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This Week on DVD and Blu-ray: February 3, 2009

Here are some of the options available this Tuesday:

The Secret Lives of Bees DVD

  • Bottle Shock: DVD
  • Clerks II: Blu-ray
  • Madagascar: Escape 2 Africa: DVD, Blu-ray (avail. on Feb. 6)
  • Napoleon Dynamite: Blu-ray
  • Nick and Norah’s Infinite Playlist: DVD, Blu-ray
  • Office Space: Blu-ray
  • Private Valentine: Blonde & Dangerous: DVD
  • The Secret Life of Bees: DVD, Blu-ray
  • Sideways: Blu-ray
  • Space Buddies: DVD, Blu-ray
  • Zack and Miri Make a Porno: DVD, Blu-ray

Click here to see the TV-on-DVD options for this week.

Read More | Amazon

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Box Office Breakdown: The Day The Earth Stood Still Stands Tall

The Day the Earth Stood Still

Mediocre reviews couldn’t keep from vaulting into first place this weekend.

The sci-fi remake starring Keanu Reeves and Jennifer Connelly earned $30.5 million over the last three days, more than doubling the take of its nearest competitor. Although Earth had the smallest debut for a #1 film since October 17th (when Max Payne grossed $17.6 million), the Fox feature only cost a reported $80 million to make. It was also the studio’s best open since Horton Hears a Who unfolded in back in March.

The only other new entries in this week’s Top Ten were Nothing Like the Holidays and . Holidays took in $3.5 million and scored itself a 7th place finish. Meanwhile, Milk - which had actually reached #10 before - reentered the charts at #9.

Click to continue reading Box Office Breakdown: The Day The Earth Stood Still Stands Tall

Read More | Variety

Box Office Breakdown: Another Festive Weekend for Four Christmases

Vince Vaughn and Reese Witherspoon

Faced with little competition, last week’s #1 lived to see another win. took in $16.8 million over the last three days - a 46% drop from its first outing - to bring its cumulative total to $69.8 million. The comedy was only one of two films to pass the $10 million mark this weekend.

The only new entries in the Top Ten were and Punisher: War Zone. Despite a relatively small opening (it only hit 687 theaters), Cadillac averaged $5,015 per theater for a 9th place finish. Meanwhile, Punisher took in a disappointing $4.3 million, less than 1/3 of what the first film did in 2004.

Despite premiering at #22, was actually this weekend’s top performer. Ron Howard’s film earned a whopping $60,236 per screen average from only 3 theaters.

Click to continue reading Box Office Breakdown: Another Festive Weekend for Four Christmases

Read More | Variety

Box Office Breakdown: Number One for Four Christmases

Four Christmases

Theatergoers still recovering from Thanksgiving had no problem getting into the Christmas spirit this last weekend.

Despite horrible reviews, - a holiday feature starring Reese Witherspoon and Vince Vaughn - managed to pull in over $31 million over the past three days. (The comedy’s five-day total was $46 million.) That was enough to tame some hungry vampires and give Reese her best opening since Sweet Home Alabama. (The 2002 film had a $35.6 million debut.)

But even with Witherspoon and Vaughn’s combined wattage, Christmases still wasn’t the brightest spot on the box office tree. This weekend’s top performer was actually a political drama with a very limited release. Although it was only seen in 35 theaters, , starring Sean Penn and James Franco, found itself sitting in 10th place. The Gus Van Sant film also averaged $40,385 per theater…nearly $31,000 more than the laugher did per screen.

Click to continue reading Box Office Breakdown: Number One for Four Christmases

Read More | Variety

Box Office Breakdown: A Bloody Good Weekend for Twilight

Twilight

Although Disney features typically find a place at the top of the pack, the studio’s cute puppy was outmatched by a hot vampire this weekend. After pulling in $35.9 million on Friday ($7 million of which was earned at midnight), went on to suck up nearly $70 million in total. The film’s first day take alone was enough for Summit Entertainment to immediately greenlight a sequel. (A script for New Moon had already been in the works.)

The Stephenie Meyers adaptation - which was originally slated to premiere on December 12 - undoubtedly owes Warner Bros. partial credit for its success. Had the studio not chosen to move until next year, Twilight would most likely have debuted in fewer theaters. The Catherine Hardwicke film also wouldn’t have become the highest opener ever for a female director. (Deep Impact, helmed by Mimi Leder, took home $41.2 million in 1998.)

Click to continue reading Box Office Breakdown: A Bloody Good Weekend for Twilight

Read More | Yahoo! Movies

Box Office Breakdown: Record Showing for 007

Quantum of Solace

In the battle of Bond vs. Bourne, Jason won out this time…though not by much.

Although it was initially believed would break the $70 million mark, the final numbers for the Sony/MGM film came up slightly short. The 22nd Bond installment hauled in $67.5 million this weekend, just under $2 million shy of the debut for The Bourne Ultimatum. (The 2007 premiered to $69.3 million.)

But don’t feeling sorry for . The actor has helped to revitalize the franchise in a big way. Quantum officially just became the best opener of all the 007 films. (Die Another Day grossed $47.1 million back in 2002.) The movie is also on pace to to beat the theatrical run record set by Casino Royale. (The 2006 film eventually pocketed $167.4 million domestically.)

Click to continue reading Box Office Breakdown: Record Showing for 007

Read More | Variety

Box Office Breakdown: Ticket Buyers Escape to Madagascar 2

Madagascar 2

Move over High School Musical 3. Another family-friendly movie is taking over.

This past weekend, stormed into theaters in a big way. The animated sequel took in a whopping $63.1 million, making it second biggest debuter this year. (The Dark Knight pulled in $75.2 million in July.) The film - which topped its 2005 predecessor by $2.1 million - also had the 7th best opening for a cartoon ever.

In other noteworthy news, last week’s #2 was pushed aside for another R-rated comedy. , starring Paul Rudd and Seann William Scott, surpassed expectations to rake in an impressive $19.2 million. That amount nearly doubled what Zack and Miri - this week’s #5 - earned during its first three days. Meanwhile, a movie that was critically-panned did fairly well in its limited release. - the wannabe cult musical featuring Paris Hilton - averaged $6,711 over 8 theaters. That’s a number most of the movies in the Top Ten couldn’t match.

Click to continue reading Box Office Breakdown: Ticket Buyers Escape to Madagascar 2

Read More | Variety

In Theaters this Weekend: November 7, 2008

Soul Men

Here are some possible suggestions for your upcoming weekend:

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