SAG National Board Approves Joint Bargaining … 
BBC Drama Unfreezes Development Money; … 
Lionsgate Board Rejects Icahn's $6/Share 
Is Betting On Box Office Good For Films? 
Marvel Still Looking For Captain America 
'Sopranos' Creator To Film Rock Drama 
LIVE-SNARKING THE 82ND OSCARS... 
'ALICE' IS A MONSTER! $116.3M Blows Past … 
Oscar Not-So-Thriller: Diller Mogul Picnic 
'Precious' Sweeps 25th Indie Spirit Awards 
Howard Stern Won't Be Next 'Idol' Judge 
Justin Theroux Readying 'Zoolander 2' For … 
Mickey Rourke Wooed For Two Big Roles, … 
CBS Reups Les Moonves Through 2015 
EXCLUSIVE: Who Will Be Captain America? 
UPDATE: Record $1 Billion January Box Office -- But Don't Tell SAG!
SUNDAY NOON: According to MediaByNumbers.com, "this has been the first billion dollar January 
capped off by the biggest overall Super Bowl weekend as the nation's theatres score a touchdown and the extra point." Super Bowl Weekend this year totaled $129 million for all films in the marketplace and beat last year's $127.7 million by 1%. Meanwhile, Kevin James' Paul Blart: Mall Cop, (which has contributed $83.4 million to the January bottom line) and Clint Eastwood's Gran Torino (which has added around $100 million to January's coffers) helped make the January record of $180+ million a reality. "There's no question that going to the movies has become a favorite recessionary passtime."
The Super Bowl, pirated copies circulating on the web, and a lovable mall cop heating up the box office all should have depressed the North American grosses for 20th Century Fox's thriller Taken opening. 
But the Liam Neeson-starrer, directed by District B13's Pierre Morel, and produced by Luc Besson, tackled those obstacles and turned up the testosterone for $9.5 million Friday and $12M Saturday (+30%) from 3,183 theaters. That's way more than what Hollywood expected the film would make all weekend. Now, Taken's total is up to $24.6M assuming a modest $3+M Sunday because of football hoopla. Fox originally told me hitting $14M would be "an unqualified success", and anything higher "just plain fantastic". Now, this weekend total elicits from the studio "WOW!" (No wonder Hollywood agencies were recently in hot pursuit of Morel as a client.) It's the 2nd best Super Bowl weekend debut behind only Hannah Montana's concert film for last year. Knowing that the pic's audience would be led by older males, and moviegoers on Super Bowl Sunday can fall off by as much as 75%, the studio went into the weekend hopeful but unsure. "Younger males are also showing some interest, and we've managed to get some traction with older females," one Fox exec told me about this PG-13 film that pushes the envelope of the MPAA's movie ratings system. "This is one of those gambles that just hit the jackpot."
Columbia/Sony's Paul Blart: Mall Cop continues to shock the January box office. "Where will this phenom end? Who knows?" asks one rival studio exec in an email to me. (Meanwhile, kudos to MGM's Mary Parent for locking Kevin James into a pay or play deal back before Christmas for his next movie, 2010's The Zookeeper. She must be psychic cuz nobody predicted this hit.) The PG comedy was No. 2 for its 3rd week -- only -35% -- to earn $4.1 million Friday and $7.6M Saturday for another big $14M weekend and new cume of $83.3M. "If Paul Blart was in the Super Bowl, he would get called for holding," Sony yukked Sunday.
DreamWorks/Paramount's suspense pic The Uninvited starring Elizabeth Banks debuted so-so on Friday and Saturday with $4.4 million apiece in 2,344 venues for No. 3 and a $10.5M weekend despite its short 87-minute running time. It had decent interest by young females but only 1/2 as much by young males. But a similar attempt at counter-programming the Super Bowl fared no better -- Lionsgate's New In Town, a tired fish-out-of-water story starring Rene Zellweger with moderate interest from older females. (That's a career in freefall.) By being out on only 1,941 locations, it opened No. 8 with only a $6.7M weekend.
With a new cume of $48M, Paramount's Hotel For Dogs keeps getting the kiddie matinee bump, this time for No. 4 and an $8.7M weekend. That's neck-and-neck with the $8.6M for Clint Eastwood's morality tale Gran Torino which soared past the magic $100M mark for a $110.5M total. Here's the Top 10:
1. TAKEN (20th Century Fox) OPENER --> $24.6M Weekend [3,183 theaters]
2. PAUL BLART: MALL COP (Sony) 3rd week --> $14M [3,206] cume $83.3M
3. THE UNINVITED (DreamWorks/Paramount) OPENER --> $10.5M [2,344]
4. HOTEL FOR DOGS (Paramount) 3rd week --> $8.7M [3,160] cume $48.2M
5. GRAN TORINO (Warner Bros) 8th week --> $8.6M [3,015] cume $110.5M
6. SLUMDOG MILLIONAIRE (Fox SL) 12th week --> $7.6M [1,633] cume $67.2M
7. UNDERWORLD 3 (Sony) 2nd week --> $7.2M [2,942] cume $32.7M
8. NEW IN TOWN (Lionsgate) OPENER --> $7M [1,941]
9. MY BLOODY VALENTINE 3-D (LG) 3rd week --> $4.2M [1,406] cume $44.6M
10. INKHEART (New Line/Warner Bros) 2nd week --> $3.7M [2,665] cume $12.7M
Loading ...
I have a friend who has seen Mall Cop seven times and counting and I’ve heard there’s a fandom beginning to surround it as well. I just don’t see the appeal, personally.
Only people not paying attention are surprised by Mall Cop. It’s just like when you hear an R&B singer featured on on a lot of hit songs, then when they finally come out with a solo album it explodes. Wouldn’t have thought it would do $100 million, but figured it would be a hit considering he had huge exposure in Hitch and Chuck & Larry. I happened to work on both as an AD, and if success could happen to anyone it should be Kevin, he’s a great down to earth guy.
What I find most amazing is that even without today’s gross, January 2009 is already among the 15 most profitable months ever, a list which is basiclly just a countdown of july’s and a few may’s and june’s. Well done January.
I agree with DGA, anyone who didn’t see this coming wasn’t paying attention. Kevin James was on a fairly popular sitcom for several years, it’s a dumb comedy about an everyman who gets to be a hero, in tough times people want to see light comedies and the studio marketed the hell out of this movie. I haven’t seen it, but both my wife and I are trying to carve out time for it, just for the possibility of having a laugh.
People complain about BLART, online hipsters like to use it as a joke…but the real evil is NEW IN TOWN, which is dangerously offensive toward Minnesotans and a completely uninspired romantic comedy.
That’s the film that deserves the cultural crucifixion.
I saw “New in Town” last night and loved it. It’s good old fashion fun.
Ryan S.–Just curious. Did you see the film?? I’m guessing not. Guys seem to like to post rude things about female-oriented movies on the showbiz comments sections without actually having seen the movies. I wonder what motivates guys like you to even bother to comment on a movie in a genre that you obviously hold in such disdain?
Joan,
Don’t presume anything about me. I saw the film. Pardon me if Tapioca fights on a factory floor, buckshot slapstick, rock-hard nipple jokes, anti-Minnesota screenwriting, and undergarment mayday flags don’t equal hilarity at the multiplex.
Instead of swallowing the tripe that makes up “female-oriented” movies these days, perhaps you should think more highly of yourself and demand Hollywood make more nourishing escapism that doesn’t require a dunce cap with every paid admission. Wit used to be a mainstay of romantic comedies.
Perhaps it’s YOU who didn’t see “New In Town.”
No surprise on ‘Taken’ and its popularity with older males. It’s the feel good movie of the year for dads with teenage daughters. There are two things to take away from it:
1. It kicks ten kinds of ass; and
2. Liam Neeson in my new hero
Bourne for grownups. The anti-PC elements only add to the awesomeness.
What is Zellwieger doing? She has three oscar nods and a win! Why does she continue to attach herself to this kind of dreck? Did she lose a bet? Her looks are fading fast; if she wants life-long career, she better reestablish her credentials as a legitimate actress quickly. She’s one more bad role away from obscurity.
Three words. ‘Taken’. Was. Tremendous.
Blew me away. Easily best movie since Slumdog Millionaire. Highly recommend to everyone, this film will do well next week after everyone who saw it this weekend tells everyone else how great it was. Seriously, go see this!!
I would be curious to know what the industry thinks of the effect that the widespread piracy of “Taken” had on it’s surprising showing this weekend.
Good point, Anonymous. I watched Taken online a few months ago. It was awesome and I plan on seeing in it in theaters with friends again. Great movie and Liam Neeson is bad-ass!
@ AnonyMous
The same effect it has on any other halfway watchable flick: NONE.
There are five reasons why Paul Blart: Mall Cop is doing so well. One, we all know collective American taste is in our asses. Two, comedies always do well in trying times. Three, in such trying times people love stories of the underdog overcoming all obstacles to succeed. Four, Kevin James has played his transition from television to movies perfectly by getting his feet wet sharing the screen and developing a following. Five, the studio spent its money perfectly in promoting the movie; there’s a reason you didn’t see any ads on Bravo or The History Channel.
Taken-Impressed. Could only have been better if villians were Wall Street Bankers.
Taken is a winner! It’s a really well done film that really develops the lead character played very well by Neeson. It was like sitting in a theater during the 80’s and watching a Charles Bronson movie. For me Taken is much better than the Bourne or Bond films.
chuck
Can someone point me to a moment in recent history when a critically acclaimed film without built-in commercial potential (a la The Dark Knight) was also a number one box office hit?
I don’t get why people are acting as if the success of Paul Blart is such a cause for concern.
Gran Torino might top 150.
Amazing.
Glad to see people are taken with “Taken.”
It is easily the best action flick in a long time. Liam Neeson used to be a boxer and it shows in his action scenes which he DID NOT use a double for.
To answer a question about piracy. I don’t know how piracy can help a film but I do know that the online chatter was how the film rocked. (go figure) Piracy sucks but I think a good film can overcome even that.
The movie is very anti-PC and Liam’s spy owes a lot to Jack Bauer. I plan to see it again when it hits the discount-plex.
I agree, Chuck. Taken is absolutely terrific. It’s what the Die Hards and Bonds used to be before mega-budgets and CGI; a lean, stripped-down Bourne without the jerky camera. From the moment the girl is kidnapped, the pace is unrelenting and the brutal, bloody climax on the boat is a bravura action set-piece. Neeson is just great. Hope it makes a mint. Gonna see it again.
“The Uninvited” is by far one of the worst Asian remakes I’ve ever seen. Despite the always reliably great David Strathan, the film screws up everything even the gratuitous sex stuff with Liz Banks. (how could anyone make her not sexy!)
Saw it with a bunch of loud tweens and usually that mena fun but they didn’t like it and clowned on the film all the way.
At least they were funny.
The most interesting and mindboggling question this week:
How is it possible that both TAKEN and THE UNINVITED get away with PG-13 — while WENDY & LUCY got slapped in the face with an R-rating? An R-rating for what – disturbing images of reality and the unsightly struggle with unemployment and poverty?
(I just checked: for “language”). So it’s okay to off a couple of people, just as long as you don’t call them a bitch? It’s okay to talk about sex, to listen to and watch your parents through the peephole doing it and to play with stepmom’s dildo (THE UNINVITED)- but don’t go all REVOLUTIONARY ROAD on the back seat of a car. GRAN TORINO also rated R for language and — wait for it — violence. Wow, that must be an ooooold rating.
On what planet does that make even an iota of sense?
Are the ratings for THE UNINVITED (agree, totally boring garbage and no remake of the fine A TALE OF TWO SISTERS) and TAKEN “recession-ratings” to fill theater seats? Will we see more PG-13 ratings in 2009?
_Taken_ and _Gran Torino_: Double feature ftw!
(Saw _Taken_ on sunday, and HOLY CRAP. THAT is how movies should be made in the USA…)
And to Ashton Kuntcher and the rest of his pussy pals: I PROMISE to pay full price to see any movie in which arabs and/or muslims are the bad guys, and where they get killed. Horribly.
Mark, explain, “One, we all know collective American taste is in our asses.” Just curious.
And you’re way off if you think older males who religiously watch History (it’s not The History Channel anymore) didn’t make up the majority of ticket buyers for Taken — and for that matter, the older wives, too, who love Bravo. Get your stereotypes straight, Mark.
I read this post and blogged about the possible effect piracy might have had on the “Taken” opening over at the Filmmaker magazine blog. While I am by no means arguing that piracy is always a good thing, I think one can argue for this specific title that a lot of that online interest was generated by people who downloaded the film over the last year and then wrote about it and told their friends.
http://www.filmmakermagazine.com/blog/2009/02/taken-and-piracy-effect.php