WEEKEND BOX OFFICE: Saturday Update - MONEYBALL #1 w/ $20+mil. Old LION KING #2 over new DOLPHIN? ELITE, ABDUCTION start low

"I wonder if a fat guy like me could ever be as thin as Brad?  Nah, never happen."

     The #1 film will most likely be the new Brad Pitt sports film  MONEYBALL.  Based on the true story of the unorthodox rebuilding of the 2002 Oakland A's the film is attracting both sports fans and smarter moviegoers who flocked to the similarly paced SOCIAL NETWORK last year.  It is targeting the $20+mil range. 


     But it could be the days of the dolphin this weekend as DOLPHIN TALE will give that film and LION KING a good fight according to early estimates at The Hollywood Reporter.

In the spoof of this the dolphin with be breastfed by the little boy...

     The new family film about a dolphin rescued off the coast of Florida whose tail was amputated looks to score in the $17mil range for the three-day period.  But keep in mind children attendance rises during matinees so that figure could go up.  Nonetheless buoyed by strong reviews and a lack of new family product out there, DOLPHIN TALE should do quite, ummm, swimmingly.

Yeah, this really isn't in the movie but if you believed it was I'm laughing at you...

     Last week's BIG surprise at #1 was THE LION KING.  It grossed a phenomenal $30mil. which is quite a feat for a re-issued film.  There was a rush to see it last week ("In theatres for a limited time!" trumpeted the ads) and the new dolphin movie will be competing against it.  LION KING is expected to fall about 35% which will land it at about $20mil for Friday to Sunday.  If that were the case KING would take #2.

"Damn TWI-hards found me again!!"

     The new Taylor Lautner Bourne Identity homage/rip-off has a built-in audience with teens and younger adults.  It looks to make about $11-13mil this weekend.

By aiming in three different directions they would eventually hit someone...

     The last of the new openers is KILLER ELITE starring Robert DeNiro, Jason Statham and Clive Owen.  The poorly reviewed film will open to about $11mil.


More info as it comes in!

You'll take an eye out with that thing!

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WEEKEND BOX OFFICE - Saturday update: 17 years later and THE LION KING is #1 again - $20mil+! DRIVE #2, STRAW DOGS, HOW SHE DOES IT $7mil ea.

And with this one free throw the baboons could win the game...

     Apparently the circle of life in movies is 17 years as the re-release of THE LION KING is tops at the box office this weekend.  The Academy Award winner was #1 for several weeks back in 1994.

     Based on early estimates from Deadline Hollywood and The Hollywood Reporter the #1 movie for this weekend will easily be Disney's beloved African adventure.

     (On a side note, I remember when you wouldn't find out 'til Monday afternoon what the #1 movie of the weekend was.  Now we're finding it out Friday afternoon BEFORE we've even gone to the googolplex.  Creepy!)

     This bodes well for Disney as they can probably re-issue more animated classics and know there's an audience willing to drop coin on something they probably own at home (albeit not in 3-D...yet).  The 3-D industry had a rough summer and is somewhat redeemed with this #1 film (but once again 3-D does well only with a film targeted to children).

"I don't believe this will really solve my male pattern baldness"

 

"Vrooom!  Vrooom!"

     Last week's #1 flick CONTAGION slips to #2 but will hold up well with a drop in the 40% range.  For the weekend look for the ensemble piece to gross an estimated $12mil.  That's a very good hold as the usual box-office drops for wide releases are in the 50-60% range.

     DRIVE is the film I'm dying to see and apparently so are a few others.  The Ryan Gosling film will open strong at $11mil. which will make it the #1 choice from the three original wide releases.  

   




     As for the other two releases, the story's not so great.  The latest Sarah Jessica Parker rom-com I DON'T KNOW HOW SHE DOES IT and the suspense remake STRAW DOGS will open at about $6mil each.


More info as it comes in!

Big Crap Attack

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Smurf you!

Hand sanitizer anyone?

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Nosey!

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What a boner! (again)

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Yum yum gum gum!

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Benefits!

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EARLY WEEKEND BOX OFFICE: FRIDAY - CONTAGION easily takes 1st, WARRIOR 3rd

     The new bio-thriller CONTAGION will easily take 

first this weekend according to The Hollywood Reporter.

     The all-star cast, positive reviews and lack of new product will help CONTAGION gross well over $20mil.  Personally, I see it hitting $30mil. as it's still early in the weekend.

     The number one movie for the past three weekends takes a step back but don't cry for THE HELP.  It has made $128mil. so far (against a reported $20mil. cost) and will add on another $10mil. to that total after Sunday.

     The other big opener is WARRIOR.  Helped by strong reviews and word-of-mouth this film is looking at about $7mil for the weekend.  Not too great but it should have legs though.

     The other wide opener BUCKY LARSON did not have figures in yet.


More as it arrives!

Jersey Shore Part 2

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Jersey Shore Part 1

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Grand opening!

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Making an ass of himself...

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Probably gonna offend (again)

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Here in Canada, football is second only to hockey, eh?

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School essentials...

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EARLY WEEKEND BOX OFFICE: Friday - THE HELP will take #1 AGAIN for the third weekend!! DEBT surprises for #2! APOLLO, SHARK weak...

     Showing no signs of slowing down THE HELP will take this four-day long weekend with $17mil which gives it THREE WEEKS at #1 according to The Hollywood Reporter.  If the estimate holds up, the $25mil production will be sitting at a stunning $120mil by Monday.  Impressive.

   


     Taking a surprising second place over much more hyped action films SHARK NIGHT 3D and APOLLO 18 is the new Helen Mirren spy drama THE DEBT.  The film opened looks to take a total $12mil over the four-day holiday weekend.

 
     The film pundits thought would take the throne actually opened up pretty weak.  APOLLO 18 looks to make an estimated $10mil in its opening 4-day frame.  The upside is that it didn't cost too much ($5mil).

   
 

     Which brings us to the last of the new releases.  SHARK NIGHT 3D will also gross a low $10mil over four days as well.  Perhaps if they didn't go for the PG-13 rating for a shark movie...


     As for other holdovers, COLUMBIANA fell 45% from last Friday, DON'T BE AFRAID OF THE DARK dropped 57% and OUR IDIOT BROTHER was down 38%.


More info as it comes!

A-hole lotta lying!

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Kiss the girl...

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