"MARLEY" MELTS HEARTS AGAIN
NEW YEAR, SAME FILMS ON TOP
Hollywood’s cure for New Year’s hangovers: leftovers. With no new films opening the first weekend
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2008 YEAR TO DATE BOX OFFICE
THE DARK KNIGHT LEADS ...
ERC
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WRITER'S GUILD NOMINATIONS
2009 WGA NOMINEES
ORIGINAL SCREENPLAY ...
WGA
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CHAD HARTIGAN'S TOP 10 FILMS OF 2008
2008 was a resilient year for the studios. A ...
Chad Hartigan
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PGA NOMINEES
Producer's Guild of America ...
PGA
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"MARLEY'S" BOAST
CHRISTMAS CHEERS BOX OFFICE
It ...
Jeff Bock
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"MAN" OF THE HOUR
JIM CARREY AND WILL SMITH ARE ...
Jeff Bock
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WARNER BROS. 2009 PREVIEW
WB HANGS HAT ON "HARRY" & ...
ERC
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| THE TICKER YEAR-TO-DATE BOX OFFICE (Jan 1-Jan 8) |
| Year to Date Earnings | %Gain/Loss +0.08 |
| 2008 $9,629,393,156 |
| 2007 $9,621,900,000 |
| Ticket Sales | %Gain/Loss -3.97 |
| 2008 1,342,956,764 |
| 2007 1,398,531,977 |
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| TITLE | DIST. | | SITES | | GROSS | | AVG | | TOTAL |
1 |
MARLEY & ME |
Fox |
· |
3505 |
· |
$24,263,763 |
· |
$6,923 |
· |
$106,664,046 |
2 |
BEDTIME STORIES |
Walt Disney |
· |
3684 |
· |
$20,501,339 |
· |
$5,565 |
· |
$85,539,168 |
3 |
THE CURIOUS CASE OF BENJAMIN BUTTON |
Paramount |
· |
2988 |
· |
$18,691,248 |
· |
$6,255 |
· |
$79,297,086 |
4 |
VALKYRIE |
MGM |
· |
2711 |
· |
$14,094,617 |
· |
$5,199 |
· |
$60,743,921 |
5 |
YES MAN |
Warner Bros. |
· |
3434 |
· |
$13,910,477 |
· |
$4,051 |
· |
$79,507,388 |
6 |
SEVEN POUNDS |
Sony |
· |
2758 |
· |
$10,068,518 |
· |
$3,651 |
· |
$60,147,298 |
7 |
THE TALE OF DESPEREAUX |
Universal |
· |
3091 |
· |
$6,939,295 |
· |
$2,245 |
· |
$43,661,775 |
8 |
THE DAY THE EARTH STOOD STILL |
Fox |
· |
2337 |
· |
$5,049,698 |
· |
$2,161 |
· |
$74,424,256 |
9 |
DOUBT |
Miramax |
· |
1287 |
· |
$5,000,893 |
· |
$3,886 |
· |
$18,705,481 |
10 |
SLUMDOG MILLIONAIRE |
Fox Searchlight |
· |
612 |
· |
$4,690,769 |
· |
$7,665 |
· |
$28,676,598 |
11 |
TWILIGHT |
Summit |
· |
1888 |
· |
$4,648,642 |
· |
$2,462 |
· |
$176,922,850 |
12 |
BOLT |
Walt Disney |
· |
1729 |
· |
$3,291,944 |
· |
$1,904 |
· |
$109,917,145 |
Jan. 8, 2009
| TITLE | DIST. | | SITES | | GROSS | | AVG | | TOTAL |
1 |
MARLEY & ME |
Fox |
· |
3505 |
· |
$1,507,382 |
· |
$430 |
· |
$109,743,046 |
2 |
THE CURIOUS CASE OF BENJAMIN BUTTON |
Paramount |
· |
2988 |
· |
$1,494,030 |
· |
$500 |
· |
$82,232,354 |
3 |
VALKYRIE |
MGM |
· |
2778 |
· |
$1,124,884 |
· |
$405 |
· |
$62,956,543 |
4 |
YES MAN |
Warner Bros. |
· |
3434 |
· |
$983,454 |
· |
$286 |
· |
$81,557,039 |
5 |
SEVEN POUNDS |
Sony |
· |
2758 |
· |
$761,507 |
· |
$276 |
· |
$61,634,065 |
6 |
BEDTIME STORIES |
Walt Disney |
· |
3684 |
· |
$748,226 |
· |
$203 |
· |
$87,327,163 |
7 |
DOUBT |
Miramax |
· |
1287 |
· |
$465,579 |
· |
$362 |
· |
$19,582,809 |
8 |
SLUMDOG MILLIONAIRE |
Fox Searchlight |
· |
612 |
· |
$436,096 |
· |
$713 |
· |
$29,494,758 |
9 |
TWILIGHT |
Summit |
· |
1888 |
· |
$411,695 |
· |
$218 |
· |
$177,766,840 |
10 |
THE DAY THE EARTH STOOD STILL |
Fox |
· |
2337 |
· |
$352,281 |
· |
$151 |
· |
$75,148,785 |
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RELEASE DATE CHANGES |
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| FANBOYS | MGM |
Fanboys, unite! Your geek-flag flies yet again. After being kicked around more than Jar Jar Binks, Fanboys finally settles on a release date...with the director's vision in tact! That's the word on the street, we'll see though, it's been a long, strange trip for the ultimate Star Wars fan film, and February is still far, far away. If it really does make it to theatres, be sure to give thanks to "The Great Creator," George Lucas.
ALSO OPENING: DANCE FLICK, HE'S JUST NOT THAT INTO YOU, PINK PANTHER 2, PUSH |
IN: Fri 2/6/09 OUT: NEW |
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| JONAS BROTHERS 3-D CONCERT MOVIE | Walt Disney |
Tell me you didn't see this one coming. Walt Disney, fresh off the success of Hannah Montana 3-D, bring us Jersey's finest, delivering vestal harmonies...into your lap. Hordes of tweenie boppers are no doubt already screaming and attempting to purchase tickets online. Jonas-mania will reach an apex February 27th. Take cover!
ALSO OPENING: OBSESSED, STREET FIGHTER |
IN: Fri 2/27/09 OUT: NEW |
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| FAST AND FURIOUS | Universal |
Is this a franchise reset? Sorta. The only thing missing from this fourth installment are two "the's." Call it a sleaker, more tightly modified version, that sees Tokyo Drift helmer Justin Lin return to the driver's seat, as well as the cast from the original. Good move, considering Vin Diesel and Paul Walker's careers have come to a screeching halt.
ALSO OPENING: THE UGLY TRUTH
UPDATE: Universal boldly goes where no big sequel has gone before: Not Summer! Savvy move, since the slate in April is extremely weak. Should have no problem lapping the competition in the weeks leading up to the summer blockbuster slate. NOS me! |
IN: Fri 4/3/09 OUT: Fri 6/12/09 |
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| EARTH | Disneynature |
Disney goes green in a big way on Earth Day, announcing the first film in a series of nature documentaries headed to the big screen under their new label: Disneynature. No word yet whether or not GREEN DAY will supply the soundtrack, but this we know fo' sure: The mouse is officially outta the house!
ALSO OPENING: VANILLA GORILLA, THE GOODS: THE DON READY STORY
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IN: Wed 4/22/09 OUT: NEW |
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| GHOSTS OF GIRLFRIENDS PAST | Warner Bros. |
Mathew McConaughottie and Jennifer Garner will face Wolverine as the two films kick off the 2009 Summer Season. Looking to build on the moderate counter-programming success of Made of Honor, which opened against Iron Man and still grossed nearly $15 mil ($46 mil total), expect this rom-com to double that gross and then some if all the pieces come together for talented director Mark Waters (The Spiderwick Chronicles, Mean Girls).
ALSO OPENING: X-MEN ORIGINS: WOLVERINE |
IN: Fri 5/1/09 OUT: NEW |
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| MY LIFE IN RUINS | Fox Searchlight |
"Know Thyself" is a well-known Greek aphorism that is at the heart of philosophical and moral principles. Nia Vardalos, who shot to brief stardom in My Big Fat Greek Wedding understands this, and has embraced her Greekdom once again. However, this time, she goes straight to the Acropolis in search of love. Fox and Playtone provide some of that feminine counterprogramming that has been storming the box office lately, and this time the estrogen army boldy goes where no women have gone before...up against Kirk, Spock, Scotty, and the rest of the Trekkies. Live long and persperate! Summer 2009 is heating up.
ALSO OPENING: STAR TREK |
IN: Fri 5/8/09 OUT: NEW |
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| DRAG ME TO HELL | Universal |
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Sam Raimi returns next summer! No, not Spider-Man 4, but back to his low-budget horror roots. Opening as counter programming to Pixar's Up is a bold choice, but that move should pay off positioning itself as the first horror film of the summer. Will Bruce Campbell make a cameo? Does a bear deficate in the woods?
ALSO OPENING: UP
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IN: Fri 5/29/09 OUT: NEW |
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| LAND OF THE LOST | Universal |
Harry Potter pushes Will Farrell's space-time vortex comedy out of late July, and now lands in June, where it is competition-free. They say you have to first be lost to be found. Great move by Universal, especially considering that they now have the jump on two comedies that open the following week--Eddie Murphy's Nowhereland and Todd Phillips' Hangover. |
IN: Fri 6/5/09 OUT: Fri 7/17/09 |
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| THE TOOTH FAIRY | Fox |
Dwayne Johnson in a tutu with a magic wand? Not exactly. Ah, shucks. The midsummer comedy will face heady competition though, as it opens against fellow comedy The Year One with Jack Black and Michael Cera, as well as the romantic comedy, The Proposal, starring Sandra Bullock and Ryan Reynolds. Three comedies on one weekend...that's no laughing matter. Expect someone to budge.
UPDATE: The Proposal jumps ship...a week earlier to 6/12.
ALSO OPENING: THE YEAR ONE |
IN: Fri 6/19/09 OUT: NEW |
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| HARRY POTTER AND THE HALF-BLOOD PRINCE | Warner Bros. |
Poof! And just like that...there will be no Thanksgiving, Christmas, Hannakah, or Kwanzaa this year. Okay, let's get this out in the open: Who's been naughty? Fess up! Because all the muggles around the world just got a lump of coal in their stockings!?! Harry Potter has disappeared from 2008, and resurfaced opposite Will Farrell's Land of the Lost (Universal can't be too pleased about that) in Summer '09. The entire holiday calendar just got a lot lighter, and family fare is looking pretty slim. It's going to be awfully difficult to break 2007's record breaking tally ($9.6 billion) without this box office behemoth.
UPDATE: As expected, Land of the Lost has jumped ship to early June, leaving Harry & Co. all by themselves. Smart move, going up against the JK Rowling juggernaut is kinda like trying to block a Killing Curse. "Avada Kedavra!" |
IN: Fri 7/17/09 OUT: NEW |
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| FINAL DESTINATION 4 | Warner Bros. |
The horror franchise goes to heights never previously attempted in order kill off its cast...the third dimension! That's right, in-your-face spills and chills! Somehow, going 4-D would seem more appropriate here... |
IN: Fri 8/21/09 OUT: Fri 8/14/09 |
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| WOLFMAN | Universal |
Benico Del Toro fans will have to wait to see his full transformation into a werewolf until Novemeber. Surprisingly, Universal didn't opt to go for Oct. 30, the Friday before, to maximize the haunting season. Currently, no films are scheduled for that date. I assume they fear Jigsaw: Lionsgate drops SAW VI on Oct. 24th.
ALSO OPENING: THE BOX, A CHRISTMAS CAROL, THE FANTASTIC MR. FOX |
IN: Fri 11/6/09 OUT: Fri 4/3/09 |
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| SHERLOCK HOLMES | Warner Bros. |
| Yo, Holmes...welcome to the 21st century! Director Guy Ritchie will definitely ratchet Sir Arthur Conan Doyle's famous dick up a notch or two, and with Robert Downey Jr. in the leading role and Jude Law as his trusty sidekick, Watson, expect this to be Scotland Yard's finest hour. I do say, this is likely to be an enormous hit next holiday season. Cheerio! |
IN: Fri 11/20/09 OUT: NEW |
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| NEW MOON | SUMMIT |
Summit Entertainment has officially announced the release date of their Twilight sequel, New Moon, and it comes as no surprise that it will be exactly one year after the original was released. Yes, it's on the fast track with a March start! Mark it in blood on your calendar now, fanggirls! No way Twilighters will be under the radar this time. Expect a couple of titles to jump ship on their release date, now that Twilight is a blockbuster that has serious bite!
ALSO OPENING: PLANET 51, SHERLOCK HOLMES, UNTITLED 3 STOOGES PROJECT |
IN: Fri 11/20/09 OUT: NEW |
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| BOOK OF ELI | Warner Bros. |
The Hughes Bros. return to the director's chair for the first time since 2001's "From Hell." Denzel Washinton stars in what is being described as a post-apocalyptic Western. Y'know, the kind where the fate of humankind hangs in the balance. Apparently, Will Smith has already walked in these shoes...
ALSO OPENING: CLOUDY WITH A CHANCE OF MEATBALLS, HOODWINKED 2 |
IN: Fri 1/15/10 OUT: NEW |
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| IRON MAN 2 | Paramount |
| Marvel studios jumps into summer, and now goes up against The Chronicles of Naria: Voyage of the Dawn Treader. Don't expect that match-up to last, as Disney learned their lesson this summer with Prince Caspian. Expect the Narnia threequel to push back to fall, as the family-friendly film doesn't have the cajones or the credentials to go up against a film that wil likely debut with $150+ million. |
IN: Fri 5/7/10 OUT: Fri 4/30/10 |
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| PRINCE OF PERSIA: THE SANDS OF TIME | Walt Disney |
The Jake Gyllenhaal starrer has been bumped from a very crowded '09 summer marketplace and has landed on Memorial Day Weekend 2010. Currently, the Jerry Bruckheimer produced video game adaptation is the only film on the release schedule over the lucrative holiday. |
IN: Fri 5/28/10 OUT: Fri 6/19/09 |
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| THE GREEN HORNET | Sony |
Seth Rogen writes and stars as the titular character in Sony's comic book adaptation which has officially locked down a summer release date. No definitive word on who will play Kato, but Stephen Chow has been rumored. As for the role of the car, "Black Beauty," Knight Rider's Kitt would seem to have the inside track. Expect balls-to-the-wall action, balls-to-the-wall comedy, and if Judd Apatow has any input, balls, in general, will be present. Yes, crime fighting with a dash of manly tenderness.
UPDATE: Stephen Chow has been confirmed! Not only will he play Kato, but he will direct. This project is now officially 2 legit 2 quit. GO HAMMER! GO HORNET! GO GREEN! |
IN: Fri 6/25/10 OUT: NEW |
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| THOR | Paramount |
Mighty Marvel goes for another two-fer in 2010, as they line up the cast for 2011's The Avengers. No word yet on who will swing Thor's hammer, but don't expect Kevin Sorbo or Fabio to be in the running. Ramp up those casting rumors, this is the role of a lifetime. |
IN: Fri 7/16/10 OUT: NEW |
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| THE FIRST AVENGER: CAPTAIN AMERICA | Paramount |
| We all saw this coming when we got a sneak peek at Cap's shield in Iron Man. Kicking off the summer of 2011 is quite an honor, as superheroes take over for sequels as Hollywood's safety net. So, when will Superhero burnout take effect? |
IN: Fri 5/6/11 OUT: NEW |
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| KUNG FU PANDA SEQUEL | Paramount |
Ready for some more Kung Foolery? It's on path to theatres...summer 2011. Paramount has locked down a flurry of prime summer release dates this week as they position their tentpoles in 2010 and 2011. DreamWorks is using a "brick and mortar" title currently, but the message boards have already revealed several obvious titles: Kung Fu Panda: Way of the Panda, Kung Fu Panda: Escape 2 Outer Mongolia, and Kung Fu Panda: Boot 2 the Head. |
IN: Fri 6/3/11 OUT: NEW |
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| THE AVENGERS | Paramount |
| Earth's mightiest heroes -- sorry, X-Men-- finally take the screen as a collective. Should be a trip, and hopefully, Marvel will churn out these team-ups with a revolving cast every couple years. The only thing that is more exciting than an Avengers movie, is a Justice League movie with Angelina Jolie as Wonder Woman, Christian Bale as Batman and Adrian Grenier as Aquaman. |
IN: Fri 7/15/11 OUT: NEW |
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