Weekend B.O. Oct. 19-21 ('Cross' Doesn't Cut It, While 'Nowhere' And 'Argo' Stay Strong)

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• toly | October 22, 2012 12:01 PMReply

  Great movie, Tyler was excellent, too bad some people are too stuck up to see it.

• Dr. Boogie | October 22, 2012 12:57 PM

  EXXXXXXAAACCCTTTTTLY!!! You betta read Toly.....lol
  Once again Shadow & Act's anti-Tyler slip is showing. First they start with the hair. Ignored the big earner movies that came out/were out when Alex Cross opened. Ignored the awkward marketing of the film and the way MOST people didn't even connect Alex Cross with the franchise of the two popular book-based films. Compared films where Tyler stared & produced with a film for which he was just cast as the lead like their the same apples. THEN PULLED THE SLAPSHIT MOVE of comparing a positive report on Ava DuVernay's Middle of Nowhere for the dichotomous oppositional piece de resistance. S&A's Tyler shade is so predictable. I laugh....Do I think another actor should have been casted as Alex Cross? A thousand times YEEEESSS! I have a list but come on honey boo-boo Shadow & Act--what's with all the hate/lazy critique of Tyler? Did he forget to return your call or invite you to the studio tour or something?

• zeus | October 22, 2012 12:05 AMReply

  The debut is also lower than previous Alex Cross movies Kiss the Girls ($13.2 million) and Along Came a Spider ($16.7 million), even though those movies each were released over a decade ago.

• kendraV | October 21, 2012 11:44 PMReply

  Alex Cross was really good! I was happy to see so many talented veteran multiracial co-stars in the film also like Giancarlo Esposito, Cicely Tyson, Carmen Ejogo, and Jean Reno. The young actress who played Tyler Perry's daughter, Yara Shahidi, was wonderful also. She has a very moving scene that really showcases her talents in the film.

• CareyCarey | October 21, 2012 9:51 PMReply

  "[I] thoroughly enjoyed Alex Cross much more than Middle of Nowhere" by WheelsofSteel. UT-OH, what's going on? Well, the regular readers of S&A generally knows when someone is trying to start mess. You know, through our various comments, we know where each is coming from, in that we've sort-of shown our hands on the type of movies we like and dislike, and our position on Tyler Perry, etc. Well, for one, we all know "The Coon Hunter" aka ADAM SCOTT THOMPSON, wouldn't give a dying Tyler Perry a bone, even if he killed a dinosaur. But I don't believe I've read a past comment from WheelOfSteel? So I was taken back by their comment until I read D.C. KIRKWOOD say this-> "I went to see Alex Cross this weekend and I enjoyed the film". Oh my, now I am really in a quandary. Heck, on the real - and if numbers don't lie - could the proof be in the pudding--> Twelve MILLION (Alex Cross) vs. One Hundred Twenty THOUSAND (MoN)? And, to date, no one on this board - who saw Alex Cross - has come back and said they didn't like it. Hmmmm, what does that tell us? Well, one thing I know for sure, regardless of how Nadia framed it, we all know this is a predominantly "Anti-Tyler Perry" blog, and it would be woefully disrespectful to call WheelsofSteel a liar. So somebody, anybody, what's up... who else saw both films? See, after reading all the glowing comments in the Middle of Nowhere tread, I was "convinced" that it was the IT movie of the year, but now y'all got me shaking my head. So please help me get my head off this swivel.

• uptownanthen | October 23, 2012 7:44 PM

  CareyCarey, I saw your pop out and about all last weekend. He saw both movies. Check with him and he'll give you his opinion and that will help you get your "head off the swivel!"

• CareyCarey | October 23, 2012 12:56 AM

  Adam "Coon Hunter" Thompson, I'm glad you liked it and if you want it, it's yours. But I have to tell you that we are now even-steven because I stole some of your stuff from your Booker T Washington video :-). @ Ashley P, it's also good that you enjoyed TP's latest. But I'm still looking for someone who has seen both movies.

• Adam Scott Thompson | October 22, 2012 7:30 PM

  "The Coon Hunter." LMAO I take my hat off to you... as I steal this!

• AshleyP | October 22, 2012 6:09 PM

  I saw Alex Cross today because of this comment. I enjoyed it. TP's best work thus far. I didn't see Middle of Nowhere because I live in the middle of nowhere (southern coastal area) and it isn't playing here but I want to see it.

• pheadraT | October 21, 2012 8:52 PMReply

  Jane, check boxofficemojo.com. They have the complete weekend box office and per screen totals for this weekend under the section "weekend estimates."

• getitstraight | October 23, 2012 7:20 PM

  Calm down, plain Jane... No need to get uppity.

• Jane | October 22, 2012 8:17 PM

  That's not the point. He didn't cite his sources, and someone was challenging his totals...

• Jane | October 21, 2012 8:33 PMReply

  What service is the source for your B.O. totals?

• JMac | October 22, 2012 9:13 PM

  This is a blog that a few individuals contribute to in their off time, not an online newspaper. Easy mistake to make. If you want sources and cites for every posting, you'll need to go directly to the source.

• sergio | October 22, 2012 9:07 PM

  Yeah we've sunk pretty low

• jane | October 22, 2012 8:58 PM

  Oh, you're definitely no journalist...it's just sad that S&A would work with someone who admits, even facetiously, that he has no integrity. Have a blessed day.

• sergio | October 22, 2012 8:39 PM

  Don't you get it by now? I have no integrity and I'm no journalist. Never said I was

• jane | October 22, 2012 8:22 PM

  How mature. Your journalistic integrity continues to amaze me...

• Adam Scott Thompson | October 22, 2012 7:30 PM

  X_X @ Sergio.

• sergio | October 21, 2012 8:49 PM

  I make them up

• Adam Scott Thompson | October 21, 2012 6:41 PMReply

  I've BEEN saying that hair ain't real. Like Sam-ya-el in "The Negotiator."

• Lauren | October 21, 2012 6:01 PMReply

  Yeah his hair isn't real. I guess growing his own would cramp his sartorial style in his off hours.

• wheelsofsteel | October 21, 2012 5:34 PMReply

  I saw both films in Atlanta this past weekend as thoroughly enjoyed Alex Cross much more than Middle of Nowhere. This was by far T.P.'s most positive role to date, and the message of the strength of the black family resonated loudly. Middle of Nowhere followed the same tired cliche of the black woman trying to come to the rescue of the downtrodden and imprisoned black man. Seen that story a million times. Alex Cross was a very welcome surprise, and if people actually go and see the film and not listen to jaded white critics, they will enjoy it also.

• graffitibridge | October 21, 2012 9:10 PM

  Hey... Everyone is not going to like every film. Everyone is entitled to his or her own opinion. The individual film is often subjective when it should be objective The bottom line is, the headline of this piece should not be comparing Alex Cross and Middle of Nowhere to each other in any regard. There is room for every African-American filmmaker to succeed. Share the rock and everyone comes up on the court.

• ALM | October 21, 2012 8:39 PM

  @ WheelsofSteel: Are you serious? I agree with Rama. You did not see "Middle of Nowhere". The way that Ruby handled her situation was very atypical. It was not cliched'. Wheelsofsteel must be a poster planted here to start some mess.

• AO | October 21, 2012 6:53 PM

  I don't know what film you saw, it certainly wasn't the same film I saw. It is my job to watch Black films. I see hundreds every year. There is nothing cliche about "Middle of Nowhere". It is a beautifully told story of one woman's journey to self-realization which is not done at the expense of the men in her life. For sure there is conflict, but the director's care not to stereotype either of characters or their situation gives it a uniqueness that may eventually land it in the ranks of a film classic along with "Nothing But A Man" and "Killer of Sheep". We rarely have an opportunity to see a mature love story set in such a beautifully textured world, with authentic characters that could be your family member, neighbor, co-worker or maybe even yourself. Kudos to the filmmakers and cast, for giving us such a cinematic treasure!
  
  If you haven't seen "Middle of Nowhere", I urge you to see it. If you've seen it, see it again. I did and I enjoyed it even more the second time I saw it. This film deserves our support.

• Adam Scott Thompson | October 21, 2012 6:43 PM

  "[T]he same tired cliche of the black woman trying to come to the rescue of the downtrodden and imprisoned black man." Cliche? Really? Examples, please! :]

• candiceB | October 21, 2012 6:30 PM

  Rama didn't see Middle of Nowhere!

• RAMA | October 21, 2012 5:58 PM

  you didn't see middle of nowhere.

• D.C. Kirkwood | October 21, 2012 5:31 PMReply

  I went to see Alex Cross this weekend and I enjoyed the film. It kind of reminded me of the film "Armored", with Matt Dillon, Lawrence Fishbourne, and Columbus Short. The in both movies the scripts were weak and not well written. Both films just straight to the point action thrillers, that were saved by the cast and the action scenes. So I think Alex Cross, just like Armored provided a good first time vehicle for Tyler to show his action chops. Kiss the girls even with Morgan Freeman only made $60m, and it cost $27m. So Im not really shocked at the box office. The audience was very diverse so I think they accomplished their goal with that too. I enjoyed the film and hope he continues to spread his wings.

• Orville | October 21, 2012 5:29 PMReply

  Well this kind of confirms what other people have said on Shadow and Act yes you guys were right Tyler Perry wasn't right for this part. I really thought Tyler's fan base would support this film but they only seem to show up when he's in drag or if it is one of Tyler's other plays turned into a film. Maybe the casting choice was the problem? It seems the Alex Cross fans refused to see this movie and the Tyler Perry fan base rejected this movie also.

• justthefactsplease | October 21, 2012 5:24 PMReply

  The information regarding Duvernay's "Middle of Nowhere" here is not accurate. Boxofficemojo.com is reporting that the film's per screen dollar average is $$2,590, not $7000. It's admirable to support a filmmaker, but one has to be fair in its support, not mired in misreprentation. The film's box office, even though it expanded to 21 screens, made far less per screen that it did on 6 screens last week when its average was $11,318, not $13,000 as originally reported. The film needed to make at least $5,000 per screen this week in order to sustain real forward momentum. As the old saying goes, "Numbers don't lie."

• uptownanthem | October 23, 2012 7:42 PM

  Shut up, cornball Kev... I bet you're the type of person who would never talk tough to someone's face. It's easy to hide behind your keyboard, isn't it. No doubt you grew up around rich white folks and thought just because they didn't kick your butt everyday, you were a crusading and representing African-American. Negro, please. Go back from when ye came.

• Kev | October 21, 2012 6:16 PM

  Oh and also to your point about the $11k to the $13k. Just so people know how this all works its like this - when you hear the numbers on Sunday morning about the weekend obviously the weekend is not over because Sunday afternoon and evening shows have not happened yet, so the distributors do estimates which you see at the top of your BoxOfficeMojo report and elsewhere. They estimate based on a percentage range and pre-sales and and several other factors. So often the final week number can be lower or even higher sometimes (but not often). For example Warner Bros reported 21.5 million for Argo's weekend through Sunday but it ended up being 19 million. So this is just to explain to people not to argue so people can be educated. It feels weird that someone would accuse the writer of lying when you really don't know how the box office reporting system works. Probably best to know what you're talking about before accused people of lying.

• Kev | October 21, 2012 6:07 PM

  He clearly says $7,000 in certain cities. If you know about averages, you know that per screen average is a composite of all cities divided by the number of cities so two theaters making a higher number while others made a lower is entirely and most often possible and probable in the independent box office world. I'm a BoxOfficeMojo junkie and I rarely comment but your idea that the film doesn't have legs solely 'cause of these figures is not historically accurate. Look at your white indie darlings. Even one right now like Smashed. Or Take Shelter last year that dropped by more than 75% and went on to play through January to the tune of a million dollars. Indies usually have a burst then a slow roll out momentum. That's the name of the game when they are working on less than 500 screens. Just have to speak up when I read somebody trying to school somebody who doesn't know what they are really talking about.

• sergio | October 21, 2012 5:53 PM

  And that $13,000 per screen average was also confirmed in press releases issued last week from the film producers. So there.

• Sergio | October 21, 2012 5:32 PM

  As I said "like New York and Philadelphia, reporting a per screen average of over $7,000"." Those two cities reported per screen averages, not all cities, and those numbers came directly to us from one of the film's producers. So you're saying she's lying????????????

• NO BRAINER | October 21, 2012 3:59 PMReply

  I'm glad to see Argo still doing well. That was a great film experience. My best so far in the theaters. I'm not even surprised by Alex Cross's numbers. Nobody wants to see TP in that role and the trailer did nothing to sway people's minds. I actually forgot it came out this weekend, with no intentions of seeing it.

• Adam Scott Thompson | October 21, 2012 6:46 PM

  Sustained.

• WOW | October 21, 2012 3:38 PMReply

  Glad to hear Affrm is expanding it. Focus never let Pariah go more than 24 theaters. Most it was ever in. The thought of that pisses me off.

• KAREN | October 21, 2012 3:05 PMReply

  Oprah should introduce Ava and Tyler. Random thought.

• Adam Scott Thompson | October 21, 2012 6:46 PM

  Randomly re-think that.

• JMac | October 21, 2012 4:25 PM

  No. Let him go on hiatus and get some (a lot of) formal training first. Otherwise, it'd be a complete waste of time.

• critical acclaim | October 21, 2012 2:33 PMReply

  This Alex Cross tally isn't far out from what Morgan's last Alex Cross installment did at $13mil for opening. Like I've said before, I'm not a fan of Madea AT ALL IN ANY WAY SHAPE FORM OR CIRCUMSTANCE, but we'd be cheering on ANY OTHER black man who was opening as an action/thriller lead. Why not him? The box office dollars ain't amazing I concede: but damn can the man get a cool point for trying to get himself out the dress!!??

• sigh | October 22, 2012 3:35 AM

  @Nadia, thank you for that comment.
  
  And honestly, I'm not surprised that they're already thinking of a sequel with TP, people don't understand the major Hollywood pull this guy now has. Madea has made him very rich & Lionsgate is in bed with it all, he's going to get what he wants as long as he keeps making these inexpensive Madea movies that guarantee $60m total.

• Nadia | October 21, 2012 2:48 PM

  The problem with comparing this to Morgan Freeman's films is those had enough word of mouth and other things going for them that they ended up doing well in the end. Along Came A Spider grossed $75 million, and Kiss The Girls grossed over $60 million. And that's not even adjusted for inflation. You do that and each probably would have close to $100 million grosses. You really think Tyler Perry's Alex Cross will have enough staying power to gross anywhere close to $75 or even $60 million? I don't think so. And I disagree that if it were "any other" black man who was opening an action/thriller we'd cheer on. If this was Alex Cross starring Martin Lawrence, you'd see the same reactions. Bottomline is, kudos for trying, but he's just not right for the part, and folks see that. He can't do everything. Will Smith was offered Neo in "The Matrix" before Keanu Reeves. Will knew his limitations at the time and decided not to take it. Arnold Schwarzenegger would probably never do a romantic comedy.

• Nadia | October 21, 2012 2:19 PMReply

  Alex Cross is going to tank next weekend. I predict at least a 50% drop, or close to it. I didn't enter the contest, but I thought it might actually do better. If I had to guess I would've said $18 to $20 million. Psssht. Not even close. Unless a new surge magically appears from somewhere this film may not even make $25 million. And they're thinking sequel? I don't think so. Nobody wants to see Tyler Perry as Alex Cross. I wish there was some audience breakdown so we could see who turned out for it. Like whether his fans came out or if fans of the novel came out. So Tambay's research about films without Madea performing poorly remains the same. I wonder what Tyler's message to his fans will be this week.

• BECCAQ | October 21, 2012 1:39 PMReply

  I love hearing that Middle of Nowhere is still doing well!!!!!! Tyler who?

• Critical Acclaim | October 21, 2012 2:34 PM

  Glad to see this little jewel still shinin.

• BECCAQ | October 21, 2012 1:40 PM

  And before people go in on that comment, I'm just sayin' -- while the dollars Duvernay brings in are small apples to Perry's big oranges -- I like dem apples!