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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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Sequel News: Men in Black, Saw and More

Posted by Veronica Santiago Categories: Columbia Pictures, Disney, Lionsgate, Action, Drama, Horror, Science Fiction, Sequels, Comedy, Casting, Celeb News, Rumors, Scripts, Upcoming Releases, Videos


Here’s the latest scoop on the sequel buzz spreading across Hollywood:

Independence Day: If I didn’t know any better, I’d say Roland Emmerich flat out hates this planet. The director of The Day After Tomorrow and and 2012 is now talking about a follow-up to his 1996 hit, Independence Day. Emmerich says his proposed idea would see vets Will Smith (another lover of sequels) and Bill Pullman years after the first disaster. “One day we will do it,” Roland claimed.

Click to continue reading Sequel News: Men in Black, Saw and More


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Spain Slaps Saw VI with X Rating

Posted by Veronica Santiago Categories: Horror, Sequels, Distribution

Saw VIWell, they don’t call it torture porn for nothing.

Although previous installments of Saw have done well in Spain, the franchise’s sixth installment will be facing a large hurdle. The Spanish Culture Ministry’s Film Institute, the country’s equivalent to the MPAA, has just given an X rating.

The label - the first one Spain’s ever stamped on a movie for violence - limits the number of theaters the film can be shown in to eight. (Buenavista had hoped to distribute 300 copies of the sequel.) Previous Saw entries were simply considered “not under 18.”

Buenavista has filed an appeal on the decision.

Read More | Hollywood Reporter

Sequel News: Alien, The Strangers, Wanted and More

Posted by Veronica Santiago Categories: 20th Century Fox, Disney, Lionsgate, Universal, Action, Adaptation, Adventure, Family, Horror, Period, Science Fiction, Sequels, Thrillers, Casting, Celeb News, Rumors, Scripts, Upcoming Releases


The Strangers: There will never be a shortage of beautiful couples for masked strangers to target. A year after Liv Tyler and Scott Speedman were terrorized comes word of a sequel for The Strangers. Production on the film, which will be directed by Laurent Briet, will begin this fall. No details on the storyline have been disclosed.

Click to continue reading Sequel News: Alien, The Strangers, Wanted and More


Box Office Breakdown: Record Showing for 007

Posted by Veronica Santiago Categories: Disney, Fox Searchlight, MGM, Lionsgate, Paramount, Sony, Universal, Weinstein Company, Action, Adaptation, Animation, Drama, Family, Horror, Music, Musicals, Period, Romance, Sequels, Comedy, Box Office, Lists, New Releases

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

Posted by Veronica Santiago Categories: DreamWorks, Disney, Fox Searchlight, MGM, Lionsgate, Paramount, Universal, Weinstein Company, Adaptation, Animation, Drama, Family, Horror, Music, Musicals, Period, Romance, Sequels, Comedy, Thrillers, Box Office, Lists

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

Box Office Breakdown: High School Musical Makes it Two for Two

Posted by Veronica Santiago Categories: 20th Century Fox, DreamWorks, Disney, Fox Searchlight, Picturehouse, Universal, Warner Bros, Weinstein Company, Action, Adaptation, Drama, Family, Horror, Musicals, Period, Romance, Sequels, Comedy, Thrillers, Box Office, Lists

High School Musical 3

This past weekend, moviegoers showed very little interest in Halloween-themed fare. Despite several horror options, ticket buyers put a G-rated film on top once again.

Although Friday night was slow for cineplexes everywhere, theater attendance thankfully picked up by Saturday. And while there was tight battle for 2nd place, had an easy fight for #1. One week after its $42 million debut, the Disney feature added another $15.3 million to the bundle.

Coming in second was a movie on the opposite end of the wholesome spectrum. - a movie that narrowly escaped an NC-17 rating - pulled in just over $10 million during the past three days. That turnout placed the raunchy comedy amongst Kevin Smith’s highest debuters. (Jay and Silent Bob Strike Back earned $11.1 million in 2001 while 2006’s Clerks II raked in $10.1 million.)

Click to continue reading Box Office Breakdown: High School Musical Makes it Two for Two

Read More | Variety

Box Office Breakdown: High School Musical at the Top of the Class

Posted by Veronica Santiago Categories: 20th Century Fox, DreamWorks, Disney, Fox Searchlight, Lionsgate, Paramount, Sony, Universal, Warner Bros, Action, Adaptation, Drama, Family, Horror, Musicals, Political, Sequels, Comedy, Thrillers, Box Office, Lists

High School Musical 3: Senior Year

This past week, the multiplexes had a little bit of something for everyone: politics, animals, music, dancing, thrillers, Oscar contenders and even horror. Not surprisingly, this meant a lot of dollars were shelled out in return.

As expected, the big screen debut of had tweeners (and their loving parents) all atwitter. Thanks to a $42 million debut, the G-rated film officially became the best musical opener of all time. (Mamma Mia! - with its $27.8 million - was the previous leader.)

Meanwhile, a film on the other end of the ratings spectrum was scaring up some decent dollars of its own. , which probably could have waited to premiere on Halloween, took in approximately $30 million over the last three days. Although it was pitted against the highly-anticipated Disney sequel, the movie carved out its own audience and raised first place-worthy numbers. Although the series is currently on its fifth life, the 2008 installment came within $4 million dollars of Saw III, the franchise’s best performer to date.

Click to continue reading Box Office Breakdown: High School Musical at the Top of the Class

Read More | Variety

In Theaters This Weekend: October 24, 2008

Posted by Veronica Santiago Categories: Disney, Lionsgate, New Line, Sony, Universal, Adaptation, Animation, Drama, Family, Foreign, Horror, Independent, Music, Musicals, Sequels, Thrillers, Lists, New Releases

Description

Here are some possible suggestions for your upcoming weekend:

  • High School Musical 3 (G): starring Zac Efron, Vanessa Hudgens, Ashley Tisdale (directed by Kenny Ortega)
  • The Nightmare Before Christmas in 3-D (PG): starring Chris Sarandon, Catherine O’Hara, William Hickey (directed by Henry Selick)
  • Pride and Glory (R): starring Edward Norton, Colin Farrell, Jon Voight (directed by Gavin O’Connor)
  • Saw V (R): starring Tobin Bell, Costas Mandylor, Scott Patterson (directed by David Hackl)

    • Click to continue reading In Theaters This Weekend: October 24, 2008


    Saw’s Bloody Quest

    Posted by Andru Edwards Categories: Lionsgate, Horror, New Releases

    Put Description HereThis Halloween will be rife with horrific gore as the fourth installment to the film franchise hits the theaters. To promote both the film and the spirit of Halloween giving, the Lionsgate film studio has launched a blood drive. Give blood to get blood (on the screen) is the motto, one that’s been successful for Saw in the past.  Last year’s “Give ‘Til it Hurts” drive brought 23,500 pints of blood to the American Red Cross. This year’s goal is 60,000 pints of the red stuff.

    The three existing Saw films have raked in the dough, $415 million globally since the 2004 original. In the past three years, a total of 38,000 pints of blood have been collected through the Saw franchise efforts. The blood drive has become part of the ritual of the Saw films. Every two seconds in the U.S. alone, someone needs blood. During a 95-minute Saw IV flick, approximately 2,850 people will need blood. Give before you go see the newest Saw installment…blood is a Hallow’s Eve tradition.

    Read More | MSNBC

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