Box Office Breakdown: Meatballs Rolls to Another Victory

Posted by Veronica Santiago Categories: 20th Century Fox, FOCUS, Disney, Lionsgate, Sony, Touchstone, Universal, Warner Bros, Weinstein Company, Action, Adaptation, Adventure, Animation, Documentary, Drama, Family, Horror, Independent, Music, Period, Remakes, Romance, Science Fiction, Comedy, Thrillers, Box Office, Lists

Surrogates was no substitute for meatballs.

Despite competition from a Bruce Willis film, a music-based remake and a sci-fi horror entry, A Cloudy Chance of Meatballs remained the theatergoers’ order of choice for the second week in a row. The children’s book adaptation had Sony dining to the tune of $25 million—over $10 million more than the second place finisher.

Many thought Willis, who hasn’t had a major role since 2007’s Live Free or Die Hard, was on track to take first this weekend. Unfortunately, his hair movie was considered a big letdown given its $15 million gross and $80 million budget. Meanwhile, Fame, a remake of the 1980 hit, had no one feeling like they wanted to live forever. The MGM feature only rung up $10 million for third place.

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Box Office Breakdown: Chance of Meatballs is Winning Recipe

Posted by Veronica Santiago Categories: 20th Century Fox, FOCUS, Lionsgate, Sony, Universal, Warner Bros, Weinstein Company, Adaptation, Animation, Drama, Family, Horror, Period, Romance, Sequels, Comedy, Box Office, Lists

While it may not have had a Damon, an Aniston or a Fox, Cloudy with a Chance of Meatballs had something no other film did this weekend: a win. The animated adaptation raked in $30.3 million over the weekend easily pushing it to the top of the charts. The PG-rated entry towered over the box office and nearly tripled its nearest competitor (The Informant). The 3-D film also gave Sony Pictures Animation its biggest debut to date.

Elsewhere, two Hollywood beauties were struggling to make a respectable showing. Despite (or because of) a number of notable quotes, Megan Fox failed to muster any interest in her first starring vehicle. Jennifer’s Body, a horror film penned by Diablo Cody, raised a whopping $6.9 million for a fifth-place finish. (I’m not even sure that would be enough to fund one day of a Transformers production.) Megan Fox might not be a fan of Michael Bay, but she better be grateful she met him.

Click to continue reading Box Office Breakdown: Chance of Meatballs is Winning Recipe

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Box Office Breakdown: Tyler Perry Can Win All By Himself

Posted by Veronica Santiago Categories: 20th Century Fox, FOCUS, Lionsgate, Sony, Warner Bros, Weinstein Company, Action, Adaptation, Adventure, Animation, Drama, Horror, Period, Science Fiction, Sequels, Comedy, Thrillers, Box Office, Lists

Leave it to Tyler Perry to take on the horror industry.

The actor/writer/director’s latest film, I Can Do Bad All By Myself, earned $23.4 million over the weekend—enough to stop The Final Destination from taking its third crown in a row. The urban comedy, starring Taraji P. Henson and Mary J. Blige, more than doubled its nearest competitor since opening Friday and gave Perry his third biggest debut to date.

I Can Do Bad also topped Sorority Row, the newest scare flick to enter the scene. Although the movie boasts more recognizable names (Audrina Patridge, Rumer Willis) than Destination, the R-rater barely scraped up $5.1 million for a 6th place finish.

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In Theaters This Weekend: September 11, 2009

Posted by Veronica Santiago Categories: FOCUS, Lionsgate, Warner Bros, Documentary, Drama, Foreign, Horror, Comedy, Thrillers, Lists, New Releases

Here are a few selections in theaters this weekend:

• 9 (PG-13): starring Elijah Wood, Jennifer Connelly, Martin Landau (directed by Shane Acker)
• I Can Do Bad All By Myself (PG-13): starring Tyler Perry, Taraji P. Henson, Mary J. Blige (directed by Tyler Perry)
• Sorority Row (R): starring Briana Evigan, Rumer Willis, Audrina Patridge (directed by Stewart Hendler)
• Whiteout (R): starring Kate Beckinsale, Gabriel Macht, Tom Skerritt (directed by Dominic Sena)

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Box Office Breakdown: Nicolas Cage Bests Julia Roberts

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

It was a battle between two Oscar winners this past weekend - one in (Julia Roberts) a well-received drama and the other (Nicolas Cage) in a critically panned thriller.

You can guess how this ended.

Knowing, a film about a bunch of seemingly random numbers, found itself hitting all the right ones over the past three days. The Summit Entertainment project earned $24.6 million and a first place finish. The debut - a nice rebound from Cage’s showing with Bangkok Dangerous - also gave the actor his sixth best premiere ever.

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Box Office Breakdown: Watchmen Loses to Race

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

Win or lose, this weekend’s box office race was a success for at least one person: Carla Gugino.

Last week, the actress saw her movie, Watchmen, sitting at the top of the pack with a hefty $55 million. Unfortunately, the film’s strong start quickly turned into a disappointing ride. In just seven days, the comic book adaptation fell a whopping 67%. Nevertheless, a $17.8 million gross was still good enough for a 2nd place finish.

Meanwhile, another Gugino feature, Race to Witch Mountain, was having a nice time on Earth. The Disney remake’s $24 million surprised many industry watchers for its solid lead over Watchmen.

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Box Office Breakdown: Watchmen Finally Gets Its Time to Shine

Posted by Veronica Santiago Categories: 20th Century Fox, FOCUS, Disney, Fox Searchlight, Lionsgate, Sony, Warner Bros, Action, Adaptation, Adventure, Animation, Drama, Family, Music, Romance, Comedy, Thrillers, Box Office, Lists

When is a $55.7 million weekend considered a slight disappointment?

• When the film is the only new major release that weekend.
• The movie involves superheroes.
• The story is based on a popular graphic novel.
• The project has received a significant amount of attention due to a lengthy court battle.
• The director earned more for his last film. (300 grossed $70.9 million over its first three days back in 2007.)
• The R-rated film features plenty of gore and nudity.
• It cost between $120-$150 million to make.

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Box Office Breakdown: Tyler Perry Surprises the Jonas Brothers

Posted by Veronica Santiago Categories: 20th Century Fox, FOCUS, Disney, Fox Searchlight, Lionsgate, Sony, Warner Bros, Action, Adaptation, Drama, Family, Music, Romance, Comedy, Thrillers, Box Office, Lists

Back in February 2008, Hannah Montana grossed a record $31.1 million during its first weekend. Now, just over a year later, the Jonas Brothers can say they pulled in less than 1/2 as much.

Although there were high hopes for Jonas Brothers: The 3D Concert Experience, the musical trio was unable to match the work of dual personalities. (The movie even played in twice as many screens as the Miley Cyrus version.) As it was, the teen heartthrobs were only the second biggest draw this weekend. The good news? The boys did have the best per screen average of any entry in the Top Ten.

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Box Office Breakdown: Madea Sets Record for Lionsgate

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

While Slumdog Millionaire was making news for India, Tyler Perry was busy breaking records for his studio.

The latest installment in Tyler Perry’s franchise surpassed all expectations this weekend. Madea Goes to Jail, with its $41 million premiere, was the box office’s biggest opener since November’s Twilight. It was also the best debuter for Lionsgate…ever. (October 2006’s Saw III was the previous topper at $33 million.)

Unfortunately, Friday the 20th didn’t go as well for Friday the 13th. After only one week on the charts, last weekend’s record breaker dropped a frightening 81% to 6th place.

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In Theaters This Weekend: February 20, 2009

Posted by Veronica Santiago Categories: Lionsgate, Sony, Documentary, Foreign, Independent, Comedy, Lists, New Releases

Here are some possible suggestions for your upcoming weekend:

• Fired Up (PG-13): starring Nicholas D’Agosto, Eric Christian Olsen, Sarah Roemer (directed by Will Gluck)
• Tyler Perry’s Madea Goes to Jail (PG-13): starring Tyler Perry, Keshia Knight Pulliam, Derek Luke (directed by Tyler Perry)
• Delhi-6* (NR): starring Hrithik Roshan, Atul Kulkarni, Divya Dutta (directed by Rakesh Mehra)
• Eleven Minutes* (R): starring Jay McCarroll, Nancy Kane, Kelly Cutrone (directed by Michael Selditch, Rob Tate)
• Manuela y Manuel* (PG-13): starring Humberto Busto, Elena Iguina, Luz Maria Rondon (directed by Raul Marchand Sanchez)
• Must Read After My Death* (NR): (directed by Morgan Dews)

*limited release

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