Weekend Box Office: Clint Eastwood asks "Am I feeling lucky?" The answer is yes!

[The Clown Prince]

Clint Eastwood returns big time to theaters. With a lot of great reviews (76% at RottenTomaotes (http://www.rottentomatoes.com/m/gran_torino/)) and a lot of advertising time, the Clint Eastwood directed and starrer Gran Torino opened wide this weekend after a stint in limited theaters. It shot up from 14th place last weekend to 1st place this weekend with $29 million and a $40 million total. It's budget was $33 million.

Opening in second place was Bride Wars with $21.5 million. Interesting to note that Gran Torino is rated R, and Bride Wars is rated PG.

Debuting in third place was The Unborn with $21 million.

The champion for two weekends in a row drops to fourth place. Marley and Me earned another $11.3 million and a $123.7 million total.

And rounding out the top 5 is The Curious Case of Benjamin Button with $9.4 million and a $94.3 million total.

Also opening this weekend was Not Easily Broken which opened in ninth place with $5.6 million.

Out of the top 12 this weekend is The Tale of Despereaux (13th), Doubt (14th), The Day the Earth Stood Still (15th), and Bolt (18th).

Opening next weekend are four new movies. First up is the second dog movie in what will be a month. Hotel for Dogs (http://www.comingsoon.net/films.php?id=21184) (rated PG) stars Emma Roberts, Jake T. Austin, Kyla Pratt, Lisa Kudrow, Kevin Dillon, and Don Cheadle.

Next is the comedy Paul Blart: Mall Cop (http://www.comingsoon.net/films.php?id=37706) (rated PG) with Kevin James, Jayma Mays, Keir O'Donnell, Bobby Cannavale, Stephen Rannazzisi, and Shirley Knight.

Then we have the horror movie My Bloody Valentine 3D (http://www.comingsoon.net/films.php?id=41072) (rated R) with Jensen Ackles, Jaime King, Kerr Smith, Betsey Rue, Edi Gathegi, Tom Atkins, Kevin Tighe, and Megan Boone.

And finally we have Notorious (http://www.comingsoon.net/films.php?id=39076) (rated R) starring Jamal Woolard, Angela Bassett, Derek Luke, Anthony Mackie, Antonique Smith, Naturi Naughton, Dennis White, and Julia Pace Mitchell.

Here are your numbers....

1) Gran Torino- $29,025,000 ($40,065,000)
2) Bride Wars- $21,500,000 ($21,500,000) NEW!
3) The Unborn- $21,095,000 ($21,095,000) NEW!
4) Marley and Me- $11,350,000 ($123,710,000)
5) The Curious Case of Benjamin Button- $9,450,000 ($94,330,000)
6) Bedtime Stories- $8,550,000 ($97,180,000)
7) Valkyrie- $6,662,000 ($71,509,000)
8) Yes Man- $6,155,000 ($89,410,000)
9) Not Easily Broken- $5,600,000 ($5,600,000) NEW! 724 theaters
10) Seven Pounds- $3,900,000 ($66,830,000)
11) Slumdog Millionaire- $3,730,000 ($34,075,000) 601 theaters
12) Twilight- $2,789,000 ($181,396,000)

16) Revolutionary Road- $1,440,000 ($3,170,000) 135 theaters
17) The Reader- $1,352,000 ($5,516,000) 507 theaters
19) Milk- $1,251,000 ($19,125,000) 295 theaters
20) Frost/Nixon- $912,000 ($7,652,000) 205 theaters
21) The Wrestler- $874,000 ($2,848,000) 60 theaters
30) Defiance- $66,000 ($307,000) 2 theaters

[DarthGonzo]

Next weekend should prove interesting, to say the least.

[Soul]

WHOA!
I wanna see Gran Torino and this makes it even better..

[Movie06]

Nortorious will probably number one this week and My Bloody Valentine will probably land on either 2 or 3 because of the 3D gimmick.

[Michael24]

I guess opening wide really helped Gran Torino. I felt sad seeing it so low on the list the last couple of weeks and thought for sure it might vanish quickly. Am hoping to catch it sometime this week.

[Bloody Marquis]

Well, good to see Gran Torino doing well. I thought it was pretty good.

[DarthGonzo]

Nortorious will probably number one this week and My Bloody Valentine will probably land on either 2 or 3 because of the 3D gimmick.

Who knows. I wouldn't rule out the Nickelodeon doggie movie or the goofball comedy. :p

[Movie06]

Who knows. I wouldn't rule out the Nickelodeon doggie movie or the goofball comedy. :p

How so? Nortorious B.I.G. has a huge fanbase.

[DarthGonzo]

How so? Nortorious B.I.G. has a huge fanbase.

Well anything is possible. But I'll tell you one thing. I doubt the film will be the "biggest event of our time" or whatever those movie trailers are saying.

[The Clown Prince]

Well anything is possible. But I'll tell you one thing. I doubt the film will be the "biggest event of our time" or whatever those movie trailers are saying.

Do the ads mean that to be a play on words there? I've never noticed that until I saw the words in print here.

[TKnHappyNess]

I saw it on New Year's Day during the limited release, and the ending was well thought out.

[Baltofan]

I think Hotel for Dogs might be #1.

[DarthGonzo]

Do the ads mean that to be a play on words there? I've never noticed that until I saw the words in print here.
Well I'm not 100% I've got the working right but the commercials I've seen say something to that effect. I mean, this movie might do well but I think "biggest event of our time" is a stretch.

Is there anyone who has seen these commercials who can back me up?

[Mesousa]

Where did Torino come from?! Yay for unexpected movies being number one!

I think Notorious will be #1, but I'll watch My Bloody Valentine (whether my theater will have it in 3D or not).

[Wonderwall]

Well I'm not 100% I've got the working right but the commercials I've seen say something to that effect. I mean, this movie might do well but I think "biggest event of our time" is a stretch.

Is there anyone who has seen these commercials who can back me up?

I've seen the commercials and the "biggest event of our time" really seems like a play on words.

[Movie06]

Well anything is possible. But I'll tell you one thing. I doubt the film will be the "biggest event of our time" or whatever those movie trailers are saying.

However, it's best not to underestimate African American audiences.

[Classic Speedy]

The GT trailer before Valkyrie caught my eye. I'll probably see it in the next two weeks.

[Anime Freak]

I'm glad Gran Torino did so well, it definetly deserved it as it was a well played movie, Clint Eastwood just amazing in it. Although if your one of those who are sensitive to racey type comments and will hate a character because of it then I wouldn't suggest seeing it, as I think Clint's character makes the whole movie

And they've been advertising the heck out of blart and my bloody valentine, I haven't seen a single advertisement for Hotel for Dogs or NOTORIOUS, but I guess I just dont watch the channels that those would be advertised on :sweat:

[Old Guy]

My prediction for next week:

1. Hotel for Dogs - Dog movies are the rage these days.
2. My Bloody Valentine 3D - The movie will probably suck but it's a great date movie nonetheless. Girls like a good scare and guys like girls grabbing them during these movies. It's a win-win.
3. Gran Torino
4. Paul Blart: Mall Cop
5. Notorious - Yes, Biggie is a rap icon but the movie was given a terrible release date for a movie about such an icon. In other words...the movie probably sucks.

[Novapocalypse]

I'm glad to see Marley & Me still doing good. I saw it Saturday and thought it was a great movie. Really fun in some parts, really touching in some parts. I recommend it if anyone wants to see a good movie, and especially if you have a dog.(I suppose you can "relate" more to it then)


Now I need to check out Valkyrie before time is up.

[Movie06]

2. My Bloody Valentine 3D - The movie will probably suck but it's a great date movie nonetheless. Girls like a good scare and guys like girls grabbing them during these movies. It's a win-win.

Don't forget the 3D gimmick. Why do you think Journey to the Center of the Earth did so well? It's the 3D gimmick.

[NewcomerDC]

Forget the 3D gimmick. That's why I'm sick of it. I mean crappy films like the Jonas Bros.: The 3D Experience next month and and the re-releases of Toy Story and Beauty of the Beast are waste of time. Why do you think The Nightmare Before Christmas 3D haven't done so well after being out for two-three years?

So to me, I hope that My Bloody Valentine 3D fails or if it doesn't end up at number nine, just let it fall at maybe number 6/7.

Also, it sucks to be making Christian films with Not Easily Broken at number nine. It's not Disaster Movie-worthy but a film like this, it should've been for straight-to-DVD material.

[Movie06]

But 3D Horror films can be fun. So why not give My Bloody Valentine the 3D gimmick?

[Old Guy]

I won't lie. The ads look pretty cool. But I still have a feeling the movie will suck. Most of these horror movies do.

[Movie06]

I won't lie. The ads look pretty cool. But I still have a feeling the movie will suck. Most of these horror movies do.

Not all of them. The Saw films have a pretty good track of still being interesting. Not to mention that independent Horror films are still cool like Dance of the Dead for instance.

[Old Guy]

Not to mention that independent Horror films

Yea, those are a different story. The commerical ones were what I meant.

[Movie06]

Yea, those are a different story. The commerical ones were what I meant.

Well, what I said about the Saw films still stands.

[HG Revolution]

Well, what I said about the Saw films still stands.

Debatable quality of those films aside, those are at least original screenplays. There hasn't been a good horror remake in Hollywood in a while.

[Movie06]

Debatable quality of those films aside, those are at least original screenplays. There hasn't been a good horror remake in Hollywood in a while.

What about The Hills Have Eyes remake? I'm sorry but as much as I like Wes Craven but the original film was lame.

[Philo & Gunge]

... and the re-releases of Toy Story and Beauty of the Beast are waste of time.
Well, for me, I am excited for both these releases not because of the 3D factor at all, just seeing those movies on the big screen again makes them worthwhile.

[J'onn J'onzz]

I don't even know what the hell Hotel For Dogs is. I doubt it'll do that well.

[Desensitized]

I don't even know what the hell Hotel For Dogs is. I doubt it'll do that well.I'm not sure, it's still a kid's movie. It might do decently.

The only one I'm completely unsure about is 'Die Hard In A Mall'. That could go either way.

[Hanshotfirst113]

The only one I'm completely unsure about is 'Die Hard In A Mall'. That could go either way.

Which?

[Desensitized]

Which?Either a huge flop or a major hit. It's been hard to predict the success of these types of movies recently.

[Comics_the_QB]

Wow, Mall Cop is PG-13? HAH! :sweat:

Anyway, pretty standard week. Nothing I'm really looking forward to next week.

[DarthGonzo]

Why do you think The Nightmare Before Christmas 3D haven't done so well after being out for two-three years?

Umm, maybe because it's been re-released 3 years in a row already and people probably don't really need to keep seeing it. I'm positive this has nothing to do with the 3-D.


So to me, I hope that My Bloody Valentine 3D fails or if it doesn't end up at number nine, just let it fall at maybe number 6/7.

I'm so tired of people wishing failure on things just because they don't like it.

[Old Guy]

Wow, Mall Cop is PG-13? HAH! :sweat:

It's actually PG. It's rated PG for some violence and suggestive humor.

[Goodfellow]

It is such a shame that both The Spirit and Valkyrie have done so poorly. :sad: Oh well, guess it means they will be out on Blu-Ray quicker.

Nothing until Underworld for me.

[Hanshotfirst113]

Either a huge flop or a major hit. It's been hard to predict the success of these types of movies recently.

Which one was "Die Hard in A Mall?"

[Peter Paltridge]

I thought "The Unborn" was going to do a lot worse than third place. Since I haven't watched much syndicated TV lately, the only ad I've seen for it is the one in the paper. The one that says "IT WANTS TO BE BORN.....NOW!" That's the funniest "supposed to sound scary" tagline I've read in a while.

[Wounded_Dragon]

I thought "The Unborn" was going to do a lot worse than third place. Since I haven't watched much syndicated TV lately, the only ad I've seen for it is the one in the paper. The one that says "IT WANTS TO BE BORN.....NOW!" That's the funniest "supposed to sound scary" tagline I've read in a while.

Well, it's been a slow couple of weeks so there was some money saved up. The tv ads played up David Goyer and Gary Oldman's involvement, as well as showing off Odette Yustman in her underclothes.

Probably won't have much legs, most people I've seen online that claim to have seen it said that it's bad and are spreading as much negative press as they can. Don't know why, guess they wanted more gore instead of suspense.

[Desensitized]

Which one was "Die Hard in A Mall?"Oh, sorry. :sweat:

I meant Mall Cop.

[Anime Freak]

Friday estimates are out and it looks like Hotel for Dogs is gonna bomb hard more than likely, seems most people prefered the Mall Cop over another stupid Dog movie!The numbers...

1. Paul Blart: Mall Cop ( 9,750,000)
2. Notorious (8,250,000)
3. My Bloody Valentine(8,250,000)
4. Gran Torino (6,250,000)
5. Hotel for Dogs (4,500,000)
6. Bride Wars ( 3,750,000)

[Movie06]

Well, I guess I was pretty close. Not that I'm gloating or anything.

But I did at one point figured Paul Blart would get some attention.

[Tobias]

Not surprised about Blart. It's been getting decent enough reviews, and the trailers actually do look funny. I'd have checked it out this weekend if it weren't for the bad weather.

[Mesousa]

You'll be surprised for the reviews that My Bloody Valentine is getting.