On FilmCrunch: Get Your Name in Paranormal Activity’s Credits

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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Box Office Breakdown: That Was It for Paranormal Activity

Posted by Veronica Santiago Categories: Fox Searchlight, Lionsgate, Paramount, Sony, Universal, Warner Bros, Action, Adaptation, Adventure, Animation, Biopics, Documentary, Drama, Family, Horror, Music, Period, Remakes, Comedy, Thrillers, Box Office, Lists

Michael Jackson's This Is It

Based on the numbers from the past week, it looks like This Is It should remain in theaters longer than two weeks. Oh wait - it will.

Since opening late Tuesday night, the concert film has generated a total of $34.4 million domestically - $23.2 million just over the weekend - and approximately $101 worldwide. Although Michael Jackson technically didn’t beat the opener for Hannah Montana & Miley Cyrus: Best of Both Worlds Concert Tour (that entry earned more over 5 days), had the best international debut ever for any concert film.

Sony’s win meant a short victory for . After a steady climb, and only 1 week at the top, the horror film slipped down to second place. Of course, the word-of-mouth hit has nothing to complain about. Not only has the movie grossed $84.6 million to date, it also had the best per screen average of any Top 10 charter.

Click to continue reading Box Office Breakdown: That Was It for Paranormal Activity

Read More | Variety

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In Theaters This Weekend: October 23, 2009

Posted by Veronica Santiago Categories: IFC Films, Fox Searchlight, Lionsgate, Universal, Adventure, Animation, Biopics, Documentary, Drama, Family, Foreign, Foreign Language, Horror, Independent, Period, Sequels, Comedy, Lists, New Releases

Amelia

Here are a few selections in theaters this weekend:

  • Amelia (PG): starring Hilary Swank, Richard Gere, Ewan McGregor (directed by Mira Nair)
  • Astro Boy (PG): starring Nicolas Cage, Freddie Highmore, Kristen Bell (directed by David Bowers)
  • Cirque Du Freak: The Vampire’s Assistant (PG-13): starring John C. Reilly, Ken Watanabe, Josh Hutcherson (directed by Paul Weitz)
  • Saw VI (R): starring Costas Mandylor, Tobin Bell, Shawnee Smith (directed by Kevin Greutert)

Click to continue reading In Theaters This Weekend: October 23, 2009


Getting Into Character: Hilary Swank as Amelia Earhart

Posted by Veronica Santiago Categories: Fox Searchlight, Biopics, Drama, Casting, Upcoming Releases

Hilary Swank as Amelia Earhart

‘s next film will have the Oscar-winner soaring out of the ring and into the air.

In Fox Searchlight’s Amelia, Swank plays famed aviator Amelia Earhart, the first woman to fly solo across the Atlantic. The pilot - along with a navigator - mysteriously vanished in 1937 after attempting a flight around the world.

The biopic, based on screenplay by Ronald Bass (Rain Man), also stars as publisher George Putnam (Amelia’s husband) and Ewan McGregor as Gene Vidal (Earhart’s lover).

Amelia, directed by Mira Nair (Vanity Fair), is scheduled for an October 23 release.

Read More | People

Casting Corner: Harrison Ford, Reese Witherspoon, Gerard Butler and More

Posted by Veronica Santiago Categories: Columbia Pictures, Paramount, Universal, Drama, Period, Romance, Comedy, Thrillers, Casting, Upcoming Releases

Reese WitherspoonGerard Butler

Here’s a quick look at some of the casting announcements made recently:

Harrison Ford: Indiana Jones will be soon be revisiting comedy in a film co-produced by J.J. Abrams. The 66-year-old will star as a news anchor recruited to work on a low-rated morning talk show. Rachel McAdams (Sherlock Holmes) is in talks to play the producer who must handle Ford and his rival/cohost. No start date has been announced for Morning Glory.

Click to continue reading Casting Corner: Harrison Ford, Reese Witherspoon, Gerard Butler and More


Box Office Breakdown: The Bucket List Rises to the Top

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

Morgan Freeman, Jack Nicholson

After placing 23rd last week, - starring and -  soared 22 spots to take the #1 spot this past weekend.  It seems a simple case of addition was all that was needed to accomplish this feat.  Up until now, the movie had only been playing in 16 theaters total; it expanded to nearly 3000 on Friday.  Bucket’s impressive finish was not only a win for 70-year-olds everywhere, it was a win for director .  His biggest opener had been 1992’s .  (That film grossed $15.5 million.)  Maybe Reiner should write Jack into all his films.

Debuting at #2 was the latest comedy.  , co-starring (30 Rock), earned an impressive $8000 per screen average.  That was the best median performance for any movie in this week’s Top Ten.  (, this week’s #17, averaged $14,421 over the past three days.)

Will this yesterday’s Golden Globes have any effect on financial future?  After only 4 weeks in release, the dark feature dropped off the chart and landed at #12.  Assuming theatergoers are still interested in watching potential nominees, I’m guessing the win for Best Comedy/Musical will give the movie a nice boost next weekend.

Click to continue reading Box Office Breakdown: The Bucket List Rises to the Top

Read More | Yahoo! Movies

Box Office Breakdown: Atonement Joins Juno in Top Ten

Posted by Veronica Santiago Categories: DreamWorks, FOCUS, Disney, Fox Searchlight, Sony, Universal, Warner Bros, Action, Adaptation, Adventure, Animation, Drama, Family, Foreign, Horror, Music, Musicals, Period, Political, Romance, Science Fiction, Sequels, Comedy, Thrillers, Box Office, Lists, New Releases

Atonement

When the final numbers were tallied on Monday, something exciting happened at the top of the charts.  After a very close race, surpassed for the second place finish.  ( was tops for its third week in a row.)  Already in its fifth week, the comedic charmer continued its steady climb up the box office ladder.  After gaining five spots last week, Juno rose another two spots this weekend.  (A wider release contributed to this feat.)  If the movie continues at its current pace, it is expected to be the most successful film from .  Sideways grossed $71.5 million while last year’s darling, , earned $59.9 million.

Meanwhile, another praised film is slowly making an ascent in its fifth week.  , starring ribby and (the man who has replaced ), made its first entry into the Top Ten.  Although the -nominated drama is only being seen in about 1/6 of the theaters Treasure is in, Atonement had a per screen average of $8687.  In comparison, the film only had a $5332 median.

Click to continue reading Box Office Breakdown: Atonement Joins Juno in Top Ten

Read More | Yahoo! Movies

Box Office Breakdown: Juno Makes An Impressive Surge

Posted by Veronica Santiago Categories: 20th Century Fox, DreamWorks, Disney, Fox Searchlight, Sony, Universal, Warner Bros, Action, Adaptation, Adventure, Animation, Drama, Family, Horror, Music, Musicals, Period, Political, Romance, Satire, Science Fiction, Sequels, Comedy, Thrillers, Box Office, Lists, New Releases

Juno

Come Wednesday morning, the box office chart saw very few changes at the top.  That’s not to say the five-day holiday weekend didn’t have any notable moments at all:

  • Strong word of mouth helped boost last week’s #10, , up five whole spaces.  The movie - already in it’s 4th week - continues to soar despite its fairly limited release.  It’s $15,788 per screen average even topped $14,232.
  • Golden Globes buzz also contributed to the success of seven-time nominee .  Although it only placed 14th overall, the romantic weeper scored a $15,764 average.
  • outmuscled last week’s #2, .  The family-friendly flick traded spots with the blockbuster thanks to its $2.5 million edge.
  • narrowly missed a place in the Top Ten despite its connection to both and .  You heard it right - the talk show host’s touch does not always mean gold.
  • followed up its disappointing debut with another out of tune performance.  The musical satire plummeted five spots all the way down to #13.

Click to continue reading Box Office Breakdown: Juno Makes An Impressive Surge

Read More | Yahoo! Movies

Box Office Breakdown: Book of Secrets a National Hit

Posted by Veronica Santiago Categories: 20th Century Fox, DreamWorks, Disney, Fox Searchlight, New Line, Sony, Universal, Warner Bros, Action, Adaptation, Adventure, Animation, Drama, Family, Horror, Music, Musicals, Period, Political, Romance, Satire, Sequels, Comedy, Thrillers, Box Office, Lists, New Releases

National Treasure: Book of Secrets

This holiday weekend introduced a slew of big-ticket features in our cineplexes.  It also brought us a wide cast of former Oscar-winners competing for our theater dollars.  By Monday, , , , , and Oscar-nominee had all made entries into the Top Ten - but it was who wound up striking gold.

earned $45 million, an increase of $10 million over the 2004 original.  This was the second hit for Cage this year, following the critically-panned Ghost Rider.  In addition to having the weekend’s best gross, Secrets also had the best average of any movie over those three days.  Although ‘s fourth place was respectable (especially for a politically-based film these days), its $3760 per screen take clearly set it apart from this week’s champ.  In contrast, earned an $11,184 average for an impressive 10th place finish.

Click to continue reading Box Office Breakdown: Book of Secrets a National Hit

Read More | Yahoo!

In Theaters This Weekend (12/21)

Posted by Veronica Santiago Categories: DreamWorks, Disney, Sony, Universal, Warner Bros, Action, Adaptation, Adventure, Drama, Horror, Musicals, Romance, Comedy, Sports, Thrillers, Box Office, Lists, New Releases

Charlie Wilson's War

Here are some possible suggestions for your upcoming weekend:

*limited and/or gradual release


This Week on HD DVD and Blu-ray: October 16, 2007

Posted by Johnny Mercedes Categories: Buena Vista, DreamWorks, Paramount, Sony, Warner Bros, Action, Adaptation, Animation, Documentary, Drama, Family, Horror, Independent, Music, Political, Romance, Sequels, Thrillers, Home Entertainment, Lists, New Releases, Upcoming Releases

Transformers HD DVDAs the autumn season pulls the coats from our closets, warms our chocolate beverages, and turns our leaves from a verdant green to a rusty orange, the movie studios give us another reason to spend a comfy evening at home: summer blockbusters on DVD. And what better way to view these visual—if not always plausible—delights than in high definition?

The coveted two-disc special edition of Transformers releases this week on HD DVD, much to the chagrin of Blu-ray loyalists; without a major exclusive release, they’ll simply have to make do with some mediocre thrillers.

But aside from the inferior cinematic fare, the first and second volumes of Showtime’s Masters of Horror series is out just in time for Halloween. The anthology show gives modern horror directors a full hour to play without the restrictions of an MPAA rating or television censorship. Although it failed to garner much critical acclaim, the show ended up being quite successful and achieved what some could perceive to be cult status.

Check out the full list of high-def releases after the jump.

Click to continue reading This Week on HD DVD and Blu-ray: October 16, 2007


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