Kelly Rowland, Paulina Rubio In Talks To Join ‘X … 
Cannes: Latest Theft Affects China Film Group VP 
UPDATE: Yahoo Board OKs $1.1B Deal To Acquire Tumblr … 
‘Epic’ Toon Begins $14.5M Overseas Rollout 
Cannes: Sony Classics Wins Stateside Rights To Asghar … 
‘Fast & Furious 6′ Breaks Records In … 
Specialty Box Office: ‘Frances Ha’ Triumphs As … 
‘Saturday Night Live’ Season Finale Posts … 
‘Star Trek Into Darkness’ $164.5M Global: Lower … 
Cannes: Backup Media, Memento Bring Heat To Fest Helmer Jim … 
Cannes: Sundance Selects Acquires Dardenne Brothers’ … 
Cannes: Wrekin Hill Acquires U.S. On Gabriele … 
Bill Hader’s ‘SNL’ Stefon Farewell: Video 
Cannes: The Weinstein Co. Books ‘Suite … 
BBC Confirms ‘Doctor Who’ Season 8 
Finally, Cannes Dealing! Radius-TWC Nabs Director’s … 
Hammond On Cannes: Wet Fest’s Official Competition … 
‘Vampire Academy’ Adds ‘Modern … 
RATINGS RAT RACE: ‘Shark Tank’ Finale Up, … 
Cannes: Worldview Options Andrew Dominik’s Marilyn … 
UPFRONTS 2013: The Overachievers 
SUNDAY AM: North American box office numbers show that No. 1 Disney / Pixar’s futuristic Wall-E blasted off with a $23.1 million Friday and $22 million Saturday from 3,992 theaters for what was a $62.5 million opening weekend. This means arty Wall-E is big and transcended from a kids movie into a four-quadrant hit. But it wasn’t quite the $70+M record breaker everyone thought it would be. Still, it was the 3rd biggest Pixar opening (behind The Incredibles at $70.5M and Finding Nemo at $70.2M, but equal to Monsters Inc. at $62.5M) and the 7th all-time animated opening. And its opening day gross was the biggest of all nine Pixar titles ($23.1M, which passed The Incredibles‘ $20.5 million of 2004) and its opening weekend the 2nd best overall for June (behind Harry Potter And The Prisoner Of Azkaban‘s $93.7M). Disney is looking for a Best Picture Oscar nomination for the computer-generated G-rated toon, very possible with 97% great reviews from top critics and even rival studio bigwigs gushing: “It’s just adorable and smart and interesting. It has more character development and emotion than any movie I’ve seen this year.” One wrinkle in Wall-E‘s marketing was that the 1 hour, 37 minute pic has no dialogue for the first 40 or so minutes. And it can be hard to find something funny to say from a character who doesn’t talk.
More and more, films with different ratings and different genres can happily coexist at the box office — Alvin And The Chipmunks and I Am Legend, American Gangster and Bee Movie. So Wanted, Universal’s Angelina Jolie/James McAvoy starrer, debuted to $19.1M Friday and $17.5M Saturday from 3,175 venues for a $51.1M weekend. It marks a new franchise for the studio which expected only $35+M from this stylish summer actioner fueled by the Matrix-like high octane provided by hot Russian director Timur Bekmambetov. It turned out to be the best June opening ever for an R-rated movie, beating Knocked Up‘s $30.6M, and the 6th highest R-rated opening of all time (behind The Matrix Reloaded, The Passion Of The Christ, 300, Hannibal, and Sex And The City) as well as the 3rd biggest R-rated action film (behind The Matrix Reloaded‘s $91.7M, and 300‘s $70.9M). It’s also the biggest opening ever for a live-action Angelina movie and she proved a big draw: the studio said the main reasons given for choosing to see Wanted were the action (67%) and Jolie (61%). Exit polling showed the audience breakdown was 52%/48% male to female, 51%/49% under age 30 to over age 30.
Warner Bros comedy Get Smart took No. 3 with $6.5M Friday and $7.8M Saturday for a $21M FSS (-45% from its opening) and new cume of $77.2M. At No. 4, DreamWorks Animation / Paramount’s Kung Fu Panda took in $3.4M Friday and $4.5M Saturday for a $11.7M weekend and $179.3M cume. And in the 5th slot, Universal’s The Incredible Hulk managed $2.8M Friday and $3.8M Saturday for a $9.7M weekend and new cume of $116M. A Paramount’s The Love Guru dropped 61% from its opening for No. 6 with $1.8M Friday and $1.9M Saturday for a $5.4M weekend and cume of $25.4M.
The rest of the Top 10: At No. 7, Paramount’s Indiana Jones And The Kingdom Of The Crystal Skull took in $1.3M Friday and $2.1M Saturday for a $5M weekend with a cume that is about to zoom over $300M. M Night Shymalan’s The Happening for Fox was No. 8 with $1.1M Friday and $1.5M Saturday and $3.8M for the weekend, with a new cume of $59M. At No. 9 was HBO Films / New Line/ Warner Bros’ Sex And The City which earned $1.1M Friday and $1.4M Saturday for a $3.7M weekend and new cume of $140.1M. And in 10th, Sony’s You Don’t Mess With The Zohan made $990K Friday and $1.2M Saturday for a $3.2 weekend and $91.2M cume.
Overall, the domestic gross this weekend was up 20% over last year’s to complete the June sweep . No reason to think July won’t keep the winning streak going.
For more estimates listed by title, see box office results here...Editor-in-Chief Nikki Finke - tip her here.
Loading ...
Enough is enough about Wall-E not talking for 40 minutes. If it’s a great movie, it’s a great movie! Stop giving people excuses not to consider it. Academy voters already have enough stupid reasons why they don’t nominate people.
What is so surprising about women wanting to see Wanted?
Women want to see female lead movies, in pro-active roles other than “girlfriend” or “bride.”
My 4 year old daughter ad 8 year old nephew did not seem to notice that Wall-E didn’t speak. They loved it.
Goodness knows it’s better than the dialogue that comes out of Dreamworks/etc. animated characters’ mouths. We almost ALWAYS skip those lowbrow horrors.
I am one those women that saw Wanted because of Angelina Jolie, I usually don’t like the over the top violence in Movies but there is just something so audacious, badass and cool about Jolie. The fact that she also is not just the secretary or girlfriend, but an integral part of the movie is also empowering.
I was surprised at the crowd mixture too. This was billed as a teen boys movie, nothing could be further from the truth at the showing that I went to. There were a lot of middle aged couples, young couples, some women that came with girlfriends and some guys that came with their buddies, if this holds up, Universal will have a bigger hit than they anticipated on their hands, It was a fun ride of a movie.
If you produce quality movies, then they will pay to watch it. As simple as that. Surprising, but why?
Last year’s summer was a fluke, with the big 3 final trilogy (supposedly final but you will never know with the Hollywood-rians)
We were duped to think it was supposed to be the best of the 3rd in the series and all 3 disappointed, not to mention many other releases last year except for Ratatoulie, Bourne and Harry.
So last year’s big Summer B.O waa not so much of the quality of the movies but cause of the need to watch the many finale. This year, the B.O sure won’t beat last year’s numbers but atleast we know 1 thing, we can expect good quality ones.
I am hopeful.
Kudos to James McAvoy for managing to break out and actually become something of a draw for audiences going to see Wanted rather than getting lost in mess of CGI heavy ads and shots of Jolie’s ass.
The real question now is whether he can actually escape the ‘geeky,loser’ niche and become a proper leading man.
It’s going to be interesting to see how he handles his choices from here on in to say the least.
After seeing Wanted, how are they going to top the sequel. Congratulations to the cast,esp Angelina and James. The director needs some kudos also.
In the summer, around my house EVERY day is a potential kiddie matinee…ugh.
‘no surprise’ has it. Women as doers and action figures – not necessarily this movie – is what girls should be exposed to. They get enough of the shopping princess nonsense. I want to see a Lara Croft themed nursery for little girls – from educated & smart to adventurous & strong with some femininity thrown in the mix. Oh, and throw in a Gerard Butler while you’re at it.
I’m with Rob. All summer long I search for family fare for the kids.
This weekend WALL E. Next week AMERICAN GIRL. Week after that, MEET DAVE. My daughter is counting the days to the next SISTERHOOD OF THE TRAVELLING PANTS. Seems to me that more studios should be making family films.
Women love Angelina Jolie. They do not love action movies with women in the lead. Go back to GI Jane, Last Good Kiss, Aeon Flux, etc. The only action movie starring a woman that has had any traction are the ones with Angelina. And the more she keeps feeding the tabs (or they her) the more crazed we all are with all things joilee-pitt.
She’s infintely more interesting than her husband/partner/sperm doner.
Warner Bros: Angelina and Brad as Wonder Woman and Steve Trevor.
Pay them whatever they want.
Wall-e is just such an amazing picture. I saw it last night with a sold out audience here in NY.
The production design of the film is one of the most incredible feats of artistry I’ve ever seen. It’s more real than real, without losing it’s cartoon roots. The animation is subtle and just astonishing.
But it’s the storytelling that gets the biggest kudos. It’s the best American film in 10 years, animated or otherwiese.
People aren’t seeing Wanted for McAvoy. He’s barely known in the US. People are going to Wanted because Angelina Jolie is the only woman in Hollywood that can carry an action movie and they love seeing her in action movies
I would go to the opening of a supermarket with Angelina Jolie. I used to feel that way about Julia Roberts, in the 90′s, when she made movies I wanted to see – not like Chalie Wilson’s War –
now I’m devoted to Angelina. There’s no one else for me.
In my experience, the ONLY reason this movie got so big was due to the fact that women (for once) weren’t turned off by a female action star. The only other times this has happened was Mr./Mrs. Smith and Tomb Raider. Oh wait – what’s the common denominator.
Jolie is the Will Smith of women. She’s the anti-girl girl. Girls who DIDN’T see SEX AND THE CITY opening night went to see WANTED. But be carefull those of you who try to predict future trends- Jolie is an ANOMOLY. Most action movies for women will not/do not work.
We bow at the feet of Jolie.
Finally, a proper chic-flick
Made me laugh out loud, Andea!
Impressed with the kid movies so far this summer. Loved Kung Fu Panda, Loved Kit Kittredge, Loved Wall E, looking forward to Journey 3D!
For the first time this year, I am really excited about seeing a movie. Well of course it has Angelina which is a major bonus for me.
I loved Mr.and Mrs. Smith, thought she was fantastic in it.
She knows how to carry her films, and what roles to pick that work best for her.
Action/Drama Angelina has it.
The key to Wanted’s success was the casting of McAvoy, who completely sells the character’s improbable transforamtion from neurotic office geek to physics-defying gunslinger while being simultaneousy funny and bad-ass, and the hiring of madcap Russian visualist Timur Bekmambetov as director. Banal selections being hired for either of these pivotal production pieces would’ve been the source of quality undoing and while it still could’ve made money, it wouldn’t have been worth a damn in the estimation of discriminating action fans. Ethereal Angelina being along for the ride as a stoic femme fatale is the cherry on top of the cake’s icing.
Love the men on this site who so arrogantly pronounce what women want. Hilarious.
Women want good movies with female leads of all genres. It’s not rocket science.
Women do not love Jolie. If women loved Jolie, all of her movies would do well. They don’t. Only the action genre has done well for her.
Women love a strong female lead in a good movie. GI Jane was a terrible movie (and was released 11 years ago.) Look at how you can only name a couple of female lead action films. Statistically most movies flop. If you only make a few female action leads, you’re only going to get one or two hits.
Look at the abundance of male action films that have tanked miserably. No one says male action films are a dead proposition and no one will go see them.
Ridiculous arguments on this board guided not by logic, but by ignorance and agenda.
Inevitably, women will make the movies women want to see, they will make buckets of money and the men will swoop in to co-opt it. Don’t let it happen, women.
Women love female action movies. Charlie’s Angels, Alien, La Femme Nikita. Make good female action movies and they will come.
Angelina Jolie is the hottest and the best actress in Hollywood now.You’re an icon.
>Women love Angelina Jolie. They do not love action movies with women in the lead. Go back to GI Jane, Last Good Kiss, Aeon Flux, etc.<
That’s one ignorant argument. Women don’t like lousy action movies with women in the lead, pure and simple. (In fact, did _anyone_ like GI JANE, LAST GOOD KISS, or AEON FLUX?) And does the failure of flicks like SMOKIN’ ACES, SHOOT ‘EM UP, or any number of bad-superhero flicks mean that men don’t like action movies with men in the lead? It’s a shame that there are so few “women action flicks” that when one or two fail, Hollywood (and fanboys) try to discount the entire subgenre.