May 12th, 2010
This week's selection of new releases were relatively slim, leaving Avatar on top of the DVD Sales Chart. Over its first full week of release, the film sold 1.77 million units, lifting its total to 5.73 million units and $96.22 million in consumer spending at retail. It is already the second best selling DVD of 2010 and it might take top spot in as few as two weeks.
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May 5th, 2010
After two weeks of soft sales by new releases, this week's DVD sales chart was dominated by a new release, namely Avatar. That film sold 3.96 million units, generating $75.87 million in sales. This performance was made even more impressive, since the DVD was released on the 22nd, meaning it was only for sale for three days instead of the customary five days for the opening week of sales. In those three days, the film has become the third best selling DVD of 2010 in terms of units sold and second best in terms of dollars generated.
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April 28th, 2010
None of the new releases were able to reach the top five and only four were able to reach the top 30 on this week's sales chart. This left Alvin and the Chipmunks: The Squeakquel in first place for the third week row as it sold an additional 263,000 units, lifting its running tally to 3.22 million units sold for $54.59 million total.
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April 20th, 2010
The week ending April 11 was one of the weakest weeks in a long time for new releases, with not a single one reaching the top five on the DVD sales chart. Only three reached the top 30. Alvin and the Chipmunks: The Squeakquel remained the best selling DVD with 394,000 units sold for the week, pumping its total sales to 2.93 million units after two.
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April 13th, 2010
The latest DVD sales chart reflects heavy discounts for pre-Easter sales, so it comes as no surprise that family films did so well. This includes Alvin and the Chipmunks: The Squeakquel, which led all new releases, scoring first place with 1.98 million units sold and $33.75 million in sales.
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April 6th, 2010
There is not a single first-run wide release on this week's list. The biggest new release of the week is Bad Lieutenant: Port of Call New Orleans, which made less than $2 million in theaters. The biggest selling release of the week is the Lord of the Rings - The Theatrical Trilogy on Blu-ray, but the extended edition has already been announced. After those two releases there is practically nothing of interest. In all honesty, many of the releases on this list would have been ignored had this been a busy week. The release I'm looking forward to the most is Yesterday Was A Lie, but the DVD is late, so I don't know if it is merely worth buying or if it is worthy of the Pick of the Week honor.
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March 30th, 2010
The trailing end of the winter blockbuster releases are hitting the home market over the next month. This week we have two $200 million hits, Alvin and the Chipmunks: The Squeakquel and Sherlock Holmes. There are also a few Oscar nominated movies: An Education and The Baader Meinhof Complex. Three of these four are worth picking up (as are a number of smaller releases) but none scream Pick of the Week.
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March 25th, 2010
When Alvin and the Chipmunks came out it was a surprise hit, earning more than $200 million domestically and $350 million worldwide. Granted, it was scorned by critics, myself included. Since it was so profitable, it was inevitable that a sequel would be made. Or squeakquel, as it were. Obviously those that hated the original will probably feel the same about Alvin and the Chipmunks: The Squeakquel, but can it at least live up to its predecessor?
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March 7th, 2010
The Princess and the Frog may have slipped out of the top five internationally, but it still added $8.32 million on 3053 screens in 28 markets for a total of $143.18 million. It had no major market openings again this week, but it added $2.84 million on 689 screens over the weekend in France for a total of $27.30 million after a month of release there. This weekend the film debuted in Japan, which could help it return to the top five. Regardless, it has made enough money that it should show a profit, eventually.
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February 28th, 2010
Shutter Island started its international run with a sixth place finish this past weekend, earning $9.28 million on 1229 screens in 9 markets. The film opened in first place in Spain with $3.25 million on 406 screens. It had to settle for second place in Australia, in a virtual tie with Valentine's Day at $2.50 million on 250 screens. It's way too early to tell where the film will end up, but matching its domestic run internationally is a solid goal.
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February 21st, 2010
As expected, The Princess and the Frog reached $100 million internationally just before the weekend started, ultimately overtaking its domestic total. It had no major market openings over the past weekend, but it managed to rise to first place in France with $4.09 million on 697 screens for a total of $17.31 million after three. It also remained solid in the U.K., adding $2.36 million on 501 screens for a total of $6.58 million. Overall, it pulled in $11.29 million on 3349 screens in 34 markets for a total of $111.94 million internationally and $213.69 million worldwide.
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February 14th, 2010
For the first time during its international run, Alvin and the Chipmunks 2: The Squeakquel missed the top five and placed sixth with $7.10 million on 3,699 screens in 42 markets for a total of $200.87 million internationally and $413.03 million worldwide.
With no major market openings left, the film will likely fall further down the chart over the coming weeks, but it has already made a huge profit, so Fox will be more than happy.
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February 3rd, 2010
It was another milestone weekend for Avatar as it became the first film to ever reach $2 billion worldwide.
It did so despite falling below $100 million over the weekend for the first time during its run.
That said, it still pulled in an incredible $95.44 million on 11,088 screens in 84 markets for a total of $1.45 billion internationally and $2.05 billion worldwide.
Its biggest market was Italy where it added $10.38 million on 800 screens over the weekend for a total of $52.94 million after three.
Its best market overall remains France where it has $133.9 million, but China is catching up with $126.3 million.
The film also reached the century mark in the U.K. with $103.52 million, including $7.74 million on 424 screens over the weekend and in Germany with $102.03 million including $7.88 million on 599 screens.
It may have already gotten there in Russia, while it is about a week away from that milestone in Japan, Australia, South Korea.
Additionally, it looks like it is just a matter of time for Spain and Italy.
That would be ten markets with $100 million or more, to go with the countless other records the film has already set.
The next major milestone is $1.84 billion internationally, which is what Titanicmade worldwide.
And with its impressive list of Oscar nominations, $2 billion internationally becomes a lot more likely.
And who knows, perhaps even $3 billion worldwide?
We are dealing with unprecedented numbers, so the usual rules about Oscar bounces just don't apply.
Winning could result in a flood at the box office, or its publicity could be at saturation levels already and it won't have a major effect.
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January 27th, 2010
As expected, Avatar became the highest grossing film on the international chart over the weekend while it had to wait until Monday to do the same worldwide. Over the weekend, it made $108.27 million on 11,925 screens in 94 markets for a total of $1.29 billion internationally and $1.84 billion worldwide, as of Sunday night. The film had already crossed $100 million France, while it did the same in China with $102.3 million, including $11.7 million on 1,013 screens this past weekend. It is about to hit the century mark in Germany ($93.24 million); Russia ($93.22 million); and the U.K. ($92.80 million). It could have enough left in the tank to do the same in a number of other markets, but it will be more challenging. For instance, in South Korea it added $5.43 million on 526 screens to take its running tally to $79.31 million while it had similar results in Japan ($5.75 million over the weekend and $77.73 million in total), Australia ($5.07 million on 420 screens for $76.76 million) and in Spain ($5.65 million on 579 screens for $73.88 million). It is too early to tell where it will end up in Italy, but it did add $12.38 million on 856 screens over the weekend for a total of $35.49 million after two. It could reach $100 million or more in ten markets. Calling it amazing seems redundant at this point.
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January 26th, 2010
January is coming to a close and we've yet to have a new release top the charts as Avatar reigned at multiplexes again this week. The weakness in the new releases is starting to take its toll, as the overall box office slumped to $144 million, which was 15% lower than last weekend and 10% lower than the same weekend last year. 2010 is still ahead of last year's pace by 9.7% at $888 million to $810 million, so there's little reason to panic at this point.
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January 21st, 2010
For only the second time in box office history a film has reached $1 billion internationally.
That film is of course Avatar, which again led the way at the international box office over the weekend.
It added $128.87 million on 14,575 screens in 95 markets for a total of $1.12 billion internationally and $1.61 billion worldwide, as of Sunday.
Avatar's only major opening of the weekend was in Italy, which is also the last territory to get the movie.
In that market, it set a record for biggest box office debut with $13.88 million on 848 screens.
Other markets of note include China where it added $17.9 million on 2,509 screens over the weekend for a total of $75.6 million, which is the best ever for that market.
It also broke the all-time record in South Korea with $71.91 million after a month of release, including $6.11 million on 579 screens this past weekend.
Meanwhile France remains its most lucrative market with a running tally of $115.3 million after $11.6 million this weekend.
There are a number of other markets where the film looks poised to cross the century mark (Russia at $86.15 million so far, Germany at $82.74 million, U.K. at $80.76 million, etc.) and the film continues to set records in numerous markets, as it is domestically.
At this pace, the film could top Titanic on the international stage as early as this weekend, while worldwide it is just a matter of time.
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January 19th, 2010
It was a record breaking Martin Luther King long weekend, as Avatar remained in top spot at least for three out of the four days, and for the weekend as a whole.
Its record-breaking weekend helped the overall box office hit $170 million over three days and $210 million over four.
This was down compared to last year by 12% over three days and 9% over four, which makes it the first down weekend in two months.
Even so, year-to-date, 2010 is still ahead of 2009's pace by nearly 15%, $707 million to $616 million, but this is the first bit of bad news we've had so far.
Perhaps next weekend will be strong and this will be nothing but a minor blip.
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January 14th, 2010
It's Martin Luther King long weekend, the first long weekend of the year, but not the biggest.
It is also the weekend the Golden Globe awards will be handed out and that could have a larger effect on the box office in the long term.
However, it might have a negative effect in the short term as people stay home to watch the awards.
This could prevent the new releases from keeping up with last year's crop, which included the first $100 million movie of 2009 — a feat that is very unlikely to happen again this year.
In fact, Avatar will probably continue to rule to box office as it overtakes yet another film on the All-Time Chart.
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January 13th, 2010
Titanic... You're next. Avatar saw its weekend box office climb by 10% to $150.99 million on 15,301 screens in 93 markets for a total of $915.05 million internationally and $1.35 billion worldwide. This is now the second highest grossing film of all time, and at this rate Titanic's seemingly insurmountable record is very much within reach.
In fact, Avatar is now the biggest ever release in Russia with $76.17 million, including $11.14 million on 927 screens this past weekend and it has broken all-time records in other smaller markets and is coming close in a number of major markets.
Additionally, the film had the biggest opening in China, where it debuted with $41.4 million on 2,474 screens.
That would be a pretty good opening domestically, so to see it in an international market is enormous.
I'll be very, very interested to see if this is a aberration, or this is a sign that China is becoming the biggest international market.
Other markets of note include France, where it has crossed the $100 million mark, the first international market where it reached that milestone.
This won't be the last market where the film reaches $100 million, while by this time next week it will have reached $1 billion internationally and $1.5 billion worldwide.
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January 11th, 2010
There were few major surprises over the weekend, but the biggest was Avatar's unbelievable hold, as the film again beat expectations.
The overall box office also beat expectations with $162 million.
This was 27% lower than last weekend, but, more importantly, it was up 9.5% compared to the same weekend last year.
It's very early in the year, but 2010 already has more than a $100 million lead over 2009's pace, leading $447 million to $341 million.
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January 10th, 2010
It was another weekend of total box office domination for Avatar, according to studio estimates released on Sunday.
With $48.5 million, the alien adventure movie was down just 29% from New Year's weekend, and shot past $400 million.
Fox estimates it will have $429 million by the end of the day on Sunday.
The new releases were never going to compete at that level, but Daybreakers had a decent opening with a 3-day estimate of $15 million, enough only for 4th place behind Sherlock Holmes ($16.1 million for $165.2 million cume) and Alvin and the Chipmunks: The Squeakquel) ($16.3 million for $178.2 million).
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January 6th, 2010
For only the fifth time in history, a film has reached $1 billion at the worldwide box office. That film is, of course, Avatar, which again dominated the international chart with $138.85 million on 13,784 screens in 88 markets over the weekend for totals of $676.88 million internationally and $1.03 billion worldwide.
The film's biggest single market of the weekend was France, where it added $16.88 million on 730 screens over the weekend for a total of $65.52 million after three.
It also topped $10 million in South Korea with $11.00 million on 728 screens and in Germany with $10.79 million on 738.
The film has made $48.34 million and $53.97 million in those two markets respectively, also after three weeks of release.
It just missed the $10 million mark in Spain with $9.66 million on 794 screens over the weekend for a total of $44.45 million and in the U.K. it earned a nearly identical weekend result with $9.60 million on 493 screens over the weekend for a total of $53.05 million.
By this time next week, Avatar will be the second highest grossing film all time and while Titanic's record seems safe, for now, it is not inconceivable that Avatar could reach $1 billion internationally.
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January 4th, 2010
2010 continued the record-breaking ways of 2009 thanks to incredible holds by most films in the top ten.
In fact, all but one film we talked about on Thursday topped expectations, sometimes by margins that are difficult to believe.
Overall ticket sales were $220 million, which is 21% lower than last weekend, but a stunning 44% higher than last year.
2009 ended the year with an estimated total of $10.60 billion, which was more than 10% higher than last year's final tally, and almost $1 billion more than the previous record.
Simply amazing.
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January 3rd, 2010
Avatar continued its record-setting pace over the weekend, easily breaking the record for the biggest third weekend for a movie (see chart) and also setting a new record for a weekend in January (see chart).
Fox estimates a $68.3 million weekend, down a little under 10% from Christmas weekend.
Total box office after 17 days is $352 million in the US, and an incredible $670.2 million internationally, for $1.022 billion worldwide, which will put it 4th in the all-time list of global earners by Monday (see chart).
Although it's too soon to tell where it will end up in the US (beyond stating the obvious that $400 million is a formality at this point, and $500 million looks all but certain), the movie will clearly end up either number one or two on the list of biggest global earners in theaters.
Titanic's all-time record looks under severe threat already.
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January 3rd, 2010
Due to the holidays, a lot of studios didn't release exact international numbers for the past weekend, leaving us to deal with estimates for only a few titles.
Alvin and the Chipmunks: The Squeakquel opened in second place with $36.5 million on 5,492 screens in 42 markets, finishing in second place to Avatar in about half of them.
It did top the chart in the U.K. with $8.56 million on 478 screens, but that includes previews.
It opened in second place in Spain with $3.24 million on 352 screens and in Mexico with $2.42 million on 768 screens.
Meanwhile, it had to settle for third place in Australia and Germany earning $2.94 million on 363 screens and $2.81 million on 612 screens respectively.
The film has opened in most major markets, so it appears it has no real shot at topping its domestic run on the international scene.
Then again, neither did the original.
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December 31st, 2009
The winners of our A Sequel By Any Other Name contest were determined and they are...
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December 31st, 2009
As usual, there are no new wide releases the first weekend of the year, but that doesn't mean there are no stories to talk about.
The most obvious story is the comparison to last year, which was led by Marley & Me with just over $24 million.
It is very likely that wouldn't even come close to reaching the top three this weekend.
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December 29th, 2009
As it did on the overall chart, Avatar led the way on the per theater chart, earning an average of $21,880.
Second place went to the overall second place film, Sherlock Holmes, which pulled in an average of $18,031.
3 Idiots did something most Bollywood films don't manage to do, namely top $10,000 on the per theater chart.
Additionally, it was a wider release than most of its compadres, which makes this opening even more impressive.
Crazy Heart expanded somewhat, but still remained strong with an average of $13,321 and this makes hitting milestones much more likely.
Alvin and the Chipmunks: The Squeakquel was the third wide release to crack $10,000 with an average of $13,210.
Finally we get to Lovely Bones, which is down to an estimated average of $12,667.
This is roughly a third of its opening weekend average and it still hasn't expanded, which doesn't bode well.
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December 28th, 2009
The final weekend of 2009 turned into a record-breaker with two massive new releases and a holdover that still managed to come out on top.
Overall the box office pulled in an estimated $278 million over the weekend, which crushed the previous record for the biggest weekend by all movies combined.
Additionally, this was 39% higher than the same weekend last year and pushed 2009's running tally to $10.38 billion.
This is 9.2% higher than last year's pace and more than 7% more than the previous record, and there is another week left to go.
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December 23rd, 2009
It's Christmas on Friday, but one new release got the jump on the competition on Wednesday night. With three wide releases and two movies expanding wide, or at least wide-ish, this weekend will be just as busy as it was last year.
However, despite all of these new films, it looks like we could have a repeat on top as Avatar continues its strong run.
Meanwhile, the 2009 box office running tally surpassed the $10 billion mark early on Tuesday.
This is of course the first time the yearly box office total has hit eleven digits and there are more records remaining to be broken.
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December 18th, 2009
We are exactly one week away from Christmas Day.
Have you got your shopping done yet? If not, this contest won't help you, cause the prizes won't be mailed until it's too late.
Regardless, we have a new contest and a new target film, Alvin and the Chipmunks - The Squeakquel.
In order to win, one must simply predict the opening weekend box office number for Alvin and the Chipmunks - The Squeakquel.
Whoever comes the closest to predicting the film's opening 3-day weekend box office (Friday to Sunday), without going over, will win a copy of Deadline on DVD.
Meanwhile, whoever comes the closest to predicting the film's opening 3-day weekend box office (Friday to Sunday), without going under, will also win a copy of Deadline on DVD.
Remember, while the movie opens on Wednesday, we only count the film's 3-day weekend. That's Friday, Saturday, and Sunday.
Entries must be received by 10 a.m., Pacific Time on Friday to be eligible, so don't delay!
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December 1st, 2009
November turned out to be a good month with more films meeting or exceeding expectations that missing.
We also saw records broken as 2009 marches closer to the all-time record, and the possibility of becoming the first year to hit $10 billion in total ticket sales growing.
It won't need that much to get there, and even if just one or two of the predicted $100 million hits this month get to that milestone, we will still finish the year by breaking records.
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May 13th, 2008
This week another number of upcoming movies, new stars and directors have been added to our archive!
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May 9th, 2008
This week's round of new casting information contains updates for The Avengers, Iron Man 2, Push, and more!
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