Quote of the Day: Peter Berg on Why ‘Battleship’ Flopped
Posted by Robin Paulson Categories: Universal, Action, Science Fiction, Box Office, Filmmaking,
"I felt I had a new understanding of what went into making a blockbuster [after making Hancock]... I got a taste of a film's global power. But I discounted the effect of Will Smith on Hancock's success. I thought I could pull off Battleship without a big star."
- Director Peter Berg explains why he thinks that Battleship failed at the box office.
(Make sure to check out other notable quotes.)
Read More 
| The Hollywood Reporter
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Sequel News: Hancock, Vampire Chronicles and More
Posted by Veronica Santiago Categories: Columbia Pictures, Sony, Universal, Weinstein Company, Action, Adaptation, Adventure, Drama, Horror, Period, Science Fiction, Sequels, Thrillers, Casting, Rumors, Scripts, Technology, Upcoming Releases,
Hancock: Will Smith’s reluctant superhero will be dragged into the spotlight once again. Adam Fierro and Glen Mazzara (both writers on The Shield) have just been recruited to pen the Hancock sequel for returning director Peter Berg. It’s not known if Charlize Theron or Jason Bateman will also appear in the next feature.
Click to continue reading Sequel News: Hancock, Vampire Chronicles and More
Will Smith: Sequels Soon?
Posted by K.C. Morgan Categories: Action, Adventure, Sequels, Casting, Celeb News, Celebrity Gossip, Rumors, Upcoming Releases,
Perez Hilton is reporting that Will Smith fans will enjoy a few follow-ups to his former hits. In recent years, the actor has turned into one of Hollywood’s most bankable stars - and his resume can prove it. The leading man has rarely been out of theaters for more than a few weeks at a time, appearing in dramas, comedies, even action flicks without pause.
But which of his former hits is true sequel material?
According to Hilton, Hancock and I Am Legend will both make a triumphant return to the theaters for new installments to the tales. A source quoted as being an “insider” says that Smith is already locked in for another superhero tale in Hancock, but Charlize Theron still hasn’t signed on to the project.
As to I Am Legend, the new movie which actually be a prequel that shows “the fall of the last great American city.” One can only assume he means New York, the setting of the first flick.
All of this isn’t completely unfounded rumor, either. Smith’s rep has confirmed at least this much: “there have been talks about both of these projects.”
Which means we can expect new Smith sequels sometime in 2010.
Read More | Perez Hilton
Box Office Breakdown: Batman Smokes Pineapple Express
Posted by Veronica Santiago Categories: Disney, New Line, Sony, Universal, Warner Bros, Action, Adaptation, Adventure, Animation, Drama, Family, Musicals, Science Fiction, Sequels, Comedy, Thrillers,
Pineapple Express’ strong open last week made number crunchers wonder: Would this be the week Batman was finally taken down? Unfortunately, breaking the record for ‘Any Wednesday in August’ doesn’t necessarily mean a movie will succeed on Friday or Saturday or Sunday. And despite Pineapple‘s promising start (the movie grossed $12.1 million on its first day), the comedy found itself smoked by the Caped Crusader.
The Dark Knight‘s recent $26 million take has now pushed the film past $441 million. When the sequel passes Star Wars’ $461 million (which should happen shortly), it will become the #2 film of all time. By staying on top for the fourth weekend in a row, Knight has also accomplished something that hasn’t been done since 2003’s Lord of the Rings: Return of the King.
Click to continue reading Box Office Breakdown: Batman Smokes Pineapple Express
Yahoo! Movies
Box Office Breakdown: The Dark Knight Fights Off the Mummy
Posted by Veronica Santiago Categories: 20th Century Fox, Disney, Sony, Universal, Warner Bros, Action, Adaptation, Adventure, Animation, Family, Music, Mystery, Romance, Sequels, Comedy, Box Office, Lists, New Releases,
It was a close one. A very close one. But after a tight contest, The Dark Knight once again emerged as the box office winner this weekend.
Although it initially appeared as if The Mummy: Tomb of the Dragon Emperor was going to bring Batman down, the three-quel lost steam at the end. The film, which grossed $40.4 million over the past three days, narrowly lost out to Knight and wound up being the lowest performer in its series. (The Mummy opened at $43.4 million in 1999 while The Mummy Returns scored $68 million in 2001.)
Click to continue reading Box Office Breakdown: The Dark Knight Fights Off the Mummy
Variety
Box Office Breakdown: The Dark Knight Hits $300 Million
Posted by Veronica Santiago Categories: 20th Century Fox, Disney, Sony, Universal, Warner Bros, Action, Adaptation, Adventure, Drama, Family, Musicals, Romance, Science Fiction, Sequels, Comedy, Box Office, Lists, New Releases,
Despite the combined forces of Ferrell/Reilly and Duchovny/Anderson, Team Bale/Ledger could not be slowed down.
This past week, The Dark Knight added a few more records to the franchise’s box office mantle:
- The film became the fastest movie ever to surpass the $300 million mark. (Pirates of the Caribbean: Dead Man’s Chest crossed that line in 16 days; Knight did it in 10.)
- The sequel is now predicted to break $400 million in approximately 18 days. Shrek 2 took 43 days to the same in 2004.
- IMAX theaters also continue to benefit from the blockbuster’s success. Another $4.6 million was grossed over the weekend.
- It’s now believed the latest Batman installment could soar to $500 million - making it only the second movie to do so. Domestically, Titanic ($601 million) still reigns as the box office champ. (The original Star Wars pocketed $461 million while Shrek 2 earned $436 million.)
Click to continue reading Box Office Breakdown: The Dark Knight Hits $300 Million
Variety
Box Office Breakdown: Record-Breaking Weekend for The Dark Knight
Posted by Veronica Santiago Categories: 20th Century Fox, Disney, Sony, Universal, Warner Bros, Action, Adaptation, Adventure, Animation, Drama, Family, Musicals, Science Fiction, Sequels, Comedy, Box Office, Lists, New Releases,
Okay, let’s not beat around the bush. We all know The Dark Knight was huge. But how big exactly was it? Let’s break the numbers down:
- The film grossed approximately $158.3 million, beating the record set by Spider-Man 3 ($151.1 million) last year. The total already comes within reach of Tim Burton’s Batman. (The $251.2 million grosser has been the best earner in the franchise so far.)
- Knight pulled in $18.5 million during its Friday midnight screenings alone. The previous record holder was 2005’s Star Wars: Episode III - Revenge of the Sith ($16.9 million).
- The movie had the best Friday total ever: $67.8 million.
- The sequel earned $6.2 million from IMAX showings alone. That number, again, beat Spider-Man 3 ($4.7 million).
- In one weekend, The Dark Knight grossed more than the last three Batman installments made in their opening weekends combined.
- The Christopher Nolan feature, along with the strong performance from Mamma Mia!, helped the industry attain the best box office weekend ever. Mamma‘s $27.6 million outperformed last year’s Hairspray ($27.5 million) to become the biggest musical opener ever.
Click to continue reading Box Office Breakdown: Record-Breaking Weekend for The Dark Knight
Variety
Box Office Breakdown: The Golden Army Raises Hell
Posted by Veronica Santiago Categories: Picturehouse, 20th Century Fox, Disney, Picturehouse, Paramount, Sony, Universal, Warner Bros, Action, Adaptation, Animation, Drama, Family, Science Fiction, Sequels, Comedy, Box Office, Lists, New Releases,
Apparently moviegoers were simply not interested in meeting anyone named Dave.
This past weekend, Eddie Murphy’s latest effort debuted in a disappointing 7th place. Fox’s Meet Dave pulled in only $5.2 million, the third worst opening total for the comedian. (Holy Man pulled in $5.1 million in 1998; The Adventures of Pluto Nash scraped up $2.2 million in 2002.)
Dave‘s poor performance gave two other entries plenty of room at the top of the charts. Hellboy II: The Golden Army earned approximately $11 million more than the original 2004 film. The sequel’s $34.5 million haul also narrowly edged out last week’s winner, Hancock, and gave director Guillermo del Toro a first place berth. Meanwhile, the Journey to the Center of the Earth‘s $21 million was good enough for third place.
Click to continue reading Box Office Breakdown: The Golden Army Raises Hell
Variety
Box Office Breakdown: Hancock Soars to #1
Posted by Veronica Santiago Categories: Picturehouse, Columbia Pictures, Disney, New Line, Paramount, Sony, Universal, Warner Bros, Action, Adaptation, Adventure, Animation, Drama, Family, Romance, Sequels, Comedy, Box Office, Lists, New Releases,
For theatergoers, the Fourth of July holiday has come to mean fireworks, barbecues….and now Will Smith. This past weekend, the powerhouse’s latest blockbuster, Hancock, took in over $62 million giving Smith his eighth straight #1 debut. In total, the Sony Pictures production grossed nearly $104 million during a 5 1/2 day period.
In addition to being Will’s second-best opener ever (I Am Legend set his record), Hancock was the actor’s fifth movie to reach first place over the same holiday weekend. (Men in Black, Men in Black II, Independence Day and Wild Wild West were the other four.) The Peter Berg film also became the third best July 4th grosser behind Transformers and Spider-Man 2.
Click to continue reading Box Office Breakdown: Hancock Soars to #1
Variety
In Theaters This Holiday Weekend (7/2)
Posted by Veronica Santiago Categories: Columbia Pictures, IFC Films, Magnolia, Sony, Action, Adaptation, Adventure, Documentary, Drama, Family, Foreign, Independent, Romance, Comedy, Lists, New Releases,
Here are some possible suggestions for your three-day weekend:
- Hancock (PG-13): starring Will Smith, Charlize Theron, Jason Bateman (directed by Peter Berg)
- Kitt Kittredge: An American Girl** (G): starring Abigail Breslin, Stanley Tucci, Glenne Headly (directed by Patricia Rozema)
- Diminished Capacity* (NR): starring Matthew Broderick, Virginia Madsen, Alan Alda (directed by Terry Kinney)
- Gonzo: The Life and Work of Dr. Hunter S. Thompson* (R): starring Johnny Depp, Hunter S. Thompson, Sonny Barger (directed by Alex Gibney)
Click to continue reading In Theaters This Holiday Weekend (7/2)
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