February 19th, 2009
With our annual
Oscar Prediction contest underway, now is the best time to look at the
nominees and try and figure out who the favorites are and which films should just feel honored to be nominated. Today we look at Best Female Actor in a Supporting Role and Best Male Actor in a Supporting Role.
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January 22nd, 2009
For a year without an obvious front-runner for the Oscar race, there were not a whole lot of surprises when it came to the nominations. The Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences announced their nominations today and leading the way was The Curious Case of Benjamin Button with thirteen while Slumdog Millionaire was second with ten.
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December 28th, 2008
The Screen Actors Guild nominations were announced last Friday, but in the holiday rush, they fell through the cracks. Perhaps that's because most SAG talk these days revolves around possible strike action. The big player here is undoubtedly Doubt, which picked up four individual nods and one for its primary cast.
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December 12th, 2008
The latest set of Awards Season nominations were handed out today as the Hollywood Foreign Press Association announced their nominations. There was not much in the way of surprises, and it is hard to look at one film and say it was the big winner, but Frost/Nixon and The Curious Case of Benjamin Button come the closest.
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December 9th, 2008
There were not many new releases to chart this week, but we did have a new number one as Hancock took top spot on the sales chart. That film sold 3.02 million units during its first week of release for a total of $61.23 million in consumer retail spending.
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December 9th, 2008
There were not that many new releases to chart this week, but Hancock was able to open on top with about 40% more rentals than Tropic Thunder.
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December 2nd, 2008
It's the slowest week in more than a month, which is not surprising since it is the Tuesday after Black Friday. That doesn't mean there are no top-notch releases this week, or major sellers. In fact, there are three $100 million hits from last summer coming out this week. However, to find the DVD Pick of the Week we have to go a bit further back, all the way back to 1942 and Casablanca - The Ultimate Collector's Edition on Blu-ray.
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December 1st, 2008
WALL-E was the biggest new release of the week, as it topped the sales chart with an impressive 6.20 million units sold and $112.07 million in consumer retail spending. This is the best opening week for a DVD since At World's End sold more than 8 million units during its opening week last year and it instantly puts the DVD into second place for the year.
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December 1st, 2008
Tropic Thunder topped the rental charts, generating about 20% more revenue than fellow new release WALL-E, which placed second.
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November 18th, 2008
It's a weird week for the DVD release report. According to Amazon, seven of the top ten releases come from two movie: WALL-E and Tropic Thunder. Add in the Spanish language edition and there are five versions of the former movie coming out this week, including the 3-Disc DVD and the 3-Disc Blu-ray, either one of which is worthy of the DVD Pick of the Week. The overall group of releases feels weaker than last week, but it is more than enough that it had to be split into two parts. Part one can be found here.
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November 18th, 2008
It's a weird week for the DVD release report. According to Amazon, seven of the top ten releases come from two movies: WALL-E and Tropic Thunder. Add in the Spanish language edition and there are five versions of the former movie coming out this week, including the 3-Disc DVD and the 3-Disc Blu-ray, either one of which is worthy of the DVD Pick of the Week. The overall group of releases feels weaker than last week, but it is more than enough that it had to be split into two parts. Part two can be found here.
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November 9th, 2008
Saw V slipped a spot to sixth place with $6.44 million on 1703 screens in 26 markets for a total of $16.52 million. This week it opened in fourth place in Russia with $745,000 on 200 screens while in earned seventh place in Mexico with just $148,000 on 120 screens. As far as holdovers go, the film fell more than 60% in the U.K. to $1.55 million on 367 screens for a total of $7.53 million.
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November 3rd, 2008
Public Enemy Number One Part 1 opened in first place in France with $5.66 million on 489 screens. Adding in a couple of smaller markets and it pulled in $5.80 million on 527 screens in 3 markets over the weekend, landing in sixth place internationally.
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October 26th, 2008
Vicky Cristina Barcelona remained in sixth place internationally with $6.66 million on 1136 screens in 11 markets for a total of $22.85 million after a month of release. This includes France, where the film remained in first place with $3.15 million on 443 screens for the week and $7.68 million after two. Meanwhile, it opened in Italy with $2.16 million on 378 screens, which was enough for second place in that market.
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October 19th, 2008
First some updates on Wednesday's numbers. Due to Columbus Day, we were relying on studio estimates instead of final numbers, and while they were mostly accurate, they were not entirely accurate. The Russia film, Admiral (Koltchak), did indeed top the charts with $12.51 million on 1,223 screens in 2 markets over the weekend and $13.31 million in total. Meanwhile, Eagle Eye added $10.88 million on 3,030 screens in 38 markets for a still early total of $29.41 million. Mamma Mia! continues its quest for $400 million with $8.37 million on 3,713 screens in 46 markets for a total of $390.72 million. These three films were very close to the original figures, however, the rest of the top five was different than originally reported, starting with...
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October 12th, 2008
German Unification Day helped The Baader Meinhof Complex grow by 10% as it remained in second place in Germany with $4.82 million on 594 screens for a total of $10.99 million after two weeks. Adding in two smaller markets and the film made $5.35 million on 660 screens in 3 markets for a total of $12.06 million.
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October 1st, 2008
Mamma Mia! remained in top spot on the international chart with a nearly identical result to last week, earning $15.62 million on 4,152 screens in 44 markets for a total of $356.63 million internationally and $498.82 million worldwide. This includes an estimated $4.3 million on 436 screens in Russia, which was easily enough for first place. The film is also still cruising in the U.K. adding $1.10 million on 418 screens for a total of $113.40 million after nearly three months of release. At this point, one has to assume that Titanic's record is not out of reach, and that the studio might be willing to give it the extra push to put it over the top.
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September 24th, 2008
No major openings didn't hurt Mamma Mia! too much as it remained on top of the international charts with $15.15 million on 4036 screens on 45 markets for a total of $334.87 million. This includes $2.4 million on 462 screens in France, but that was for the full week. Meanwhile in the U.K. it added $1.30 million on 443 screens for a total of $110.87 million after nearly three months of release, which is not that far off Titanic 's record of roughly $120 million.
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September 21st, 2008
Journey To The Centre of the Earth opened in first place in Australia by a huge margin with $2.87 million on 362 screens, more than four times its nearest competitor. Overall the film made $6.41 million on 1417 screens in 27 markets for a total of $57.65 million, with a few smaller openings from now till its debut in Japan at the end of October.
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September 15th, 2008
Four films opened wide this weekend, and all four finished in the top four, which is the first time that's happened in more than a year and a half. The strength of the new releases helped the overall box office bounce back, as it was up 49% from last weekend at $101 million. More importantly, it was up more than 28% from the same weekend last year, which ended a seven-week losing streak. Year-to-date, 2008 is still behind, but the gap was closed somewhat with 2007 leading with $6.92 billion to $6.87 billion.
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September 14th, 2008
Wanted failed to reach first place during its opening in Germany, but still rose dramatically earning sixth internationally with $6.13 million on 1590 screens in 29 markets for a total of $147.68 million. In Germany is finished in second place behind The Dark Knight's third weekend of release earning $3.18 million on 444 screens, which is still impressive. Next up is Spain this weekend, while it opens wide in Japan next weekend and China early in October.
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September 11th, 2008
There are four wide releases this week, and the odds are that all four will place in the top four on the chart. However, there are some disagreements among analysts on which films have a shot at topping the chart, and which will struggle. But (almost) everyone agrees that the overall box office will grow from last weekend, and most agree it will grow from the same weekend last year.
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September 8th, 2008
After the summer comes the fall, which was certainly true this past weekend. Bangkok Dangerous and rest of the market only pulled in just $68 million over the weekend, which is 45% lower than last weekend. However, while that's a huge drop-off, more importantly it is nearly 15% lower than the same weekend last year and the ninth weakest weekend since 2000, and worst weekend in five years. Year-to-date, 2008 is now behind 2007 by just over 1% at $6.75 billion to $6.82 billion, but hopefully it will bounce back next weekend. I can't imagine it will be worse.
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September 7th, 2008
With the Summer season over, Hollywood started the Fall with a soft weekend, according to studio estimates released on Sunday.
Bangkok Dangerous is expected to win the weekend with an estimated $7.8 million, just ahead of Tropic Thunder's $7.5 million, in its fourth weekend in release.
The last time no movie topped $10 million in a weekend was April, 2007 when Disturbia topped the charts with a shade over $9 million.
To find a number one movie that earned less than $8 million, one has to go back exactly five years, to September, 2003, when Dickie Roberts: Former Child Star topped with just $6.66 million.
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September 7th, 2008
You Don't Mess With The Zohan slipped out of the top five with $7.96 million on 2296 screens in 33 markets for a total of $69.53 million internationally, which is more than Adam Sandler's previous film made in total internationally. This week the film opened in France landing in 10th place with just $816,000, but it was playing on just 171 screens. On the other hand, it added $1.66 million on 335 screens in Spain for a two-week total of $6.45 million.
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September 5th, 2008
Can Tropic Thunder do it? Can Tropic Thunder match The Dark Knight's winning streak? ... Probably not, but it has a shot, thanks to the weakness in the new releases this week (or should that say new release?), and the historically slow post-Labor Day weekend.
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September 2nd, 2008
The Dark Knight did what few films in the past decade were able to do, lead the box office charts for four weeks in a row. Now Tropic Thunder is one weekend away from tying that mark. However, it was able to win this weekend thanks to weakness in the new releases, which caused the box office to slump. From Friday to Sunday the industry brought in $98 million, which was 8% lower than last weekend and 17% lower than the same weekend last year. Over four days, $124 million was earned, which was again 17% lower than the same weekend last year. Year-to-date, 2008 fell further behind $6.67 billion to $6.73 billion, but that is still less than a 1% difference and certainly not an insurmountable lead.
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August 31st, 2008
Hellboy 2: The Golden Army returned to the international chart in sixth place with $7.20 million on 828 screens in 14 markets for a total of $32.93 million. Of that weekend haul, $5.45 million was earned on 464 screens in the U.K., where it topped the charts this past weekend. Compared to the original, this film has made more domestically and more worldwide, while it is nearing its international total with openings in Australia, Spain, Brazil, Germany, France, and other markets left ahead of it.
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August 28th, 2008
Labor Day long weekend is the final weekend of summer, but far from ending on a high note, it is arguably the slowest long weekend of the year. And this year it looks to be no different, at least in terms of box office numbers. In terms of new releases, well, that's a another story with four movies opening wide, and another expanding wide. It is very unlikely that they will all succeed; in fact, it is more likely that they will all bomb. This makes it very difficult to predict which new release will come out on top, if any do.
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August 25th, 2008
Summer is winding down and the overall box office numbers show that quite clearly. Over the weekend, $106 million worth of tickets were sold, which is 15% lower than last weekend. On the other hand, it is a mere 1.3% lower than the same weekend last year, which continues the month-long slump. However, while 2008 is behind 2007's pace, it is by just 0.5% at $6.50 billion to $6.53 billion.
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August 24th, 2008
Ponyo on the Cliff is locked in first place in Japan growing by 13% to $7.75 million on 481 screens over the weekend for a total of $90.47 million at the end of last weekend, and it is likely that it has hit $100 million in the meantime.
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August 22nd, 2008
Four films are opening in wide release this week, none of which can be called marquee releases. However, most of them should be able to cut out a slice of the shrinking summer box office pie. Most of them. A couple even have a shot at first place.
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August 18th, 2008
We finally had a new box office champion last weekend, as Tropic Thunder earned top spot and dethrowned The Dark Knight. Additionally, overall box office receipts of $124 million were stronger than they have been in a few weeks. That's 3.5% higher than last weekend, but sadly just over 4% lower than the same weekend last year. Year-to-date, 2008 is still behind 2007, but by less than a percent, $6.34 billion to $6.37 billion.
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August 16th, 2008
Not a good week for movie sites with more than a few that are missing, broken, or even worse, MySpace. That said, Tropic Thunder's Official Site is top-notch and worthy of the Weekly Website Award.
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August 14th, 2008
As summer winds down, the box office potential of the wide releases slumps, but the number of wide releases increases. This week we have three (and a couple of not so wide releases that we will get to later), including one that is already in theaters. None are likely to set the box office on fire. That said, there's almost no chance that The Dark Knight will repeat as the box office winner, which will bring an end to its nearly month-long reign. However, it will hit a milestone of its own.
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August 1st, 2008
Summer usually comes screeching to a halt early in August, usually by the second weekend in August. However, this year we could have a $100 million hit opening each of the first three weeks. Or we could have no $100 million hits opening during the whole month. On the other end, there are a number of releases that probably looked good on paper, but failed to live up to their potential, not to mention a few that could not have looked good, even on paper. (I'm looking at you, Disaster Movie.)
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July 20th, 2008
This week's round of new movie release information contains release dates for My Bloody Valentine, Janky Promoters, Alpha and Omega and more!
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March 28th, 2008
This week's round of new casting information contains updates for Crazy on the Outside, Two Lovers, W., and more!
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March 20th, 2008
This week's round of new casting information contains updates for The Grand, The Proposal, The Legend of Secret Pass, and more!
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February 17th, 2008
This week's round of new movie release information contains release dates for Star Wars: The Clone Wars, Four Christmases, Star Trek XI and more!
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February 11th, 2007
This week's round of new movie release information contains release dates for Indiana Jones 4, The Mummy 3, Hellboy 2 and more.
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