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‘No Strings Attached’ is #1 at the box office

2011/01/24 at 12:00am

‘No Strings Attached’ is #1 at the box office

01.24.2011 | By Mack Chico |

A so-so movie makes it mark at the box office. “No Strings Attached,” a romantic comedy about friends-with-benefits starring Natalie Portman and Ashton Kutcher opened to a solid $20.3 million, according to studio estimates, to win the weekend; 70 percent of attendees were women, exit polling showed. It was the only new picture to open nationwide, continuing what has been a slow January at the box office.

“No Strings Attached” is the first mainstream romantic comedy starring Portman, who also executive produced, and marked a healthy start in the genre. It was the highest opening for the actress outside of the “Star Wars” pictures and comic book adaptation “V for Vendetta.”

For Kutcher, it was a virtual tie for the best openings of movies he has starred in, alongside the romantic comedies “Guess Who” and “What Happens in Vegas.”

“The King’s Speech,” which came in fourth place, demonstrated that it continued to be the hot indie drama of the moment as ticket sales didn’t decline at all from the previous weekend, repeating at $9.2 million, a sign of extraordinary word-of-mouth. Even accounting for the 137 new theaters the Weinstein Co. added to the run of the historical drama, ticket sales at existing locations were down only 9 percent. Its domestic box-office total is now a strong $58.6 million.

Here’s the top 10 at the box office this week:

1. No Strings Attached: Weekend $20.3M

2. The Green Hornet 3D: Weekend $18.1M (-31%), Cume $63.4M

3. The Dilemma: Weekend $9.9M (-33%), Cume $33.5M

4. The King’s Speech: Weekend $9.1M, Cume $58.6M

5. True Grit: Weekend $7.9M, Cume $138.5M

6. Black Swan: Weekend $6.2M, Cume $83.5M

7. Little Fockers: Estimated Weekend $4M, Estimated Cume $140.8M

8. The Fighter: Estimated Weekend $4M, Estimated Cume $72.5M

9. Tron: The Legacy 3D: Estimated Weekend $3.5M, Estimated Cume $163M

10. Yogi Bear 3D: Estimated Weekend $3.5M, Estimated Cume $88.3M

By Jack Rico

2011/01/07 at 12:00am

Movies

‘Knocked Up’ will have a sequel

01.7.2011 | By Jack Rico |

Don’t know if you remember the comedy ‘Knocked Up’ from director Judd Apatow back in 2007. The film became part of the new Apatow comedy movement in Hollywood and grossed worldwide approximately $150 million at the box office, something extraordinary for a film in the genre of comedy. Now comes news that the sequel, Knocked Up 2, is being prepared by Apatow himself where he will helm and write the script.

In an interview with Hitfix, Apatow talked about whether he saw the film as a prequel or sequel, “It’s just a story about the current lives of Pete (Paul Rudd) and Debbie (Leslie Mann). Many people identified with these characters and their problems. I felt there was much to explore in them both. We we will be shooting in July and it will be released next June,” said Apatow.

The exact release date will be June 1, 2012, and Apatow has plans to spread the information little by little. “There are some fun details that I will not reveal yet, but I’ll let you know slowly. It’s more fun that way.”

Although it is unknown if Seth Rogen will return in a cameo (we’ll ask him personally today since we’ll be interviewing him for The Green Hornet), what will be a surprise is to see Katherine Heigl back. She blasted the film back in the day and might be persona non-grata. Let’s see.

Video: Seth Rogen wants to do ‘Knocked Up 2’

By Jack Rico

2011/01/07 at 12:00am

Movies

Video: Seth Rogen wants to do ‘Knocked Up 2’

01.7.2011 | By Jack Rico |

The mere idea of Seth Rogen being a part of a sequel to any of his movies sounds a bit too sudden. I mean his first real movie was ‘40 Year Old Virgin’ in 2005. Nevertheless, that is exactly what he might be doing in July of this year on the set of Judd Apatow’s ‘Knocked Up 2.’

Rogen was in New York to promote ‘The Green Hornet’, his new movie about a rich playboy who fights crime and injustice with Kato, his masked sidekick. I had a chance to chat with him, and of course, ask him about Apatow’ sequel to ‘Knocked Up’ with Paul Rudd and Leslie Mann (Apatow’s wife) as the leads. Is Rogen to be part of the cast? Was he coming back with Heigl? If he does return, would it be a cameo? To clear up the uncertainty in the air, I asked him if he would be a part of the sequel.

“It’s a good question,” said Rogen. “I just heard about myself. He mentioned it to me, like a year ago maybe, that he was gonna start writing it, but I literally haven’t talked to him about it in any way.”

When I asked if he wanted to do it regardless of not having official talks with Apatow so far, he said yes. “Yeah, I would like to, why not, I’ve done anything Judd asks”.

Tell us what you’d like to see from a ‘Knocked Up’ sequel in the comments section below and on our Twitter!

By Jack Rico

2010/12/09 at 12:00am

Movies

Leslie Nielsen’s last movie

12.9.2010 | By Jack Rico |

For all you Leslie Nielsen fans, Nielsen filmed his last project, a comedy on DVD, which will be out next year. We received a press release about the details and info on the film:

New York (Thursday, December 9, 2010) — Screen Media Films is proud to announce the acquisition of Stonerville, to be released on January 11, 2011 on DVD. The hysterical stoner comedy is the final film of Leslie Nielsen, the recently departed comedian.

Starring Leslie Nielsen, Pauly Shore, Patrick Cavanaugh, and Phil Morris, Stonerville tells the story of comedian and self-proclaimed “King of YouTube” Slam Slamsky who wants to make it big in mainstream advertising, even though his sense of humor and frequent pot use are not exactly in sync with the stuffy suits he meets. Things only get worse when a disastrous attempt to impress an executive results in Slam losing both his job and his girlfriend. He finds new inspiration in Erica, a smokin’ hottie who is a fan of his viral videos. Stonerville is a hilarious comedy about living online, getting high, and growing up—though not necessarily in that order!

Watch the trailer at: www.screenmediafilms.net/stonerville.

“Screen Media is proud to be a part of Leslie Nielsen’s legacy. He was one of comedy’s brightest stars, so it is only fitting that he take on his final role in the hysterical Stonerville, a film that pays tribute to the man who made us all laugh” says Robert Baruc, Screen Media Films, President.

By Jack Rico

2010/10/18 at 12:00am

Movies Reviews

How To Train Your Dragon Movie Review

10.18.2010 | By Jack Rico |

How to Train Your Dragon is a moving, charismatic 3D animated film that is sure to draw smiles, wonderment and a few tears from most of you. The voices couldn’t have been better cast, the story’s family and friendship themes are on mark and the 3D flight experiences are to applaud. Kids are going to love this film and parents will too, but they’ll be doing most of the sobbing. Read More

By Mack Chico

2009/01/04 at 12:00am

Movies

‘Marley and Me’ is #1 at box office

01.4.2009 | By Mack Chico |

The box office this weekend brought more of the same, which for Hollywood was a good thing, as the comedy “Marley & Me” and other Christmas films continued strongly. The top five films — and some others down the ladder — kept their positions from last week.

“Marley & Me,” from 20th Century Fox, with Jennifer Aniston and Owen Wilson, was the weekend’s top film, with about $24 million in domestic ticket sales and $106.5 million since it opened on Christmas.

It was followed by another comedy, “Bedtime Stories,” from Walt Disney Company, with Adam Sandler. That film took in about $20.3 million over the weekend, for a total of $85 million since opening. “The Curious Case of Benjamin Button” from Paramount Pictures with Brad Pitt and Cate Blanchett, was third, with about $18.5 million in weekend sales for a $79 million total.

In a similar display of staying power, “Valkyrie” from MGM, with Tom Cruise, remained the No. 4 film for a second weekend. The film took in $14 million, for a total of $60.7 million since opening on Christmas. Its success has laid to rest months of public speculation about whether the audience would accept Mr. Cruise in his role as a German officer who tried to kill Hitler.

Another holdover, the comedy “Yes Man” with Jim Carrey, from Warner Brothers, took in about $13.9 million, for a total of $79.4 million since opening.

A number of the season’s potential Oscar contenders continued to jockey for position in a field packed with movies that have been released to a relatively limited number of theaters.

“Doubt,” from Disney’s Miramax unit, among the more widely played of these, took in about $5 million for the weekend and $18.7 million since opening, to reach No. 8, up from 10th place.

“The Reader,” from the Weinstein Company, took in $1.6 million, as it moved into 398 theaters, and became the weekend’s 17th-ranked film, up from 22nd last week, when it played in a much smaller number of screens. It has total sales of $3.6 million.

Woody Allen won’t be coming back to film in New York

By Mack Chico

2008/12/31 at 12:00am

Movies

Woody Allen won’t be coming back to film in New York

12.31.2008 | By Mack Chico |

US filmmaker Woody Allen said Tuesday he hopes to shoot a new comedy in Paris next summer, continuing his recent run of choosing to film in European cities over his native-New York.

“I have always wanted to shoot a film in Paris. I have a scenario for Paris all written. I was going to shoot it a few years ago but when we came here and I started to put the film together, suddenly it became such an expensive film that I could not do it,” he said.

Allen’s last batch of films, including “Vicky Cristina Barcelona” and London-based drama “Match Point”, were filmed in Europe.

He said financial problems should not derail the Paris project completely but added that he is prepared to film the comedy during the summer of 2011 in the event of more delays.

“Now that there is a new tax incentive in Paris we are returning and trying to see if it is possible to come again to do it,” he said after meeting with French Culture Minister Christine Albanel.

“If I can’t do it, then I will probably do another film in the US this year,” he added.

By Mack Chico

2008/12/21 at 12:00am

Movies

Box office says yes to ‘Yes Man’

12.21.2008 | By Mack Chico |

Jim Carrey’s new comedy “Yes Man” got the nod from moviegoers across North America, but brutal weather in key markets combined with holiday shopping distractions to hit overall ticket sales.

According to studio estimates issued on Sunday, “Yes Man” earned $18.2 million during its first three days, winning a closely watched duel with the Will Smith drama “Seven Pounds.” The decidedly downbeat film opened to a lightweight $16 million, Smith’s worst performance in seven years.

A third new entry, the mouse cartoon “The Tale of Despereaux,” followed at No. 3 with $10.5 million. Last weekend’s champion, the sci-fi remake “The Day the Earth Stood Still,” fell to No. 4 with $10.2 million.

Ticket sales on the East Coast, Pacific Northwest and parts of the Midwest fell victim to a winter deluge of snow and ice. Boston, for example, is a top-10 market, but it plunged to the lower reaches of the top 25 on Friday, studio executives said.

The top 12 films grossed $83 million, essentially flat with last weekend but down 44 percent from the year-ago period, according to tracking firm Media By Numbers.

Warner Bros Pictures, which released “Yes Man,” said the bad weather knocked about $2.5 million off the film’s total. But the Time Warner Inc (TWX.N)-owned studio hoped to make the money back in subsequent weeks.

Carrey plays a bank officer stuck in a personal and professional rut. After he attends a self-help seminar, he must say “yes” to all ideas and requests, leading to both comic and dramatic pitfalls. It cost in the $70 million range to make, said Dan Fellman, the studio’s president of distribution.

‘Four Christmas’ merries in a #1 gift at the box office

By Mack Chico

2008/12/01 at 12:00am

Movies

‘Four Christmas’ merries in a #1 gift at the box office

12.1.2008 | By Mack Chico |

Thanksgiving weekend movie crowds gobbled up the Reese Witherspoon-Vince Vaughn holiday comedy “Four Christmases,” which premiered at No. 1 with $31.7 million, according to studio estimates Sunday.

The film raised its total to $46.7 million since opening Wednesday.

In terms of revenue, it was Hollywood’s second-biggest Thanksgiving period ever. The top 12 movies took in $223.7 million from Wednesday to Sunday, trailing only the $232.2 million haul over 2000.

“Twilight,” which had a huge No. 1 opening the previous weekend, took a steep 62 percent decline from its $69.6 million premiere.

Based on Sunday’s estimates, Disney’s animated “Bolt” had a slight lead on second place with $26.6 million for the weekend, to $26.4 million for “Twilight.”

In San Francisco, Focus Features’ film “Milk,” directed by Gus Van Sant and starring Sean Penn as slain Supervisor Harvey Milk, set a box-office record at the Castro Theatre. From Wednesday through Friday, the single-screen theater grossed $109,440 on “Milk,” breaking the previous three-day record of $50,584 set in May by “Indiana Jones and the Kingdom of the Crystal Skull,” according to film promoters Terry Hines and Associates.

The film opened nationally on 36 screens, two of which, the Sundance Kabuki and the Embarcadero, didn’t begin showing the film until Friday. “Milk” opened at No. 10 nationwide with $1.4 million in just 36 theaters. The film had a strong average of $38,375 a cinema, compared with $9,571 in 3,310 theaters for “Four Christmases.”

The weekend’s other new wide release, “Australia,” opened at No. 5 with $14.8 million for the weekend and $20 million since premiering Wednesday.

George Lopez to team up with Chan in "Spy"

By Mack Chico

2008/11/24 at 12:00am

Movies

George Lopez to team up with Chan in "Spy"

11.24.2008 | By Mack Chico |

George Lopez and Billy Ray Cyrus have joined Jackie Chan in “The Spy Next Door,” a comedy shooting in Albuquerque, N.M.

Chan’s character is asked to baby-sit his neighbor’s children and winds up having to protect them from secret agents after one of the kids accidentally downloads a code.

Lopez is a CIA agent who might not be all that he appears; Cyrus is another agent. Amber Valletta is the kids’ mom, while Katherine Boecher plays a Russian underworld operative. Brian Levant is directing for indie financier Relativity.

Lopez most recently had a voice role in “Beverly Hills Chihuahua.” Cyrus next stars alongside his daughter, Miley, in “Hannah Montana: The Movie.”

Valletta has appeared in “Hitch,” and “Transporter 2,” while Boecher appeared in episodes of AMC’s “Mad Men” and TNT’s “The Closer.”