February 1st, 2011
Takers led a list of four new releases that reached the top 30 on this week's sales chart. It won the race with relative ease selling 714,000 units and generating $11.42 million in opening week consumer spending at retail. The Social Network was pushed into second place with 469,000 units for the week and 1.51 million units after two. Its total sales of $19.57 million are a little on the low end, but with its performance during Awards Season heating up, it could last on the chart for a long time. Speaking of which, Despicable Me remained in third place, again, with 253,000 units / $5.09 million for the week giving it totals of 6.74 million units / $117.10 million after six weeks of release. Death Race 2 opened in fourth place with 218,000 / $4.04 million, which is good for this type of release.
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January 25th, 2011
The Oscar nominations were announced this morning, thus ending months of speculation. Along with a (very) few surprises, the list of nominees is mostly a case of Deja Vu. Leading the way, as it has so often this year, was The King's Speech, with 12 nominations, including six in seven of the most prestigious categories (Best Picture, Director, Screenplay, and the four acting categories). But it was far from the only multi-nominated film on the list.
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January 18th, 2011
A total of four new releases reached the top 30 on the sales chart this week. One of those films, Machete, topped the charts with 691,000 units sold and $11.05 million in opening week sales.
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January 11th, 2011
Only two new releases charted this week, and only one of them could lay claim to top spot. That DVD was Resident Evil: Afterlife, which sold 576,000 units and generated $9.86 million in opening week sales. On the other hand, Despicable Me could also legitimately claim first place with $9.98 million in revenue from 565,000 units. So far that film has sold 5.73 million DVDs for $96.82 million in total sales.
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January 4th, 2011
There were plenty of new releases on the sales chart this week, but none came close to unseating Despicable Me. The film repeated on top with 1.38 million units for the week and 5.13 million units after two. It has already brought in $86.13 million in revenue, while it will have little trouble hitting $100 million shortly.
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December 21st, 2010
It's the last chance for Christmas gifts, although if you have to order online, you better choose the overnight option. Or do what I do, tell them you pre-ordered it and it will arrive a little late. One of the gifts I'm giving this year is being sent from Japan via boat. It might not get here till February, but the person I'm giving it to knows and they're cool with that. Anyhoo, if you are looking for good gifts, Easy A on Blu-ray is the best reviewed wide release of the week, while geeks would be happy with Family Guy: Laugh It Up, Fuzzball on Blu-ray for Futurama: Volume Five on Blu-ray. However, this week the Ultimate Geek Gift and Pick of the Week is The Guild: Season Four.
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September 15th, 2010
Resident Evil: Afterlife took top spot on the international chart. In fact, it dominated with $41.70 million on 3,935 screens in 33 markets for a total of $68.36 million worldwide. After just one weekend of release, the film is nearly halfway to catching up with Extinction for best in the franchise. It goes without saying that there will be another installment. Its biggest individual market was Japan, where it opened in first place with $13.27 million on 649 screens over the weekend and $15.58 million in total. It also took the top spot in Spain with an impressive $3.36 million on 488 screens, while it was a little softer in the U.K. with a chart topping opening of $2.61 million on 361 screens. On the other hand, it had to settle for second place in Italy with $1.72 million on 270 screens during its debut there.
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September 8th, 2010
It was a busy week for Inception, as it rose to top spot on the international chart and crossed two major milestones in the process: $400 million internationally and $700 million worldwide. Over the weekend, it earned $21.00 million on 7,785 screens in 61 markets for a total of $425.15 million internationally and $702.30 million worldwide. Much of this was due to its debut in China, where it placed first with $13.6 million. It has yet to open in Italy, but it will likely start falling off at an accelerated pace from now till its premiere in that market at the end of the month.
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September 1st, 2010
The Expendables held on to top spot on the international chart with $24.70 million on 4823 screens in 38 markets for a total of $101.46 million after just three weeks of release. It had a few openings over the weekend, most notably in Germany where it placed third with $2.94 million on 531 screens. Meanwhile, it fell from first to fourth in the U.K., but still added $2.02 million on 453 screens over the weekend for a total of $10.52 million after two. With openings in Italy and Japan ahead, the film will have no trouble getting to $250 million worldwide, which is more than enough to ensure a profit.
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August 25th, 2010
Powered by openings in a trio of major markets, The Expendables climbed into top spot with $35.49 million on 4501 screens in 30 markets for a still early international total of $60.30 million. At this point, reaching $100 million internationally and $200 million worldwide is practically a given. The film's best opening of the weekend came from the U.K. where it debuted in the top spot with $6.08 million on 453 screens, while it was also triumphant in France with $4.75 million on 445 screens. On the other hand, it had to settle for fifth place in South Korea with $1.25 million on 298 screens over the weekend and $1.52 million in total. Next up for the film is Germany this weekend, while it opens in Italy next month and in Japan in October.
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August 18th, 2010
As the summer blockbuster season comes to a close, there are few major releases in theaters worldwide. Regardless, there are still a few major milestones being reached, and a few more to come. For instance, Inception maintained its hold in first place with $35.51 million on 6879 screens, in 61 markets, for a total of $320.44 million internationally. It also reached a major milestone worldwide with $568.91 million, making it just one of 78 films to reach $500 million. It is still going strong in a number of major markets, including Spain, where it remained in first place with $2.72 million on 497 screens over the weekend, for a total of $10.15 million after two. It was down just 22% in Brazil adding $1.56 million on 292 screens over the weekend and $4.43 million after two. Its best market overall is the U.K. where it has made $45.53 million after a month of release, including $2.62 million on 472 screens this past weekend. By this time next week, it should have $600 million worldwide, with $700 million becoming a lot more likely.
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August 16th, 2010
Two of the three wide releases that opened this past weekend were able to score at the box office and that was enough to lift the total box office to $144 million. This was 8% higher than last weekend and 1% higher than the same weekend last year. Granted, that 1% improvement is well below the rate of inflation, but a win is a win. Year-to-date, 2010 has earned $7.15 billion compared to 2009's pace of $6.85 billion. As we transition into fall, we are in an excellent position to top $10 billion for the second year in a row and set yet another record. Granted, the lack of a Avatar-like megahit coming out could be an issue, but I think 2010 has built up enough of a lead that it won't prevent the yearly box office from reaching 10 digits.
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August 11th, 2010
Inception remained in top spot on the international box office, with $47.70 million on 7287 screens in 59 markets for a total of $259.27 million internationally and $486.90 million worldwide. It won't have to wait till the weekend to get to $500 million. It opened in first place in Spain with $4.55 million on 491 screens, but had to settle for second place in Brazil with $2.03 million on 313. It also added $3.83 million on 418 screens over the weekend in Australia for a total of $20.64 million after three. While in the U.K., it made $3.60 million on 468 screens over the weekend for a total of $41.02 million after four. With openings in China and Italy ahead of it, $600 million worldwide is virtually guaranteed, while $700 million isn't out of the question.
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August 9th, 2010
The first weekend of August was mixed. The top film did well for this time of year, as did the counter-programming. Plus the holdovers did their part, more of less. That said, the overall box office was still down 8% from last weekend and 9% from last year, thus ending 2010's winning streak. However, looking at the big picture, 2010 is still up on 2009 at a score of $6.93 billion to $6.63 billion
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August 8th, 2010
Over the past weekend, Toy Story 3 fell to second place on the international chart with $38.69 million on 7806 screens in 42 markets. However, it rose to second place for 2010 on the international chart with $436.65 million overtaking Shrek Forever After. The only 2010 release that has made more internationally is Alice in Wonderland. Worldwide it now has $826.41 million and it has very likely already surpassed Finding Nemo to become Pixar's biggest hit. The film's only major release of the week came in Germany over the weekend, where it made $4.03 million on 740 screens, bringing the total to $4.35 million. While this is a good result, its not great, and prior to this the film had been doing great. It also remained in the top spot in the U.K. over the weekend, with $12.81 million on 564 screens, for a two week total of $62.82 million. It has likely overtaken Alice in Wonderland to become the biggest hit of 2010 released in that market. As for the film's future, it has yet to open in South Korea and Scandinavia. If it does well in those markets, $1 billion worldwide is still within reach.
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August 5th, 2010
It's August and box office analysts are debating whether or not Summer will continue for another week.
If the new releases as big as some expect, then it will continue.
On the other hand, both new releases could bomb, leaving Inception in top spot, in which case summer will definitely be over.
Even if the more bullish predictions come true, it might be tough for 2010 to maintain pace with last year and the five-week winning streak could be over.
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August 2nd, 2010
It was a mixed bag this weekend with no film taking the box office by surprise. However, no film truly bombed either, so at least there is good news there. The overall box office was $145 million over the weekend, down 11% from last weekend, but more importantly up 15% from the same weekend last year. Year-to-date, 2010 has now earned $6.72 billion compared to 2009's running tally of $6.42 billion. Ticket sales are still lagging behind last year's pace, but by less than 1%.
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August 1st, 2010
After opening in a few markets last weekend, Inception got its international run off in earnest last weekend and climbed into second place with $56.78 million on 5,177 screens in 36 markets for a still early total of $87.86 million.
It opened in a number of major markets and debuted in first place in most of them.
The biggest was Japan with $7.86 million on 525 screens over the weekend and $8.94 million in total.
France was also a lucrative market for the film with $8.01 million on 626 screens, while in South Korea it made $6.01 million on 583 screens over the weekend and $7.89 million in total.
Russia added $7.08 million on 895 screens to its weekend haul, while Australia produced $6.67 million on 413.
The film only managed seventh in Mexico with just $467,000 on 152 screens, but this was a low screen count.
In the U.K. the film was down just 29% to $6.47 million on 456 screens over the weekend for a total of $22.01 after two.
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August 1st, 2010
Inception will see off a strong challenge from Dinner for Schmucks to record a third straight win at the weekend box office, according to studio estimates released on Sunday.
Inception will be down about 36% from last weekend at $27.5 million for a cume to date of $193.3 million.
Schmucks hit the ground running on Friday, topping the chart with $8.4 million, but will settle for second place over three days with $23.3 million.
That's very much in line with Steve Carell's previous comedy outing this year, Date Night, which opened with $25.2 million (admittedly at a slightly quieter time of year).
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July 29th, 2010
July ends with three wide releases, but it looks like Inception will remain on top for the third weekend in a row. This is good news for everyone associated with that film, not so good for the new releases.
However, while none of the openers look like they will take top spot, they should earn more than the three new releases from last year, while holdovers will also do their part to ensure 2010 keeps its winning streak going.
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July 27th, 2010
The winners of our R.S.V.P. contest were determined and they are...
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July 26th, 2010
While neither of the two new releases exactly earned blockbuster level openings, Inception made up for this by topping nearly everyone's high end expectations. This helped the overall box office reach still summer-like proportions at $162 million. Granted, this was down 9% from last weekend, but more importantly, it's up 7% from last year.
Year-to-date, 2010 has earned $6.49 billion compared to $6.21 billion for 2009, while ticket sales are still down 2%.
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July 25th, 2010
An impressive second weekend hold by Inception will give it a relatively comfortable win this weekend, according to studio estimates released on Sunday.
With a decline of just 31%, Christopher Nolan's sci-fi thriller will end up with around $43.5 million, according to Warner Bros., $7 million ahead of Salt, which is set to open with about $36.5 million.
Both movies topped a per theater average of $10,000, and Sony won't be too disappointed with second place.
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July 22nd, 2010
Every year as the end of the summer school holidays near, the summer blockbuster season simply ends.
Usually this takes place early in August, but some years we get an extra week or two of $100 million releases.
This year, it could end this weekend.
Neither of the two wide releases are surefire hits; in fact, combined they might not make $100 million during their theatrical runs.
Worse still, there's a chance we might not get another $100 million hit until November.
(This prediction is a little bleak, but certainly not out of the question.)
Weakness in the new releases could leave Inception in first place during its sophomore stint, while if it holds as well as some think, it could help 2010 maintain pace with last year.
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July 16th, 2010
Next week could mark the unofficial end of Summer with the release of Salt, which could be the last $100 million hit till October, maybe even November. Let's hope not, but it could be. In the meantime, it is the target film in this week's box office prediction contest. In order to win, one must simply predict the opening weekend box office number for Salt.
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 Our Family Wedding 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 Our Family Wedding on DVD.
Finally, one additional person will be chosen at random and they will win the final copy of Our Family Wedding 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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July 1st, 2010
The summer has really started to get depressing, not just disappointing. It's getting to the point where a film merely matching expectations is enough to celebrate, while beating expectations is practically unheard of. Speaking of which, of the ten wide releases that opened in June only four matched expectations. Granted, that's better than May, but still disappointing. Going forwards, what is likely the biggest hit of July actually opens on the last day of June. Given how front-loaded The Twilight Saga: Eclipse could be, this could have a serious effect when we compare this year's box office to last July.
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