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Latest Video: FilmCrunch 067: Hairspray, Chuck & Larry, Premonition reviewed

Veronica Santiago and Neil Estep review Hairspray, Chuck & Larry, and Premonition in this episode of FilmCrunch.
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This Week on DVD and Blu-ray: September 8, 2009

Posted by Veronica Santiago Categories: Disney, Lionsgate, New Line, Sony, Warner Bros, Action, Documentary, Drama, Family, Horror, Music, Period, Comedy, Thrillers, Home Entertainment, Lists

Crank 2 DVDHere are some of the options available this Tuesday:

  • Bedknobs and Broomsticks: DVD
  • Catwoman: Blu-ray
  • Crank 2: High Voltage: DVD, Blu-ray
  • Creepshow: Blu-ray
  • Dance Flick: DVD, Blu-ray
  • Dead Calm: Blu-ray
  • Freddy vs. Jason: Blu-ray
  • Friday: DVD, Blu-ray
  • Local Color: DVD
  • Menace II Society (Director’s Cut): DVD, Blu-ray
  • The New World (The Extended Cut): Blu-ray

Click to continue reading This Week on DVD and Blu-ray: September 8, 2009

Read More | Amazon

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First Look: Ledger in The Imaginarium of Doctor Parnassus Trailer

Posted by Veronica Santiago Categories: Lionsgate, Adventure, Casting, Celeb News, Trailers, Upcoming Releases


Is it possible that a trailer can make you feel giddy yet sad all at the same time?

In this trailer for , we get to see Heath Ledger on the big screen for the final time. Although the project was put in limbo after the Oscar winner’s January 2008 death, the generosity of three fellow actors helped save the film.

Instead of scrapping the movie altogether, director Terry Gilliam (Brazil) recruited Johnny Depp, Jude Law and Colin Farrell for the adventure. The three men not only donated their time, they donated their fees to Matilda Ledger, Heath’s daughter.

Parnassus - also starring Christopher Plummer, Tom Waits, Verne Troyer and Lily Cole - opens on Oct. 16.

Read More | E! Online

Box Office Breakdown: Harry Potter Casts a Big Win

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

Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince

After putting up with a frustrating delay, eager Muggles rushed to the theaters this weekend in droves. kicked off its extended debut with a record-breaking premiere ($22.2 million) at midnight Tuesday. The series’ sixth installment went on to earn $158 million over five days and officially became the biggest international opener of all time ($237 million).

Despite the numbers, there was one film Half-Blood could not beat: The Dark Knight. At this same time last year, the Batman sequel had also racked up $158 million in sales. But that film did it in only three days.

Click to continue reading Box Office Breakdown: Harry Potter Casts a Big Win

Read More | Variety

Box Office Breakdown: Bruno Crawls His Way to #1

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

Bruno crawling

Just like in the fashion world, one day was hot—the next day he was not.

Even though the comedy did well enough to place first this weekend, it appears the sexually graphic film may have turned some off. Ticket sales for the entry dropped 39% between Friday and Saturday, leading many to believe that negative word of mouth played a factor.

In total, Bruno piqued enough interest to raise $30.6 million over three days. While that gross beats Borat‘s $26.5 million debut, the 2006 film later went on to earn $129 million domestically.

Click to continue reading Box Office Breakdown: Bruno Crawls His Way to #1

Read More | Variety

Box Office Breakdown: Transformers Melts Ice Age’s Hopes

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

Ice Age: Dawn of the Dinosaurs

This was one heated battle that left Ice Age out in the cold.

Only 24 hours ago, and the animated comedy were estimated to finish in a possible tie. But when the final numbers were computed, last Monday’s champ managed to keep its spot for another round. In just two weeks, the Paramount feature has managed to earn just under $300 million.

But had nothing to complain about. Even though it missed the #1 spot by less than $1 million, the threequel had the best per screen average of any entry in the Top Ten. In total, the movie earned $66.7 million over five days, just shy of what 2006’s Ice Age: The Meltdown grossed over only three days.

Click to continue reading Box Office Breakdown: Transformers Melts Ice Age’s Hopes

Read More | Variety

Box Office Breakdown: Transformers Rises Above the Competition

Posted by Veronica Santiago Categories: 20th Century Fox, FOCUS, Disney, Paramount, Sony, Warner Bros, Action, Adaptation, Adventure, Animation, Drama, Family, Period, Remakes, Romance, Science Fiction, Sequels, Comedy, Thrillers, Box Office, Lists

Transformers: Rise of the Fallen

It’s not very often when “loud” and “mindless” are deemed good qualities. But in Paramount’s case, it was a recipe for success.

Over the past five days, did what most films have been attempting all year: It passed the $200 million mark. (Up just became the first 2009 film to hit $250 million.)

While the Michael Bay film is definitely on track to be one of the most successful entries this year (let’s not forget about Harry Potter), the sequel’s opening still takes second behind last year’s topper. During its opening run, earned $203.8 million domestically.

Click to continue reading Box Office Breakdown: Transformers Rises Above the Competition

Read More | Variety

Box Office Breakdown: Audiences Agree on The Proposal

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

The Proposal's Ryan Reynolds and Sandra Bullock

It seems a little skin might just go a long way.

After weeks of talking to the media about their joint nude scene, Sandra Bullock and Ryan Reynolds saw their movie take the top spot. Was it a coincidence? Maybe. Whatever the reason, became the actress’ biggest opener ever. Prior to this weekend, 2007’s Premonition - a horrible film, btw - had Bullock’s largest debut. (That movie grossed $17.6 million, almost 1/2 less than the romantic comedy.)

Meanwhile, Reynolds is this week’s Bradley Cooper. Sandra’s leading man, like The Hangover star, has just had his second #1 film of the year. (The first being Wolverine.)

Click to continue reading Box Office Breakdown: Audiences Agree on The Proposal

Read More | Variety

Box Office Breakdown: Hangover Hangs on for Another Win

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

The Hangover's Ed Helms and Heather Graham

This is one hangover that’s taking a while to recover from.

For the second week in a row, the must-see comedy of the summer has taken the top spot at the charts. The Hangover, which already had a greenlighted sequel prior to its debut, raked in another $32.7 million over the weekend. The film has now earned over $100 million and given Bradley Cooper his second #1 entry of the year. (His first was February’s He’s Just Not That Into You.)

Sitting in third place this week (right behind Up), was , a remake of a 1974 version starring starring Walter Matthau and Robert Shaw. The action thriller, which had Denzel Washington working with director Tony Scott for the fourth time, pulled in a respectable $23.3 million. Meanwhile, Imagine That, Eddie Murphy’s latest stinker, earned $5.5 million in wide release. That gross bests the premiere of Meet Dave by approximately $200,000.

Click to continue reading Box Office Breakdown: Hangover Hangs on for Another Win

Read More | Variety

Box Office Breakdown: The Hangover Rises Above Up

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

The Hangover

Unlike most Mike Tyson fights, ‘s win was no knockout.

After a back-and-forth battle with Up, Todd Phillips’ film about an eventful bachelor party edged out the animated pic by less than $1 million. Hangover - which features no major stars (unless you count the boxer) - grossed nearly $45 million on its opening weekend. That’s the third best debut for an R-rated comedy ever. (Only Sex and the City and American Pie 2 have done better.)

Meanwhile, a project actually featuring an A-lister became the summer’s first stinker. , starring Will Ferrell, Anna Friel and Danny McBride, earned a sad $18.8 million over the past three days. Although that amount was good enough for third place, the film cost an estimated $100 million to make.

Click to continue reading Box Office Breakdown: The Hangover Rises Above Up

Read More | Yahoo! Movies

Box Office Breakdown: Disney/Pixar Flying High with Up

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

Up

The word “Pixar” always seems to generate smiles, and that’s exactly what did for Disney.

Over the weekend, the Cannes Film Festival opener generated $68.1 million, over $40 million more than its nearest competitor. The movie - which was also offered in 3D - also bested last year’s Wall-E (by $5 million) and had Pixar’s 3rd-best debut. (The Incredibles opened to $70.5 million in 2004; Finding Nemo grossed $70.3 million in 2003.)

Friday’s other new wide release, , scared up only $15.8 million for a 4th place finish. Although it originally looked as if the horror film would surpass Terminator Salvation, the final numbers were $8 million below Sunday’s projections.

Another noteworthy mention: officially crossed the $200 million mark after only four weeks in release. The Paramount feature is now the first movie of the year to reach that achievement.

Click to continue reading Box Office Breakdown: Disney/Pixar Flying High with Up

Read More | Variety

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