March 20th, 2010
This Two-DVD gift set includes two previously released DVDs, B.O.B.'s Big Break and Shrek 3D. To call these previously released is an understatement. Shrek 3D appears to have been released a half a dozen times over the years in various giftsets. However, on the positive side, since I've reviewed one of them before, this review will be a lot easier to do.
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November 9th, 2009
We are getting closer to the Thanksgiving long weekend and the official start of the holiday shopping season.
Because of this, there are plenty of great releases coming out this week, including Up on a 4-Disc Blu-ray / DVD Combo Pack, which is clearly DVD Pick of the Week material.
Also a DVD Pick of the Week is Monsters, Inc. - 4-Disc Blu-ray / DVD Combo Pack, while the late arriving Monsters vs. Aliens - Blu-ray earns an honorable mention.
With a massive list of releases, including nearly a dozen spotlight reviews, we have once again needed to split the release report into two parts.
The first part can be found here.
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November 9th, 2009
We are getting closer to the Thanksgiving long weekend and the official start of the holiday shopping season.
Because of this, there are plenty of great releases coming out this week, including Up on a 4-Disc Blu-ray / DVD Combo Pack, which is clearly DVD Pick of the Week material.
Also a DVD Pick of the Week is Monsters, Inc. - 4-Disc Blu-ray / DVD Combo Pack, while the late arriving Monsters vs. Aliens - Blu-ray earns an honorable mention.
With a massive list of releases, including nearly a dozen spotlight reviews, we have once again needed to split the release report into two parts.
The second part can be found here.
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November 3rd, 2009
It came as no surprise that Transformers - Revenge of the Fallen was the best selling new release and the best selling DVD on the chart this week.
During its first week of release, it sold 5.33 million units and generated $122.49 million in consumer spending at retail, which makes it the third-best selling DVD of the year and the second best in terms of revenue generated after just one week of release.
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October 27th, 2009
The Proposal led all new releases and totally dominated the sales chart this week selling 2.41 million units generating $39.26 million in the process.
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October 27th, 2009
There were five new releases to reach the top 30 this past week, including three that reached the top five. The best rental overall was The Proposal with close to double the rentals of Land of the Lost.
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October 20th, 2009
It's a bit of a mess on the DVD Sales chart this week as there are two releases that can claim top spot. We have Monsters vs. Aliens repeating on top with 721,000 units for the week giving it totals of 2.96 million units and $51.51 million. However, Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs was released this week and sold an estimated 1.5 million units of their DVD/Blu-ray combo pack. This is where things get confusing. The studio has decided to declare these as Blu-ray units. That's enough to be the number one selling DVD for the week, and enough to be one of the best selling Blu-rays of all time. The latter is probably the reason Disney did this, and it could really boost Blu-ray player sales over the holiday shopping season.
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October 20th, 2009
There were several new releases to reach the top 30 on this week's rental chart, including Year One, which took top spot with roughly double the rentals of Monsters vs. Aliens.
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October 14th, 2009
This week, we saw a more manageable list of new releases reaching the top 30 on the sales chart, with five new titles and one re-release appearing, compared to a total of nine last week.
Leading the way was Monsters vs. Aliens with 2.19 million units sold for opening week consumer spending at retail of $38.20 million.
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October 14th, 2009
As it did on the sales chart, Monsters vs. Aliens led the way on the rental chart this week, topping all new releases with relative ease.
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September 28th, 2009
This week there are not that many releases on this week's list, but there a few releases at the very top that are worthy of being the DVD Pick of the Week. Monsters vs. Aliens is certainly in that list, but until the DVD and Blu-ray shows up, I can't confirm if it's a DVD Pick of the Week of merely a must buy. Wizard of Oz - 70th Anniversary Edition on either DVD or Blu-ray Gift-set is DVD Pick of the Week material.
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July 19th, 2009
Transformers - Revenge of the Fallen became the biggest hit of the year on the international scene, at least for a little while. Over the weekend it added $34.27 million on 8210 screens in 62 markets for a total of $371.24 million internationally and $710.46 million worldwide. It has overtaken Angels and Demons for the biggest international hit of 2009, for the time being, while it is just ahead of the original's worldwide total.
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June 7th, 2009
Terminator Salvation opened worldwide this weekend, but we won't have those numbers till Wednesday. In the meantime, it earned third place with $13.37 million on 1283 screens in 12 markets for a total of $25.52 million. Most of this has come from South Korea, where it slipped to second place with $4.21 million on 713 screens over the weekend for a total of $15.52 million after two. So far the film has been a disappointment domestically, but it can salvage its run with a massive box office next weekend on the international stage. If it does so, profitability will be assured, but that's a big 'if'.
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May 24th, 2009
Star Trek's second weekend of release on the international chart was not as strong as it was domestically as it dropped 44% to 20.02 million on 5782 screens in 55 markets, but it lifted its total of $67.89 million internationally and it became the first in the franchise to reach $200 million worldwide. The film opened in China, but box office numbers were not released. We do have details on most holdovers, including the U.K., where it added $5.27 million on 498 screens over the weekend for a total of $18.42 million after two. The only other multi-million market was Australia, where it earned $2.04 million on 317 screens giving it a total of $6.66 million.
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May 17th, 2009
Wolverine was pushed into second place on the international chart with $28.95 million on 8982 screens in 93 markets for a total of $121.58 million. This was a 60% drop-off, but that was better than it was domestically, and it appears $300 million worldwide is a sure bet. The film was pushed into third place in the U.K., but still managed a healthy $3.39 million on 484 screens over the weekend for a total of $18.47 million. It remained in first place in France with $3.95 million on 700 screens, but that was for the full week giving the film $11.80 million after two. It also finished in first place in Brazil with $2.11 million on 609 screens over the weekend for a total of $7.81 million after two. Next up for the film is Mexico, where it opens at the end of May, while it ends its run in Japan in August.
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May 10th, 2009
We've entered the summer schedule and this year there will be a small change. Instead of dealing with just the films that have reached $1 million or more on the international chart, we will be dealing with just the films that have reached $2 million or more. The reason for this change is simple; with the rise of many midlevel markets, reaching $1 million is just not that big of a feat anymore. The best of the rest of this week's selection was Hannah Montana the Movie, which placed a healthy second with $6.95 million on 1300 screens in 13 markets for a very early total of $8.96 million. This includes second place openings in the U.K. with $3.03 million on 415 screens in the U.K., which was as expected, and $1.44 million on 346 screens over the weekend in Italy and $1.64 million in total, which was better than expected. Also, it is about a week away from topping $1 million in Poland after earning $124,000 on 105 screens over the weekend giving it $932,000 after three. Combined with the nearly $75 million the movie has earned domestically, and this film is very, very close to showing a profit before the lucrative home market.
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May 4th, 2009
The first weekend of summer was a success, mostly. Overall the weekend ticket sales amounted to $158 million, which was 39% more than last weekend. It was below the same weekend last year, but by less than 1%. Year-to-date 2009 has now made $3.25 billion, which is 16% more than last year's pace, If 2009 can simply maintain pace with 2008 over the summer, most in the industry will be ecstatic, so this is a fine start.
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May 1st, 2009
Summer is finally here, and everyone wants to know if 2009 can keep up its blazing pace. I'm going to say no, simply because the law of averages says the box office should return to the mean. That could start this weekend and last year's top film will be very tough to beat.
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April 29th, 2009
Fast and Furious took another victory lap on top of the international box office with $15.91 million on 6333 screens in 58 markets for a total of $170.94 million. This includes a first place finish in Italy; there the film topped the charts with ease, despite falling nearly 60% to $2.10 million on 422 screens over the weekend, while it has made $8.81 million after two. It fell even further in Australia down 62%, but it still managed to repeat on top with $2.17 million on 345 screens over the weekend for a total of $9.68 million. These large collapses during the film's second weekend of release are far too common during its international run; however, with $316.31 million worldwide, the movie is a smash hit, no matter how you look at it.
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April 23rd, 2009
It's the final weekend before the start of the summer blockbuster season, which means there are not a lot of prime films coming out. Studios don't want to risk A-list films when they only have one week to grab as much box office as possible before they are crushed by the competition. Last year's releases were better than expected, and 2009's winning streak over 2008 is in jeopardy. Not only that, but that could be an omen for things to come, as I'm not sure there are as many monster hits this summer as there were last summer.
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April 22nd, 2009
Fast and Furious remained in top shot with $34.65 million on 6361 screens in 57 markets for a total of $143.81 million internationally and $280.02 million worldwide. In Italy, the film opened in first place with $5.04 million on 414 screens over the weekend and $5.14 million in total while it managed the same feat in Australia with $5.69 million on 345 screens over the weekend and $5.88 million in total. It also placed first during its debut in China, but no box office numbers were released. The film fell more than 60% in the U.K. adding $2.82 million on 385 screens over the weekend for a total of $14.97 million after two. In Russia it performed even worse down 75% to $2.14 million on 696 screens over the weekend for a total of $12.48 million.
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April 21st, 2009
As spring draws to a close, and studios sweep out the potential misfires, the overall box office numbers slip in anticipation of Wolverine.
Actually, the overall box office was better than expected at $108 million over the weekend, but that was still 18.8% lower than last weekend. More importantly, thanks to 17 Again's stronger than expected start, it was 15.8% higher than the same weekend last year. Year-to-date, 2009 has earned $2.91 billion, which is 17.2% higher than last year's pace. I'm not sure it will be able to maintain this pace over the summer. In fact, I'm nearly 100% sure it won't. That said, the year has built up a sizable lead, and as long as the summer is merely average, we should go into the fall with higher ticket sales.
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April 16th, 2009
Not a lot of competition for the top of the box office chart as nearly all analysts are expecting 17 Again to come out on top. The real question is whether or not the film will top last year's number one film, The Forbidden Kingdom, and whether or not 2009 will continue its domination over 2008.
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April 16th, 2009
Easter delay was a little bigger than anticipated; in fact, we still don't have full numbers. (Hopefully they will arrive before the weekend for the International Details column.) We do know that Fast and Furious climbed into first place with $45.88 million on 5118 screens in 54 markets for a total of $90.93 million after just two weeks of release. This includes a first place, $7.26 million opening on 364 screens in the U.K., while it also placed first in Russia with $8.60 million on 689 screens. Meanwhile in France it pulled in an estimated $6 million on 500 screens, but its placing was not known. As far as holdovers go, the film was down 52% during its second weekend in Germany, but still added $2.89 million on 618 screens over the weekend for a total of $10.45 million after two. Mexico wasn't that far behind adding $2.07 million on 455 screens for a two-week total of $8.84 million.
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April 14th, 2009
Records fell over Easter weekend, as the overall box office pulled in $133 million, which was the best ever for an Easter Weekend. It was 14% lower that last weekend when Fast and Furious beat records. On the other hand, it was it was 15% higher that last Easter and 41% higher than the same weekend last year. Year-to-date, 2009 has earned $2.57 billion, which is 14.3% higher than the 2008's pace.
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April 10th, 2009
Easter long weekend is not a major holiday at the box office; in fact, the best Easter opener is Scary Movie 4 at just over $40 million while number two is Panic Room at just over $30 million. There's little chance the record will be broken, but Hannah Montana the Movie could open in first place over the weekend and in second place all time, while it should do its part to keep 2009 ahead of last year's pace.
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April 9th, 2009
Monsters vs. Aliens expanded practically worldwide over the weekend climbing into first place with $33.47 million on 7707 screens in 49 markets for a still early total of $46.90 million. It opened in most major markets scoring first place in the U.K. with $6.47 million on 520 screens, as well as in Italy with $2.86 on 496 and in Australia with $2.77 million on 382. It finished in second place in Spain with $2.82 million on 538 screens and in Mexico with $2.00 million on 539 screens over the weekend for a total of $3.06 million. On the other hand, it struggled in France landing in third place with $2.15 million on 790 screens and was even weaker in Germany earning fifth place with $1.40 million on 699. In both markets its per screen average was well below expectations and dragged down its overall per screen average. Perhaps the films the movie is spoofing are just not well known enough to draw in audiences overseas. Or perhaps there are not enough 3-D theaters overseas to give its overall box office a big enough boost. Regardless, the film should reach $100 million internationally, which will be enough to give the film a profit, assuming the price tag was not completely irrational.
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April 7th, 2009
Fast and Furious broke records over the weekend and helped take the overall box office to $155 million.
That's 6% more than last weekend, and 62% than the same weekend last year.
Stunning.
Overall, 2009 has managed $2.57 billion, which is 14% ahead of last year's pace.
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April 5th, 2009
Duplicity doubled its international haul over the weekend landing in sixth place with $6.47 million on 1811 screens in 20 markets for a total of $12.21 million. The film opened in fourth place in France with $2.01 million on 380 screens, while it managed fourth in Russia as well, but with a much weaker $873,000 on 265 screens. It did hold on better than most in the U.K. down just 31% to $775,000 on 355 screens over the weekend for a total of $2.68 million after two.
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April 5th, 2009
This is a weekend to remember for Universal, thanks to a huge opening for Fast & Furious.
The fourth movie in the action series smashed all projections with a $72.5 million opening, according to the studio's Sunday estimate, making it the biggest weekend ever in April by the small matter of $30 million (Anger Management used to hold the record with a modest-looking $42.2 million -- see full list of April weekends).
It's also Universal's biggest non-holiday opening, and the biggest weekend of the year so far.
Friday's $30 million day is the biggest day in 2009, and also a record for April (see list).
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April 2nd, 2009
April starts off with what could be one of the biggest openings of the year, as well as one of the best reviewed movies of the year. Sadly, these are two separate movies. Even if the top film misses expectations, it should still earn more than the combined total of last year's set of wide releases, and help 2009 maintain its record setting pace.
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April 2nd, 2009
The winners of our Monster Prizes contest were determined and they are...
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March 31st, 2009
Monsters vs. Aliens broke several records over the week on IMAX screens on its way to a weekend haul of $5.1 million on 143 screens, which is the highest opening for an IMAX 3-D film.
Additionally, the film earned $2.02 million on Saturday, which was the highest Saturday box office for any IMAX film, 3-D or not.
The film's per screen average on IMAX was $35,682 compared to its non-IMAX per screen average of roughly $8,400.
Internationally, the film broke IMAX records in a number of markets, including Russia, the Ukraine, and the Philippines, but numbers were not immediately available.
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March 31st, 2009
Valentino: The Last Emperor remained on the top of the per theater chart with an average of $15,553 in two theaters. The overall number one film of the past weekend, Monsters vs. Aliens, opened in second place on the per theater chart with an average of $14,454 in more than 4,000 theaters. Ramin Bahrani finally had a box office hit, as Goodbye Solo earned nearly $40,000 in three theaters for an average of $12,681. Hopefully it will continue its strong run in the coming weeks. Sin Nombre was down less than 14% to $70,000 in 6 theaters for an average of $11,695. Meanwhile, American Swing rounded out the $10,000 club with $10,174.
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March 31st, 2009
It was an amazing weekend at the box office as all six films on this list beat expectations. Granted, some times that was by the smallest of margins, but after two down weeks in a row we will take all the good news we can. Speaking of good news, the overall box office shot up by 39% from last weekend to $146 million. More importantly, that was 38% more than the same weekend last year. Year-to-date, 2009 has now pulled in $2.38 billion, which is 12% higher than last year's pace. With April of '08 starting slowly, we have a great chance to extend the lead this coming weekend.
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March 29th, 2009
Watchmen fell out of the top five with $6.35 million on 4965 screens in 53 markets for a total of $60.63 million. Unless it is a big hit in Japan over the weekend, $100 million internationally is likely out of the question, as is $200 million worldwide. Depending on how much it costs to advertise, it could still make enough to show a profit, but it could take quite a bit longer than the studio would have liked.
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March 29th, 2009
Monsters vs. Aliens got off to a great start over the weekend, according to Paramount's Sunday estimate.
The 3D movie earned an impressive $58.2 million, the best weekend of the year so far, and above even our bullish prediction.
Unless the final numbers are considerably lower, Monsters vs. Aliens will end up the third biggest opener in March (see complete list).
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March 29th, 2009
At the box office this weekend it was a case of one monster hit, and a lot of 'also-rans'. This is true of the movie websites as well. Monsters vs. Aliens's Official Site is the only one truly above average, and it is incredible, and easily the winner of the Weekly Website Award.
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March 26th, 2009
It's a one-horse race for top spot at the box office with Monsters vs. Aliens being that one horse. However, while there's no real race for the top this weekend, it will be interesting to see if the film can top last year's big spring release, Horton Hears a Who. Or if it can top The Watchmen for best opening weekend of the year. Or, most importantly, if it can help 2009 regain its winning ways over 2008. That shouldn't be too hard, as this week last year wasn't particularly strong.
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March 20th, 2009
We could have the biggest hit of the year so far with the release of Monsters vs. Aliens next Friday, and it is the target film for this week's box office prediction contest. In order to win, one must simply predict the opening weekend box office of Monsters vs. Aliens.
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 South Park - Season 12 on Blu-ray.
Meanwhile, whoever comes the closest to predicting the film's opening 3-day weekend box office (Friday to Sunday), without going under, will win a copy of Futurama Into the Wild Green Yonder on DVD.
Entries must be received by 10 a.m., Pacific Time on Friday to be eligible, so don't delay!
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March 11th, 2009
Watchmen may have missed analysts' expectations overall, but it was stellar on IMAX.
In fact, it earned nearly 10% of its domestic haul on just 124 screens nationwide.
Domestically, it pulled in $5.4 million on 124 screens for an average of $43,863, while internationally it managed $727,000 on 29.
Worldwide IMAX has added $6.2 million to the film's run so far, making it one of the biggest hits in the format's history.
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March 1st, 2009
2009 got off to such a great start that I didn't think February would continue winning, but so far that has proven to be the case, for the most part. Now March has a great chance of continuing that run with several big hits, including three potential $100 million movies. At the beginning of the year, I didn't think there would be so many hits in March, but a high tide lifts all boats, and the more people see movies, the more trailers they see in theaters, and the more likely they are to watch the upcoming movies.
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March 20th, 2008
This week's round of new casting information contains updates for The Grand, The Proposal, The Legend of Secret Pass, and more!
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March 13th, 2008
This week's round of new casting information contains updates for Confessions of a Shopaholic, Monsters vs Aliens, The Promotion, and more!
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December 19th, 2007
I Am Legend became the latest hit on IMAX screens worldwide as it pulled in $3.2 million on 77 screens domestically and $3.4 million including 6 international screens. This is not record-breaking territory, but a strong start nonetheless.
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October 7th, 2007
This week's round of new movie release information contains release dates for Case 39, Inkheart, Four Christmases and more!
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July 21st, 2007
This week's round of new movie release information contains release dates for Big Stan, Valkyrie, Monsters vs. Aliens and more.
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November 5th, 2006
This week's round of new movie release information contains release dates for National Treasure 2, Chronicles of Narnia: Prince Caspian, some DreamWorks digital animation movies and more.
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