Blu-ray Sales: Expendables Bravely Challenge Holdovers

January 16th, 2013

New releases did better on the Blu-ray sales chart than it did on the DVD sales chart, relatively speaking. Brave sold an additional 756,000 units generating $15.59 million more revenue for the week giving it a total of 1.80 million units / $37.33 million after just two weeks of release. This is a very strong start for a kids movie. More...

DVD Sales: Braving the Competition

January 15th, 2013

Catching up on the home market, we see that the top of the November 18th DVD chart was dominated by new releases, with three of them in the top five. This includes Brave with a very impressive opening of 2.16 million units / $34.51 million. This was enough to place in the top ten for 2012, and it has already climbed several more spots. More...

Blu-ray Sales: Braving the Harsh Conditions

January 9th, 2013

There were quite a few new releases to chart on the November 18th edition of the Blu-ray sales chart. In fact, there were five in the top ten. Leading the way was Brave with 1.16 million units and $23.97 million. Its opening week Blu-ray share was 35%, which is lower than expected. Granted, it is a kids movie, but it is a 3D animated kids movie. More...

Blu-ray Sales: The Average Spider-Man

January 8th, 2013

There were half-a-dozen new releases to chart on the November 11th edition of the Blu-ray sales chart. This includes The Amazing Spider-Man, which earned first place with 641,000 units / $14.37 million. Its opening week Blu-ray share was 54%, which is impressive, but one has to assume the studio was hoping for more. Then again, the film is more than profitable enough to ensure a sequel. More...

2013 Awards Season: SAG Focuses a Searchlight on Silver Linings

December 12th, 2012

SAG nominations were announced and there were only a few surprises to deal with. Leading the way for total nominations was The Silver Linings Playbook, Lincoln, and Les Miserables, all of which earned nominations in four of the six categories. More...

DVD Sales: Not So Amazing Start

December 9th, 2012

It was a soft week for new releases on the DVD sales chart and the holdovers were not a lot of help. The Amazing Spider-Man did earn first place, but with an unimpressive opening of 536,000 units / $9.62 million. There are two mitigating factors here. Firstly, the film will likely perform much better on Blu-ray. Secondly, it was released on Friday, so it had a shortened opening week. More...

2012 - Holiday Gift Guide - Part I

November 23rd, 2012

This weekend is Thanksgiving and as always that means Black Friday and Cyber Monday plus 48 hours of shopping in-between. Unlike most years, I'm only halfway done with my Christmas shopping. So what recent, and not so recent releases are prime candidates for the perfect gift this year? Over the next month, we will go over several dozen possibilities with our annual Holiday Gift Guide, which is divided into into four sections. This week we start with Major Movie Releases. These are first run releases, franchise box sets, etc. However, before we get into the individual titles, we will start with an update on... More...

DVD and Blu-ray Releases for November 6th, 2012

November 6th, 2012

It's a mixed week on the home market. Granted, there are about a dozen Amazing Spider-man releases coming out this week, but not till Friday. The second best selling new release is Arthur Christmas, which missed expectations last year. Another major release of the week is The Muppets Christmas Carol, which is making its Blu-ray debut, but it is a catalogue title and likely won't sell a huge number of units. On a side note, the screener is late, but I've seen the film so many times that seeing it one more time likely won't change my opinion of the film, but I'm not sure if it is Pick of the Week material. On the other hand, I'm very sure Sunset Boulevard's Blu-ray debut is worthy of that title. More...

International Box Office: Rises Returns to the Top

September 5th, 2012

Thanks to its opening in China, The Dark Knight Rises returned to the top of the international chart with $49.8 million on 10,000 screens in 64 markets. The film now has $577.7 million internationally and $1.009 billion worldwide, becoming just the twelfth film to reach that milestone. In China, the film earned $28.5 million on 4,100 screens, which was easily enough for first place. The film had to settle for second place in Italy with $4.95 million on 914 screens over the weekend for a total opening of $8.75 million. More...

International Box Office: Rises Remains Top Draw

August 8th, 2012

The Dark Knight Rises held onto first place with $66.7 million on 15,400 screens in 58 markets lifting its totals to $378.1 million internationally and $732.0 million worldwide. Since last week, it cracked $300 million internationally and became just the 49th film to reach $700 million worldwide. The film had no major market openings this past weekend, but still finished in first place in Mexico with $5.38 million on 2,370 screens and in Brazil with $4.76 million on 904 screens. In those two markets, it has two-week totals of $21.28 million and $15.28 million respectively. It was forced into second place in the U.K., but earned $6.67 million on 567 screens over the weekend for a total of $63.53 million after two. The film still has a few markets left to open in, including Italy, so it isn't quite done yet. More...

Weekend Estimates: Dark Knight Recalled for Third Weekend

August 5th, 2012

The Dark Knight Rises will become the third film this year to top the weekend box office chart for three weeks running, thanks in part to another reasonably strong weekend (down 41% from last time), but mainly because Total Recall will muster only a decidedly so-so $26 million on debut, according to Sony's Sunday estimate. Diary of a Wimpy Kid: Dog Days is expected to pull in about $14.7 million for Fox, rounding out another weekend where new movies have failed to catch on with audiences. More...

International Box Office: Dark Knight Rises Rises in Sophomore Stint

August 2nd, 2012

The Dark Knight Rises overall numbers are still limited to studio estimates, but it was clearly the best film of the weekend with $126.2 million on 17,200 screens in 57 markets for a total of $252.0 million internationally and $539.1 million worldwide. Its best new market was France, where it made $10.91 million on 892 screens. It also dominated the box office in Mexico with $9.75 million on 2,765 screens and in Germany with $9.40 million on 718 screens over the weekend for a total opening of $11.40 million. Russia was close behind with $8.33 million on 1,312 screens. The film also earned first place in Brazil, but with $6.70 million on 944, which is a little more subdued, while it missed top spot in Japan with $4.76 million on 546 screens over the weekend for a total opening of $5.82 million. The film remained in first place in the U.K. with $11.42 million on 589 screens over the weekend for a two-week total of $47.96 million. It also remained champion in Australia with $7.77 million on 628 screens over the weekend for a total of $28.00 million after two. On the other hand, it was pushed into second place in South Korea with $5.93 million on 807 screens over the weekend for a total of $27.67 million after two. So far, The Dark Knight Rises has been about on par with Ice Age: Continental Drift, maybe a little behind that film's pace, and it is on track to earn close to $600 million internationally and about $1 billion worldwide. This is a fantastic result, but still below expectations. More...

Weekend Predictions: Dark Knight Set to Dominate Again

July 26th, 2012

There's little doubt that The Dark Knight Rises will repeat as the box office champion this weekend. There are some questions regarding how much it will dominate the box office. Will it continue to match The Dark Knight's pace? Will it show the same legs as The Avengers did earlier this summer? Or will it collapse like Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows, Part II did? There are also a few, very few, asking questions about The Watch and Step Up Revolution. Both films are opening wide, but neither film looks like it will be able to get anywhere beyond a midlevel hit and they are very unlikely to match last year's two wide releases, Cowboys and Aliens and The Smurfs. Fortunately, The Dark Knight Rises should earn enough to ensure a win in the year-over-year comparison. More...

International Box Office: Dark Knight's Limited Release Roars to the Top

July 26th, 2012

Some international numbers were late in reporting, others are still limited to studio estimates, but it is clear which film came out on top. The Dark Knight Rises only opened in 17 markets, but that was still enough to earn first place during its first weekend in international release. It managed $88 million on 7,173 screens in those 17 markets, with the U.K. leading the way with $22.23 million on 594 screens. South Korea was next with $15.65 million on 1,210 (including $12.90 million over the weekend proper), while Australia was right behind with $15.50 million on 628. It was not quite as potent in Spain, but it still earned first place with $4.17 million on 624 screens. The film will more than triple its market count this coming weekend with debuts in France, Russia, Brazil, Mexico, Japan, and many smaller markets, so it should rise even further. More...

Weekend Wrap-Up: Knight Rise, but Overshadowed by Darkness

July 23rd, 2012

There was tragedy over the weekend at a midnight showing of The Dark Knight Rises, which is clearly a more important story than any box office numbers. However, we try to avoid politics here, and try to stick with the numbers, but the two stories might be hard to untangle. As expected, The Dark Knight Rises led the box office, but with a more subdued opening. It failed to match The Avengers's opening from earlier in the summer, but was the biggest from the franchise. It helped propel the overall box office to $230 million, which was 39% higher than last weekend and 21% higher than the same weekend last year. Year-to-date, 2012 now leads 2011 by 6.7% at $6.37 billion to $5.96 billion. More...

Weekend Predictions: How High will The Dark Knight Rise?

July 19th, 2012

The Dark Knight Rises looks to crush the competition at the box office this weekend. No one is wondering if it will be the number one film this weekend. People are wondering if it will have the number one opening of all time. At the beginning the year, I would have put the odds of that happening at about 80%. However, after The Avengers opened with more than $200 million, the chance of The Dark Knight Rises breaking that record is now very slim. It has a better shot at earning more than the entire box office this weekend last year, or about $191 million. The odds of 2012 winning in the year-over-year comparison is nearly 100%. More...

International Box Office: International Releases hit an Iceberg

July 18th, 2012

Ice Age: Continental Drift returned to top spot with $97.56 million on 14,354 screens in 64 markets for totals of $339.21 million internationally and $385.84 million worldwide. The film opened in first place in the U.K. with $15.66 million on 522 screens over the weekend for a total opening of $20.27 million, including previews. It was just as powerful in Russia with $16.86 million on 2,090 screens. The film grew by 9% in Germany to $12.16 million on 825 screens over the weekend for a total of $31.20 million after two weeks of release. The film doesn't have a lot of markets left to open in, but it has already made enough to pay for its production budget and likely has covered a large chunk of its P&A budget. More...

Weekend Wrap-Up: Ice Age off to a Cold Start

July 16th, 2012

Ice Age: Continental Drift opened on the low end of expectations. The rest of the top five did better than predicted, but that wasn't enough to compensate and the overall box office fell 16% from last weekend to $165 million. This was 37% lower than the same weekend last year, and less than Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows: Part II opened with. 2012 is still ahead of 2011, even if the margin is down to 6.6% at $6.05 billion to $5.68 million. The box office should bounce back next weekend with the release of The Dark Knight Rises. More...

Weekend Predictions: Will Ice Age Heat Up the Box Office?

July 12th, 2012

This weekend, Ice Age: Continental Drift has the weekend to itself, at least as far as new wide releases goes. It will still have to deal with holdovers, but The Amazing Spider-Man will likely be in a distant second place. Last year, the number one release was Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows: Part II, which opened with a then record $169.19 million. Ice Age won't match that. In fact, there's a chance Ice Age won't make that much during its entire run. 2012 box office is going to take a tumble this weekend. More...

International Box Office: Spidey Reboot Ensnares First Place

July 11th, 2012

After a narrow opening last weekend, The Amazing Spider-Man expanded worldwide this weekend taking first place with $127.49 million on 18,343 screens in 74 markets for an early total of $200.86 million internationally and $337.89 million worldwide. If it didn't make another dollar at the box office, it would still likely break even early in its home market run. The film's biggest opening was in the U.K. where it dominated the box office with $17.19 million on 552 screens. That is like opening with about $100 million here. More...

Contest: Could Be Amazing: Winning Announcement

July 10th, 2012

The winners of our Could Be Amazing contest were determined and they are... More...

IMAX: Spider-Man Swings onto IMAX

July 10th, 2012

The Amazing Spider-Man had an incredible opening on IMAX. It has made $24 million worldwide since its opening last weekend, including $14.3 million in 307 IMAX screens this past weekend and a total of $10 million internationally from 137 IMAX screens. More...

Per Theater Chart: Beasts Chase off Competition

July 10th, 2012

Beasts of the Southern Wild remained on top of the per theater chart with an average $19,687 in 19 theaters. It is very close to its first major milestone and it has a lot of room to grow. The Amazing Spider-man opened in second place with an average of $14,360. Two IMAX films bounced into the $10,000 club. Deep Space 3-D and Space Station earned $13,069 and $11,996 respectively. More...

Weekend Wrap-Up: Amazing Start to July

July 9th, 2012

The Amazing Spider-Man started faster than expected, but stumbled a little bit over the weekend. Additionally, the other two wide releases, Savages and Katy Perry: Part of Me, were mixed and weak respectively. This left the overall box office down 6.5% from last weekend to $196 million. However, this was 26% higher than the same weekend last year. 2012 increased its lead over 2011 to 8% at $5.78 billion to $5.36 billion, so even if the rest of the year is completely flat compared to last year, it would still be a solid win. More...

Weekend Estimates: Spider-Man Swings to $140 Million

July 8th, 2012

The Amazing Spider-Man has continued its strong performance through the weekend, adding another $65 million to the $75 million it accumulated through Thursday. Its $140 million total is ahead of Sony's pre-release prediction, but mostly in line with independent analysis. With only Ice Age: Continental Drift opening next weekend, it will have a clear couple of weeks to pick up the teenage crowd and something over $200 million, before being blown away by The Dark Knight Rises on July 20. The weekend's other two debutantes are less amazing. More...

Weekend Predictions: Spider-Man is Already Amazing

July 5th, 2012

The Amazing Spider-Man opened on Tuesday to better than expected numbers and should cruise to victory over the weekend, but it is not the only wide release this week. Katy Perry: Part of Me opens tonight while Savages opens tomorrow. They are not going to compete for top spot. In fact, very few people think they will compete with last week's winner, Ted, for second place and one or both could miss the top five entirely. Fortunately, the combined strength of the new releases, plus healthy holdovers, should help 2012 easily win over last year. More...

International Box Office: Ice Drifts to the Top

July 5th, 2012

Ice Age: Continental Drift started its international run a little earlier than its domestic run, and if this is any indication, its box office chances here are fantastic. The film pulled in $80.31 million on 9,653 screens in 35 markets. This includes $12.23 million on 2,617 screens over the weekend in Mexico for a total opening there of $13.87 million, which was the third biggest opening of all time in that market. It also made $11.31 million on 841 screens in France, which was the biggest opening of the year. The film dominated Brazil with $6.56 million on 1,004. Its opening in Australia was not quite as strong with $5.02 million on 490 screens over the weekend for a total opening of $6.43 million, but that's still equivalent to $60 million here, given the relative size of the two markets. It broke the record for biggest opening in Argentina at $4.1 million on 284 screens, and did the same in a number of smaller Latin American markets ($3.2 million on 296 in Colombia, $3.1 million on 252 in Peru, etc.). I think its chances of reaching $1 billion worldwide are better than I previously thought. More...

Weekend Predictions: Spider-Man Leaps into Action Early

July 3rd, 2012

July 4 Update: The Amazing Spider-Man opened with an estimated $35 million on Tuesday, the best-ever performance for a Tuesday (see complete chart), and setting the film up for $150m+ by the end of Sunday.

It's only Tuesday, but it is already the beginning of the Independence Day long weekend with The Amazing Spider-Man coming out tonight. In fact, it had midnight screenings starting in the morning and pulled in $7.5 million, of which $1.2 million came from IMAX. This is an impressive start and for some it has been enough to boost expectations. This is the same as Iron Man 2 managed during its midnight showings in 2010 and that film earned $128 million during its opening weekend. Of course, it didn't open on a Tuesday, so that's where the comparison breaks down. More...

2012 Preview: July

July 1st, 2012

June was not a good month. Of the twelve films that opened wide last month, only four beat expectations by any serious margin, while there were seven that we know will fail to match expectations and one that's too close to call. That's a really bad record. Granted, 2012 still has a huge advantage over 2011, but it did shrink over the month of June. Looking forward to July, we get mixed signals. On the one hand, last July there were two monster hits, Transformers: Dark of the Moon, which I'm considering a July film even though it opened on June 29th, and Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows, Part 2. Those two films combined earned more than $700 million. This time around the only guaranteed monster hit is The Dark Knight Rises and I don't think there are many analysts bullish enough to think it will make $700 million by itself. That's not to say analysts aren't bullish on the film's chances. Some think it will top The Avengers at the box office. If it fails to reach $500 million, it would be seen as a disappointment. On the other hand, last year there were four other films that topped $100 million, while this year there are only six other films, period, and only two of those, The Amazing Spider-man and Ice Age: Continental Drift, are sure things to hit $100 million. There is a chance The Dark Knight Rises will earn more than the rest of the wide releases earn combined. And if this movie bombs, there's little hope for the rest of the month. But that won't happen, right? More...

Contest: Could Be Amazing

June 29th, 2012

July should begin on a powerful note with the release of The Amazing Spider-man; however, it is a tricky film to predict, as it opens on Tuesday and by the time the weekend rolls around, it will have been in theaters for long enough that demand might have deflated. It depends on whether the strong reviews can hold up. Regardless of the added complexity, 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 number for The Amazing Spider-man. 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 Dora the Explorer: Dora's Rescue in Mermaid Kingdom 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 Dora the Explorer: Dora's Rescue in Mermaid Kingdom on DVD. Finally, two additional entrants will be chosen and they will also win copies of Dora the Explorer: Dora's Rescue in Mermaid Kingdom on DVD. Entries must be received by 10 a.m., Pacific Time on Friday to be eligible, so don't delay! More...

IMAX: Double Milestone Weekend

August 3rd, 2011

It was a double milestone weekend for IMAX as both Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows Part II and Transformers: Dark of the Moon crossed $50 million worldwide. The latter still has the lead at $51.6 to $51.2 million; however, the latter earned more over the weekend at $5 million to $3 million, and still has yet to open in China. More...

Cast Updates - October 2, 2008

October 2nd, 2008

This week's round of new casting information contains updates for Paper Man, Sherlock Holmes, Kung Fu Panda 2, and more! More...

New Movie Announcements, Stars and Directors - September 30, 2008

September 30th, 2008

This week another number of upcoming movies, new stars and directors have been added to our archive! More...