” “Blind Side” and “Avatar.”

Overall, the domestic B.O. was up 10% over the same frame a year ago. The film biz is now less than $400 million away from jumping the $10 billion line in domestic ticket sales in a single year for the first time ever.

Estimated ticket sales for Friday through Sunday at U.S. and Canadian theatres, according to Hollywood.com. Final figures will be released Monday.

1. “The Princess and the Frog,” $25 million.

2. “The Blind Side,” $15.5 million.

3. “Invictus,” $9.1 million.

4. “The Twilight Saga: New Moon,” $8 million.

5. “Disney’s a Christmas Carol,” $6.9 million.

6. “Brothers,” $5 million.

7. “2012,” $4.4 million.

8. “Old Dogs,” $4.39 million.

9. “Armored,” $3.5 million.

10. “Ninja Assassin,” $2.7 million.

[Credit: Variety / Hollywood.com]

BOX OFFICE REPORT: ‘Blind Side’ tackles New Moon competition

December 6th, 2009 | By Rick From Chicago

Football pic tops weekend with $20.4 million

Warner Bros. and Alcon Entertainment’s “The Blind Side” sacked the competish at the domestic box office, grossing $20.4 million from 3,326 theaters for a cume of $129.3 million in its third game of the season.

Summit Entertainment’s “New Moon” remained a top player also, grossing $15.7 million from 4,124 theaters for a domestic cume of $255.6 million in its third weekend. Vampire romancer took in another $40.7 million overseas for a foreign cume of $314.5 million and massive worldwide total of $570.1 million.

Among new entries at the domestic B.O., Lionsgate and Relativity Media’s war drama “Brothers” fared best, grossing $9.7 million from 2,088 theaters to place No. 3 for the frame after “Blind Side” and “New Moon,” respectively.

“Brothers” toplines Jake Gyllenhaal, Tobey Maguire and Natalie Portman.

Sony’s actioner “Armored” opened to an estimated $6.6 million from 1,915 locations to tie for No. 6 with Sony’s own holdover “2012.”

Among specialty openers, Paramount’s George Clooney starrer “Up in the Air” scored a lofty per screen average of $79,000 as it grossed $1.2 million from 15 theaters in major markets. Jason Reitman directed.

Estimated ticket sales for Friday through Sunday at U.S. and Canadian theatres, according to Hollywood.com. Final figures will be released Monday.

1. “The Blind Side,” $20.4 million.

2. “The Twilight Saga: New Moon,” $15.7 million.

3. “Brothers,” $9.7 million.

4. “Disney’s a Christmas Carol,” $7.5 million.

5. “Old Dogs,” $6.9 million.

6. “Armored” (tie), $6.6 million.

6. “2012″ (tie), $6.6 million.

8. “Ninja Assassin,” $5 million.

9. “Planet 51,” $4.3 million.

10. “Everybody’s Fine,” $4 million.

[Credit: Variety / Hollywood.com]