Box Office Breakdown: The American Defeats Machete
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Posted by Veronica Santiago Categories: 20th Century Fox, FOCUS, Lionsgate, Sony, Universal, Warner Bros, Action, Adaptation, Drama, Family, Horror, Romance, Science Fiction, Sequels, Comedy, Thrillers, Box Office, Lists,
![The American](http://assets.gearlive.com/filmcrunch/blogimages/american_clooney.jpg)
Although it lacked Jessica Alba, Lindsay Lohan and Robert De Niro, The American did have two things Machete didn’t: George Clooney and a box office win.
Despite only grossing $13.2 million over the weekend ($16.3 million since Wednesday), the Focus Features entry hit its target. The movie - which was produced for approximately $20 million - managed to top the Robert Rodriguez-actioner by less than $2 million. The American also became Clooney’s best opener - outside of any Brad Pitt-related project - since The Perfect Storm in 2000.
Machete, based on a trailer included in the film Grindhouse, came very close to matching the earlier movie. The Danny Trejo starrer debuted to a modest $11.4 million—about $200,000 short of Grindhouse‘s premiere in 2007.
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Box Office Breakdown: Takers Takes the (Close) Win
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Posted by Veronica Santiago Categories: 20th Century Fox, Disney, Miramax, Lionsgate, Sony, Universal, Warner Bros, Action, Adaptation, Drama, Family, Horror, Romance, Satire, Science Fiction, Sequels, Comedy, Thrillers, Box Office, Lists,
![Takers movie](http://assets.gearlive.com/filmcrunch/blogimages/takers.jpg)
Although early reports had The Last Exorcism in first place this weekend, the final numbers told a different story. When the dust finally settled on Monday, Lionsgate’s Takers had squeaked out a slim lead. (Less than $200,000 separated the two films.)
Exorcism, though, did not walk away a loser. The movie “documenting” a priest’s final exorcism earned just over $20 million—and it only cost $1.8 million to produce. The PG-13 flick also surpassed The Unborn‘s 2009 debut ($19.8 million), though it did fall short of The Exorcism of Emily Rose. (That 2005 release opened to $30 million.)
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Box Office Breakdown: The Switch Fails to Light Up
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Posted by Veronica Santiago Categories: 20th Century Fox, Miramax, Lionsgate, Sony, Universal, Warner Bros, Action, Adaptation, Adventure, Drama, Family, Horror, Romance, Satire, Science Fiction, Sequels, Comedy, Thrillers, Box Office, Lists,
![The Switch](http://assets.gearlive.com/filmcrunch/blogimages/switch.jpg)
Maybe a quick trip to Cougar Town is something Jennifer Aniston could use right now.
Days after blurting out the R-word on television, Aniston is dealing with another ding in her career: the box office disappointment. The Switch, co-starring Jason Bateman, produced only $8.4 million over the past three days while narrowly escaping eighth place. The good news? The movie raised slightly more than Jen’s Love Happens did back in September. The bad news? The comedy earned about $4 million less than Jennifer Lopez’s baby movie, The Back-Up Plan, did in April.
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Box Office Breakdown: Expendables Team Up Against Julia Roberts
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Posted by Veronica Santiago Categories: DreamWorks, Disney, Lionsgate, Paramount, Sony, Universal, Warner Bros, Action, Adaptation, Adventure, Animation, Drama, Family, Romance, Science Fiction, Sequels, Comedy, Thrillers, Box Office, Lists,
![The Expendables](http://assets.gearlive.com/filmcrunch/blogimages/expendables_cast.jpg)
For some people, eating, praying and loving is the way to go. For others, shooting and fighting is the preferred course of action.
The Expendables, directed and co-written by Sylvester Stallone, overpowered the competition this weekend with a $34.8 million finish. The combined star power of the cast – which included Dolph Lundgren, Jet Li, Mickey Rourke, and Jason Statham – helped land the actioner in first place while awarding Stallone his biggest debut to date.
Although Eat Pray Love fell in second with its $23.1 million take, the movie was by no means a disappointment. The Julia Roberts vehicle premiered on par with Julie & Julia’s $20 million kickoff last August. Meanwhile, Roberts earned her best opening numbers in 10 years (outside of the Oceans franchise).
Unfortunately for Michael Cera, it appears the world was simply working against Scott Pilgrim vs. the World The $60 million comic book adaptation only raked in $10.6 million over the past three days.
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Box Office Breakdown: Victory for The Other Guys
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Posted by Veronica Santiago Categories: FOCUS, Disney, Paramount, Sony, Universal, Warner Bros, Action, Adaptation, Adventure, Animation, Drama, Family, Science Fiction, Sequels, Comedy, Thrillers, Box Office, Lists, Technology,
![The Other Guys](http://assets.gearlive.com/filmcrunch/blogimages/otherguys.jpg)
Will Ferrell is no longer stuck in the Land of the Lost.
After stinking up the theaters last summer with his science fiction remake, Ferrell has rebounded nicely with The Other Guys. Sony’s buddy-cop flick opened to $35.5 million over the weekend, giving the funnyman his second highest debut ever. (Talledega Nights rang in $47 million in August 2006.) The comedy also performed well for Mark Wahlberg. It was his best outing since Planet of the Apes’ $68.5 million kickoff in 2001.
Unfortunately, 3-D screens and So You Think You Can Dance plugs couldn’t push Step Up 3D further up the charts. The $40 million film only grossed $15.8 million in ticket sales while coming in lower than the first two installments. (Step Up premiered to $20.7 million in 2006 while Step Up 2 the Streets opened to $18.9 million in 2008.)
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In Theaters This Weekend: August 6, 2010
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Posted by Veronica Santiago Categories: Columbia Pictures, Disney, IFC Films, Magnolia, Paramount, Sony, Warner Bros, Adaptation, Documentary, Drama, Foreign, Foreign Language, Independent, Period, Romance, Sequels, Comedy, Thrillers, Lists, New Releases, Trailers,
Here are a few selections in theaters this weekend:
- The Other Guys (PG-13): starring Will Ferrell, Mark Wahlberg, Eva Mendes (directed by Adam McKay)
- Step Up 3-D (PG-13): starring Rick Malambri, Sharni Vinson, Adam Sevani (directed by Jon Chu)
- Cairo Time* (PG): starring Patricia Clarkson, Alexander Siddig, Elena Anaya (directed by Ruba Nadda)
- The Disappearance of Alice Creed* (R): starring Gemma Arterton, Eddie Marsan, Martin Compston (directed by J. Blakeson)
- Flipped* (PG): starring Madeline Carroll, Aidan Quinn, Penelope Ann Miller (directed by Rob Reiner)
- Lebanon* (R): starring Yoav Donat, Itay Tiran, Oshri Cohen (directed by Samuel Maoz)
- Middle Men* (R): starring Luke Wilson, Giovanni Ribisi, Gabriel Macht (directed by George Gallo)
Click to continue reading In Theaters This Weekend: August 6, 2010
Casting Corner: Cate Blanchett, Leonardo DiCaprio, Megan Fox and More
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Posted by Veronica Santiago Categories: FOCUS, Sony, Universal, Warner Bros, Action, Adaptation, Adventure, Drama, Independent, Musicals, Period, Science Fiction, Sequels, Comedy, Thrillers, Casting, Celeb News,
![Cate Blanchett](http://assets.gearlive.com/filmcrunch/blogimages/cate_blanchett.jpg)
Here’s a quick look at some of the casting announcements made recently:
Cate Blanchett: The Benjamin Button actress will be paired with a new leading man for her next feature. Blanchett was recently tapped to replace Sienna Miller in the latest version of the Robin Hood tale. Cate will star as Maid Marian opposite Russell Crowe’s Robin of Loxley. The movie, previously titled Nottingham, will be helmed by by Crowe’s favorite director, Ridley Scott.
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Sequel News: Hairspray, Anchorman, School of Rock
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Posted by Veronica Santiago Categories: DreamWorks, New Line, Paramount, Musicals, Sequels, Comedy, Casting, Celeb News, Rumors, Upcoming Releases,
![Hairspray](http://assets.gearlive.com/filmcrunch/blogimages/hairspray.jpg)
Here’s the latest scoop on the sequel buzz spreading across Hollywood:
The film that inspired a Broadway show and an update may soon spawn another creation: a sequel. New Line Cinema, obviously encouraged by the success of the High School Musical franchise (and last week’s debut of Mamma Mia!), has asked John Waters to begin writing a treatment for a follow to Hairspray.
According to Variety, the studio hopes to reunite members of last year’s cast in time for a 2010 release. The story would again be set in the 60’s, just where the Turnblad family left off.
While no actors have yet been lined up, most of the musical’s key players - including director/choreography Adam Shankman - are scheduled to return.
Click to continue reading Sequel News: Hairspray, Anchorman, School of Rock
Variety
In Theaters This Weekend: July 25, 2008
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Posted by Veronica Santiago Categories: 20th Century Fox, Columbia Pictures, Magnolia, Miramax, Paramount, Sony, Adaptation, Documentary, Drama, Foreign, Music, Period, Political, Romance, Science Fiction, Sequels, Comedy, Sports, Lists, New Releases,
![Step Brothers](http://assets.gearlive.com/filmcrunch/blogimages/stepbrothers.jpg)
Here are some possible suggestions for your upcoming weekend:
- Step Brothers (R): starring Will Ferrell, John C. Reilly, Mary Steenburgen (directed by Adam McKay)
- The X-Files: I Want to Believe (PG-13): starring David Duchovny, Gillian Anderson, Xzibit (directed by Chris Carter)
- American Teen* (PG-13): starring Megan Krizmanich, Mitch Reinholt, Hannah Bailey (directed by Nanette Burstein)
- Asian Stories* (NR): starring James Kyson Lee, Kirt Kishita, Kathy Uyen (directed by Ron Oda)
- Brideshead Revisited* (PG-13): starring Emma Thompson, Michael Gambon, Matthew Goode (directed by Julian Jarrold)
- Bustin’ Down the Door* (NR): starring Wayne “Rabbit” Bartholomew, Mark Richards, Shaun Tomson (directed by Jeremy Gosch)
Click to continue reading In Theaters This Weekend: July 25, 2008
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