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Thursday, November 26, 2009
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2008-12-29
This week is a mess because we are dealing with DVDs released on the 26th, the 27th, and the 30th. Additionally, we are dealing with the latest two waves of Paramount Blu-rays, so there are a lot of spotlight reviews this week. (Although when it comes to those particular Blu-rays, I have previously reviewed nearly half of them previously, and I have seen more than half of the rest, so it was easy to review.) It was so easy, in fact, I was able to get a couple reviews done in advance, which lead to a record number of spotlight reviews. There are more spotlight reviews this week than the previous four weeks combined. Needless to say, the column had to be split into two, with the second part found here. As for the best of the best, Serenity - Blu-ray easily won the DVD Pick of the Week, while Duckman - Season Three and Four is the DVD Pick of Next Week. Also worth grabbing are Event Horizon on Blu-ray, Ghost Town on either DVD or Blu-ray, Greek - Chapter Two, and The Truman Show on Blu-ray
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2008-12-16
This week is a confusing one on the home market as there are DVDs coming out on Tuesday the 16th, as usual, and on Friday the 19th, and Sunday the 21st as well. While there are a number of great releases that are spread out over three days, Dr. Horrible's Sing-Along Blog is the best on any day, and worthy of the DVD Pick of the Week.
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2004-02-20
Well, it had to happen, after a great start to February first critically and then financially, it all comes crashing down this weekend. Four movies open wide this weekend and none of them impressing critics and neither do they have much of a shot at a stellar box office. On the plus side, this weekend last year was weak, so we should see 2004 gain some ground on 2003. Or at least do better than the nearly 9% year to date decline.
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2003-03-29
F=http://www.the-numbers.com/movies/2002/CHCGO.html>Chicago will pull in an estimated $7 million to raise it’s total to $144 million, all without ever hitting #1 during any weekend during its 14 weeks in release. And that total is 9th best on the all time list of movies that have never reached #1 at the box office. What’s very interesting is Chicago joins three other movies released in 2002 in the top 10 on that list. First is My Big Fat Greek Wedding, Catch Me If You Can is fourth and Lilo and Stitch is 8th (for now.)
Now most box office records are expected to fall on a regular basis due to increased ticket prices and a growing population. But at the start of 2002 the leading ‘Bridesmaid’ Film was Dances With Wolves, which was over a decade old. And the top ten films were, on average, over a decade old. Including such films as Gremlins from 1984 and The Rocky Horror Picture Show from 1975. And three months into 2003, the best Bridesmaid movie so far is Old School, which won’t even make the top 50.
So what made 2002 so strange? Quite frankly, I have no idea. But I’d love to hear your opinions.
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2003-03-10
ar since Steve Martin’s last movie was released and over three years since he last had a wide release. But it looks like that absence didn’t cause his fans to forget about him. Bringing Down the House brought in $31.1 million this weekend, a opening weekend record for both Steve Martin and his Co-Star Queen Latifah. This was much higher than almost anyone predicted and should lead to an increase in demand for everyone involved, especially Eugene Levy who has four movies being released this year.
The only other movie opening wide this week was Tears of the Sun staring Bruce Willis, which was in second place with a box office of $17 million. With a budget of $75 million (and almost 50% more for advertising) Sony has to be disappointed with this figure.
Still doing well after 3 weeks is Old
School. Just over $9 million this week raises its total past $50 million. Moving up a place to fourth was Chicago, now in its eleventh week. The multiple Oscar nominated film continues its impressive post nomination run adding almost $7 million to its total box office. How to Lose a Guy in 10 Days is still hanging in the top 5 and should reach $100 million, but probably not before Daredevil does.
Of note, last week’s winner Cradle 2 the Crave fell from first to sixth with an unbelievable 60% drop. We haven’t seen that kind of drop since Star Trek: Nemesis dropped 76%.
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2003-03-03
/www.the-numbers.com/movies/2003/CRGRV.php>Cradle 2 the Grave was the only movie to open wide and it won the weekend race with little difficulty. The Jet Li and DMX action movie made a more than respectable $16.5 million. However, Jet Li’s movies tend to open well and crash quickly afterwards. Cradle 2 the Grave could prove to be an exception, but we’ll have to wait another week before that could be judged.
With only one film opening wide this week the real winners were last weeks’ holdovers. Starting with Old School which held on to second spot with $14.0 million, a drop of less than 20% from last week. An amazingly small drop-off considering the genre. Old School could beat director Todd Phillips’s previous best box office, which was with Road Trip at just shy of $70 million.
Daredevil didn’t fare so well as it dropped from first to third while losing 38.5% of its second weekend box office. While this was the largest drop in the top 10 it is still much better than last week’s 55% drop. This should help Daredevil cross the $100 million mark before its run is over.
In fourth place is the Romantic Comedy that Wouldn’t Die, also known as How to Lose a Guy in 10 Days. This week it made a little over $10 million, only an 11.5% drop. So far this movie has had amazing legs and should cross the $100 million mark, possibly before Daredevil does. Next week it could still be hanging on in the top five, which is bad, 'cause typing How to Lose a Guy in 10 Days over and over again is giving me carpal tunnel syndrome.
Still in fifth place 10 weeks into its run is Chicago with only a tiny 5% drop from last week. Chicago beat $100 million this weekend and should beat Rocky Horror Picture Show for third place on the all time box office list for Musicals. Grease will likely remain first on that list with over $188 million.
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2003-03-02
X Warner Bros. actioner Cradle 2 the Grave lept its way to #1 this weekend, grossing a relatively mild $17.1 million opening weekend for a not-bad per screen average of $6,520.
In second place is DreamWorks' comedy Old School. The comedy had good word-of-mouth and dropped only 20% to gross $13.8 million from 2,742 cinemas. In two weekends it has grossed an excellent $37.2 million.
In third place is Fox's Daredevil. After freefalling a massive 55% last weekend, the Man Without Fear recovered only slightly this weeking, falling 39% to a gross of $11 million. The superhero flick has grossed a lower-than-expected $84.1 million in three weekends.
In fourth place is Paramount's rom-com How to Lose a Guy in 10 Days. The film is showing some terrific legs, falling only 12% from last weekend for a gross of $10.1 million. It has amassed $77.5 million in four weekends, surely excellent news for Paramount.
And sitting pretty at #5 is Miramax's Chicago. The 13-times-Oscar-nominated film gross $8.1 million, a drop of only 1.4% from last weekend.
The Top 10 looked like this this weekend...
1. Cradle 2 the Grave ($17.1 million)
2. Old School ($13.8 million)
3. Daredevil ($11 million)
4. How to Lose a Guy in 10 Days ($10.1 million)
5. Chicago ($8.1 million)
6. The Jungle Book 2 ($6.7 million)
7. Shanghai Knights ($4.8 million)
8. The Life of David Gale ($4.3 million)
9. Gods and Generals ($2.7 million)
10. The Rec
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2003-02-24
the-numbers.com/movies/2003/DARED.php>Daredevil was only able to grab $18.5 million during its second week at the box office, good enough for first place. However, the loss of 55% was greater than expected. Fox claims this loss was due in part to post-holiday weekend slumps. However, Presidents’ Day is not a big holiday for movies and the snowstorm that hit the Northeast lessened its effect even more. If Daredevil doesn’t rebound next week with a lose of less than 40% it will have a very difficult time crossing the $100 million mark. Making it the first movie to make $40 million on its opening weekend to fail to hit that milestone.
In second place, making $17.5 million (exactly what I predicted) was Old School. This teen comedy staring 30 year olds got surprisingly great reviews. It was the only movie opening wide last week that got an overall fresh rating at Rotten Tomatoes.
Also living up to predictions was How To Lose a Guy in 10 Days with $11.6 million for third place. In fourth was Jungle Book 2 which only dropped 24% from its first weekend. A phenomenon which can be entirely explained by the complete lack of competition for its target audience, a trend that will continue till March 21st when Piglet’s Big Movie is released. Just behind in fifth place was Chicago with $8.2 million. Chicago should hit the $100 million mark next weekend.
As for the rest of the new releases, none made much of an impact at the box office. The Life of David Gale just failed to make the top 5 with $7 million. Gods and Generals made slightly more than predicted, but still not enough. Its production and advertising budget was nearly $90 million, so less than $5 million during it’s opening weekend has to been seen as a huge disappointment. And sitting in 9th place with less than $4 million is Dark Blue, which I predicted would make more than twice as much.
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2003-02-21
entrants into the box office race this weekend, but don’t expect any of the to challenge Daredevil for the top spot. Even a 50% drop would leave DD with a box office of more than $20 million. With no real competition that should be enough to win.
The widest opening this weekend is for the frat comedy Old School starring Will Farrell, Luke Wilson and Vince Vaughn. None of who are big box office draws. Better than expected reviews could help out, although the target audience for these movies generally don’t read reviews. Expect similar numbers to other comedies of a similar maturity level. Almost 2,700 theatres and a predicted $6,500 per theatre for a total of $17.5 million.
Battling for third will be How to Lose a Guy in 10 Days and Dark Blue with Kurt Russell. Kurt hasn’t stared in a big hit since Stargate, and with an ad campaign that wasn’t aggressive enough and less than 2,200 theatres he’ll have to wait even longer. Dark Blue will lose a close race for 3rd with both movies getting between $11 and $12 million.
Chicago is still picking up theatres, but will start to lose box office, but slowly for the next couple of weeks. $10 million and 5th place is reasonably safe bet.
The Life of David Gale at 2,000 theatres and Gods and Generals at 1,500 theatres are the only other movies opening wide this weekend. But with such low theatre counts and generally awful reviews they will not factor in the top 5. In fact, Gods and Generals might not factor in the top 10.
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