The Green Lantern shone at the US box office this weekend, opening with $52.7 million in ticket sales.
The Ryan Reynolds and Blake Lively superhero film is the latest of several comic book adaptations to hit cinemas this summer.
Coming in second place was last week's winner, Super 8, with $21.3 million.
Jim Carrey's new movie, Mr. Popper’s Penguins, came in third position, making $18.2 million.
Fourth and fifth place went to X-Men: First Class and The Hangover Part II with $11.5 million and $10 million.
Rounding off the top ten were Kung Fu Panda 2, Bridesmaids, Pirates of the Caribbean: On Stranger Tides, Midnight in Paris, and Judy Moody and the Not Bummer Summer.
Monday, June 20, 2011
Saturday, June 11, 2011
New "X-Men" tops class at worldwide box office
The fifth movie in the "X-Men" series took the No. 1 spot at the worldwide box office after selling about $120 million worth of tickets, distributor 20th Century Fox said on Sunday.
"X-Men: First Class," a relaunch of the Marvel comic book franchise, opened at No. 1 across the United States and Canada with $56 million -- fulfilling the studio's expectations, even if some analysts were predicting a $60 million start.
Its international tally of $64 million from 74 markets included about 30 No. 1 debuts, including Britain ($9 million), France ($7.7 million), Mexico ($5.3 million) and Brazil ($4 million).
"X-Men" was the No. 2 pick overseas, behind "Pirates of the Caribbean: On Stranger Tides" with $69.4 million.
Even though the North American opening was sharply lower than most of the earlier films in the "X-Men" franchise, it all but guarantees there will be more films revolving around the exploits of a stable of mutant superheroes.
"We have successfully launched a brand new chapter of this franchise," said Chris Aronson, senior vice president for domestic distribution at the News Corp unit.
"X-Men: First Class," which reportedly cost about $160 million to make before tax credits, is a prequel dealing with the formative years of the future superheroes. Both critics and fans hailed the new direction.
Instead of hiring A-list talent, Fox went with critically acclaimed British director Matthew Vaughn ("Kick-Ass") and actors James McAvoy and Michael Fassbender. The cast also includes recent Oscar nominee Jennifer Lawrence, "Mad Men" actress January Jones and Kevin Bacon.
McAvoy and Fassbender play the lead roles originated by Patrick Stewart and Ian McKellen in 2000's "X-Men" and two sequels. A 2009 spinoff "X-Men Origins: Wolverine," starring Hugh Jackman in the title role, opened to $85 million in North America. Jackman has a cameo in the new film.
"X-Men: First Class," a relaunch of the Marvel comic book franchise, opened at No. 1 across the United States and Canada with $56 million -- fulfilling the studio's expectations, even if some analysts were predicting a $60 million start.
Its international tally of $64 million from 74 markets included about 30 No. 1 debuts, including Britain ($9 million), France ($7.7 million), Mexico ($5.3 million) and Brazil ($4 million).
"X-Men" was the No. 2 pick overseas, behind "Pirates of the Caribbean: On Stranger Tides" with $69.4 million.
Even though the North American opening was sharply lower than most of the earlier films in the "X-Men" franchise, it all but guarantees there will be more films revolving around the exploits of a stable of mutant superheroes.
"We have successfully launched a brand new chapter of this franchise," said Chris Aronson, senior vice president for domestic distribution at the News Corp unit.
"X-Men: First Class," which reportedly cost about $160 million to make before tax credits, is a prequel dealing with the formative years of the future superheroes. Both critics and fans hailed the new direction.
Instead of hiring A-list talent, Fox went with critically acclaimed British director Matthew Vaughn ("Kick-Ass") and actors James McAvoy and Michael Fassbender. The cast also includes recent Oscar nominee Jennifer Lawrence, "Mad Men" actress January Jones and Kevin Bacon.
McAvoy and Fassbender play the lead roles originated by Patrick Stewart and Ian McKellen in 2000's "X-Men" and two sequels. A 2009 spinoff "X-Men Origins: Wolverine," starring Hugh Jackman in the title role, opened to $85 million in North America. Jackman has a cameo in the new film.
'Super 8' a box office mystery
LOS ANGELES (Hollywood Reporter) - The pairing of J.J. Abrams and Steven Spielberg has turned "Super 8" into the box office mystery of the summer.
The period sci-fi pic -- directed by Abrams and produced by Spielberg -- officially rolls out Friday in 3,379 theaters, following sneak previews at 329 locations Thursday. Amid decidedly muted advance buzz, its performance this weekend is the subject of heated speculation among insiders.
Paramount, which maintains that the $50 million film doesn't need a big opening weekend, is predicting a debut in the $25 million to $30 million range. It will vie for honors with "X-Men: First Class," which debuted last weekend to $55.1 million. The superhero sequel enjoyed strong midweek business, with a total of $69.9 million through Wednesday.
Overall awareness for "Super 8" isn't quite where it should be, although there could be a myriad of reasons why. The film has no big stars and is an original story sandwiched between known franchise titles.
At the same time, "Super 8" is drawing strong reviews, with critics crediting Abrams for going outside of Hollywood's comfort zone and making a film he calls an homage to the movies he grew up with as a kid, many of them from Spielberg.
Set in 1979, "Super 8" tells the story of a group of kids who are filming a home movie when there's a violent train crash. When unexplained events start to threaten their town, they begin to suspect something inhuman escaped from the train. The film stars Joel Courtney, Elle Fanning, Kyle Chandler, Ryan Lee, Riley Griffiths, Gabriel Basso and Zach Mills.
Still, Paramount has been doing everything it can to ratchet up interest. It teamed with Twitter to host Thursday's paid previews and on Wednesday night held free sneaks in 11 cities in partnership with key websites.
One other new film enters the market this weekend, "Judy Moody and the NOT Bummer Summer," based on the bestselling book series and targeting girls ages 6-10. Coincidentally, the $20 million film is expected to open to between $6 million and $10 million. The film comes from the producers behind "Precious."
Among specialty films, Woody Allen's box office pleaser "Midnight in Paris" expands nationwide to a total of 944 theaters -- one of the widest plays ever for an Allen film. "Midnight in Paris" has grossed $7.8 million through Wednesday.
The period sci-fi pic -- directed by Abrams and produced by Spielberg -- officially rolls out Friday in 3,379 theaters, following sneak previews at 329 locations Thursday. Amid decidedly muted advance buzz, its performance this weekend is the subject of heated speculation among insiders.
Paramount, which maintains that the $50 million film doesn't need a big opening weekend, is predicting a debut in the $25 million to $30 million range. It will vie for honors with "X-Men: First Class," which debuted last weekend to $55.1 million. The superhero sequel enjoyed strong midweek business, with a total of $69.9 million through Wednesday.
Overall awareness for "Super 8" isn't quite where it should be, although there could be a myriad of reasons why. The film has no big stars and is an original story sandwiched between known franchise titles.
At the same time, "Super 8" is drawing strong reviews, with critics crediting Abrams for going outside of Hollywood's comfort zone and making a film he calls an homage to the movies he grew up with as a kid, many of them from Spielberg.
Set in 1979, "Super 8" tells the story of a group of kids who are filming a home movie when there's a violent train crash. When unexplained events start to threaten their town, they begin to suspect something inhuman escaped from the train. The film stars Joel Courtney, Elle Fanning, Kyle Chandler, Ryan Lee, Riley Griffiths, Gabriel Basso and Zach Mills.
Still, Paramount has been doing everything it can to ratchet up interest. It teamed with Twitter to host Thursday's paid previews and on Wednesday night held free sneaks in 11 cities in partnership with key websites.
One other new film enters the market this weekend, "Judy Moody and the NOT Bummer Summer," based on the bestselling book series and targeting girls ages 6-10. Coincidentally, the $20 million film is expected to open to between $6 million and $10 million. The film comes from the producers behind "Precious."
Among specialty films, Woody Allen's box office pleaser "Midnight in Paris" expands nationwide to a total of 944 theaters -- one of the widest plays ever for an Allen film. "Midnight in Paris" has grossed $7.8 million through Wednesday.
Robin Wright eyes Netflix's "House of Cards"
LOS ANGELES (Hollywood Reporter) - Robin Wright is in early negotiations to join Kevin Spacey in Netflix's first original series, "House of Cards."
The political thriller, based on the book and British miniseries of the same name, will stream exclusively to Netflix's 20 million subscribers in late 2012. Netflix has committed $100 million for 26 episodes of the drama, outbidding HBO, AMC and others for the series.
David Fincher is directing the pilot, and coincidentally directed Wright in the upcoming remake of "The Girl With the Dragon Tattoo." "House of Cards" will be Wright's first TV series regular role since she played Kelly Capwell on the NBC soap "Santa Barbara" from 1984-88.
The political thriller, based on the book and British miniseries of the same name, will stream exclusively to Netflix's 20 million subscribers in late 2012. Netflix has committed $100 million for 26 episodes of the drama, outbidding HBO, AMC and others for the series.
David Fincher is directing the pilot, and coincidentally directed Wright in the upcoming remake of "The Girl With the Dragon Tattoo." "House of Cards" will be Wright's first TV series regular role since she played Kelly Capwell on the NBC soap "Santa Barbara" from 1984-88.
Warner Bros may change "Hangover 2" tattoo for DVD
LOS ANGELES (Hollywood Reporter) - Ed Helms' face might look very different when "The Hangover: Part II" comes to DVD and Blu-ray in December.
Warner Bros. movie studio has told a Missouri judge that if it can't resolve the ongoing legal tussle over the tattoo on display in the blockbuster comedy by the time it comes out on home video, the studio will digitally alter the controversial mark on Helms' face.
Warner Bros. was sued by a Missouri tattoo artist who claims he owns a copyright on the unique tattoo first worn by former boxer Mike Tyson and now by Helms in "The Hangover: Part II".
The tattoo's owner, S. Victor Whitmill, attempted to stop the film's release in May but was denied a preliminary injunction. The movie has since grossed $350 million worldwide and counting.
The case has continued, however, and U.S. District Judge Catherine Perry on Thursday set a jury trial date for February 21, 2012. At issue is whether to award Whitmill a permanent injunction against the film's distribution and/or damages for copyright infringement.
Whitmill and his lawyers had sought a trial in August. But Warners opposed that schedule, saying in court documents that such a quick resolution wasn't necessary because the studio plans to whitewash the offending mark from the movie after its theatrical run. The move would eliminate any further alleged damages to Whitmill from his copyrighted tattoo appearing in the film.
"If the parties are unable to resolve their dispute, Warner Bros. does not intend to make any use of the allegedly infringing tattoo after the film ends its run in theaters because Warner Bros. will digitally alter the film to substitute a different tattoo on Ed Helms's face," the documents said.
Lawyers for the studio added that the home video release is currently scheduled for early December 2011.
Warner Bros. movie studio has told a Missouri judge that if it can't resolve the ongoing legal tussle over the tattoo on display in the blockbuster comedy by the time it comes out on home video, the studio will digitally alter the controversial mark on Helms' face.
Warner Bros. was sued by a Missouri tattoo artist who claims he owns a copyright on the unique tattoo first worn by former boxer Mike Tyson and now by Helms in "The Hangover: Part II".
The tattoo's owner, S. Victor Whitmill, attempted to stop the film's release in May but was denied a preliminary injunction. The movie has since grossed $350 million worldwide and counting.
The case has continued, however, and U.S. District Judge Catherine Perry on Thursday set a jury trial date for February 21, 2012. At issue is whether to award Whitmill a permanent injunction against the film's distribution and/or damages for copyright infringement.
Whitmill and his lawyers had sought a trial in August. But Warners opposed that schedule, saying in court documents that such a quick resolution wasn't necessary because the studio plans to whitewash the offending mark from the movie after its theatrical run. The move would eliminate any further alleged damages to Whitmill from his copyrighted tattoo appearing in the film.
"If the parties are unable to resolve their dispute, Warner Bros. does not intend to make any use of the allegedly infringing tattoo after the film ends its run in theaters because Warner Bros. will digitally alter the film to substitute a different tattoo on Ed Helms's face," the documents said.
Lawyers for the studio added that the home video release is currently scheduled for early December 2011.
Woody Allen wows critics, just don't call him soppy
(Reuters) - "Life is noisy and complicated," so goes a line in the new romantic comedy, "Midnight in Paris," in classic, cynical Woody Allen banter.
But this isn't your usual comedy of errors from Allen. Critics are lauding his latest film as "pleasant," a "souffle," and in a compliment which may seem out of character to his longtime fans, "sweet natured."
So is the 75-year-old Allen, who often filled his old scripts with nervy tirades about everything from failed relationships and sex to mid-life crises, getting sentimental in his old age? Hardly, he says.
"No, it happens to be the idea that you get at the time," he told Reuters in an interview this week sitting in a soft chair in his dark, unpretentious Park Ave office filled with boxes, a smiling assistant and no sign of a shrink's couch.
"People think there is a design to it, but there is not. It is a desperate attempt to come up with a viable idea so that you can earn your salary that year," he said in typically droll fashion about his latest film effort.
Allen has always been beloved in Europe. But such gushing from American critics -- whose reviews have made "Midnight in Paris" currently the top-rated movie on critic aggregator website Rotten Tomatoes with 92 percent approval -- is unusual.
Ever the contrarian, Allen dismisses whether it means Americans are finally ready to forgive him for his past misdemeanors, notably the tabloid scandal over his relationship and marriage to Soon-Yi Previn, the adopted daughter of his former long-time partner, Mia Farrow.
"I fell in love with this girl, married her, we have been married for almost 15 years now, we have children. There was no scandal, there was a lot of tawdry press," Allen said.
"It will be a big part of my obituary and it will lend a little color. I will not be thought of simply as an illiterate lawyer, as a bland, nice Jewish boy, who worked hard and didn't get in any trouble. At least there was some trouble, some juicy scandal in my life," he joked.
But this isn't your usual comedy of errors from Allen. Critics are lauding his latest film as "pleasant," a "souffle," and in a compliment which may seem out of character to his longtime fans, "sweet natured."
So is the 75-year-old Allen, who often filled his old scripts with nervy tirades about everything from failed relationships and sex to mid-life crises, getting sentimental in his old age? Hardly, he says.
"No, it happens to be the idea that you get at the time," he told Reuters in an interview this week sitting in a soft chair in his dark, unpretentious Park Ave office filled with boxes, a smiling assistant and no sign of a shrink's couch.
"People think there is a design to it, but there is not. It is a desperate attempt to come up with a viable idea so that you can earn your salary that year," he said in typically droll fashion about his latest film effort.
Allen has always been beloved in Europe. But such gushing from American critics -- whose reviews have made "Midnight in Paris" currently the top-rated movie on critic aggregator website Rotten Tomatoes with 92 percent approval -- is unusual.
Ever the contrarian, Allen dismisses whether it means Americans are finally ready to forgive him for his past misdemeanors, notably the tabloid scandal over his relationship and marriage to Soon-Yi Previn, the adopted daughter of his former long-time partner, Mia Farrow.
"I fell in love with this girl, married her, we have been married for almost 15 years now, we have children. There was no scandal, there was a lot of tawdry press," Allen said.
"It will be a big part of my obituary and it will lend a little color. I will not be thought of simply as an illiterate lawyer, as a bland, nice Jewish boy, who worked hard and didn't get in any trouble. At least there was some trouble, some juicy scandal in my life," he joked.
Friday, June 10, 2011
"The Book of Mormon" favored to sweep Tony Awards
NEW YORK (Reuters) - "The Book of Mormon," a satirical show about Mormons from the creators of the TV series "South Park," looks set to sweep the Tony Awards on Sunday, aiming to be the most acclaimed show since "The Producers" with 14 nominations.
The Tony Awards, which honors Broadway's best musicals and plays and can help propel winning shows to commercial success, will be handed out at New York's Beacon Theater in a live televised event hosted again by actor Neil Patrick Harris, the Emmy-winning star of TV comedy "How I Met Your Mother."
This year is expected to feature less Hollywood winners than last year, although nominees include Frances McDormand who adopted a thick Boston accent for the best play nominee, "Good People" and Al Pacino for his turn as Shylock in "The Merchant of Venice," nominated for best play revival along with favorite "The Normal Heart."
"The Book of Mormon," go into Sunday's awards with the highest number of nominations, followed by "The Scottsboro Boys" with 12. The short-lived musical is on a 1930s case in which nine black men were unjustly accused of attacking two white women on a train in Alabama.
Two musical revivals follow. "Anything Goes" has nine nominations, led by best actress nominee Sutton Foster, and "How to Succeed in Business Without Really Trying" had eight, though its star Daniel Radcliffe, of "Harry Potter" fame, missed out on an acting nomination.
"The Merchant of Venice" is up for seven awards, while the play "War Horse," by Nick Stafford is tipped to win best play.
But it is "The Book of Mormon," by "South Park" creators Matt Stone and Trey Parker, which is expected to win in several categories and aims to beat the record of the Mel Brooks musical comedy, "The Producers," which won 12 Tony Awards after it opened in 2001.
The show has been a smash hit, winning critical acclaim and sold-out houses with the story of Mormon missionaries in Africa, successfully skirting initial worries about racial and religious insensitivity.
Stone told Reuters in an interview when the show opened in March that he didn't want to be "presumptuous" in even thinking about any Tony awards and was more relieved that audiences understood the humor.
"People do seem to be getting the show," Stone said. "For us it's a deeper satisfaction that we have been working on this for seven years. To sit in the theater and put this kind of material in front of people and for them to essentially get it, is a really satisfying feeling."
Josh Gad, who is one of two favorites to win best actor in a musical along with Norbert Leo Burtz in "Catch Me If You Can," told Reuters he thought the show was successful because it straddles the line between poking fun at Mormons and entertaining audiences with catchy numbers and heart-warming undertones.
"You can get away with the vulgarity and some of the eyebrow raising numbers only if you have a large amount of heart, and they came with plenty to spare," Gad said of Stone and Parker. "At its core there is something very sweet and very genuine about this tale."
The show has also done well at the box office, pulling in more than $1.1 million for the week ending June 5, making it the third highest grossing Broadway show after long-running favorites "Wicked" and "The Lion King."
"I don't think anyone, especially myself, was prepared for just how much of an incredible response the show was going to receive," Gad said this week. "It's blown all of us away."
On his own nomination, he called it "the coolest experience of my life...Just because it's something I dreamed of as a kid."
The Tony Awards, which honors Broadway's best musicals and plays and can help propel winning shows to commercial success, will be handed out at New York's Beacon Theater in a live televised event hosted again by actor Neil Patrick Harris, the Emmy-winning star of TV comedy "How I Met Your Mother."
This year is expected to feature less Hollywood winners than last year, although nominees include Frances McDormand who adopted a thick Boston accent for the best play nominee, "Good People" and Al Pacino for his turn as Shylock in "The Merchant of Venice," nominated for best play revival along with favorite "The Normal Heart."
"The Book of Mormon," go into Sunday's awards with the highest number of nominations, followed by "The Scottsboro Boys" with 12. The short-lived musical is on a 1930s case in which nine black men were unjustly accused of attacking two white women on a train in Alabama.
Two musical revivals follow. "Anything Goes" has nine nominations, led by best actress nominee Sutton Foster, and "How to Succeed in Business Without Really Trying" had eight, though its star Daniel Radcliffe, of "Harry Potter" fame, missed out on an acting nomination.
"The Merchant of Venice" is up for seven awards, while the play "War Horse," by Nick Stafford is tipped to win best play.
But it is "The Book of Mormon," by "South Park" creators Matt Stone and Trey Parker, which is expected to win in several categories and aims to beat the record of the Mel Brooks musical comedy, "The Producers," which won 12 Tony Awards after it opened in 2001.
The show has been a smash hit, winning critical acclaim and sold-out houses with the story of Mormon missionaries in Africa, successfully skirting initial worries about racial and religious insensitivity.
Stone told Reuters in an interview when the show opened in March that he didn't want to be "presumptuous" in even thinking about any Tony awards and was more relieved that audiences understood the humor.
"People do seem to be getting the show," Stone said. "For us it's a deeper satisfaction that we have been working on this for seven years. To sit in the theater and put this kind of material in front of people and for them to essentially get it, is a really satisfying feeling."
Josh Gad, who is one of two favorites to win best actor in a musical along with Norbert Leo Burtz in "Catch Me If You Can," told Reuters he thought the show was successful because it straddles the line between poking fun at Mormons and entertaining audiences with catchy numbers and heart-warming undertones.
"You can get away with the vulgarity and some of the eyebrow raising numbers only if you have a large amount of heart, and they came with plenty to spare," Gad said of Stone and Parker. "At its core there is something very sweet and very genuine about this tale."
The show has also done well at the box office, pulling in more than $1.1 million for the week ending June 5, making it the third highest grossing Broadway show after long-running favorites "Wicked" and "The Lion King."
"I don't think anyone, especially myself, was prepared for just how much of an incredible response the show was going to receive," Gad said this week. "It's blown all of us away."
On his own nomination, he called it "the coolest experience of my life...Just because it's something I dreamed of as a kid."
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)