ALLIGATORS IN A HELICOPTER

a pro script reader ponders movies, reading, writing and the occasional personal flashback

Friday, October 19, 2007

Weekend Box Office #54

There's a pile of movies opening wide this weekend; if you consider INTO THE WILD (which is expanding wide), there are a record 8 movies opening on at least 500 screens, with the other 7 opening on over 800. And if you count A NIGHTMARE BEFORE CHRISTMAS 3D, that's 9.

30 DAYS OF NIGHT (2855 theaters). This should be the big movie this weekend, even though the one review I saw (in the LA Times) was underwhelmed. Look for it to do about $18.7 million this weekend, and then drop a lot next weekend when SAW IV opens.

THE COMEBACKS (2812 theaters). The commercials for this just look really, really stupid. People will go see it in hopes that it'll be funny, but I think it'll underperform. $8.2 million.

RENDITION (2250 theaters). It has a great cast, and Reese is plugging the heck out of it, but it looks depressing and dramatic, and reviews have been okay without really raving about it. Figure $7.9 million.

GONE BABY GONE (1713 theaters). It has a catchy title and Morgan Freeman, though I'm amused that the ads aren't playing up the fact that Ben Affleck directed it. $8.4 million.

THINGS WE LOST IN THE FIRE (1142 theaters). The script for those was one of those supposedly-great scripts circulating around Hollyhwood, though I never read it. Reviews are fairly solid, and the cast is good, though this isn't many screens. $6.1 million.

SARAH LANDON AND THE PARANORMAL HOUR (1115 theaters). I have no idea what this is, or how it might hook in its intended teen audiences. Maybe they'll buy a ticket to this and sneak into the vampire movie. $1 million.

THE TEN COMMANDMENTS (830 theaters). A cheesy-looking animated version of the classic Biblical tale. It'll be interesting to see if it can draw a religious family audience, or whether they'll just go rent some DVDs instead. $2.4 million.

THE NIGHTMARE BEFORE CHRISTMAS 3D (564 theaters). Could do a little something. $2.1 million.

Also opening is RESERVATION ROAD on 13 screens, which is getting mixed reviews. WRISTCUTTERS (3 screens) is getting some good reviews, but I'm not sure it'll ever go that wide.

5 Comments:

At 1:05 PM, Blogger Emily Blake said...

The DP for my short film had his feature DP debut in Sarah Landon and the Paranormal Hour. I don't know if it's a good film, but I can guarantee you it looks beautiful.

I'll be driving to Burbank to see it this week.

 
At 1:19 PM, Blogger Steve Peterson said...

Opening wide in rural Virginia:

3:10 to Yuma, The Game Plan, and Good Luck Chuck.

:(

 
At 4:05 PM, Anonymous Anonymous said...

Steve, Lucky Chuck or Game Plan. Flip a coin...you can't lose.

 
At 9:16 PM, Blogger Patrick J. Rodio said...

30 Days...24 million
Comebacks - 12 million
Gone Baby Gone - 8.5 million
Rendition - 7 million
Things/Fire - 2 million
Sarah/hour - 800,000

By the way, see Michael Clayton. GREAT, GREAT film. Wow.

 
At 9:15 AM, Anonymous Anonymous said...

On Fri, Sept 2, 2005, you wrote a great entry about what cliches to avoid when writing a romantic comedy. I was wondering if you could do a series of articles like that one about other genres. Maybe you could start with the teen genre (that's what I write!).

Peace

 

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