Thompson on Hollywood

MPAA Box Office Stats Reveal Declines in Domestic and 3-D Attendance: "We Needed a Few More Good Movies"

Box Office

It's always revealing to parse the Motion Picture Association of America's annual Theatrical Market Statistics Report. The 2011 report shows that the studios are basically getting bailed out by the international boost in moviegoers, while the domestic market is in steady decline. And the bloom is off the 3-D rose.

By Anne Thompson
|
March 22, 2012 4:26 PM
|
5 Comments

More:

Weekend Preview: 'John Carter' Arrives, 'Friends With Kids,' 'Silent House,' 'Salmon Fishing,' 'Sushi' & More

Box Office

It's a weekend to have fun at the box office. If you don't take any of it too seriously, you'll enjoy the star-packed rom-com "Friends With Kids" (with many familiar "Bridesmaids" faces) or the fascinating disaster that is "John Carter." If you loved "Dogtooth," check out its sister film from Greece, "Attenberg." The charm of Emily Blunt and Ewan McGregor combine in "Salmon Fishing in the Yemen" while Elizabeth Olsen flexes her horror film skills in "Silent House." Top it all off with the mouthwatering doc "Jiro Dreams of Sushi." Details, reviews and trailers below:

By Sophia Savage
|
March 9, 2012 4:43 PM
|
1 Comment

More:

2012 Box Office Swings Up, Boosted by Product Glut

Box Office

So far this year, the studios have been cheering one up weekend at the box office after another.

By Brian Fuson
|
March 2, 2012 10:40 AM
|
0 Comments

More:

Note to Studios: Stop Trying to Get the Boys Back and Chase the Women

Features

Telling stories from the female perspective is good box office. However, only 16 percent of movies are made specifically with women in mind, even though half of the ticket buying public is female, which means Hollywood is missing the bet financially—with a few notable exceptions that prove my point.

By Susan Cartsonis
|
March 1, 2012 4:20 PM
|
5 Comments

More:

'Waiting to Exhale' Moves Ahead Sans Whitney Houston: 'In Her Honor'

News

The "Waiting to Exhale" sequel is going forward, despite Whitney Houston's sudden death. "I don’t think she would want it to [perish]," said Fox 2000 president Elizabeth Gabler (who just renewed her deal). Soldiering on with the project is "almost in her honor," she adds.

By Sophia Savage
|
February 14, 2012 4:27 PM
|
0 Comments

More:

Oscar Watch: Casarosa Talks 'La Luna,' Pixar's Longest Short

Awards

Pixar, of course, cut its teeth on shorts, winning its first Oscar for "Tin Toy" (1989), which paved the way for "Toy Story." Since then, Pixar has continued to regularly leverage its shorts program as a training ground for directors and incubator for technology.

By Bill Desowitz
|
February 12, 2012 11:51 PM
|
7 Comments

More:

Who Sold You at Super Bowl XLVI 2012? Vote for Best TV Spot

Video

Like many folks on my movie-oriented Twitterfeed, I watched and tweeted the entertainment side of the Super Social Bowl and tuned out the game. And I was disappointed as hell by the super-expensive ($3.5 million per 30 seconds) TV spots created by the Hollywood studios' best and brightest.

By Anne Thompson and Sophia Savage
|
February 6, 2012 2:44 PM
|
1 Comment

More:

Pixar's 'La Luna,' Timeless Coming of Age Fable from Director Enrico Casarosa

Here's a first look at Pixar's latest short film, La Luna, which premiered at the Annecy International Animation Festival, running June 6-11. The short's director and Head of Story, Enrico Casarosa, began with Pixar in 2002, working as a story artist on Cars, followed by Ratatouille and Up.

By Anne Thompson
|
February 1, 2012 8:52 PM
|
2 Comments

More:

Lionsgate Acquires Summit for $412.5 million UPDATED

News

Hollywood insiders have been speculating about just how the long-simmering Lionsgate/Summit merger will close. The problem? While Summit had every reason to cash out at the height of their value before the "Twilight" franchise comes to an end in November with "Breaking Dawn- Part Two"...

By Anne Thompson
|
January 13, 2012 6:34 PM
|
1 Comment

More:

Universal Digs Into Archives to Celebrate 100 Years of Movie History Throughout 2012

News

Universal Pictures is planning a yearlong centennial celebration to celebrate 100 years of the studio's history and legacy. The celebration aims to engage with a wide range of audiences, and it will include the restoration of thirteen titles, including "To Kill a Mockingbird," "All Quiet on the Western Front," "Jaws"...