Weekend Box Office: A 'Treasure' to behold!

[The Clown Prince]

Another big winner this weekend in a month that had turned out two outstanding hits before. The latest is the sequel to the very successful National Treasure ($173 million/$347.4 million worldwide) National Treasure: Book of Secrets. It earned $45.5 million in it’s first weekend!

Dropping to second place after a very successful first weekend last week and a big regular week was I Am Legend with $34.2 million and a total of $137.4 million.

Coming in third place and only dropping 34.5% from last weekend was Alvin and the Chipmunks with $29 million and a $84.8 million total after two weekends.

Debuting in fourth place was Charlie Wilson’s War with $9.6 million.

And rounding out and debuting in fifth place in 1,249 theaters was the excellently reviewed (87% at RottenTomatoes (http://www.rottentomatoes.com/m/1183955-sweeney_todd_the_demon_barber_of_fleet_street/)) Sweeney Todd: The Demon Barber of Fleet Street with $9.3 million.

Also opening this weekend was P.S. I Love You in sixth place with $6.5 million.

And not opening very well was the comedy Walk Hard: The Dewey Cox Story in eighth place with $4.1 million despite doing not too bad at RottenTomatoes (78% rating (http://www.rottentomatoes.com/m/walk_hard/)).

Out of the top 12 are The Perfect Holiday (14th), This Christmas (15th), Fred Clause (16th), and August Rush (17th).

Opening wide next week are three new movies. All three open Tuesday, Christmas Day. First up is Alien vs. Predator: Requiem (http://www.comingsoon.net/films.php?id=14188) (rated R) starring Reiko Aylesworth, Steven Pasquale, John Ortiz, Shareeka Epps, Johnny Lewis, Sam Trammell, and David Paetkau.

Next up is The Water Horse: Legend of the Deep (http://www.comingsoon.net/films.php?id=14583) (rated PG) with Emily Watson, Alex Etel, Ben Chaplin, David Morrissey, and Brian Cox.

And finally we have The Great Debaters (http://www.comingsoon.net/films.php?id=20723) (rated PG-13) starring Denzel Washington, Forest Whitaker, Jurnee Smollett, Kimberly Elise, and Nate Parker.

Opening in New York, Los Angeles, and Toronto before it goes wide January 11th is The Bucket List (http://www.comingsoon.net/films.php?id=23034) (rated PG-13). Directed by Rob Reiner, it stars Jack Nicholson, Morgan Freeman, Sean Hayes, and Rob Morrow.

And opening in New York and Los Angeles on Wednesday is There Will Be Blood (http://www.comingsoon.net/films.php?id=18237) (rated R) with Daniel Day-Lewis, Paul Dano, Ciaran Hinds, and Kevin J. O'Connor.


Here are your numbers…..

1) National Treasure: Book of Secrets- $45,500,000 ($45,500,000) NEW!
2) I Am Legend- $34,225,000 ($137,490,000)
3) Alvin and the Chipmunks- $29,000,000 ($84,867,000)
4) Charlie Wilson's War- $9,618,000 ($9,618,000) NEW!
5) Sweeney Todd: The Demon Barber of Fleet Street- $9,350,000 ($9,350,000) NEW!
6) P.S. I Love You- $6,505,000 ($6,505,000) NEW!
7) Enchanted- $4,152,000 ($98,351,000)
8) Walk Hard: The Dewey Cox Story- $4,100,000 ($4,100,000) NEW!
9) The Golden Compass- $3,980,000 ($48,418,000)
10) Juno- $3,400,000 ($6,385,000)
11) Atonement- $1,974,000 ($5,787,000)
12) No Country for Old Men- $1,698,000 ($36,715,000)

The Clown Prince

[bigddan11]

Yahoo notes that Book of Secrets made more on opening weekend than the the original by $10.4 million.

[Lord Dalek]

And Alvin continues to be the shock hit of the season. I mean seriously WTF???

[Eddy]

Glad to see Sweeney Todd doing so well, especially considering it's only in select theaters at the moment. It truly deserves it and I hope to see it do even better in the coming weekends.

I Am Legend continues to do well, which is good. I liked the movie a lot. Juno is doing well for itself, considering how obscure of a movie it is. Loved that one as well. I'm surprised to see Walk Hard not doing so hot. I don't plan to see the movie anytime soon, nor do I have any desire to, but people usually eat these type of movies up. And considering how much they've been promoting it, you think that would attract more crowds. But oh well.

And Alvin continues to be a box office success. I guess we can expect to see more "old cartoon into live-action movies" coming up. Please Hollywood, leave DuckTales alone.

[HG Revolution]

Alvin and National Treasure's success completely baffles me.

Walk Hard's failure baffles me even more. I guess the "Appatow empire" never existed and Judd's previous three hits (not counting Talladega Nights, which suceeded simply on Will Ferrel and some strong middle-America NASCAR appeal) were big moreso due to the obvious sex in them rather than the star quality or positive reviews.

Sweeney Todd deserved to do better. Sadly the screening I went to was only half-full and most of the people there were either sleeping or booing (in one case, I could have sworn bootlegging), despite being so utterly freaking awesome.

Golden Compass now has no chance at stateside success, yet it's already passed the $100 million mark overseas.

This may be the most illogical box-office week ever. Never before have I disagreed so vehemently with America's picks.

[kewlmyc]

Glad to see Sweeney Todd doing so well, especially considering it's only in select theaters at the moment. It truly deserves it and I hope to see it do even better in the coming weekends.

I Am Legend continues to do well, which is good. I liked the movie a lot. Juno is doing well for itself, considering how obscure of a movie it is. Loved that one as well. I'm surprised to see Walk Hard not doing so hot. I don't plan to see the movie anytime soon, nor do I have any desire to, but people usually eat these type of movies up. And considering how much they've been promoting it, you think that would attract more crowds. But oh well.

And Alvin continues to be a box office success. I guess we can expect to see more "old cartoon into live-action movies" coming up. Please Hollywood, leave DuckTales alone.

That and Rugrats. (shudders)

[Eddy]

Sweeney Todd deserved to do better. Sadly the screening I went to was only half-full and most of the people there were either sleeping or booing (in one case, I could have sworn bootlegging), despite being so utterly freaking awesome.
I agree that Sweeney needs to do better but, keep in mind, it's only been in select theaters so far.

[SirLemming]

I didn't realize Sweeny was a limited release -- obviously no chance of hitting #1 on opening weekend. But the buzz should help it a lot when it opens wide.

Then again, neither buzz nor promotion nor apparent mass appeal could help Walk Hard; I'm shocked. That really seemed like a sure-fire top 5.

As for National Treasure, I think I underestimated that because I was in college and wasn't really keeping up with movies around the time the first one came out.

[HG Revolution]

I agree that Sweeney needs to do better but, keep in mind, it's only been in select theaters so far.

Borat was in less theaters and still came in number one. At the time, I thought people were seeing it due to hype and being almost universally loved, which would make one think Sweeney would do better (especially since it actually could piggyback on Borat's success with Sacha Baron-Cohen in a hilarious, though admittedly short, number). Now I'm starting to think people only saw Borat for the disgusting wrestling.:sad:

Either that, or people either blew their brains out or rotted them once they finished the last Harry Potter book (which had really been a ralying point for this generation's geeks and intellectuals, and now a good number of the ex-HP kids desparate to find the next big thing have now given up on reading and thinking and caring and have fallen into the grasp of *shudders* Hanna Montana). It's the best explanation I have for this fall's sucktitude.

[Tay the Cat]

Now I'm starting to think people only saw Borat for the disgusting wrestling.:sad:
Can't speak for anyone but myself, but I saw Borat because I heard how awesome the movie was.

I personally found the wrestling scene disgusting. However it was also real funny at the same time. I literally almost died laughing.

[HG Revolution]

Can't speak for anyone but myself, but I saw Borat because I heard how awesome the movie was.

Same here, but we're not the average moviegoer.;)

[Jin Kazama]

Crap. That figures. The only two movies I've wanted to see in months (Walk Hard, Juno) both finally came out this week around me, when I don't have the time to see them. But, I figured that with them both being critical successes that they'd last, and I can wait a week or two. Now with Walk Hard bombing, looks like that plan didn't last.

I'd say that people didn't see it because they view John C. Reilly as a supporting character actor, but the success of Superbad kind of throws that theory out the window.

[Silly McGooses]

I obviously have to eat some crow on Sweeney Todd, I was hoping it would make it to number 3 because it honestly is the best movie I have seen this decade. Not a terrible number considering the theater count, but after the first day of fans rushing to see it, the drop was pretty nasty. Hopefully legs will be decent from here-on out for a few weeks, what with awards and all.

[Hanshotfirst113]

Alvin and National Treasure's success completely baffles me.

I at least UNDERSTAND National Treasure; Bruckheimer and Disney are the masters of marketing, and it's the definition of the time-killing brainless fluffy escapism that many mainstream people enjoy. Plus, Nicholas Cage has star-power. I understand that. Alvin, however, boggles my mind.

[Eddy]

There's nothing that baffling as to why Alvin is doing so well. The reason is simple: kids. Kids want to see the movie and their parents get dragged into seeing it.

[Robin2099]

I don't know why. National Treasure is a movie that families with older children can see together, that also appeals to the 18-34 demographic well. If that group is going to the movies, they'll see NT. If a family with teens want's to go to the movies they'll see it. So their you go.

As for Alvin, I said why last week but I'll say it again. It's a family movie. Little kids will want to see it cause it looks cute, and parents will be willing to see it since they remember it from their childhood. So I don't know why their success surprises you that much.


Walk Hard's failure baffles me even more. I guess the "Appatow empire" never existed and Judd's previous three hits (not counting Talladega Nights, which suceeded simply on Will Ferrel and some strong middle-America NASCAR appeal) were big moreso due to the obvious sex in them rather than the star quality or positive reviews.

Or it could be because of the fact that the movie didn't look that funny in trailers, as well as that it parodies things that most of it's demographic doesn't know much about. That's more of a contributing factor then lack of sex jokes.


Sweeney Todd deserved to do better. Sadly the screening I went to was only half-full and most of the people there were either sleeping or booing (in one case, I could have sworn bootlegging), despite being so utterly freaking awesome.

Haven't seen it yet, even though I've heard good things about it. But it's also in a small number of theaters and is also a little dark for people seeking lighter Christmas fair at this time. Sadly, it will probably be more of a cult movie then a big success like most of Burton's other movies.


This may be the most illogical box-office week ever. Never before have I disagreed so vehemently with America's picks.

Just curious, but why do you always seem to take these BO numbers personally? People want to be entertained and it's in their right to pick what they want to watch and find entertaining. Just because you like The Golden Compass doesn't mean everyone should go see it, when most people haven't really liked it much.

[KCJ506]

The people who went to see Alvin and the Chipmunks have kids and kids like children's films. Especially around Christmas, you know with Christmas break and all.

Or they were just fans of the Chipmunks which span about 50 years worth of history and fans.

Just a hunch.

[Hades]

Okay, so I am happy to see National Treasure be #1, as it was good, but holy crap, Sweeney Todd is truly this year's best movie!!!!! It pains me to say this, but I liked it better than even Transformers.

Edit by Bird Boy: Holy Crap! Stop abusing the swear filter!

[Ajax]

Alvin and National Treasure's success completely baffles me.

Walk Hard's failure baffles me even more. I guess the "Appatow empire" never existed and Judd's previous three hits (not counting Talladega Nights, which suceeded simply on Will Ferrel and some strong middle-America NASCAR appeal) were big moreso due to the obvious sex in them rather than the star quality or positive reviews.. Robin hit the nail on the head, you cant make fun of everything and except people to laugh. Im my honest opinion Walk Hard just looked stupid and didnt seem all that funny from the trailers. Not a movie I would pay 8 bucks to watch.


Golden Compass now has no chance at stateside success, yet it's already passed the $100 million mark overseas. This here doesnt surpirse me in the least bit. Dark Materials really wasnt that widely know in the US and then to make it a movie (with the obvious controversies) im rather surprised it did as well as it did. For shame, such a bad ass movie.



This may be the most illogical box-office week ever. Never before have I disagreed so vehemently with America's picks.You know whats ironic about you? You display as much ignorance as the people you so fiercely disagree with lol.

[Desensitized]

Too bad about Walk Hard, it was much funnier than Talladega Nights. Apatow movies never have good trailers, so I'll just assume it didn't do well because people didn't want to see that kind of comedy this time of year.

Oh Well, 'Drillbit Taylor' in march will probably do better.

[Juu-kuchi]

What the Christ? Walk Hard isn't doing well in the box office. How rather queer. I liked it.

[SirLemming]

Haven't seen it yet, even though I've heard good things about it. But it's also in a small number of theaters and is also a little dark for people seeking lighter Christmas fair at this time. Sadly, it will probably be more of a cult movie then a big success like most of Burton's other movies.

I don't know about that. Burton is the master of the "cult movie". Has he ever really enjoyed huge box office success?

[Lord Dalek]

I don't know about that. Burton is the master of the "cult movie". Has he ever really enjoyed huge box office success?Not since Batman Returns, no.

[The Clown Prince]

I don't know about that. Burton is the master of the "cult movie". Has he ever really enjoyed huge box office success?

The only recent one that pops to mind was last year's Charlie and the Chocolate Factory. $206.4 million U.S./$474.9 million worldwide.

Despite the critical lashing it got, and Tim Burton's own problems with the studio making it, Planet of the Apes in July of 2001 pulled in $180 million U.S./$362.2 million worldwide.

In fact, if you go to this link at Box Office Mojo, it shows all of Tim Burton's films and how much they've made. http://www.boxofficemojo.com/people/chart/?view=Director&id=timburton.htm

The Clown Prince

[Wounded_Dragon]

Then again, neither buzz nor promotion nor apparent mass appeal could help Walk Hard; I'm shocked. That really seemed like a sure-fire top 5.


While I wasn't likely to go see Walk Hard, the promos actually ensured that I'd never go, what with all the "We're great, we're awesome, you must come see this bestest movie evarr!!!" the ads exuded.

[Silly McGooses]

Not since Batman Returns, no.
Tim Burton's had lots of hits since BR, like Sleepy Hollow, Planet of the Apes (even if it wasn't quite deserved), and especially Charlie and the Chocolate Factory.

[Hades]

Too bad about Walk Hard, it was much funnier than Talladega Nights. Apatow movies never have good trailers, so I'll just assume it didn't do well because people didn't want to see that kind of comedy this time of year.

That isn't saying much now is it? Nights was such a hugely unfunny movie.

Comic Book Guy, I really don't understand why The Golden Compass, or His Dark Materials entirely, is controversial. All it is is a freaking fictional story, NOTHING else! Since when did we start becoming panzies and turn FICTIONAL books into reality?

My bad Bird Boy.

[Ajax]

That isn't saying much now is it? Nights was such a hugely unfunny movie.

Comic Book Guy, I really don't understand why The Golden Compass, or His Dark Materials entirely, is controversial. All it is is a freaking fictional story, NOTHING else! Since when did we start becoming panzies and turn FICTIONAL books into reality?Lol dont shoot the messenger...I find nothing controversal about the book or the movie, im just simply stating what I have read about reactions to it. My sentiments mirror your own, its a shame the movie triology will never finish.

[Cogliostro]

I agree that Sweeney needs to do better but, keep in mind, it's only been in select theaters so far.

I think did pretty well, it did just a hair under what Charlie Wilson's War made and CWW has been getting pushed alot recently with ads, more so then Sweeney. Also Walk Hard had more then double the theater count of Sweeney and made under half what it did. So all in all, the best that can be expected. I hope Sweeney does get a little bit bigger theater count in the next couple weeks.


Borat was in less theaters and still came in number one.

Borats success was due to fans of the Ali G show and the conterversy of it's jokes on races, religions, women ect. and also the gross and completely un-necessary nude wrestling scene. I myself had high hopes for Borat but I found it overall a bad movie with few genuine funny scenes. Sweeney is a R rated musical and that's a hard sell unfortnately for most of America.


Holy crap, Sweeney Todd is truly this year's best movie!!!!! It pains me to say this, but I liked it better than even Transformers.

You mean you actually like a great movie that doesn't have any explosions and is a musical over a summer blockbuster?! :eek: Hades there just might be hope for you. :p


Comic Book Guy, I really don't understand why The Golden Compass, or His Dark Materials entirely, is controversial. All it is is a freaking fictional story, NOTHING else! Since when did we start becoming panzies and turn FICTIONAL books into reality?

The Golden Compass is controversial because in one of the books in the series from what I heard two kids kill God and I believe the book is written by a Atheist. So of course the religious nuts have to jump all over the movie condeming it and asking the 'faithful' to boycott it and so on. Hades you might not hear much about them but simular things happend with The Da Vinci Code, Harry Potter movies which are based on fictional books too and even some religious people got worked up about The Passion of Christ. I actually remember people standing outside movie theaters with picket signs boycotting The Da Vinci Code and trying to stop people from seeing it. It's rather pathetic.

[SirLemming]

The author of The Golden Compass has been quite vocal about his desire to undermine Christianity and create a sort of "anti-Narnia" with his books, so I'm really not surprised that Christian parents would boycott the film. It's not like Harry Potter which is more of an "OMG magic is evil" thing. Frankly, I don't think boycotting a movie is the craziest thing parents/religious people have ever done. At least they're not protesting it. If people don't want to see it or don't want their kids to see it, that's really their prerogative, even if you find it frustrating.

[Classic Speedy]

I have little desire to see Walk Hard. The humor looks strained from the commercials and trailers, to be honest. But I also have no desire to see Alvin & the Chipmunks.

I WAS going to see National Treasure 2 yesterday but the roads were horrible. Maybe when I get back to Minnesota.

After that the only movie coming up which I really want to see is "Be Kind Rewind".

[Nexonius]

I have little desire to see Walk Hard. The humor looks strained from the commercials and trailers, to be honest. But I also have no desire to see Alvin & the Chipmunks.

I WAS going to see National Treasure 2 yesterday but the roads were horrible. Maybe when I get back to Minnesota.

After that the only movie coming up which I really want to see is "Be Kind Rewind".




Minnesota must be real cold, huh Speedy?

[SirLemming]

I guess there is one flaw in Walk Hard's marketing: they barely showed Jack Black or Jenna Fischer in the commercials. I didn't even know they were in it until I saw reviews and Jenna Fischer's blog. No matter how big or small their roles are (I haven't seen it), you gotta let people know they're in it.

[HG Revolution]

There's nothing that baffling as to why Alvin is doing so well. The reason is simple: kids. Kids want to see the movie and their parents get dragged into seeing it.

Explain why Underdog bombed and Garfield didn't do anywhere near as well as Alvin. They're the closest comparisons. Underdog at least had pretty much no competition (all the big summer films for kids had already run their course, except for Bratz which was a huge flop).


Just curious, but why do you always seem to take these BO numbers personally? People want to be entertained and it's in their right to pick what they want to watch and find entertaining. Just because you like The Golden Compass doesn't mean everyone should go see it, when most people haven't really liked it much.

In Golden Compass's case, I took it personally since it meant there won't be a sequel.

[Discloner]

Explain why Underdog bombed and Garfield didn't do anywhere near as well as Alvin. They're the closest comparisons. Underdog at least had pretty much no competition (all the big summer films for kids had already run their course, except for Bratz which was a huge flop).Unlike Enchanted and Bratz - Alvin really has no gender specific demographic of which it is targeted. It's just for kids - and the nostalgia hungry parents who will recognize what the story is and take them. It also benefits from coming out during a holiday season when a more female geared Kids movie is their only major competition (Enchanted) - so it gets most, if not all of the kid market.

[Desensitized]

I guess there is one flaw in Walk Hard's marketing: they barely showed Jack Black or Jenna Fischer in the commercials. I didn't even know they were in it until I saw reviews and Jenna Fischer's blog. No matter how big or small their roles are (I haven't seen it), you gotta let people know they're in it.
Yeah, Jack Black played Paul McCartney. He was really funny.

Also, a lot of the scenes in the commercials aren't in the movie, which I find odd. But like I've always said, Apatow movies always have pretty bad trailers. I only saw 40 Year Old Virgin because of word of mouth.

And Hades, yeah, that's why I said it was much funnier than Nights which could mean anything from enjoyable to awesome.

[HG Revolution]

Okay, so I am happy to see National Treasure be #1, as it was good, but holy crap, Sweeney Todd is truly this year's best movie!!!!! It pains me to say this, but I liked it better than even Transformers.

Why the pain? Transformers was fun popcorn entertainment, but Sweeney Todd is a hundred times better. Do you really have trouble admitting you agree with critics on anything or something?


You know whats ironic about you? You display as much ignorance as the people you so fiercely disagree with lol.

How so?


Unlike Enchanted and Bratz - Alvin really has no gender specific demographic of which it is targeted. It's just for kids - and the nostalgia hungry parents who will recognize what the story is and take them. It also benefits from coming out during a holiday season when a more female geared Kids movie is their only major competition (Enchanted) - so it gets most, if not all of the kid market.

Explain why Alvin is doing better than Underdog, though. Underdog had no competition. Ratatouille had run its course, Transformers and Harry Potter had child appeal but were still more aimed at teenagers and young adults, and of course Bratz flopped. So where did Underdog fail where Alvin hasn't?

[Robin2099]

Explain why Alvin is doing better than Underdog, though. Underdog had no competition. Ratatouille had run its course, Transformers and Harry Potter had child appeal but were still more aimed at teenagers and young adults, and of course Bratz flopped. So where did Underdog fail where Alvin hasn't?

Well mainly because when Underdog came out, it came out during the typically slower times of the summer. By that point and time lots of kids were heading back to school, so of course it would have a smaller gross. Alvin is coming out during a time when family films are popular and most kids are on X-mas break. Besides Underdog did decent business, so it's not like the movie was a bomb as it made money.


You know whats ironic about you? You display as much ignorance as the people you so fiercely disagree with lol.


How so?

Because the past two weeks you've been criticizing everyone who hasn't seen movies that you thought they should see and be number one. You said you were ashamed America didn't make Golden Compass a success. This week you say you were ashamed cause Sweeney Todd wasn't a success. Just because you like a movie doesn't mean everyone needs to go see it and be talked down upon because it's not what you think should be successful. Heck this weekend I'm passing up Sweeney Todd and Golden Compass for AVP:R. Guess I should be ashamed of my decision.

[Ajax]

How so?
Robin2099 pretty much said it...I will only add that ur condescending attitude is what I dont understand. The past two weeks you have acted as if your opionion was the word of God and it was blasmephy that America was going against it.
What I meant about your ignorance is that you wonder why Sweeney Todd (being such a great movie and all) could be doing so bad when in reality it makes perfect sense that in a holiday weekend were thousands of kids are on vacation; all (and their parents)they would wanna see is christmas/holiday/popcorn flick movies and not remakes of a musical about a man whos out for revenge and uses the murdred bodies of his victims to make pies (and or flims about supposive atheism). How you cannot understand this only leads me to believe that your as absent minded as these average movie goers.

[Hanshotfirst113]

I'd hardly call HG arrogant. He's always quite respectful in debates and makes a number of good points. I think that he's just expressing disappointment at the fact that so many great films are being overlooked in favor of others. I think that he's just expressing his wish that such great movies would get a larger audience. There is far more jerkishness to be display in other posts on the topic (like mine when Transformers came out).

[Draft]

Alvin and National Treasure's success completely baffles me.

Walk Hard's failure baffles me even more. I guess the "Appatow empire" never existed and Judd's previous three hits (not counting Talladega Nights, which suceeded simply on Will Ferrel and some strong middle-America NASCAR appeal) were big moreso due to the obvious sex in them rather than the star quality or positive reviews.

Sweeney Todd deserved to do better. Sadly the screening I went to was only half-full and most of the people there were either sleeping or booing (in one case, I could have sworn bootlegging), despite being so utterly freaking awesome.

Golden Compass now has no chance at stateside success, yet it's already passed the $100 million mark overseas.

This may be the most illogical box-office week ever. Never before have I disagreed so vehemently with America's picks.



Explain why Alvin is doing better than Underdog, though. Underdog had no competition. Ratatouille had run its course, Transformers and Harry Potter had child appeal but were still more aimed at teenagers and young adults, and of course Bratz flopped. So where did Underdog fail where Alvin hasn't?

How does Treasure baffle you? The first made 180 million i believe.., and the sequal always has a bigger opening gross(But usually an overall less total, but i bet this will be an exception)

I agree with you, but i get why. This isn't sex related, unlike 40 Year Old Virgin, Knocked Up, and Superbad. This spells some doubt for The Pinnapple Express.

How does Sweeney Todd suprise you too? I would agree with you if musicals about a Demon Barbers were all the rage, but they aren't.

GD, Can you please shut up about the Golden Compass? You're gettign almost as bad as Timbox about this, and i think you are a respectable member too..

Oh, i have a theroy. Underdog was made in the 60s. Alvin was made in the 80s. Alvin had 2 DTVs in the past 20 years, along with a couple DVD releases and a low-buget movie. Underdog had a couple DVD releases.

Anyway, Alvin is still suprising, especially after Underdog wasn't a huge success earlier in the year. Looks like I Am Legend's ending is catching up to it's reciepts, and good for people watching Juno

[Ajax]

I'd hardly call HG arrogant. He's always quite respectful in debates and makes a number of good points. Not calling my firend, simply saying he is acting like one. With each box officer report that comes out he has become more extreme with his statments. He seems to have a low opinion of people (no people here I might add his gripe seems to be with the American movie going population) who dont watch the movies he considers good and fails to see the obvious reasons why said movies are not succeeding. I merely pointing out what im seeing.

[HG Revolution]

Robin2099 pretty much said it...I will only add that ur condescending attitude is what I dont understand. The past two weeks you have acted as if your opionion was the word of God and it was blasmephy that America was going against it.

Sorry, but what I see before me is a world getting constantly dumber. I mean, currently they're showing a Deal or No Deal Xmas special. Honestly, Deal or No Deal!?! Who on Earth thought it would be a good idea to make a show of people pointing at boxes and winning money with no skill required? Don't say this is entirely matters of taste, because I see this as being side-effects (causes?) of a bigger issue. I mean, in my Hebrew school, there are 10th graders who don't even know who Moses is. I know kids who get on the honor role because they can actually be quite intellegent when they try to be but feel the need to be so stupid in public conversation that they have to call Africa one of the United States. You can see why I'm bitter. I mean, yes, I can kind of see your point about family movies automatically doing better than anything daring or controversial in this case (though I want to slap any parent who decided to bring their kids to Alvin right after seeing the ****-eating commercial), but look at this startling fact: Hitman, though certainly no blockbuster, has still made more money total than No Country for Old Men.

[Rolling Cloud]

Sorry, but what I see before me is a world getting constantly dumber. I mean, currently they're showing a Deal or No Deal Xmas special. Honestly, Deal or No Deal!?! Who on Earth thought it would be a good idea to make a show of people pointing at boxes and winning money with no skill required?

That show requires a hefty amount of luck. I've watched it and tried it on my own and got it wrong 7 times out of 10.


I mean, in my Hebrew school, there are 10th graders who don't even know who Moses is.

*shrug* They must not go to services that much. of course, when you hear the Passover story as much as I did I don't see how they couldn't have.


I know kids who get on the honor role because they can actually be quite intellegent when they try to be but feel the need to be so stupid in public conversation that they have to call Africa one of the United States.

Why can't I get on that Honor roll? I mean, I wouldn't be as stupid to call Africa one of the US, but....O_o


(though I want to slap any parent who decided to bring their kids to Alvin right after seeing the ****-eating commercial),

That commercial seems to be online-only since they haven't shown it on TV. Therefore, I doubt most parents would've even known about it.

[HG Revolution]

How does Treasure baffle you? The first made 180 million i believe.., and the sequal always has a bigger opening gross(But usually an overall less total, but i bet this will be an exception)

How does Sweeney Todd suprise you too? I would agree with you if musicals about a Demon Barbers were all the rage, but they aren't.

GD, Can you please shut up about the Golden Compass? You're gettign almost as bad as Timbox about this, and i think you are a respectable member too..

Oh, i have a theroy. Underdog was made in the 60s. Alvin was made in the 80s. Alvin had 2 DTVs in the past 20 years, along with a couple DVD releases and a low-buget movie. Underdog had a couple DVD releases.

Anyway, Alvin is still suprising, especially after Underdog wasn't a huge success earlier in the year. Looks like I Am Legend's ending is catching up to it's reciepts, and good for people watching Juno

I didn't realize people liked the first, and I expected this to be a Tomb Raider-esque situation where the sequel made only half the first due to lack of interest.

Johnny Depp is hot enough to carry the Pirates franchise even when nothing else except the effects were worth writing home about. I guess it was either the effects or (for some reason) the story that really sold the films and not his performance.

Sorry, I'm really pissed about The Golden Compass. It's been one of my favorite books for a while and the movie impressed me a lot. I can have favorites, right?

Just shows what you know. Alvin was made in the '60s as well.

Juno looks good. I'm gonna see it sometime this week. Maybe it'll end up a strong focus of attention for girls who avoid the formulaic stuff Hollywood tends to put out but aren't up for the more testosterone-based indie fare that's been quite common (i.e. No Country, There Will Be Blood, etc.).

[HG Revolution]

That commercial seems to be online-only since they haven't shown it on TV. Therefore, I doubt most parents would've even known about it.

It was shown in front of The Simpsons Movie.

[Ajax]

Sorry, but what I see before me is a world getting constantly dumber. I mean, currently they're showing a Deal or No Deal Xmas special. Honestly, Deal or No Deal!?! Who on Earth thought it would be a good idea to make a show of people pointing at boxes and winning money with no skill required? Don't say this is entirely matters of taste, because I see this as being side-effects (causes?) of a bigger issue. I mean, in my Hebrew school, there are 10th graders who don't even know who Moses is. I know kids who get on the honor role because they can actually be quite intellegent when they try to be but feel the need to be so stupid in public conversation that they have to call Africa one of the United States. You can see why I'm bitter. I mean, yes, I can kind of see your point about family movies automatically doing better than anything daring or controversial in this case (though I want to slap any parent who decided to bring their kids to Alvin right after seeing the ****-eating commercial), but look at this startling fact: Hitman, though certainly no blockbuster, has still made more money total than No Country for Old Men. WoW yeah uh ill just say this. While I dont disagree with you on your assessment about people, what boggles me (perhaps others to) is why you let it bother you so much. IMO you should keep those ideas about people mostly to yourself and not express them in such a way that you leave yourself open to a lot of criticism. Which seems to be the case here, and to rememeber that just because you believe a movie to be good doesnt mean its everyones cup of tea, we are all different and we all have different tastes and if people enjoy dumb movies about nothing and avoid good ones then you should just let it be and not let it get to you. Its fine to have a run of the mill gripe about really good movies getting no money at all but to make it a weekly rant (and one devoid of any and all common sense) paints you in a not so good light.

EDIT: Oh and i watched both No country for old men and Hitman, while clearly No Country was superior in every way possible to Hitman, at least when i watched Hitman I didnt leave the theater going.."that was it"?

[Rolling Cloud]

It was shown in front of The Simpsons Movie.

And, how much of the Alvin audience can you say went to the Simpsons movie? =/

[HG Revolution]

WoW yeah uh ill just say this. While I dont disagree with you on your assessment about people, what boggles me (perhaps others to) is why you let it bother you so much. IMO you should keep those ideas about people mostly to yourself and not express them in such a way that you leave yourself open to a lot of criticism. Which seems to be the case here, and to rememeber that just because you believe a movie to be good doesnt mean its everyones cup of tea, we are all different and we all have different tastes and if people enjoy dumb movies about nothing and avoid good ones then you should just let it be and not let it get to you. Its fine to have a run of the mill gripe about really good movies getting no money at all but to make it a weekly rant (and one devoid of any and all common sense) paints you in a not so good light.

EDIT: Oh and i watched both No country for old men and Hitman, while clearly No Country was superior in every way possible to Hitman, at least when i watched Hitman I didnt leave the theater going.."that was it"?

Hey, I'm still young and I don't know how someone with so little experience (maybe my Aspergers makes things harder for me) couldn't be bothered by being one of the few relatively smart-acting people in a society that rewards idiocy (why the hell does anybody even care about whatever drunk bash Paris/Britany/Lindsay/that HSM girl/whatever "celebrity" is having?).

As far as "that was it?", I dunno about you, and I think there's nothing wrong with disagreeing on this, but I tend to prefer leaving the theater wanting more than leaving the theater feeling I've seen more crap than I really wanted.

[Hanshotfirst113]

I didn't realize people liked the first, and I expected this to be a Tomb Raider-esque situation where the sequel made only half the first due to lack of interest.

Johnny Depp is hot enough to carry the Pirates franchise even when nothing else except the effects were worth writing home about. I guess it was either the effects or (for some reason) the story that really sold the films and not his performance.

Yes, but again, I get this. My opinions about it not withstanding, Bruckheimer+Disney=marketing gold. Depp was the main selling point of the Pirates franchise, yes, BUT it also had action scenes, a sex-symbol starlet, special effects, and so forth. He and the big D are great at promoting stuff and cranking out what is essentially junk food (I eat way too much junk food, by the way, so I get what the appeal is to people, and such stuff makes great date movies/family night out stuff). Sweeny Todd is a musical about a serial killer (think about how that sounds to most people) by a cult filmmaker. The basic math is unfortunate, but even I can do the arithmetic.


Sorry, I'm really pissed about The Golden Compass. It's been one of my favorite books for a while and the movie impressed me a lot. I can have favorites, right?Yes, well, the endless backlash from the Christian community can't have helped.


Just shows what you know. Alvin was made in the '60s as well.Easy there.


Juno looks good. I'm gonna see it sometime this week. Maybe it'll end up a strong focus of attention for girls who avoid the formulaic stuff Hollywood tends to put out but aren't up for the more testosterone-based indie fare that's been quite common (i.e. No Country, There Will Be Blood, etc.).Yes, but I'm just ecstatic that such artsy film and sometimes even subtitled film are getting mainstream releases at all. I can't tell you how ecstatic I am that I didn't have to drive 20 miles to see Pan's Labyrinth, but could catch it at a theater near my house. I was thunderstruck by the (relative) success of that, an English-subtitled art-house film.


e are all different and we all have different tastes and if people enjoy dumb movies about nothing and avoid good ones then you should just let it be and not let it get to you.

I dunno; if people "enjoy dumb movies about nothing" (which I'm not saying, but rather quoting you), that's pretty sad.


EDIT: Oh and i watched both No country for old men and Hitman, while clearly No Country was superior in every way possible to Hitman, at least when i watched Hitman I didnt leave the theater going.."that was it"?Again Hitman=formulaic junk food, by the numbers (which lots of people enjoy and are perfectly entitled to). No Country for Old Men is definately an art film, with less mass appeal, and therefore I wouldn't expect it to do particularly well. Art polarizes lots of people. I think that even if you disliked the film (which there are a number of legitimate criticism to make of, by the way), it's unique and the fact that it does polarize people so much shows its power. At least it makes you think about it and you remember it after you leave the theater.


Hey, I'm still young and I don't know how someone with so little experience (maybe my Aspergers makes things harder for me) couldn't be bothered by being one of the few relatively smart-acting people in a society that rewards idiocy (why the hell does anybody even care about whatever drunk bash Paris/Britany/Lindsay/that HSM girl/whatever "celebrity" is having?).

I know. I mean, a book of some of the worlds greatest poetry for class cost me around $12-15+. How much are Maxims going for these days? I've never bought one, but I'd guess a bit more. One could argue about the "value" we place on literature and quality in that sense.


As far as "that was it?", I dunno about you, and I think there's nothing wrong with disagreeing on this, but I tend to prefer leaving the theater wanting more than leaving the theater feeling I've seen more crap than I really wanted.Lots of people "go to the movies to be entertained," but I think that your feelings on the subject stem from a belief that entertainment doesn't necessarily have to be so trashy as it has become. I could name a good dozen action blockbusters with brains and ideas to spare that can still entertain, if I wanted to play devil's advocate.

[FireStarterLE]

saw National Treasure 2, it was good. I'll eventually see Sweeny Todd as well

Chimpmunk move .. eh .. i don't really care to see that.

As from the Golden Compass, i really have no desire to see that but not from all the "controversy" over it, I just really wasn't that impressed with the trailers i've seen. The story just didn't really bring me in. So i'll be skipping it (plus if i did see it and they dropped the idea of making the the next two since the first one is doing kinda poor, i'd be kinda mad)

But this week I will be getting to AVP:R. Fans need to show the producers that creating this movie with an "R" rating was a good idea

[Ajax]

I dunno; if people "enjoy dumb movies about nothing" (which I'm not saying, but rather quoting you), that's pretty sad. It is, who could disagree...ive seen box officer reports that have left me in awe and the bad type of awe. But sometimes people tend to get carried away with their opinion and that was the case here with HG. Like I said if people enjoy dumb movies then let them be, as if having bad taste in movies was a bad thing or a way to determine a persons lvl of intelligence.


Hey, I'm still young and I don't know how someone with so little experience (maybe my Aspergers makes things harder for me) couldn't be bothered by being one of the few relatively smart-acting people in a society that rewards idiocy (why the hell does anybody even care about whatever drunk bash Paris/Britany/Lindsay/that HSM girl/whatever "celebrity" is having?).
Your age shows my young friend. When you said that you know Jewish kids in 10th grade that dont know who Moses is, ironcially your displaying their same ignorance. Even though you fancy yourself smart acting, your posts here (to me at least) display quite the opposite. Your mad that your favorite movies are getting bad box office totals, you talk down about the people watching the other movies, and even though it was explained to you a couple of times you still didnt see to grasp the obvious reasons as to why your fav movies werent succeeding. Just saying my friend there only box officer totals, nothing can be dervired from them that could equate into a three week rant.

[HG Revolution]

Yes, well, the endless backlash from the Christian community can't have helped.

Lots of people "go to the movies to be entertained," but I think that your feelings on the subject stem from a belief that entertainment doesn't necessarily have to be so trashy as it has become. I could name a good dozen action blockbusters with brains and ideas to spare that can still entertain, if I wanted to play devil's advocate.

You know, the fact the Christian backlash could hurt The Golden Compass so much when I Am Legend (which I haven't seen but if I'm to believe a recent Roger Ebert discussion has some pretty heavy anti-athiest themes) is doing so well kind of shows how strange people's logic can be. As far as I'm concerned, either everyone should be attacked or no one should, not protect one group and feel free to attack another like people seem to be doing.

I go to the movies to be entertained too. I can enjoy a big crazy action movie. Hell, I totally expect to be putting Planet Terror and Beowulf on my Top 10 list for this year. But PT had an amazing sense of humor about it's trashiness and Beowulf was both beautiful and a decent character study. Of course, neither film made even near as much as Alvin looks to be making.

[Ajax]

You know, the fact the Christian backlash could hurt The Golden Compass so much when I Am Legend (which I haven't seen but if I'm to believe a recent Roger Ebert discussion has some pretty heavy anti-athiest themes) is doing so well kind of shows how strange people's logic can be. Just to state I loved Golden Compass. But you couldnt really compare those two movies with that logic. Richard Matheson not an athiest, Philip Pullman is one. Dark Materials has everything to do with religion, I am Legend is a horror story.

[Draft]

Johnny Depp is hot enough to carry the Pirates franchise even when nothing else except the effects were worth writing home about. I guess it was either the effects or (for some reason) the story that really sold the films and not his performance.

Sorry, I'm really pissed about The Golden Compass. It's been one of my favorite books for a while and the movie impressed me a lot. I can have favorites, right?

Just shows what you know. Alvin was made in the '60s as well.

Juno looks good. I'm gonna see it sometime this week. Maybe it'll end up a strong focus of attention for girls who avoid the formulaic stuff Hollywood tends to put out but aren't up for the more testosterone-based indie fare that's been quite common (i.e. No Country, There Will Be Blood, etc.).

I think it was carried because

A) Disney Franchise
B) Children Appeal(for being about freaking pirates), Guy Appeal(For Kierra Knightly, idk how to spell), and Girl Appeal(For Depp and Oralndo Bloom)
C)The first one was good, so everyone saw the lackluster 2nd one which ended on a cliffhanger, so most saw the third (Except me)

Ya, but i think you've gone a lil' too far, and peopel have asked you to stop nicely

But if youu read correctly, Alvin has had more media out than Underdog. Not to mention the multiple CDs, they had the DTVs and DVDs in the 90s/00s, when Underdog only had one or two DVD releases. Not to mention Alvin aired on CN until 2002(thoguh Underdog did air on Boomerang, but almost no one gets Boomerang).

Also, i agree with everything FireStarterLE said bout Golden Compass

[Hades]

Except Dead Man's Chest was phenomenal whereas At World's End was good.

[HG Revolution]

Just to state I loved Golden Compass. But you couldnt really compare those two movies with that logic. Richard Matheson not an athiest, Philip Pullman is one. Dark Materials has everything to do with religion, I am Legend is a horror story.

I didn't say Richard Matheson is an athiest; quite the opposite. I said that I heard the movie had the message that Christians were saved from the plague but those with other beliefs weren't. It's a horror story, but horror stories can be alegorical, just as Golden Compass is an alegorical fantasy story. Here's the discussion I was talking about:



Q. I just sat through "I Am Legend" and have to say that the final act felt like watching a deflating balloon. While it's apparent that Christian groups hold no qualms about denouncing movies that may or may not contain anti-Christian messages (and that they may or may not have seen), I am angered by movies that contain strong Christian messages. "I Am Legend" joins the list as the last movie I felt I should have walked out on as soon as the characters began debating "God's plan." The end shot of the sanctuary's doors opening up to reveal church bells ringing over a peaceful community threw the entire movie into "allegory" territory, with the sinful New Yorkers banished to the darkness and the staunch God-fearing survivors triumphing by returning to their religious ways. It's sad to ask, but what do you think of adding a "religious content" warning to movies, as in "This movie contains profanity, brief nudity, Christianity?"
David Young, Ayutthaya, Thailand

A. That’ll be the day. More to the point, what does the spiritual status of the survivors and victims have to do with a nondemoninational virus? And can Buddhists, Jews, Hindus, Muslims and agnostics hope for a cure?

[Ajax]

I didn't say Richard Matheson is an athiest; quite the opposite. I said that I heard the movie had the message that Christians were saved from the plague but those with other beliefs weren't. It's a horror story, but horror stories can be alegorical, just as Golden Compass is an alegorical fantasy story. Here's the discussion I was talking about:Didnt say you called him one though lol. I see your point and but to me that comment that was said was trying to see something that wasnt really there, and was completely opinion based, like saying Sweeny Todd promotes cannibalism because they cook the bodies of their vitcims into meat pies. Thats a horrible example but I hope you get the point. Plus as i said before, you couldnt compare the two movies, in no way could anyone seriously sit there and say I am Legend promotes christainty, while with Golden Compass, it is widely known the kind of agenda Mr. Pullman had for his triology. And to make this clear, in no way was there any kind of message saying Christians were saved from the plauge and those with other beliefs werent. Everyone died it just happened that the writers had a women of christan faith survive the plauge, and that was only done as a sort of ploy to the plot. As i said I see your point but these two movies you couldnt compare IMO.

[The Clown Prince]

Tuesday Christmas Day was busy at the box office.....

1) National Treasure: Book of Secrets- $13.6 million ($65.4 million)
2) I Am Legend- $9.7 million ($150.9 million)
3) Aliens vs. Predator: Requiem $9.5 million ($9.5 million) NEW!
4) Alvin and the Chipmunks- $6 million ($94.4 million)
5) Charlie Wilson's War- $4.3 million ($15.9 million)
6) The Great Debaters- $3.6 million ($3.6 million) NEW!
7) Sweeney Todd- $3.1 million ($13.6 million)
8) P.S. I Love You- $2.8 million ($10 million)
9) Juno- $2.8 million ($9.8 million)
10) The Water Horse: Legend of the Deep- $2.3 million ($2.3 million) NEW!
11) The Golden Compass- $1.9 million ($51.3 million)
12) Walk Hard: The Dewey Cox Story- $1.5 million ($6.2 million)

With the running time low, and Fox not wanting to commit to a lot of money for the budget on this second go around (like the same with the first. $60 million budget for the first film), look for Aliens vs Predator: Requiem to have a big holiday week the rest of this week and going into the New Years Holiday. Come next Wednesday when totals are in, it looks like we may get that third AvP and this time in space like the Strause Brothers would like to do. Maybe too they drop Shane Salerno from touching the third one.

The Clown Prince

[Lord Dalek]

10) The Water Horse: Legend of the Deep- $2.3 million ($2.3 million) NEW!


And the Walden curse continues....

[Draft]

And the Walden curse continues....
Did you think it was going to do well? This thing won't make over 50 million tops

jesus christ, it even beat out Dewey Cox

[Lord Dalek]

Did you think it was going to do well? Absolutely not! I just wanted to see if it proved my theory that nobody likes Walden Media films unless they have talking lions in them.

[SirLemming]

I'm surprised The Great Debaters has done this well so far; I thought it was going to totally bomb. Just didn't scream "Christmas blockbuster" to me. Considering that it likely doesn't have a big budget it's probably going to do okay.

[Lord Dalek]

I'm surprised The Great Debaters has done this well so far; I thought it was going to totally bomb. dering that it likely doesn't have a big budget it's probably going to do okay.
Don't underestimate the power of the Oprah.

[Hanshotfirst113]

You know, the fact the Christian backlash could hurt The Golden Compass so much when I Am Legend (which I haven't seen but if I'm to believe a recent Roger Ebert discussion has some pretty heavy anti-athiest themes) is doing so well kind of shows how strange people's logic can be. As far as I'm concerned, either everyone should be attacked or no one should, not protect one group and feel free to attack another like people seem to be doing.

Not to split hairs, but where are there anti-atheist themes? Neville says the line "There is no god" aloud. I suppose that there's a certain Christ-like allegory to his figure, but I couldn't really spot anything that seemed to follow through either way.


Just to state I loved Golden Compass. But you couldnt really compare those two movies with that logic. Richard Matheson not an athiest, Philip Pullman is one. Dark Materials has everything to do with religion, I am Legend is a horror story.

Yes, as I understand it, the anti-religious edge to Northern Lights is rather unsubtle in the book. If there were such themes in I Am Legend (which there may have been, and I simply missed them), they were far explicit.


Except Dead Man's Chest was phenomenal whereas At World's End was good.

I must disagree :p.


I didn't say Richard Matheson is an athiest; quite the opposite. I said that I heard the movie had the message that Christians were saved from the plague but those with other beliefs weren't. It's a horror story, but horror stories can be alegorical, just as Golden Compass is an alegorical fantasy story. Here's the discussion I was talking about:

That guy is a little off the beam, IMO. The character's belief in God, vs. Neville's fundamental lack thereof, are just elements of the characters. Does this thing with Christians happen in the book? Because it was definately not in the film.


Didn't say you called him one though lol. I see your point and but to me that comment that was said was trying to see something that wasn't really there, and was completely opinion based, like saying Sweeny Todd promotes cannibalism because they cook the bodies of their victims into meat pies. Thats a horrible example but I hope you get the point. Plus as i said before, you couldn't compare the two movies, in no way could anyone seriously sit there and say I am Legend promotes Christianity, while with Golden Compass, it is widely known the kind of agenda Mr. Pullman had for his trilogy. And to make this clear, in no way was there any kind of message saying Christians were saved from the plague and those with other beliefs weren't. Everyone died it just happened that the writers had a women of Christian faith survive the plague, and that was only done as a sort of ploy to the plot. As i said I see your point but these two movies you couldn't compare IMO.

Yeah, that she was a Christian was incidental to her survival. There's an out-and-out agenda in Pullman, from what I understand. I suppose that IAL could be read as a religious allegory of some sort, but it's hardly the point that the movie is pushing.

[HG Revolution]

Something which may be of even greater insight into the average filmgoer than the box-office may be a survey one of the papers down in Florida where I'm staying has been doing (probably not typical of all audiences nationally, but interesting nonetheless). They've asked people exiting the theater to rate movies on a scale of one to four and they post the top percentages of 3 1/2-4 star ratings. Oddly enough, August Rush seems to be at the top with 97%. Alvin has 90%, and even if you assume half the audience is just hyperactive kids, that still leaves it with a 45% rating from their parents, which is equal to the rating No Country for Old Men got. Hitman has a scarily high rating as well. You have to go down to the fourth place spot (American Gangster) before you see anything that's done well with critics. Beowulf and Golden Compass both seem to be playing well to their audiences even in spite of their audiences being rather small, so maybe they'll end up with long-term cult classic success in place of short-term box office success. This was an older survey which didn't have Sweeney Todd in it. Wonder how it would do. I wouldn't be surprised if films with music in them are now all the rage, as long as they're fluffy kid-oriented pieces rather than anything dark or twisted.