Category Archives: Box Office

Box Office Review-Monday 8 June “Up Soars Over $100 Million”

Posted by Carolyn Giardina | June 8, 2009 2:32 pm

In its second weekend in release, “Up”—Pixar’s 10th animated feature and first in digital 3D—crossed the $100 million mark. The film earned $44.1 million in North America, to reach a domestic total gross of $137.2 million. The film opened in 3,818 theaters, including roughly 1,535 that were 3D ready.
Still, when the final weekend numbers were released Monday, Warners’ new comedy “The Hangover,” has just squeaked by Pixar with just under $45 million for the weekend.
Universal’s new Will Ferrell-starrer “Land of the Lost” disappointed, bringing in $18.8 million.
“Night at the Museum: Battle of the Smithsonian” and “Star Trek” finished fourth and fifth respectively. “Museum” earned $14.6 million for a new domestic total of $127.3 million, while “Star Trek” brought in another $8.3 million in North America for a new domestic gross of $222.7 million.
The debut of “My Life in Ruins,” starring Nia Vardalos (“My Big Fat Greek Wedding”) earned $3.2 million.

Posted in Box Office
Tagged as 3D, Land of the Lost, My Life in Ruins, Night at the Museum, Star Trek, The Hangover, UP

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Box Office Review-Sunday 31 May “Up Lifts 3D”

Posted by Carolyn Giardina | May 31, 2009 10:27 am

Disney/Pixar’s stunning “Up” gave digital 3D a high profile lift this weekend, soaring to No. 1 at the North American box office with an estimated $68.2 million. The film opened in 3,766 theaters, including a record 1,534 3D theaters.
This surpassed the opening weekend domestic gross of DreamWorks Animation’s “Monsters Vs. Aliens,” which debuted with $59.3 million in March, although with fewer 3D theaters (an estimated 1,300). Since opening weekend, DWA was able to keep many of the 3D theaters, allowing it to stay in the top 10 until it had to relinquish most of the screens to “Up.” This weekend, DWA’s animated comedy played in 566 theaters—down from 1,434 last week—and added an estimated $315,000 for a $194.4 million total domestic gross.
Next, 3D stakeholders will get a glimpse of what the still limited number of digital 3D screens might mean to box office totals as a string of 3D titles prepare to open.
“Monsters” had the majority of 3D theaters for a couple of months and demonstrated that it had legs. “Up”—while it had more screens at the start—faces a more crowded upcoming 3D release schedule.
“Call of the Wild 3D” is scheduled for a June 12 opening, but Fox’s anticipated 3D release of “Ice Age: Dawn of the Dinosaurs,” is one month away with a July 1 opening date. That still leaves four more weekends for “Up” to have the majority of 3D screens, but it is a far shorter window than “Monsters” enjoyed.
“Ice Age” will then face a similar situation, as the Disney/Jerry Bruckheimer 3D release “G-Force” debuts on July 24.
Also this weekend at the North American box office, estimates suggest that Fox’s “Night at the Museum: Battle of the Smithsonian” finished second with $25.5 million, ahead of new release “Drag Me to Hell ($16.6 million), Terminator Salvation ($16.1 million), and “Star Trek” ($12.8 million).
“Star Trek” crossed the $200 million mark with an estimated $209.5 total domestic gross.

Posted in Box Office
Tagged as Digital 3D, Ice Age, Monsters vs. Aliens, Star Trek, UP

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Daily Cinema Roundup-Thursday 27 May

Posted by Carolyn Giardina | May 28, 2009 12:59 pm

–With his contract recently extended until 2013 and “Monsters Vs. Aliens” one of the year’s top grossing films so far, DreamWorks Animation CEO Jeffrey Katzenberg has now revealed plans to release five feature films every two years, adding an additional film every other year to its existing two picture a year release schedule.
With today’s news, DWA’s release slate through 2012 now includes eight feature films, including five original films and three sequels based on the company’s existing franchises, Shrek, Madagascar and Kung Fu Panda. And as previously announced, all DWA features will be produced in 3D.
This commitment to 3D content should come as good news for stakeholders, but it could also mean added pressure on theater owners to install digital cinema and 3D capabilities, as well as on those working to advance 3D for the home market.

DWA’s schedule includes:
–“How to Train Your Dragon,” based on the book by Cressida Cowell, will be released on March 26, 2010. It will star a cast that includes Jay Baruchel, Gerard Butler, America Ferrera, Jonah Hill and Christopher Mintz-Plasse.
–“Shrek Forever After” will be released on May 21, 2010. It features the original cast, including Mike Myers, Eddie Murphy, Cameron Diaz and Antonio Banderas.
–“Oobermind” (formerly “Master Mind”) will be released on November 5, 2010. It will star Robert Downey Jr. and Tina Fey.
–“Kung Fu Panda: The Kaboom of Doom” will be released on June 3, 2011. Returning is a voice cast that includes Jack Black, Angelina Jolie, Dustin Hoffman, Jackie Chan, Seth Rogen, Lucy Liu and David Cross.
–“The Guardians” (working title), based on the forthcoming books by William Joyce, will be released on November 4, 2011.
–“Puss In Boots” (working title) will be released on March 30, 2012 and star Antonio Banderas as Puss In Boots and Salma Hayek as Kitty, Puss’ love interest.
–The next Madagascar sequel is due to be released on May 25, 2012. It will find the zoo animals continuing to get back to New York. This time the road takes them through Europe.
–On Nov. 2, 2012, DWA plans to release one of three original projects currently in pre-production at the studio.

–There is more on this news announcement in a Reuters article, reporting that Katzenberg spoke yesterday at the Cowen and Co. Technology and Media and Telecom Conference and predicted that he could get its production budgets down to $130 million (including 3D) for the 2011 films. (“Monsters Vs. Aliens” was estimated to cost $175 million.) The Reuters article also said that Katzenberg expects a positive shift it distribution costs, come 2012 when DWA’s distribution contract with Paramount expires.

–In related box office news, at press time DWA’s debut 3D title “Monsters Vs. Aliens” is just shy of an impressive $194 million in the domestic box office—the highest grossing digital 3D release to date. It had also been the biggest money maker of the year so far, but today it was just passed by the Starship Enterprise. “Star Trek” reached $194.8 million. “Monsters” will surrender the majority of 3D screens this weekend to Disney/Pixar’s “Up.”

–Dolby announced new 3D installations this week: The Empire Leicester Square in London has become Europe’s first auditorium to use the new Dolby 3D Digital Cinema large screen system.
The company reported that the new Dolby 3D large screen solution combined with Barco’s digital cinema twin-projector allows exhibitors to project Dolby 3D onto standard, non-silver screens ranging from 12.5 to 21 metres, surpassing the previous size limit of 12 metres. The Empire Leicester Square, one of the UK’s oldest and largest cinema venues, offers a 20-metre screen.
In related news, Dolby reported that Sundance Kabuki Cinemas in San Francisco has installed Dolby 3D Digital Cinema in its 160-seat auditorium, in time for Disney/Pixar’s “Up” opening.

–Universal Studios Home Entertainment will release director Henry Selick’s stop-motion animated feature “Coraline” on Blu-ray Hi-Def combo pack, 2-Disc Collector’s Edition DVD and single disc DVD on July 21.
All editions feature both the 2-D and 3-D versions of the film and four pairs of 3-D glasses, making “Coraline” the next 3D home release to watch. In theatres, digital 3D release “Coraline” made $75. 2 million in North America and $85.2 million worldwide.

Posted in Box Office, Business, Digital 3D, Equipment Vendors
Tagged as Coraline, Dolby, Dreamworks Animation, Kung Fu Panda, Monsters vs. Aliens, Shrek, Star Trek

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Box Office Review-Sunday 24 May

Posted by Carolyn Giardina | May 24, 2009 10:28 pm

Over the U.S. Memorial Day weekend, “Night at the Museum: Battle of the Smithsonian” debuted at the top of the domestic box office with an estimated $53.5 million, just ahead of another new release, “Terminator Salvation,” with an estimated $43 million.
With its Thursday opening day, the “Terminator” total is now at $56.4 million. The “Museum” opening including 160 Imax screens in North America.
Meanwhile, the Starship Enterprise is chasing ‘Aliens.” The top grossing film of the year is Dreamworks Animation’s 3D “Monsters vs. Aliens,” which in its ninth week has now brought in $193 million in the domestic market. “Star Trek” is in the number two position with $183.6 million.
On May 29, most of the digital 3D screens will be turned over to Disney/Pixar’s “Up.”

Posted in Box Office
Tagged as IMAX, Monsters vs. Aliens, Night at the Museum, Star Trek, Terminator, UP

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Box Office Review-Sunday 10 May

Posted by Carolyn Giardina | May 10, 2009 11:21 am

The Star Trek franchise had its biggest opening yet, as Paramount’s relaunched “Star Trek” topped the North American box office this weekend with an estimated $72.5 million, giving the film a domestic total of $76.5 million (with its Thursday opening night).

“X-Men Origins: Wolverine”—which last week had the biggest opening weekend of the year so far with an $85 million debut–finished in second place with an estimated $27 million, bringing its domestic box office total to $129.6 million. Worldwide, the film has crossed the $200 million mark.

Dreamworks Animation’s first digital 3D release “Monsters versus Aliens” stayed in the top 10 in its seventh week, bringing in an additional $3.4 million as its domestic total climbed to an estimated $186.9 million and worldwide gross reached $329.9 million. The production budget for “Monsters”—still the top grossing film of the year so far–is estimated to be around $175 million.

DWA still has a few more weeks before the next wide digital 3D release, Disney/Pixar’s “Up,” opens in theaters on May 29.

After a disappointing start last week, Lionsgate’s animated 3D release “Battle for Terra” continued to struggle. This weekend it brought in an estimated $184,000 for a $1. 5 million total domestic gross.

Add two more 3D release dates to your lists: Warner Bros.’ “Happy Feet 2”—the sequel to the computer animated Oscar winner “Happy Feet”—is slated to open in 3D on Nov. 18, 2011. Meanwhile Vivendi will open the live action family adventure “Call of the Wild 3D” next month on June 12.

Posted in Box Office, Digital 3D
Tagged as 3D, Battle for Terra, Box Office, Call of the Wild 3D, Dreamworks Animation, Happy Feet 2, Monsters vs. Aliens, Paramount, Star Trek, Twentieth Century Fox, Wolverine

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“Wolverine” Opens With $87 Million Weekend; 3D Tested in “Battle”

Posted by Carolyn Giardina | May 3, 2009 11:44 am

North America’s summer movie season began this weekend with a big success for a superhero tentpole and a disappointing start for the latest 3D release.

20^th Century Fox’s “X-Men Origins: Wolverine,” launched the season by winning its opening weekend with $87 million. That is the second biggest start for an X-Men franchise film. “X’Men: The Last Stand” opened in 2006 with $102.7 million, although that was released over the four-day Memorial Day holiday weekend.

In second place this weekend was Warner Bros.’ romantic comedy “Ghosts of Girfriends Past” with $15.3 million.

The success of “Wolverine” supports expectations that this summer will be one for the record books. Additional tentpoles expected to drive big box office revenues this summer include “Transformers: Revenge of the Fallen,” “Harry Potter and the Half Blood Prince,“ “Star Trek” and “Angels and Demons.”

Digital 3D will be a key area to watch this season. The summer of ’08 had only two 3D releases: “Journey to the Center of the Earth,” which topped $100 million; and “Fly Me to the Moon,” which brought in $13.6 million. A year ago there were also fewer screens.

This weekend, Lionsgate’s digital 3D title “Battle for Terra” made its debut, while Dreamworks Animation’s 3D “Monsters Versus Aliens” remained in theaters.

Computer-animated “Battle for Terra” opened in 1,162 2D and 3D theaters, but finished in 12^th place for the weekend with just over $1 million. In contrast, last summer’s animated “Fly Me To the Moon” opened with $1.9 million in just 452 theaters.

The 3D winner for the weekend was animated “Monsters Versus Aliens,” which in its sixth week collected another $5.8 million, bringing its domestic gross to $182.4 million. “Monsters” is the highest grossing movie of the year so far in North America.

A few 3D observations:

–Content is still king. Despite its strong buzz, digital 3D was not enough to drive big box office for “Battle for Terra.”

–Screen count: Estimates suggest that there are nearly 1,500 3D-ready theaters in North America. Yet still to come this summer is a steady slate of digital 3D titles including Disney/Pixar’s “Up” (May 29), Fox’s “Ice Age: Dawn of the Dinosaurs” (July 1), Disney’s “G-Force” (July 24), Disney’s “X-Games 3D The Movie” (Aug. 21) and Warners’ “Final Destination: Death Trip” (Aug. 28).

“Monsters” is still performing in its sixth week in release. Will the slate of 3D titles that will be sharing screens this summer prompt an increase in 3D theater installations?

Posted in Box Office, Digital 3D

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