Moviegoers Ready For Romance, Snub Oscar Pictures - Sitcoms Online Message Boards

comedyfreak · 02-08-2009, 06:04 PM

Moviegoers ready for romance, snub Oscar pictures (Reuters): Reuters 2 hours, 58 minutes ago Buzz up! Share email imdel.ici.ousdiggfacebook
LOS ANGELES (Reuters) - " He's Just Not That Into You ," a comedy featuring Jennifer Aniston and Drew Barrymore , romanced the North American box office on Sunday, as overall ticket sales defied the recessionary gloom.

The new champ earned $27.5 million during the three days beginning on Friday, with women accounting for 80 percent of the audience, said its distributor, Warner Bros . Pictures.

The movie -- based on a book that was itself inspired by the TV show "Sex and the City" -- revolves around the lives and loves of various couples. Despite the A-list lineup -- which also included Ben Affleck and Scarlett Johannson -- critics largely disapproved.

Its success marks an early birthday present for former "Friends" star Aniston, who turns 40 on Wednesday and is still riding high with her recent box office champ " Marley & Me ."

Warner Bros., a unit of Time Warner Inc , was confident the film would hold up well next weekend, when business will be boosted by Valentine's Day on Saturday.

Three other pictures opened in the top 10. The biggest disappointment was Steve Martin 's " The Pink Panther 2 ," which came in at No. 4 with $12 million. The first film in Columbia Pictures ' revived comedy franchise opened with $20 million in 2006 and ended up with $82 million. Despite the sequel's performance, Columbia's worldwide distribution president Rory Bruer said he "wouldn't bet against" a third film going into production.

DAKOTA DUO

Also new were Focus Features ' stop-motion animated entry "Coraline" at No. 3 with $16.3 million and Summit Entertainment 's sci-fi thriller "Push" at No. 6 with $10.2 million. Both did better than expected, and both feature 14-year-old actress Dakota Fanning .

Last weekend's No. 1 film, 20th Century Fox 's Liam Neeson crime thriller "Taken," slipped to No. 2 with $20.3 million; its 10-day total rose to $53.4 million.

The top Oscar contenders, meanwhile, have largely stalled. The only exception was " Slumdog Millionaire ," the favorite to take the best picture prize in two weeks. Fox Searchlight 's Indian game-show drama has earned $77.4 million after 13 weeks, boosted by a $7.4 million weekend. It fell one place to No. 7.

No other Oscar contenders made the top 10. The leading nominee, Paramount Pictures ' " The Curious Case of Benjamin Button ," with 13 mentions, has earned $120 million, and will struggle to match its reported $150 million budget.

As for the other best picture nominees, Focus Features' "Milk" has made $25.3 million; Universal Pictures' "Frost/Nixon," $15.6 million; and the Weinstein Co's "The Reader," $16.1 million.

But moviegoers are lining up for other movies as evidenced by overall ticket sales, which have risen for six out of the past seven weekends when compared with year-ago tallies. Year-to-date revenues are up 19 percent, said tracking firm Media By Numbers.

The year's top movie is also the most notable Oscar snub, Clint Eastwood 's " Gran Torino ." Warner Bros.' urban drama has earned $120.3 million since opening in limited release in mid-December, and is on its way to $140 million, the studio said.

Weekend Box Office Estimates (U.S.)
This Wk Last Wk Title Dist. Weekend Gross Cumulative
Gross Rlse
Wks # of
Theaters
1 - He's Just Not That Into You Warner Bros. Pictures Distribution $27,465,000 $27,465,000 1 3175
2 1 Taken 20th Century Fox Distribution $20,300,000 $53,364,000 2 3184
3 - Coraline Focus Features, Universal Pictures International (UPI) $16,335,000 $16,335,000 1 2299
4 - The Pink Panther 2 Sony Pictures Releasing $12,000,000 $12,000,000 1 3243
5 2 Paul Blart: Mall Cop Sony Pictures Releasing $11,000,000 $97,002,000 4 3169
6 - Push Summit Entertainment, LLC $10,204,000 $10,204,000 1 2313
7 5 Gran Torino Warner Bros. Pictures Distribution $7,420,000 $120,280,000 9 2705
8 6 Slumdog Millionaire Fox Searchlight Pictures $7,400,000 $77,426,000 13 1724
9 3 The Uninvited Paramount Pictures $6,400,000 $18,379,000 2 2344
10 4 Hotel for Dogs DreamWorks, Paramount Pictures $5,820,000 $55,234,000 4 2734
11 7 Underworld: Rise of the Lycans Sony Pictures Releasing $3,900,000 $39,659,000 3 2042
12 8 New In Town Lionsgate $3,300,000 $11,928,000 2 1941

HuntingtonM15 · 02-08-2009, 06:15 PM

Oscar contenders are rarely box office blockbusters, anyway. Though, on another note, Jennifer Aniston is really becoming the new Julia Roberts.

Cactus Jack · 02-08-2009, 06:23 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by HuntingtonM15

Oscar contenders are rarely box office blockbusters, anyway. Though, on another note, Jennifer Aniston is really becoming the new Julia Roberts.

Except Titanic and a few others

catlover79 · 02-08-2009, 08:33 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by HuntingtonM15

Oscar contenders are rarely box office blockbusters, anyway. Though, on another note, Jennifer Aniston is really becoming the new Julia Roberts.

Probably the biggest Oscar contenders that are blockbusters are the animated ones!!

Cactus Jack · 02-08-2009, 08:54 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by catlover79

Probably the biggest Oscar contenders that are blockbusters are the animated ones!!

and Saving Private Titanic Return of the King

catlover79 · 02-08-2009, 09:06 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Cactus Jack

and Saving Private Titanic Return of the King

True - the Lord of the Rings triology was an Oscar darling as well as a fan favorite.

02-08-2009, 06:04 PM	#1
comedyfreak Cheers! Forum Fanatic Join Date: Dec 14, 2005 Location: Sunny California Posts: 11,059	Moviegoers Ready For Romance, Snub Oscar Pictures Moviegoers ready for romance, snub Oscar pictures (Reuters): Reuters 2 hours, 58 minutes ago Buzz up! Share email imdel.ici.ousdiggfacebook LOS ANGELES (Reuters) - " He's Just Not That Into You ," a comedy featuring Jennifer Aniston and Drew Barrymore , romanced the North American box office on Sunday, as overall ticket sales defied the recessionary gloom. The new champ earned $27.5 million during the three days beginning on Friday, with women accounting for 80 percent of the audience, said its distributor, Warner Bros . Pictures. The movie -- based on a book that was itself inspired by the TV show "Sex and the City" -- revolves around the lives and loves of various couples. Despite the A-list lineup -- which also included Ben Affleck and Scarlett Johannson -- critics largely disapproved. Its success marks an early birthday present for former "Friends" star Aniston, who turns 40 on Wednesday and is still riding high with her recent box office champ " Marley & Me ." Warner Bros., a unit of Time Warner Inc , was confident the film would hold up well next weekend, when business will be boosted by Valentine's Day on Saturday. Three other pictures opened in the top 10. The biggest disappointment was Steve Martin 's " The Pink Panther 2 ," which came in at No. 4 with $12 million. The first film in Columbia Pictures ' revived comedy franchise opened with $20 million in 2006 and ended up with $82 million. Despite the sequel's performance, Columbia's worldwide distribution president Rory Bruer said he "wouldn't bet against" a third film going into production. DAKOTA DUO Also new were Focus Features ' stop-motion animated entry "Coraline" at No. 3 with $16.3 million and Summit Entertainment 's sci-fi thriller "Push" at No. 6 with $10.2 million. Both did better than expected, and both feature 14-year-old actress Dakota Fanning . Last weekend's No. 1 film, 20th Century Fox 's Liam Neeson crime thriller "Taken," slipped to No. 2 with $20.3 million; its 10-day total rose to $53.4 million. The top Oscar contenders, meanwhile, have largely stalled. The only exception was " Slumdog Millionaire ," the favorite to take the best picture prize in two weeks. Fox Searchlight 's Indian game-show drama has earned $77.4 million after 13 weeks, boosted by a $7.4 million weekend. It fell one place to No. 7. No other Oscar contenders made the top 10. The leading nominee, Paramount Pictures ' " The Curious Case of Benjamin Button ," with 13 mentions, has earned $120 million, and will struggle to match its reported $150 million budget. As for the other best picture nominees, Focus Features' "Milk" has made $25.3 million; Universal Pictures' "Frost/Nixon," $15.6 million; and the Weinstein Co's "The Reader," $16.1 million. But moviegoers are lining up for other movies as evidenced by overall ticket sales, which have risen for six out of the past seven weekends when compared with year-ago tallies. Year-to-date revenues are up 19 percent, said tracking firm Media By Numbers. The year's top movie is also the most notable Oscar snub, Clint Eastwood 's " Gran Torino ." Warner Bros.' urban drama has earned $120.3 million since opening in limited release in mid-December, and is on its way to $140 million, the studio said. Weekend Box Office Estimates (U.S.) This Wk Last Wk Title Dist. Weekend Gross Cumulative Gross Rlse Wks # of Theaters 1 - He's Just Not That Into You Warner Bros. Pictures Distribution $27,465,000 $27,465,000 1 3175 2 1 Taken 20th Century Fox Distribution $20,300,000 $53,364,000 2 3184 3 - Coraline Focus Features, Universal Pictures International (UPI) $16,335,000 $16,335,000 1 2299 4 - The Pink Panther 2 Sony Pictures Releasing $12,000,000 $12,000,000 1 3243 5 2 Paul Blart: Mall Cop Sony Pictures Releasing $11,000,000 $97,002,000 4 3169 6 - Push Summit Entertainment, LLC $10,204,000 $10,204,000 1 2313 7 5 Gran Torino Warner Bros. Pictures Distribution $7,420,000 $120,280,000 9 2705 8 6 Slumdog Millionaire Fox Searchlight Pictures $7,400,000 $77,426,000 13 1724 9 3 The Uninvited Paramount Pictures $6,400,000 $18,379,000 2 2344 10 4 Hotel for Dogs DreamWorks, Paramount Pictures $5,820,000 $55,234,000 4 2734 11 7 Underworld: Rise of the Lycans Sony Pictures Releasing $3,900,000 $39,659,000 3 2042 12 8 New In Town Lionsgate $3,300,000 $11,928,000 2 1941
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02-08-2009, 06:15 PM	#2
HuntingtonM15 That Bothers Me Moderator Forum Star Join Date: Jun 20, 2003 Location: Metro Detroit Posts: 11,060	Oscar contenders are rarely box office blockbusters, anyway. Though, on another note, Jennifer Aniston is really becoming the new Julia Roberts.