ITV Pays $30M For Controlling Stake In ‘Hatfields … 
Hot Trailer: ‘Anchorman 2′ 
2ND UPDATE: Charlie Sheen Fired Selma Blair From … 
Time Warner Cable Sued For Passing Lakers-Dodgers Costs On … 
Jonah Hill Signs For Management With LBI 
TOLDJA! ‘Dumb And Dumber To’ Proves No-Brainer … 
Salma Hayek’s Animated Passion Project ‘The … 
Relativity Moves Scott Cooper’s ‘Out Of The … 
Hot Trailer: ‘The Lego Movie’ 
Comedy ‘I Didn’t Do It’ Gets Series Order … 
Liv Tyler To Co-Star In Damon Lindelof’s HBO Pilot … 
DreamWorks Animation Launches Effort To Re-Position Itself … 
‘Pacific Rim’ Sequel In Planning Stages, … 
Legendary “Down To Handful” Of Studio Suitors: … 
UPDATE: Dan Harmon Apologizes For Comments Slamming … 
Deadline Expands: Hires Washington Post Journalist Lisa De … 
MGM & BermanBraun Sign TV Production Deal, First-Look … 
EMMYS: ‘Big Bang Theory’s Science 
‘Client List’ Season 3 Pickup In Limbo Over … 
Amazon Orders Cop Drama Pilot Based On Michael … 
Lionsgate Acquires Pulitzer Prize Winner ‘Devil In … 
Jan. 27-29 Weekend Actuals
1. The Grey (Open Road) NEW [3,185 Theaters] R Friday $6.5M, Saturday $8.2M, Sunday $5M, Weekend $19.7M 2. Underworld Awakening (Screen Gems/Sony) Week 2 [3,078 Theaters] R Friday $3.4M, Saturday $5.5M, Sunday $3.5M, Weekend $12.4M (-51%), Cume $45M 3. One for the Money (Lionsgate) NEW [2,737 Theaters] PG13 Friday $4.1M, Saturday $4.7M, Sunday $2.7M, Weekend $11.5M 4. Red Tails (LucasFilm/Fox)Week 2 [2,573 Theaters] PG13 Friday $2.8M, Saturday $4.8M, Sunday $2.8M, Weekend $10.4M (-45%), Cume $33.9M) 5. Man On A Ledge (Summit) NEW [2,998 Theaters] PG13 Friday $2.5M, Saturday $3.6M, Sunday $2M, Weekend $8M 6. Extremely Loud & Incredibly Close (Warner Bros) Week 6 [2,630 Theaters] PG13 Friday $2M, Saturday $3.2M, Sunday $1.8M, Weekend $7M (-31%), Cume $20.9M 7. Contraband (Universal) Week 3 [2,650 Theaters] R Friday $1.9M, Saturday $3M, Sunday $1.8M, Weekend $6.7M (-44%), Cume $56.6M 8. The Descendants (Fox Searchlight) Week 11 [2,001 Theaters] R Friday $1.7M, Saturday $2.9M, Sunday $1.7M, Weekend $6.4M (+170%), Cume $58.7M 9. Beauty And The Beast 3D (Disney) Week 3 [2,145 Theaters] G Friday $1.2M, Saturday $2.4M, Sunday $1.6M, Weekend $5.3M (-40%), Cume $41.1M 10. Haywire (Relativity) Week 2 [2,441 Theaters] R Friday $1.2M, Saturday $1.8M, Sunday $1.1M, Weekend $4M, Cume $15.3M
SUNDAY AM, 5TH UPDATE: COMING
Sources are telling me that the No. 1 movie at the North American box office is projected as Open Road Films acquisition of Liam Neeson-starrer The Grey with $6.5M for Friday and projected $17.6M for the weekend from 3,185 locations. Audiences gave it a ‘B-’ CinemaScore. At No. 2 is Lionsgate’s opener One For The Money starring Katherine Heigl and based on the Janet Evanovich’s bestselling novel. It came on stronger than the disaster which Hollywood thought it would be and received a ‘B-’ CinemaScore. It took in $4.1M for Friday and maybe $11.3M for the weekend from 2,737 runs. After that, one-week-old Underworld Awakening is #3 from Screen Gems/Sony Pictures and Red Tails #4 from LucasFilm/Fox had decent Friday holds of 64% and 53% respectively. All the way back in 5th place is Summit Entertainment’s new actioner Man On A Ledge with Sam Worthington which is a very weak $2.4M right now and perhaps $7.2M for the weekend from 2,998 theaters. And yet it received the best CinemaScore of the 3 openers: ‘B+’. That’s worse than what the studio expected.
Overall it looks like another up weekend for the new year: $110M, +10% from last year. But I’m not seeing much of an Oscar nominations bounce. The black-and-white of it is that The Weinstein Company’s Best Picture frontrunner The Artist remains silent in 837 runs with $867K for $3.2M weekend and $16.6M cume.
*Grosses for both One For the Money and Man On A Ledge come with asterisks because of their opening weekend’s Groupon/Living Social discounted movie ticket deals. Lionsgate/Summit don’t collect much of that money. Instead exhibitors get the lions share. And that discount prevented the Marcus Theatre chain from playing One For The Money in the midwest.
Here’s the Top 10 with full analysis coming:
1. The Grey (Open Road) NEW [3,185 Theaters]
Friday $6.5M, Estimated Weekend $17.6M
2. One For the Money* (Lionsgate) NEW [2,737 Theaters]
Friday $4.1M, Estimated Weekend $11.3M
3. Underworld Awakening (Screen Gems/Sony) Week 2 [3,078 Theaters]
Friday $3.4M (-64%), Estimated Weekend $10.4M, Estimated Cume $43.1M
4. Red Tails (LucasFilm/Fox)Week 2 [2,573 Theaters]
Friday $2.7M (-53%), Estimated Weekend $9.6M, Estimated Cume $33M)
5. Man On A Ledge* (Summit) NEW [2,998 Theaters]
Friday $2.4M, Estimated Weekend $7.2M
6. Extremely Loud & Incredibly Close (Warner Bros) Week 6 [2,630 Theaters]
Friday $2M, Estimated Weekend $7M, Estimated Cume $21M
7. Contraband (Universal) Week 3 [2,650 Theaters]
Friday $1.9M, Estimated Weekend $6.6M, Estimated Cume $56.5M
8. The Descendants (Fox Searchlight) Week 22 [2,001 Theaters]
Friday $1.7M, Estimated Weekend $5.7M, Estimated Cume $58M
9. Beauty And The Beast (Disney) Week 3 [2,145 Theaters]
Friday $1.2M, Estimated Weekend $5M, Estimated Cume $40.9M
10. Haywire (Relativity) Week 2 [2,441 Theaters]
Friday $1.1M, Estimated Weekend $3.5M, Estimated Cume $14.8M
Theater Chain Won’t Play Lionsgate Film ‘One For The Money’
Lionsgate-Summit Offers Discounted Tickets For Films This Weekend
Editor-in-Chief Nikki Finke - tip her here.
Loading ...
I’m an Australian who loves it when our actors make it big in hollywood, but sam worthington really needs to go away. For one thing he has all the charisma of a damp piece of wood and for another he seems incapable of maintaining his american accent for a whole film. It really feels like every role he’s gotten has been on the back of avatar, and the fact he believeably looks like he could throttle you.
Thank you. It’s great to root for the home team (I’m not Australian, by the way), and there have been and are some fine actors from Oz, but Sam Worthington is a talentless, charmless drongo.
What’s a drongo? Immediately I thought of a dromedary crossed with a dingo.
A drongo is an old Australian slang word for dumbass, idiot etc. Please Hollywood hire Guy Peace & Joel Edgerton more.
No, a drongo is when the bongo is played with a flat “droning” rhythm.
It’s what all the natives would play when England was dropping off a new shipment of felons.
You can Wikipedia it.
Aussies certainly know how to party but I don’t think they’ve gone that far – yet! A drongo is a dumbass, a jerk or idiot. I was going to watch ‘Man On A Ledge’ but once I saw Sam Worthington’s in it I realized I’d just be spending my time shouting, “Jump, you ******!”!
Much better weekend than I expected!
Another Australian here. I agree with you 100%. Wooden? You could make a coffee table out of his performances. His American accent sounds dreadful, I’m surprised American viewers will put up with it. He desperately needs a new dialogue coach. I’d say give him time, but Crowe/Pearce/Weaving/Jackman etc. gave accomplished performances right off the bat. We’re sorry America!
No apology necessary…Weaving’s wonderful performances alone more than makes up for it.
What were they thinking? It’s mind boggling that Man on a Ledge and One for the Money were even made. Hollywood is in a lot of trouble if they don’t stop making this crapola. Just proves Summit was a lucky one hit wonder with Twilight.
Hurt Locker
The Ghost Writer
Source Code
50/50
A Better Life
Don’t forget Red as a movie that actually made money!
I agree with you. I can’t believe Heigl got away with another crappy movie. Her latest is horrendous and I hate hearing about her.
Don’t worry, it will sink big time next weekend with the bad WOM especially since it’s Super Bowl next weekend. This will not be a mid range hit like Life As We Know It.
Knowing
THE GREY was great. Wouldn’t expect it to become a blockbuster, but it was tremendously good.
The Grey great? oh, please… two hours you won’t get back… I’ll spend my money on an Oscar nominated film this weekend. There’s a bunch out there to see.
10 bucks says Oscar hasn’t actually seen THE GREY.
Saw it at a screening. dumb predictable movie. I want my ten bucks, Magilla.
I’ll need some kind of proof. Ticket stub, Evite print-out, maybe a sworn affidavit. Do you accept PayPal?
No way he has seen THE GREY… terrible??! Agreed it is a FANTASTIC movie. Where’s the proof, Oscar? LOL!
No surprise there. The script was great. Best thing Carnahan has written. Yes, I include Narc in that assessment.
that’s nice you think the script was great, because the movie wasn’t. should have waited for redbox. not worth eleven bucks. audience was laughing at times. didn’t think it was a comedy.
Trying to bad-mouth a film simply won’t hurt it. Unless it’s utter crap, which The Grey is not. But please keep trying.
If this thing does well Joe Carnahan will have a feather in his cap and a lot of folks will have egg on their faces.
It is utter crap. More “takes place in Alaska but filmed in Canada because we’re all a bunch of cheap F*wads” sort of filth.
Open Road and Carnahan sure have their cronies working overtime on here. Movie was ok. Not great. Could’ve waited for video. Feather in his cap? Whatever. Carnahan’s talent is like the movie, way over hyped. But, keep trying JaySmack.
“Tremendously good”? What’s good about clichés, predictability, lame messages hammered through dialogue, one-dimensional characters, poor VFX and a played-out premise? Nothing. It’s a smart film allright, in that it’ll appeal to the brainless, action- and blood-addicted adulescents that it’s targeted at. Liam Neeson certainly does his best, to the point of being unintentionally comical, but geez, I rarely resented a free screening so much.
I have to admit I expected to hate ‘The Grey’ but enjoyed it. No question its a ‘guy’ film, and by no means ‘great’, but deeper and more meaningful than one would expect.
Liam Neeson’s back must be tired from carrying all these terrible movies.
The Grey’s at 79% at RotTom. Can’t be that bad.
It really is that bad. Not only is the dialogue terrible at points, its almost as if the writer was thinking “fuck it, I’ll just have them stare or move around the scene for a while, that should eat up a few minutes”. Sadly, that wasn’t even the worst part. Not that most would notice, but Neeson’s character, a “skilled” hunter, has no idea how to survive in the wild. The whole movie defied logic and ignored even the most basic survival skills that I was left shaking my head every 5 minutes.
Just wait until Taken 2 opens. What, they took her again? Keep her home under lock and key the next time.
Agreed. The acting was great. Liam, the John Diaz guy, the whole crew. The scenery and music were well done. The crash scene was different. It’s good a strange feel and feels slow at times, but didn’t mind. And the wolves were beautiful and the poem a keeper.
It would have been good if they didn’t drop the F Bomb every other line!!! We walked out and demanded our money back!
The Grey is terrific.
If Hollywood is really shocked that this movie is doing well, it’s only another clear sign that all the MBAs and Lawyers who have taken up camp in this town should get the hell out. They have no instincts for story, show business or, you know… people.
Just stop Open Road, just stop.
Open Road is the new up and coming mini, that the studio system needs… The Grey was a good pick-up and a big win for them!
I’m not surprised “One for the Money” is tanking. I’m boycotting the film, too—and it’s got nothing to do with the Groupon discount and everything to do with Katherine Heigl.
It’s doing better than the studio suspected. Probably a super cheap film, that will make it’s return and more. Also, I don’t understand “boycotting” a Katherine Heigl movie. Don’t Americans have more important things to boycott?
No. Hating celebrities for no reason is far more important than anything. Don’t you know anything?
Heigl sucks. Why oh why does she keep getting cast in films? She’s been in so many awful movies that seeing her face attached to a film pretty much implies that it is going to be bad. She has horrible taste in scripts. She is even worse than Jennifer Aniston. Women don’t even like her, much less men.
I can’t speak for all men, but as beautiful as Heigl is, every one of her characters (unless it’s all the same one) are caustic, judgmental, spoiled, eye-rolling, foul-tempered vampires of fun, providing absolutely no desire to see her movies.
I don’t know that she is as nasty and unpleasant in person, but I wonder if we’d even believe her as a sweet, fun-loving, accessable, vulnerable, humble woman in a movie.
she keeps getting cast in movies cuz she makes hit movies. so stfu
She hasn’t had a hit since Knocked Up, which is what she’s still living off as far as getting roles.
Sam Worthington is certainly not a credible actor, now it’s obvious he’s not a bankable action star either. I blame James Cameron for inflicting him upon movies.
In his defense, he was solid in Avatar.
No. He wasn’t.
I blame Terminator Salvation, because everyone said you should see this interesting newcomer, and that was released before Avatar.
Avatar may have come out later but it finished filming in dec of 2007. Terminator salvation was filmed in mid 2008. Avayar was filmed first which means Avatar was first.
clash of the titans made $500 mil worldwide. bankable!
Because of the heritage and content of the movie, not Worthington. Anyone could have been cast in his role and the 500 mill would still be there (bad movie as it was).
seeing the Artist, not this crap
The Artist is a pleasant diversion, nothing more.
It’s an extremely over-hyped film.
Frankly I am stunned it is the Oscar favorite.
At least it’s very, very short.
you’re high. Artist is way better than anything out this weekend.
I agree…I forgot the whole film by the time I got to my car. This could have been a great film, and actually had a message. But unfortunately, it didn’t…or was left on the cutting room floor.
If ‘The Artist’ is the best Hollywood can do they we’re REALLY in trouble.
Moneyball or Midnight in Paris were far superior….but still nothing to jump & scream about.
A. Only idiots demand that films have “messages.”
B. Hollywood didn’t “do” “The Artist.” It’s a French production by a French director starring French actors.
What? John Goodman, James Cromwell, and Penelope Ann Miller are French actors? Gosh, this is news to me.
~
Coat
very short? One hour and forty minutes is very short? Felt like an eternity to me.
It’s a hit because the cultural elites say it’s a hit. Everyone else just follows whatever the elites tell them.
…and I’m seeing “The Artist” again (for the 3rd time). This movie just gets better…and better…and better. Un arrêt incroyable!
Love how someone references Hurt Locker, The Ghost Writer, Source Code as if they were big hits…not! Sure, THL won BP but it was the lowest-grossing film to ever win, The Ghost Writer did nothing business, and Source Code was beat out by the cheaper Limitless.
The Ghost Writer did 15 million in the US, which is much more than ‘nothing’ considering it was a limited release of an artsy thriller by Polanski.
And Limitless has nothing to do with Source Code. Following your idiotic logic, all movies did ‘nothing business’ because none of them surpassed Avatar.
I thought the idea of using Groupon to market the Lionsgate film was a good one.
The tickets for some titles just cost too much.
If the theaters can’t cope with variable pricing why not use coupons to lowers costs on “B” pictures.
I’m not sure Groupon is ultimately the company to use but at least someone is trying.
The theater chain boycotting the picture should have it’s head examined.
GREY looks good and now that there are some positive reviews I definitely have to see it!
I love how Nikki has responded to other movie sites coming out with their weekend results a little earlier by being super early with ballpark box office estimates. Go Nikki!
Is this the day that we realise that Heigl is the new Jennifer Aniston? That being, her future lies in relatively low budget films, because she’s not a bankable enough Star to headline bigger ones?
For a woman who trashed her writers on Grey’s Anatomy, then did the same to Judd Apatow on Knocked Up, forgive me if I feel no pity.
She forgot the golden rule; if you’re an actor who can’t write, the only time you should open your mouth is when other peoples words are coming out of it.
And if you’re an actress….?
While the word “actress” is gender-specific, the word “actor” is not.
Refer to Magilia’s astute analysis below.
Heigl’s draw power has taken a hit to be sure, but 13-14 million would be terrific for One For The Money. A single digit opening was being projected because of the minimal advertisement, scathing reviews, no name male lead, and negative press due to the schedule shifts. Life As We Know It and Killers opened to 15 million a piece with better reviews and with the support Ashton Kutcher and Josh Duhamel. OFTM won’t revive her star power, but it’s certainly not the OMG HUGE BOMB Hollywood was expecting.
The idea that Heigl has box office draw is baffling. Perhaps the familiarity of her presence on Grey’s Anatomy, many tabloids and the wildly successful ‘Knocked Up” have a lot to do with it but does anyone not think that you’ll hear her name come up for the 2013 pilot season? She’s not headlining actress. She’s just not.
I like Katherine Heigl as an actress, myself. For this film, not only did she headline, but she seemingly had enough clout to bring in people she had worked with before. Like Julie Anne Robinson, the director, and Jason O’Mara.
Katherine Heigl, the David Caruso of Grey’s Anatomy. Anyone remember how he bolted from NYPD Blue half way through Season II for that blockbuster Jade?
@ Proud Heigl Fan: I agree with you on her numbers. They’re not as bad as many make them out to be. But they’re not as great either. Her starring in films opposite Ashton Kutcher, is a reflection of that, and her attitude.
So let’s be honest; she hasn’t really done herself, or her career more specifically, many favours.
The entire Grey’s Anatomy debacle sent out a clear message to those in the industry that matter; that she’s a self serving, spoilt b**th, whilst simultaneously painting herself in the same light to the public.
If you ever want to know how to run a Movie Star Career, refer to George Clooney’s interview with Time entitled The Last Movie Star.
It’s online somewhere.
His biggest asset is that he knows what the public wants, and in particular, what they DON’T want; that being, seeing actors who get paid a fortune, whinge about something.
Heigl was getting awards for Grey’s Anatomy. Hell, she was up for another award, yet she felt it necessary to put down the writers, who’s words gave her a career in the first place.
She’s either incredibly dumb, or ridiculously arrogant; either way, Hollywood has noticed, and it’s hurt her career as a result.
With the Star System almost dead and buried, and with such a wide range of actors to choose from, which studio would bother doing a film with someone like Heigl, who’s so obviously unpleasant towards the people that provide her opportunities?
it kind of is a bomb since because of the groupon special, lionsgate isn’t getting a lot of that money it was just a marketing ploy to make their numbers look better when they really are still getting very little.
Oh and Open Road really layed it on thick with the advertisements the past week for The Grey. I’m a bit shocked it won’t crack 20 with the aggressive promo campaign. Doubt it will have legs either as WOM among audiences will be terrible due to the God awful ending.
Couldn’t disagree more. As someone who does NOT think every single movie should have a little red bow wrapped around it, THE GREY’s ending had balls…. just like Carnahan.
WOM will be terrible, really? check facebook or twitter right now.
The ending was perfect: The right ending for the right movie.
One of the brilliant things about the first eight minutes of THE GREY is the way it says, “So, all of you who showed up… you may or may not have arrived expecting this or that kind of movie. But this is the kind of movie it is… let’s go…” and it stays true to that all the way through. Even to the end.
made the mistake of seeing an early showing of man on a ledge which was far and away one of the worst movies in a long time. ads looked decent but jeez was the wool pulled over my eyes. the plot was horrible! what were the producers thinking during the scripting process? sam worthington is so boring here and really only good in avatar and nothing else. and poor liz banks, she’s so much better than this.
hollywood you have to be more creative and take greater risks than this. it’s the definition of bland by the books seen it a thousand times already movie making and if it succeeds in the box office don’t be confused and think that you actually did something good. unfortunately the audience can be sometiems as blind as you are. but i for one refuse to be and i’ll bet others will have the same reaction.
so don’t waste your hard earned money here. imo the desendents however is a story worth seeing on the big screen right now which is why so many love it and it made a bunch of dough. just to offer a recommendation, as its not all that bad out there folks!
One for the Money is going to make much more than I thought it would.
I don’t understand the Oscar buss for The Grey, considering we’re talking next year’s Oscars… did they finish the movie late, or was it always on this release schedule?
Marcus Theaters’ boycott is ridiculous. Besides for every Marcus theater here in the midwest, there ar 10 theaters from a different company. They’re just sending their business elsewhere.
p.s. The Grey is boring, repetitive, and HUGELY overrated.
This is actually a hit for Heigl. This movie was tracking to open at $5 mil. Her name and her name alone has bumped it as an opening #.
And why oh why, Malcolm, do people like you have to bring up Aniston in these moments. Are you really that affected by her. She’s a nice girl who has had an amazing career. Some massive hits, some failures but one of the MOST successful careers of any living actress.
Go ask 95% of the female SAG actresses if they would exchange their career for Aniston’s.
She has done very well for herself as an actress – just bought at $24 mil home – and if she called you right now and wanted to do your movie… guess what pal, you’d say yes in a heartbeat.
Knowing
RED
Not sure why the producers would cast her for this role which is clearly not her wheel house AND pay quote. Moreover, who wants to see the pretty blonde next door with dark hair? fail!
I think she cast herself, I recall that she bought the rights to the book.
Katherine Heigl is irrefutably only one of a handful of actresses who are actual box office draws. Why do all the female box office draws get all kinds of grief from people?
@mfan – get yourself a cup of coffee, on second thought, make it two or three, you need to wake up because with your comment it is oblivous that you are in a world of your own.
Hey ron, since you wouldn’t discuss who you think are bigger female box office draws than Heigl, who took a 3% fresh on rotten tomatoes movie to $11.7 million, I can only think you are admitting you can’t provide any counterexamples who don’t get a lot of grief. Maybe if you drank an energy drink….
Because women are stupid?
Cant wait to see The Grey in the next few days.
People on there love to bash everything.
THE GREY is an excellent B movie. B+ actually. Characters are given more depth and sympathy than expected, the wolves are genuinely scary and Neeson gives an OSCAR WORTHY performance. Heart breaking. My only concern was that he didn’t punch more wolves in the face with glass knuckles. The ads promised me a Neeson VS Wolf showdown dammit! Juvenile bitching aside… dynamite movie.
well…if i am feltheimer right now, i would be wonder exactly how many NON-twilight assets i have to keep. film development? might be some good people there. Summit probably has a decent HR department? but the marketing group? they probably want to put them right out there on that ledge next to mr. worthington…
You people wouldnt know a great movie if your lives depended on it. Carnahan, Liam and his supporting case are just superb. A story that had a beginning, middle and end. Character driven with stories for each of the last remaining members of the tragedy. Try getting that into a two hour movie. Filmed in some of the harshest weather on earth…kudos to everyone involved. Hollywood does not make the best movies in the world, but when something like this comes around stop your bs.
bettheduck
THE GREY is way more than I expected. This movie isn’t best picture, but it’s raw, taught and ferocious. I wish more action movies would have such a refreshing seriousness of craft.
The people in Vancouver and Smithers, British Columbia, Canada will be quite surprised that you describe their weather as the harshest on earth. You must think this was actually filmed in Alaska. Hint: One definition of the Arctic is above the tree line, so if you see trees in the movie, it’s not the Arctic by one definition.
I see you have never been asked to place a camera or act in weather like that shown. Trees or not…that wind was still blowing and it was frickin cold.
LOL at the weather comment. I’m Canadian, and you have no idea what you’re talking about.
I think the Heigl is the most beautiful woman in the world and I am not a) a homosexual b) on drugs c) a troublemaker. I am going to see that picture tomorrow.