Weekend Box Office #183

Not much opening this weekend, in advance of next week's IRON MAN 2 juggernaut.

A NIGHTMARE ON ELM STREET (3332 theaters). I'm not sure why we need a remake of this movie, and apparently it's nothing special, though it'll probably do well enough. Figure $17.8 million for the weekend.

FURRY VENGEANCE (2997 theaters). This looks truly painful, though I suppose some undemanding 6-year-olds might be entertained. $13.3 million.

*******

Last weekend, THE BACK-UP PLAN made $12.2 million, exactly what I predicted. Though really, not the movie I'd want to be perfect on.

I underestimated the other releases. THE LOSERS somehow made $9.4 million, and OCEANS made $6.1 million.

Weekend Box Office #182

I've been writing like a madman the last few days, trying to get my TV pilot ready for a full read of it at my script group on Monday night. I'm writing for a very talented group of actors, which helps a lot. But still a lot of work to do.

The good things is that all the new movies are underwhelming, so I won't be distracted.

THE BACK-UP PLAN (3280 theaters). Reviews are unenthused, and there's just not much to tempt me here otherwise. $12.2 million for the weekend.

THE LOSERS (2936 theaters). Hard to see what the allure here is. $6.1 million.

OCEANS (1206 theaters). In an age in which there are so many great nature documentaries on TV, like the current "Life", it's hard to imagine this will find much of an audience. $3.2 million.

********

Last weekend, KICK-ASS did $19.6 million. I guess the R-rating hurt it. I saw it, and it was okay, though definitely don't take the kids. Be interesting to see if the word-of-mouth helps at all this weekend.

DEATH AT A FUNERAL did an okay $16.2 million, though with the cast it should have done better.

Weekend Box Office #181

Time keeps passing. Slow it down.

Opening wide this week:

KICK-ASS (3065 theaters). There's going to be a lot of underage teens trying to sneak into this this weekend. Reviews have been pretty good, and it's on my short-list, though the R-rating is going to hamper it a little. Call it $36.6 million for the weekend.

DEATH AT A FUNERAL (2459 theaters). Solid cast, tepid reviews. $25.5 million.

******

Last week, DATE NIGHT did $25.2 million.

LETTERS TO GOD limped in with just $1.1 million.

Weekend Box Office #180

The days and weeks are flying by, and I feel older every day. Crap.

Meanwhile, movies keep coming out, though not much that is new and wide this week:

DATE NIGHT (3374 theaters). I like Steve Carell and Tina Fey, but word is that this is only okay. Still, there's not much out there. Figure about $22.3 million for the weekend.

LETTERS TO GOD (897 theaters). A religious family film that will probably do well in the places that this type of thing does well. $5.2 million for the weekend.

*******

CLASH OF THE TITANS made $61.2 million last weekend. Pretty soon every movie may be in 3D.

WHY DID I GET MARRIED TOO did a very solid $29.3. THE LAST SONG did a pretty-good $16.0 million. The movie biz is doing pretty well.

Weekend Box Office #179

So life shuffles on.

Saw "Hot Tub Time Machine", which is good dumb fun. It underperformed last weekend a bit, though I think it'll hold pretty well.

Going wide this weekend:

CLASH OF THE TITANS (3777 theaters). Reviews are a bit underwhelmed, while adding 3-D in post-production doesn't seem to have made for the crispest picture. Still, it has a big movie feel, and will probably do well. Call it $46.7 million for the weekend.

THE LAST SONG (2673 theaters). This is getting okay reviews, though aside from Miley Cyrus fans it's hard to believe anyone will care. Call it $11.2 million for the weekend.

TYLER PERRY'S WHY DID I GET MARRIED, TOO (2155 theaters). $20.0 million. Because his movies always seem to hit that number on their opening weekend, plus or minus a couple of million.

*****
Last weekend, HOW TRAIN YOUR DRAGON did a solid $43.7 million, while HOT TUB TIME MACHINE did $14.0 million.