2009 at the Box Office

Re: 2009 at the Box Office

This recession is going to be great for Hollywood. I can feel a huge year.

Re: 2009 at the Box Office

I certainly enjoyed Taken...but wow. Never thought it would have this much box office prowess.

Re: 2009 at the Box Office

Well, apparently Paramount just dropped Lincoln. So a film starring Liam Neeson, written by Tony Kushner, and directed by Spielberg basically died. Awesome. They probably could have paid for it with the advertising budget for Transformers 2: Rehash of the Boring.

So bitter doesn't begin to cover it.

Re: 2009 at the Box Office

I lay most of the blame of "Lincoln" failing to hit the big screen on Spielberg's doorstep. He has been delaying doing this movie for years now.

Speaking of Spielberg, check out Entertainment Weekly's list of the top 25 best active directors in Tinseltown...

1. Steven Spielberg
2. Peter Jackson
3. Martin Scorsese
4. Christopher Nolan
5. Steven Soderbergh
6. Ridley Scott
7. Quentin Tarantino
8. Michael Mann
9. James Cameron
10. Joel and Ethan Coen
11. Guillermo del Toro
12. David Fincher
13. Tim Burton
14. Judd Apatow
15. Sam Raimi
16. Zack Snyder
17. Darren Aronofsky
18. Danny Boyle
19. Clint Eastwood
20. Ron Howard
21. Ang Lee
22. Paul Thomas Anderson
23. Paul Greengrass
24. Pedro Almodóvar
25. Jon Favreau

While I agree with a lot of this list, I think Mr. Eastwood should've ranked a little higher, but that's just me.

Re: 2009 at the Box Office

Oh my.

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I always like to look at those types of lists alphabetically (rather than ranking and saying "Person X's work is slightly better than person Y's work") but it is a good list.

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The Big Money's article on what happened with the "Lincoln" project...


Spielberg's Lincoln Troubles | The Big Money

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This has always puzzled me about the Hollywood system. Here you have some of the richest men in Hollywood, running around with hat-in-hand basically begging for money. It's embarrassing, IMO. It's like they don't believe in their own talents/abilities enough to risk their own cash. If they're really passionate about the art of filmmaking, they should finance their own productions.

The article also says that Spielberg makes up to $50 million a year just from his "consulting" to Universal theme parks. That's the budget for "Lincoln" right there. One year's worth of "consulting fees". So what's the problem, Steve?

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On average, the Berg makes more than $100 million a year. Off the top of my head, George Lucas is really the only filmmaker I know that pays for most of the movies he makes. The general rule is to never put your own money into a movie. Spielberg hasn't really been one to want to self-finance any of his movies, opting to take huge percentages of their grosses against his salary.

Spielberg also had some problems raising funding for his "Tintin" trilogy. This in spite of the fact that Peter Jackson will be directing at least one of the three movies. The reality is that not a lot of studio execs feel that "Lincoln" will be a movie that makes money. Some also feel that "Tintin" isn't known well enough here in the states (it's really popular overseas) to warrant a giant budget.

Studios want to get their hands on as many "sure-thing" projects as they can. If they are to finance prestige projects like "Lincoln", they want them done on the cheap.

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Perhaps Hollywood could learn something from Mel Gibson in regards to putting up your own money.

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I recognize that it is a business decision, but interest in Lincoln will not be as high as it is right now for the foreseeable future. If there is money to be made in a Lincoln film, now is the best time to do it. The fact that a perfect actor is available (and not expensive, even though he is currently proving to be a BO draw) is a bonus. I cannot fathom how a way to make this reasonably profitable is beyond their reach.

Clearly there is interest in the man, based on the bazillion books.

Thanks for the articles, Terry.

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No problem Chuck.

I agree that a film about Lincoln would be perfect today considering his role in freeing the slaves in a country that now has a black President. Not many could've predicted Obama winning, but in light of Lincoln's 200th birthday, I think Spielberg should've gone into production on "Lincoln" as soon as he wrapped Indy 4.

Re: 2009 at the Box Office

Disappointing regarding Lincoln.

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'Dark Knight' breaks $1 billion mark - Entertainment News, Film News, Media - Variety

'Dark Knight' breaks $1 billion mark
Film is fourth to top amount in global box office
By DAVE MCNARY

"The Dark Knight" has become the fourth film to take in more than $1 billion in worldwide box office.
Warner Bros. made the announcement Friday afternoon, saying that the combined domestic and international gross had totaled $1,001,082,160 to date -- about $533 million domestically and $567 million overseas.

"Knight" had been about $4 million short of the 10-figure mark when Warner Bros. re-released it into Imax screens on Jan. 23, the day after its eight Oscar nominations were announced. Grosses from Ecuador also helped nudge the Batpic over the mark, a spokeswoman said.

Only "Titanic," with $1.8 billion, "The Lord of the Rings: The Return of the King" and "Pirates of the Caribbean: Dead Man's Chest" have topped the billion-dollar worldwide mark previously.

"Knight" also is the second-highest domestic grosser of all time, trailing only "Titanic."

Warner also noted that it's the largest 2-D digitally re-mastered Imax release in the domestic market with $49.6 million and worldwide with $64.9 million.

Re: 2009 at the Box Office

If it's done reasonably well and is a darker film, I can see a new "Nightmare on Elm Street" remake eclipsing Friday the 13's take quite easily and making a ton of money. There's a lot more to work with in that franchise.

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A big missed opportunity and this film would've made money because of a renewed interest in finally watching an accurate film about arguably our greatest American President. Something tells me if Spielberg could go back in time, knowing what he knows now, this film would've been made and had a limited release this past December and wide release in January/February.

Re: 2009 at the Box Office

I agree.

Re: 2009 at the Box Office

Friday Estimates

#1 "Tyler Perry's Madea Goes to Jail" $14.9 million
#2 "Taken" $3.5 million ($87.2 million) 26% Friday-to-Friday drop
#3 "He's Just Not That Into You" $2.9 million ($64.5 million) 42% Friday-to-Friday drop
#4 "Coraline" $2.79 million ($45.1 million) 7% Friday-to-Friday drop
#5 "Friday the 13th" $2.75 million ($49.9 million) 86% Friday-to-Friday drop (Ouch!)
#6 "Confessions of a Shopaholic" $2.33 million ($23.0 million) $47% Friday-to-Friday drop
#7 "Fired Up" $2.30 million
#8 "Slumdog Millionaire" $2.1 million ($92.1 million) 38% Friday-to-Friday increase
#9 "Paul Blart: Mall Cop" $1.9 million ($116.2 million) 22% Friday-to-Friday drop
#10 "The International" $1.4 million ($13.9 million) 48% Friday-to-Friday drop
#11 "The Pink Panther 2" $1.04 million ($26.7 million) 45% Friday-to-Friday drop
#12 "Gran Torino" $1.00 million ($131.8 million) 27% Friday-to-Friday drop

The box office continues to thrive as the the top 12 will once again pull in earnings of more than $100 million this weekend. There have been eight weeks in the year thus far and all eight have seen the top 12 earn north of the century mark. This has never happened in the history of the industry during the period of January-thru-February.

Tyler Perry once again showed his box office muscle as "Madea Goes to Jail" easily took the top spot on Friday, earning just under $15 million. For the weekend, look for the comedy to pull in between $35-$40 million, giving Perry the biggest opener of his career.

With the exception of "Friday the 13th", the remaining films in the top 12 all had very solid holds. "Slumdog Millionaire" enjoyed a significant 38% jump in business during this Oscar weekend as the film is poised to be the top winner tomorrow night.

Re: 2009 at the Box Office

Now let's see them plough some of that back into releasing a DVD of the movie with acceptable picture quality.

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Terry,

Never take a magazine that puts a newbie like Zack Snyder ahead of someone like Clint Eastwood in regards to being a the best active...anything. I know people love '300' (God only knows why) and are jazzed about 'Watchmen' (I'll reserve judgement until I see the film), but putting a filmmaker who made *one* blockbuster ahead of a filmmaker who continues to impress critics and audiences after five decades proves once again that Entertainment Weekly is an of-the-moment piece of fluff writing and nothing more.

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^ That's exactly why I try to stop myself from thinking of the rank they give and just look at the names. Or maybe if Clint had had more slo-mo in Gran Turino, he'd have placed higher.

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Looks like "Friday the 13th" may set a new record for smallest overall total domestic gross after a $40M+ opening weekend.

From $43M opening to $7.8M second weekend. Yikes! Horror movies generally fall steeply in the second week, but this collapse seems rather unprecedented.

Re: 2009 at the Box Office

^ On the plus side for Warners, it's not like Friday The 13th is a big budget movie. I'd be shocked if it cost more than $25 million and even with all the other costs involved, I'm sure all involved have already made money.

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I agree, but the sad thing is that Entertainment Weekly's lists tend to weild a lot of influence in the industry. Eastwood is easily among the best directors in the industry and he should've ranked a lot higher.

Re: 2009 at the Box Office

Weekend Estimates

#1 "Tyler Perry's Madea Goes to Jail" $41.1 million
#2 "Taken" $11.4 million ($95.2 million) -40%
#3 "Coraline" $11.0 million ($53.4 million) -25%
#4 "He's Just Not That Into You" $8.5 million ($70.1 million) -56%
#5 "Slumdog Millionaire" $8.1 million ($98.0 million) +11%
#6 "Friday the 13th" $7.8 million ($55.0 million) -81%
#7 "Confessions of a Shopaholic" $7.02 million ($27.7 million) -53%
#8 "Paul Blart: Mall Cop" $7.00 million ($121.4 million) -36%
#9 "Fired Up" $6.0 million
#10 "The International" $4.5 million ($17.0 million) -52%
#11 "The Pink Panther 2" $3.7 million ($29.4 million) -57%
#12 "Gran Torino" $3.6 million ($134.4 million) -44%

This weekend saw the top 12 pull in just shy of $120 million, which was about 35% stronger than this frame last year and close to 20% better than this weekend in '07. The industry is still enjoying a blistering pace at the box office as the month of February has so far tallied close to $650 million with a week to go. By the end of next weekend the month's total gross should be in the neighborhood of $800 million, marking the first time in history a February frame has ever tallied that much coin. The current record for the month was set last year at $695.3 million.

2009's year-to-date haul now stands at a towering $1.662 billion, representing a 19% jump over last year ($1.402 billion), up an impressive 35% compared to '07 ($1.230 billion), 32% stronger than '06 ($1.259 billion), and a 34% improvement over '05 ($1.237 billion). With a very strong showing expected from March (behind "Watchmen"), '09 will probably pass the $2 billion mark in record time.

Lionsgate's "Madea Goes to Jail" gave writer/director/producer Tyler Perry the biggest opening weekend haul of his career as the comedy pulled in just north of the $41 million plateau. The film came in about $15 million stronger than most predicted. The $41.1 million start also represents the best ever for Lionsgate as the movie earned a stellar average of $20,236 from its 2,032 theaters. While this one may not have the strongest legs in the coming weeks, it will have very little difficulty in becoming the biggest hit Perry has ever had, replacing "Madea's Family Reunion" ($63.3 million).

Fox's "Taken" is now just days away from passing the century mark. Focus Features' "Coraline" continues to show strong legs as it has now earned more than $53 million. New Line/WB's "He's Just Not That Into You" is currently sitting on a domestic gross of more than $70 million. Oscar favorite "Slumdog Millionaire" entered 610 more theaters this weekend to take full advantage of the film's likely Oscar dominance at tonight's ceremony. Like "Taken", 'Slumdog' is days away from passing the $100 million mark.

New Line/WB's "Friday the 13th" took a disastrous 81% freefall this weekend. The movie looks on pace for a final tally in the area of $65-$70 million. Disney's "Confessions of a Shopaholic" has now tallied close to $28 million. Sony's "Paul Blart: Mall Cop" continues its fantastic run as it saw its earnings climb past the $121 million plateau. Sony's "Fired Up" barely drew interest this weekend as it took in about $6 million, giving it a lukewarm per-theater average of $3,315 from its 1,810 locations.

Sony's "The International" has so far tallied $17 million. Sony also saw their sequel "The Pink Panther" 2 closing in on the $30 million mark, and WB's "Gran Torino" rounds out the top 12 with its impressive total gross of $134.4 million.

Next weekend will see if the Jonas bros. can duplicate what happened with the Hannha Montana/Miley Cyrus concert movie last year. "Jonas Brothers: The 3D Concert Experience" will hit about 1,175 theaters next weekend, while Fox's "Street Fighter: The Legend of Chun-Li" will also hit north of 1,000 locations.

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how are the legs of tyler's films while released in theatre vs. home video?

i imagine the home video market is where lionsgate recoups their cost and has a ton of legs vs. theatrical.

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Jediiiifooongerrr! You may be the only person on earth interested in Tylers legs when released in theatre vs homevideo, whatever that means...

I'm still taken aback at Takens take at the box office, looking forward to the sequel... Taken Again!

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I can't believe how steep Friday the 13th's drop was. I choose to believe it was the bad word of mouth that sank that sucker to the bottom of Crystal Lake.

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Perry's films are usually made for very meager budgets.

Here are the production costs and domestic grosses of the films Perry has directed (the lone exception being "Diary of a Mad Black Woman")...

"Diary of a Mad Black Woman" (writer/producer) $5.5 million/ $50.6 million
"Madea's Family Reunion" $6 million/ $63.3 million
"Daddy's Little Girls" $10 million/ $31.4 million
"Why Did I Get Married?" $15 million/ $55.2 million
"Meet the Browns" $20 million/ $42.0 million
"The Family That Preys" $25 million/ $37.1 million
"Madea Goes to Jail" $15 million/ $41.1 million opening

Re: 2009 at the Box Office

I have a theory that horror movies have a total audience of around $40-50 million. Whether they make that up front or over the long haul depends on the movie, but with a few exceptions they all seem to finish up right around that range.