Latest Gear Live Videos
Box Office Breakdown: Horton Hears a Who Has Largest 2008 Debut
Posted by Veronica Santiago Categories: 20th Century Fox, Disney, Lionsgate, New Line, Paramount, Sony, Universal, Warner Bros, Adaptation, Adventure, Animation, Drama, Family, Period, Comedy, Sports, Box Office, Lists,
Thankfully, Jim Carrey‘s embarrassing stint on American Idol wasn’t all in vain.
Horton Hears a Who earned $45 million dollars over the past weekend, trouncing the competition. Although the kid-friendly flick has had the biggest opening of 2008 so far, the film falls in the middle of the pack when it comes to Dr. Seuss adaptations. How The Grinch Stole Christmas opened with $55 million back in 2000; A Cat in the Hat took in $38.3 just three years later.
Horton‘s premiere also made a nice statement for non-Pixar related films overall. This animated movie found itself in fifth place behind other cartoon debuts. (Disney’s Finding Nemo, Monsters, Inc., Cars and Ratatouille rank one through four.)
The only other new entries in this week’s Top Ten were the mixed-martial arts pic Never Back Down and the post-apocalyptic thriller Doomsday.
Click to continue reading Box Office Breakdown: Horton Hears a Who Has Largest 2008 Debut
Advertisement
Box Office Breakdown: Theatergoers Take a Trip to 10,000 BC
Posted by Veronica Santiago Categories: 20th Century Fox, FOCUS, Disney, Lionsgate, New Line, Paramount, Sony, Warner Bros, Action, Adaptation, Adventure, Drama, Family, Period, Romance, Science Fiction, Comedy, Sports, Thrillers, Box Office, Lists, New Releases,
One year ago, 300 pulled in an astounding $70 million dollars. This past weekend, another period drama grossed exactly half that much. Half, schmalf—it was still enough for a win.
Warner Bros.’ 10,000 BC easily topped its futuristic competitors with a $35 million take over this last weekend. The total was leaps and bounds better than the amount produced by second place finisher, College Road Trip. The Disney flick, starring Martin Lawrence and Raven-Symone, rang up only $13.6 million.
Meanwhile, last week’s #1, Semi-Pro, was already showing signs of fatigue. The basketball comedy fell to 5th place and earned a disappointing $5.7 million. Does this mean the Will Ferrell sports era is finally over?
Click to continue reading Box Office Breakdown: Theatergoers Take a Trip to 10,000 BC
Yahoo! Movies
Wrestlemania XXIV to Be a Star-Studded Event
Posted by Veronica Santiago Categories: Music, Sports, Television,
When did wrestling become so hip?
Okay - I admittedly am not a fan of the ‘sport’, so when I hear something related to the letters WWE, I usually flip the channel. But when the topic starts invading shows like Project Runway, you kind of have to take notice.
While I don’t find it surprising that Snoop Dogg and Dancing with the Stars’ Floyd Mayweather have been linked to this year’s Wrestlemania event, others names seem a bit out of place.
First off, John Legend is scheduled to perform during the March 30 Wrestlemania XXIV spectacular in Orlando. The R&B singer, yes R&B, will get the program started with his rendition of “America the Beautiful.” Then there’s Raven-Symone. The Disney Channel star will host a ‘wish-granting event’ during that same weekend.
Disney and wrestling? When did I become so uncool?
Hollywood Reporter
High School Musical Spawns a Reality Series
Posted by Veronica Santiago Categories: Kids, Music, Prime Time, Reality, ABC, Gossip, News,
Have you ever wondered what it would look like to see young wannabes stab each other in the back for a reality prize? Well, you may soon have your chance!
Disney - with sister channel ABC - has just now come up with a new way to milk the High School Musical franchise to death. Apparently a big screen version of the triquel wasn’t enough; the series has now become the inspiration for a TV reality competition.
After a nationwide hunt for vocal talent, competitors will attend a ‘music conservatory’ to finesse their singing chops. (I’m guessing this would be equivalent to American Idol‘s Hollywood Week?) Details beyond that are quite hazy. Although we should be expecting appearances from HSM stars, what the show’s winner will ultimately receive has not been disclosed. But really - shouldn’t they all just be happy with bragging rights?
ABC is hoping to get the program produced in time for their target audience’s summer break.
Variety
Disney Needs to Say No to Step Up Sequels
Posted by Robin Paulson Categories: Disney, Drama, Sequels, Technology, Upcoming Releases,
While this came as quite a shock to me, Disney is in serious talks with Step Up/Hairspray producer duo, Jennifer Gibgot and Adam Shankman, to work on a third installment of the series. This news comes after Step Up 2 the Streets surprisingly raked in $29 million over the President’s Day weekend.
The triquel is tentatively titled Step Up 3D, as I’m sure Disney believes that format is the new way to go. The recently successful Hannah Montana film was also released in 3D.
Someone needs to tell them to stop making so many bad movies. Seriously.
Variety
ABC To Offer Hit Shows On-Demand… With A Catch
Posted by Jacci Lewis Categories: Prime Time, ABC, Cable, On Demand/PPV, Desperate Housewives, Lost, Cable/Satellite, News,
ABC is finally getting with the program and releasing some of its hit shows like Lost and Desperate Housewives for free to various on-demand cable systems and not just in cities where ABC stations are owned and operated. There is just one catch: viewers won’t be able to fast-forward through the commercials.
In this case though, programming would only have two to five minutes worth of commercial time versus the usual 18 or more minutes aired during hour long programs on network TV.
ABC’s parent company Disney says this is just another way to drive people back to network television while expanding its digital strategy beyond what is already offered on its website ABC.com. The company can also make more money by selling ads within on-demand programming.
Click to continue reading ABC To Offer Hit Shows On-Demand… With A Catch
Associated Press
FCC Reduces Fine Against FOX Over 2003 Reality Show
Posted by Jacci Lewis Categories: Prime Time, Reality, ABC, FOX, Cable/Satellite, News,
Score one for
FOX reality TV, sort of. The Federal Communications Commission slashed nearly all of a proposed $1.2 million indecency fine against several FOX stations yesterday, according to the Washington Post.
The FCC instead decided stations can only be fined for airing the offensive TV show in question if viewers actually complained about it. There was not a change in the FCC’s determination that the show in question was, in fact, indecent.
In this case, 13 of the 169 FOX stations that aired the April 7, 2003 episode of the short-lived Married By America will actually be required to pay indecency fines. The total amount of fines will be somewhere near $91,000.
The episode that lead to the original fine showed digitally-obscured nudity and strippers covered in whipped cream. FOX argued that the worst parts were obscured, keeping the scene from being indecent under FCC rules which prohibit conventional radio and television stations from broadcasting what’s called “patently offensive” material of a sexual or excretory nature between 6 a.m. and 10 p.m. (Times when children are most likely to be watching.) Obviously FCC indecency statutes do not cover cable or satellite TV (e.g. Paradise Hotel 2).
The Post says FOX, which is owned by Rupert Murdoch’s News Corp., hasn’t decided whether to appeal the FCC ruling in federal court.
Click to continue reading FCC Reduces Fine Against FOX Over 2003 Reality Show
Washington Post
Box Office Breakdown: Jumper Leaps to #1
Posted by Veronica Santiago Categories: 20th Century Fox, Disney, Fox Searchlight, Paramount, Universal, Warner Bros, Action, Adaptation, Adventure, Drama, Family, Music, Romance, Science Fiction, Sequels, Comedy, Box Office, Lists, New Releases,
This President’s Day weekend, a good number of theatergoers honored their country’s leaders by taking in a showing of Jumper. The sci-fi film, starring Hayden Christensen and Jamie Bell, took in approximately $27.3 million and earned itself a first place berth. Although the gross did not break any holiday records, the movie did put about $8 million between itself and its nearest competitor (The Spiderwick Chronicles).
Third place-finisher, Step Up 2 the Streets, also had something to brag about this weekend. The dance spectacle averaged $7,655 per screen, just behind Jumper’s $7,980 figure. The other eight films had to settle for $5000 or less.
Click to continue reading Box Office Breakdown: Jumper Leaps to #1
Variety
Box Office Breakdown: Hudson and McConaughey Strike Gold
Posted by Veronica Santiago Categories: 20th Century Fox, Disney, Fox Searchlight, Lionsgate, Paramount, Universal, Warner Bros, Action, Adaptation, Drama, Horror, Musicals, Mystery, Romance, Satire, Sequels, Comedy, Thrillers, Box Office, Lists, New Releases,
Fool’s Gold, the latest joint venture for Kate Hudson and Matthew McConaughey, debuted at the top of the charts this weekend with $21 million. (When that total is worthy of a first place finish, you know times were slow.) This marks the second time the pair opened in the $20 million dollar range; 2003’s How to Lose a Guy in 10 Days started at $23.8 million.
Welcome Home Roscoe Jenkins was the only other new entry in this weekend’s Top Ten. The Martin Lawrence comedy grossed $16 million over the three days pushing Hannah Montana into third place. The 3-D concert, though, had the stronger per screen average ($14,987).
Click to continue reading Box Office Breakdown: Hudson and McConaughey Strike Gold
Yahoo! Movies
A New ‘Hannah Montana’ Movie Planned
Posted by Veronica Santiago Categories: Disney, Adaptation, Family, Music, Comedy, Upcoming Releases,
Now that Miley Cyrus has become a solidified box office success, the execs at Disney can move on to Phase #15 of Montana World Domination.
Months after announcing a big-screen version of High School Musical, the Mouse bigwigs have decided to adapt another one of their shows. Starting this April, production on a Hannah Montana movie (not a concert tour) will begin. (Musical starts its filming in March.)
While casting for the pic has not yet been announced, Miley’s father will also be along for the ride. (How Billy Ray went from Mulholland Drive to this, I don’t know.)
Based on what is being reported, we should be expecting cameos galore. Can we say Spice World?
TV Guide
Advertisement
© Gear Live Inc. {year} – User-posted content, unless source is quoted, is licensed under a Creative Commons Public Domain License. Gear Live graphics, logos, designs, page headers, button icons, videos, articles, blogs, forums, scripts and other service names are the trademarks of Gear Live Inc.