Thompson on Hollywood

Iron Man 2 Set To Break Records, Jump-Start Summer

It’s incorrect to label Iron Man 2 a fan boy film – even though it’s based on the Marvel comic book superhero. Many expect Iron Man 2 to earn the highest weekend ever at the domestic B.O, outstripping Warner Bros.’ first frame for The Dark Knight which made $158.4 million in late July 2008. When fan boy films begin churning out huge opening numbers, they become four-quadrant films. Not only is Iron Man 2 currently tracking through the roof in every sector (unaided awareness, total awareness, first choice, definite interest) for Iron Man 2 but no other studio is counter-programming a title against the Marvel sequel – evidence that this is an everyman tent pole.

By Anthony D'Alessandro
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May 6, 2010 12:40 PM
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Iron Man 2 Reviews Are Mixed But It Won't Matter

Thank God for Mickey Rourke.

By Anne Thompson
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April 27, 2010 11:34 AM
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Summer Movies: What Can Top Iron Man 2?

It's starting to look a lot like summer.

By Anne Thompson
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April 20, 2010 4:01 AM
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13 Comments

Whedon to Direct Marvel's The Avengers

If Marvel closes with Joss Whedon to direct The Avengers, I applaud them for yet again taking a daring direction that most studio chiefs would not be willing to stake their jobs on.

By Anne Thompson
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April 13, 2010 8:57 AM
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Sherlock Holmes Music Video: Discombobulate Features Zimmer, Downey

As the Oscar voting heads toward the final days (ballots are due March 2), Oscar campaigners are still throwing new things into the mix: here's a music video for Hans Zimmer's score for Sherlock Holmes, with Robert Downey Jr. on piano. It's fun--they basically got the musicians to send in video from all over the world. One guy's riding an elephant.

By Anne Thompson
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February 26, 2010 12:11 AM
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Holiday Winners and Losers: Avatar, Sherlock Holmes, Streep, Bullock and Nine

Where are we, after the record-breaking holiday? There were many winners.

By Anne Thompson
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January 5, 2010 2:00 AM
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Previews 2010: Inception, Iron Man 2, Toy Story 3

Surprise! The most-viewed trailers of 2009 were also among the year's biggest b.o. grossers. Among some of the anticipated movies of 2010 are two Leonardo DiCaprio movies--Chris Nolan's Inception and Martin Scorsese's pushed-back Shutter Island--as well as Pixar's latest, Toy Story 3. More trailers and clips are on the jump.

By Anne Thompson
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December 28, 2009 10:00 AM
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Oscar Duel: Yes, They're Fun, But Do Golden Globes Influence Oscar?

In this ongoing blog duel, Moviefone's resident Oscarologist Jack Mathews and I discuss the impact of the Golden Globes on the Oscar race. On Golden Globes nominations morning, Joseph Gordon-Levitt, Robert Downey, Jr., Julia Roberts and Tobey Maguire were dancing on the ceiling. And Harvey Weinstein thought he had three sure-fire Oscar contenders with Nine, Inglourious Basterds and A Single Man.

By Anne Thompson
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December 21, 2009 9:45 AM
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NBC/Universal on Roof, Downey Likely Harvey Star, Movie Sound Cliches

It looks like GE is in serious talks with Comcast to buy NBC Universal, reports Sharon Waxman. As Vivendi looks to sell its 20 % stake in the company, which has suffered a tough year, Comacast may step into the breach. UPDATE: Here's the LAT.

By Anne Thompson
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September 30, 2009 12:17 PM
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Iron Man 2 Comic-Con Footage

The Iron Man 2 footage that was screened at Comic-Con has showed up online at Worst Previews. It's shaky-cam. Looks like great smart fun to me. (Note how Don Cheadle deals with his replacing Terrence Howard.) We have to wait until May 2010. It hasn't been edited into a movie yet.