Weekend Box Office: 'Girls on Fire'

[The Clown Prince]

Five new films opened this weekend, but only one of those would make an impact, and that movie was Mean Girls which made an incredible $25 million! Not bad for a Saturday Night Live writer. Plus it's been receiving favorable reviews.

Last weeks number movie fell to number two this weekend. Man on Fire brought in $15.2 million and has a total so far of $44.4 million.

Coming in third place this weekend was 13 going on 30 which made $10 million and has a total of $35.1 million.

Debuting in forth place was Laws of Attraction which made $7 million.

Rounding out the top 5 and debuting was Godsend which made $6.9 million.

Also opening this weekend was Envy which came in sixth place making $6.1 million. And opening in only 1,332 theaters and coming in sixteenth place was Bobby Jones - Stroke of Genius making $1.1 million.

According to Hollywood, next weekend summer begins. And as the summer movie season begins, we kick it off with a special effects extravaganza. Van Helsing starring X-Men's Hugh Jackman in the title role, and co-starring Kate Beckinsale. With TV advertising having gone on for more than a month, it's sure to bring in a lot of money next weekend.

Also opening on the 'first' weekend of summer is New York Minute starring the the Olson Twins, and Eugene Levy.

All in all, a lot of money will pass through the box office next weekend.

Here are your numbers...


1) Mean Girls- $25,000,000 ($25,000,000) NEW!!!
2) Man on Fire- $15,200,000 ($44,482,816)
3) 13 Going on 30- $10,000,000 ($35,184,000)
4) Laws of Attraction- $7,000,000 ($7,000,000) NEW!!!!
5) Godsend- $6,900,000 ($6,900,000) NEW!!!
6) Envy- $6,100,000 ($6,100,000) NEW!!!
7) Kill Bill Vol. 2- $5,809,495 ($52,605,078)
8) The Punisher- $3,400,000 ($29,600,000)
9) Home on the Range- $2,200,000 ($45,500,000)
10) Scooby-Doo 2: Monsters Unleashed- $2,155,000 ($79,538,000)
11) Johnson Family Vacation- $2,000,000 ($27,541,111)
12) Hellboy $1,750,000 ($57,413,000)
16) Bobby Jones: Stroke of Genius- $1,173,000 ($1,173,000) NEW!!!

The Clown Prince

[Tobias]

I haven't heard ANY positive reviews for Godsend, mine included. That movie HAD the potential to be a fun, scary, 'Sixth Sense' type movie, but an insanely horrible plot twist ruined the movie.

Mean Girls raked in 25 mil? Wow, I guess Lohan's officially Hollywood's new 'Hot Chick'. Hilary Duff has to be steaming over this.

Even opening in that many theaters, Bobby Jones should have made a little more than that. I guess people just aren't into golf movies.

Next week: The Olsens vs. Jackman. Considering this week's top film, I think Michelle's going to give Wolverine a run for his money.

[Lord Dalek]

If Van Helsing isn't at top of the list next week I'll eat my hat.

[JDuncan]

Despite the reviews I really liked Envy, I hope it makes its budget back. I'm not really surprised at the unanimous critical response though, critics never 'get' dark comedy (Cable Guy, Death to Smoochy).

[Classic Speedy]

Why is "13 Going on 30" still making substantial money? Can't anyone see that it's a Big retread? [/CONTROVERSIAL COMMENT]

[black shadow]

how do ya get a picture next to your name

[Classic Speedy]

Go to Quick Links, then down to "Edit Avatar". Next, take a picture file that is 75x75 pixles and/or 10 kb or lower in size, and select it from the Edit Avatar page (upload a file from my computer).

[sag_2002]

Not surprised "Mean Girls" made it to the top and made a lot of money. It looks pretty good from the trailers. Guess this is the start of the Lohan era in teen movies.

Of course, look for Van Helsing to dethrone Lindsay next week.

[JustJack]

If Van Helsing isn't at top of the list next week I'll eat my hat.
oh yeah? If Van Helsing isn't at the top of the list next week, I'll eat my socks.

[Tobias]

oh yeah? If Van Helsing isn't at the top of the list next week, I'll eat my socks.

The Olsen Twins possess powers... EVIL powers. Well, that's how I account for their success anyway. If Van Helsing does grab #1, I think NYM will still make a very close second.

Remember this time last year when X2 opened against the Lizzie Maguire Movie? It's the same thing again: Jackman vs. a teenage blonde.

[wrenchien]

the 2nd scooby doo movie will probably make $80 million.

i'd watch shrek 2 in june, perhaps..

in may.. i have to be out of town.

[wrenchien]

If Van Helsing isn't at top of the list next week I'll eat my hat.

and if he's not i'll go to florida for two weeks the next day, via austin and dallas and memphis and huntsville and atlanta and not post anything... well, maybe from vero beach , anyway... not post anything on the website.

of course, if he is, i still might go... cause i need a vacation, badly.

[Neo-Era]

Why is "13 Going on 30" still making substantial money? Can't anyone see that it's a Big retread? [/CONTROVERSIAL COMMENT]

Big was made in 1988. That's practically an entire generation ago. I'm sure plenty of people watching 13 Going On 30 have never seen Big.

[Deadly Messiah]

OMG, Mean Girls is the best movie of the weekend? God, I feel sorry for peole that saw that crap.

Anyway, I saw Punisher yesterday, and while it was good, I don't think I could see it again.

Friday is Van Helsing, and I can't wait. That is going to be one of the best movies of the summer. Spider-Man 2 has some great competition here.

[Caffeine King]

Not surprised to see Mean Girls at the top.

It'll probably be battling it out with New York Minute for the #2 spot, seeign as how Van Helsing will probably get the #1 spot.


7) Kill Bill Vol. 2- $5,809,495 ($52,605,078)
Vol. 2 is doing the exact same thing Vol. 1 did, #1 for only a week (wasn't Vol. 2 2 weeks at #1 though?) And only make about $75 million. :shrug:

[Elf]

There was no movie absolutely interesting this month(besides Hellboy and KB II). Can't wait for the installment of Summer movies coming next week.

[Eidan]

Nice to see Mean Girls on top. Didn't see it or anything, but I think Lindsey Lohan has a nice rack, and she hasn't been overexposed like her fellow teen queen brethren (that's right, Duff).

Also glad that Man On Fire is doing so well. I thought it was a great movie, and compared to its fellow "Revenge" pics (Punisher and Kill Bill), I thought it was the best of the three.

[NinjaJack]

Well as I had expected Mean Girls pulled in the cash.
And DM,have you actually seen Mean Girls yet? Tina Fey looks like she`s done a great job with it.

[shogunthethird]

Haven't seen "Mean girls" but the "outsider destroys popular crowd" plot has been popular since I think "Revenge of the nerds" or sometime before that as for the olsen twins movie, if it out-performs Van Helsing (which I doubt) I believe Salma Hayek said it best in "Dogma" *ahem* "you know someone sold their soul to the devil in order to get the grosses on that piece of **** up"

[Lord Dalek]

oh yeah? If Van Helsing isn't at the top of the list next week, I'll eat my socks.My hat is tastier than your socks. Heck I don't even know where your socks have been.

[The Penguin]

Bring on the summer season! That's my only thought. Mean Girls doesn't really appeal to me (although I did like Lindsey when I happened to see Freaky Friday (http://forums.toonzone.net/showthread.php?t=88479)) and Godsend (http://forums.toonzone.net/showthread.php?t=110031) just didn't seem all that interesting. Envy could be funny, but I wouldn't bet money that I'd see it. Van Helsing being number one though...

[Auggie Doggie]

According to Hollywood, next weekend summer begins. And as the summer movie season begins, we kick it off with a special effects extravaganza. Van Helsing starring X-Men's Hugh Jackman in the title role, and co-starring Kate Beckinsale. With TV advertising having gone on for more than a month, it's sure to bring in a lot of money next weekend.
Newsweek ran an article about that movie, saying how it can make a lot of money next week, but people probably won't like it, based on the director's previous efforts (the "Mummy" movies) and negative press. See it. (http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/4880479/)


Why is "13 Going on 30" still making substantial money? Can't anyone see that it's a Big retread? [/CONTROVERSIAL COMMENT]
I don't think anybody cares where the idea came from, it's still a very cute movie and something of a charmer.

[Tobias]

Newsweek ran an article about that movie, saying how it can make a lot of money next week, but people probably won't like it, based on the director's previous efforts (the "Mummy" movies) and negative press.

.

Um, weren't both the Mummy movies box office hits? Someone had to have liked the Mummy franchise for it to get a sequel and a spin off. Anyway, I thought both films were very good. (Never saw Scorpion King, though, but that also made a tidy sum of cash if I'm not mistaken)

[The Clown Prince]

Um, weren't both the Mummy movies box office hits? Someone had to have liked the Mummy franchise for it to get a sequel and a spin off. Anyway, I thought both films were very good. (Never saw Scorpion King, though, but that also made a tidy sum of cash if I'm not mistaken)I personally liked the Mummy movies myself, but they weren't works of art with a thoughtful plot or anything. They were what they were. Popcorn flicks designed to be a lot of fun. And that's what I and lots of people thought they were. The Mummy made $155.3 million here in North America PLUS another $260 million overseas. The Mummy Returns made $202 million here in North American PLUS another $231 million overseas.

Scorpion King made surprisingly $91 million here in North America PLUS another $73.9 million overseas. Combined it had a production and marketing cost of $95 million. I liked it, but not as well as the Mummy movies, but it was a good launching point for The Rock.

As for Van Helsing, any of us have yet to see it, but all the negative press around it is sadly true. Until we see it, I don't see what the heck everyone is not liking about it. Like the Mummy films, I think it will be a lot of fun. The story I'm sure will be nothing ground breaking, but fun most likely. Whether or not Van Helsing will be as good, better or worse than the Mummy films remains to be seen. But I do think it will make a lot of money, and because of that alone, a sequel we will get. It won't matter if critics bad mouth this thing 'till their blue in the face. If it brings in the dollars, we'll get another one.

The Clown Prince

[Classic Speedy]

I don't think anybody cares where the idea came from, it's still a very cute movie and something of a charmer. It DOES look like it has its funny moments, but you've got to admit it's not a very original idea. Tons of movies have been made about a kid in a grown-up's body- even a year ago in the Freaky Friday remake.

[Tobias]

Even with all the bad reviews, Van Helsing will at least make #2 because:

-Hugh Jackman doing another action movie. People loved him as Wolverine and are likely eager to see him branch out into other action roles.

-Underworld had a huge opening (Werewolves vs. Vampires). This movie has Werewolves, Vampires, AND Frankenstein.

-It's the first major motion picture of the summer season. People are going to flock to it simply because it's the start of the new season.

Either way, the top two will be VH and New York Minute, it's just up to the public over who gets the top spot.

[Peter Paltridge]

I don't really know why people bark so much about how bad the Mummy movies were. Go watch "The Mummy Returns" and then go watch "Raiders of the Lost Arc"....IT'S THE SAME FORMULA of never-let-you-breathe action sequences, except this time it's a whole family kicking butt and not just a man in a fedora. They're the same, and one is revered and the other is spit on. I don't get it....

[The Clown Prince]

I don't really know why people bark so much about how bad the Mummy movies were. Go watch "The Mummy Returns" and then go watch "Raiders of the Lost Arc"....IT'S THE SAME FORMULA of never-let-you-breathe action sequences, except this time it's a whole family kicking butt and not just a man in a fedora. They're the same, and one is revered and the other is spit on. I don't get it....
As I said, I personally loved the Mummy movies, but as to why the Mummy films are "spit on" it's simply that 'Raiders' came out first. 18 years to be exact. As for why 'Raiders' was a huge success then...

1) Harrison Ford (He was coming off of Star Wars)
2) Steven Spielberg (Even in his early directing years he was big then)
3) George Lucas (Star Wars)

It is quite obvious that the Mummy films are the exact same formula as 'Raiders.' Same time period, same type of lead character, archeology type plot. Whether Stephen Sommers was blatanly borrowing from that, who knows. Probably is my guess, but a far cry from plagerism.

The thing with Van Helsing has been done many times before too. The goofy, but fun 80's movie Monster Squad did this. Except it had Dracula and his three brides, Wolfman, Frankenstein, AND The Creature from the Black Lagoon, AND The Mummy itself. The Vampire Hunter D anime's have done this too. But of course those films will have been seen by not as many as Van Helsing will. Tobias mentioned Underworld recently as a film containing the two iconic type monsters. Van Helsing too is rated PG-13 which was the goal from the writing stage. This will get ALL audience types in to see it, thus capitalizing hugely on box office.

It's like all the recent movies about vampires. They have similarities, but each one is slightly different. But basically recycled. It's gonna be everyone's opinion of which one out of all these types of same films were/are best.

Picture this for fun while were on the subject of Indiana Jones too... Tom Selleck who had a hot career playing Magnum P.I. was the first choice for Indy. But CBS wouldn't let him have the time off to do it. Would the 'Jones' films had been just as successive? Even today Tom Selleck is a big name. Not as big as Harrison Ford. He gets more work obviously. But would Selleck be a bigger star today if he had played Indy?

The Clown Prince

[Chris Wood]

It is quite obvious that the Mummy films are the exact same formula as 'Raiders.' Same time period, same type of lead character, archeology type plot. Whether Stephen Sommers was blatanly borrowing from that, who knows. Probably is my guess, but a far cry from plagerism.

The Clown Prince
This is not an issue of plagiarism. The Mummy movies seem clearly to be a loving homage to the Indy Jones movies. I think nothing but the greatest respect was intended.

[The Clown Prince]

This is not an issue of plagiarism. The Mummy movies seem clearly to be a loving homage to the Indy Jones movies. I think nothing but the greatest respect was intended.
That's why I said "a far cry." ;) I know it wasn't. But there are too many things with the Mummy films that are like the Indy films. Greatest respect I'm sure, but something more creative and something we haven't seen would have been nice.

The Clown Prince

[Peter Paltridge]

Picture this for fun while were on the subject of Indiana Jones too... Tom Selleck who had a hot career playing Magnum P.I. was the first choice for Indy. But CBS wouldn't let him have the time off to do it. Would the 'Jones' films had been just as successive? Even today Tom Selleck is a big name. Not as big as Harrison Ford. He gets more work obviously. But would Selleck be a bigger star today if he had played Indy?

I think the bigger question is, would Ford be the star he is today if Selleck had been Indy? Star Wars was nice, but Star Wars has rarely been enough for any actor or actress. Mark Hamill and Carrie Fisher didn't exactly remain big-title stars. I have a feeling if Ford hadn't become Jones, the audience wouldn't have accepted he could play different people and he would be in the same different-job boat.
Fisher became an author, Hamill became a voice actor...maybe Ford would have become a ventriloquist.

[TheEvilClown]

Even with all the bad reviews, Van Helsing will at least make #2 because:

-Hugh Jackman doing another action movie. People loved him as Wolverine and are likely eager to see him branch out into other action roles.

-Underworld had a huge opening (Werewolves vs. Vampires). This movie has Werewolves, Vampires, AND Frankenstein.

-It's the first major motion picture of the summer season. People are going to flock to it simply because it's the start of the new season.

Either way, the top two will be VH and New York Minute, it's just up to the public over who gets the top spot.
Ha Yeah Right New York Minute will be lucky to be #3!

[Tobias]

Ha Yeah Right New York Minute will be lucky to be #3!

I don't know, the Olsen Twins do have a strong following, plus they have the always hilarious Eugene Levy, and they've been around about 16 years longer than Lindsay Lohan, so I think NYM will make the top five, maybe even the top two.

[TheEvilClown]

Well looking at Friday Numbers New York Mintue will not even come close to getting #1

Van Helsing-19,400,000
New York Min-2,140,000