January 3rd, 2011
The first week of the year and this year starts the same way last year ends, without a whole lot of must have choices. Machete is topping the chart, and it's a good movie, but there are not enough extras on the DVD / Blu-ray to rate as Pick of the Week material. On the other hand, Howl's DVD and Blu-ray are loaded with extras, but the movie didn't live up to expectations with critics. After going over the list for a third time, I have to conclude that there are no Pick of the Week releases this time around. That should change next week.
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August 13th, 2009
While there were five new releases to reach the top 30 on the rental chart this week, only one of them reached the top ten. That new release was Fast and Furious, which placed first with roughly two thirds more rentals than Watchmen.
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August 5th, 2009
This was arguably the best week for new releases since summer began with eight reaching the top 30, including two new releases that finished first and second. Number one was Watchmen with 1.23 million units sold generating $25.60 million in sales.
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August 5th, 2009
New releases were not as plentiful on the rental chart as they were on the sales chart, mainly due to the fact that TV on DVD dominated the lower half of sales. The top two films were the same with Watchmen opening in first place with roughly 50% more rentals than Coraline had.
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July 30th, 2009
There were not a lot of new releases to chart this week, and only one of them made it into the top five. However, that one film was A Haunting in Connecticut, which earned first place earning $8.76 million on 439,000 units sold.
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July 30th, 2009
Firstly, that pun in the headline is so bad I caused my physical pain when I wrote it. But as it implies, none of the new releases were able to topple Knowing leaving the DVD in top spot on the rental chart.
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July 13th, 2009
It's that time of year when TV on DVD releases dominate the list of top-notch releases That's not to say there are no first run releases, but none of them are worth anything more than a rental. As for contenders for DVD Pick of the Week, there are three: Mad Men - Season Two on DVD or Blu-ray, Leverage - Season 1 on DVD, and The State - The Complete Series on DVD. Mad Men - Season Two is the best, and the Blu-ray is the better deal, but they are all worthy of the DVD Pick of the Week.
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April 26th, 2009
Japan was a major player on the international charts this past weekend, placing three films in the top 30, and helping a couple others as well. Detective Conan: The Raven Chaser placed first in its native market, and sixth internationally, with $6.00 million on 341 screens. More...
April 12th, 2009
Marley & Me fell to sixth place, but it is nearing $100 million internationally. This past weekend it added $5.97 million on 2860 screens in 33 markets for a total of $83.34 million. The film opened in second place in Italy with $2.00 million on 348 screens, which is on par with expectations. Meanwhile, it added $1.23 million on 464 screens in the U.K. for a total of $18.41 million after four weeks while it made $1.01 million on 439 screens in Japan for a total of $5.17 million after two. It is still aiming at $100 million internationally, but it could be close.
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April 7th, 2009
Fast and Furious broke records over the weekend and helped take the overall box office to $155 million.
That's 6% more than last weekend, and 62% than the same weekend last year.
Stunning.
Overall, 2009 has managed $2.57 billion, which is 14% ahead of last year's pace.
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April 5th, 2009
Duplicity doubled its international haul over the weekend landing in sixth place with $6.47 million on 1811 screens in 20 markets for a total of $12.21 million. The film opened in fourth place in France with $2.01 million on 380 screens, while it managed fourth in Russia as well, but with a much weaker $873,000 on 265 screens. It did hold on better than most in the U.K. down just 31% to $775,000 on 355 screens over the weekend for a total of $2.68 million after two.
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April 2nd, 2009
April starts off with what could be one of the biggest openings of the year, as well as one of the best reviewed movies of the year. Sadly, these are two separate movies. Even if the top film misses expectations, it should still earn more than the combined total of last year's set of wide releases, and help 2009 maintain its record setting pace.
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March 31st, 2009
It was an amazing weekend at the box office as all six films on this list beat expectations. Granted, some times that was by the smallest of margins, but after two down weeks in a row we will take all the good news we can. Speaking of good news, the overall box office shot up by 39% from last weekend to $146 million. More importantly, that was 38% more than the same weekend last year. Year-to-date, 2009 has now pulled in $2.38 billion, which is 12% higher than last year's pace. With April of '08 starting slowly, we have a great chance to extend the lead this coming weekend.
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March 29th, 2009
Monsters vs. Aliens got off to a great start over the weekend, according to Paramount's Sunday estimate.
The 3D movie earned an impressive $58.2 million, the best weekend of the year so far, and above even our bullish prediction.
Unless the final numbers are considerably lower, Monsters vs. Aliens will end up the third biggest opener in March (see complete list).
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March 29th, 2009
At the box office this weekend it was a case of one monster hit, and a lot of 'also-rans'. This is true of the movie websites as well. Monsters vs. Aliens's Official Site is the only one truly above average, and it is incredible, and easily the winner of the Weekly Website Award.
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March 26th, 2009
It's a one-horse race for top spot at the box office with Monsters vs. Aliens being that one horse. However, while there's no real race for the top this weekend, it will be interesting to see if the film can top last year's big spring release, Horton Hears a Who. Or if it can top The Watchmen for best opening weekend of the year. Or, most importantly, if it can help 2009 regain its winning ways over 2008. That shouldn't be too hard, as this week last year wasn't particularly strong.
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March 1st, 2009
2009 got off to such a great start that I didn't think February would continue winning, but so far that has proven to be the case, for the most part. Now March has a great chance of continuing that run with several big hits, including three potential $100 million movies. At the beginning of the year, I didn't think there would be so many hits in March, but a high tide lifts all boats, and the more people see movies, the more trailers they see in theaters, and the more likely they are to watch the upcoming movies.
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