-
The Coens, Justin Timberlake, Carey Mulligan ... -
Cannes Film Festival Diary: Le Dernier J ... -
Cannes Review Roundup: Alexander Payne's ... -
Cannes: James Toback Talks 'Seduced and Abandoned,' ... -
Critics’ Choice Television Award Nominations ...
'Only God Forgives': Gosling No-Show at Cannes, ...
Cannes Review Roundup: Robert Redford Keeps ...
Now and Then: Obituary for 'The Big C,' Starring ...
Boston's Best Dennis Lehane Adapts Beach-Bum ...
Review: Rama Burshtein's Luminous 'Fill the ...
Cannes Review: Douglas and Damon Shine in ...
Three Weddings Before a Bunch of Funerals: ...
Talking 'Star Trek Into Darkness' VFX
Bradley Cooper Is New Model Smart Star
Q & A: How Willimon Runs Fincher's 'House ...Box Office Top Ten: Anti-Obama Polemic Performs on Weak Weekend, 'Premium Rush' Starts Slow UPDATED
6. The Odd Life of Timothy Green (Buena Vista) - Week 2; Last weekend: #6
$7,125,000 (-34%) in 2,598 theaters (no change); PSA: $2742; Cumulative: $27,080,000
Another position holder, with a not-bad falloff from a weak start. This has been a tricky film for Disney, which relies on pre-sold fare, plus reports that its unconventional narrative (for a family film) have resulted in mixed audience response. This weekend could indicate that these drawbacks are not that serious.
What comes next: With only "ParaNorman" out there among new family films and going into a holiday weekend, this looks like it could ultimately reach a higher level than its opening suggested.
7. Premium Rush (Sony) - NEW (Metacritic score: 64)
$6,300,000 in 2,225 theaters; PSA: $2794; Cumulative: $6,300,000
Not good news for Sony nor for star Joseph Gordon-Levitt, a popular risng star. After significant roles in "Inception" and "The Dark Knight Rises," lead roles in "(500) Days of Summer" and "50/50," Gordon-Levitt is looking to carry a studio movie. Despite upbeat reviews for this edgy, high energy tale of a NY bike messenger fighting for his survival, the initial results are below expectations. Something about the marketing turned off moviegoers; perhaps audiences weren't expecting a smart film as a late August release. And with Sony coming back quickly with a more expensive lead vehicle (Toronto-opener "Looper") this film will have to generate strong word of mouth.
Writer-director David Koepp is a successful writer of smart blockbusters ("Jurassic Park," "Mission: Impossible," "Spider-Man," "Indiana Jones and the Kingdom of the Crystal Skull"). HIs fifth effort as a director will come in below his most successful ("The Secret Window"), but should easily surpass his most recent ("Ghost Town").
Producer Gavin Pallone has worked with Koepp on several of his past films (including "Panic Room," the David Fincher-directed adaptation of his script). He is better known for his TV work as executive producer for series like "Curb Your Enthusiam" and "The Gilmore Girls" among many others.
What comes next: With a modest $35 million budget, a big boost from WOM and foreign response could salvage this. But this still is below what was anticipated.
8. 2016: Obama's America (Rocky Mountain) - Week 7; Last weekend #13
$6, 238,000 (+401%) in 1,091 theaters (+922); PSA: $5,718; Cumulative: $9,075,000
In a weekend when new releases ranged from disappointing to disastrous, weak even for this slow time of the year, the standout success is this right-wing polemic which for many observers came out of nowhere to achieve a top 10 ranking as it goes wider after six weeks in more limited playoff.
Still, at just above 1,000 theaters, this has the top PSA for the weekend, and considerable bragging rights and media attention. It is the biggest achievement yet for Utah-based Rocky Mountain Pictures, which over the last seven years has found a niche for itself releasing faith-based films such as "The End of the Spear"), the anti-Gore response "An Inconsistent Truth" and the ill-fated "Atlas Shrugged: Part 1," which cater to underserved conservative moviegoers.
With high pre-sales for Friday matinees with large groups organized to attend this was #4 for that day. Most films that dominate advance ticket sales end up #1 for the weekend, yet this was only number 8. Other films promoted using the same effective grassroots marketing and publicity on conservative media have also shown first-day strength with later fall-offs.
The filmmakers credit ideological opposite Michael Moore as an influence. But if comparisons are to be made, this is not remotely at the same level of impact. "Fahrenheit 9/11" opened at #1 in fewer theaters (868), grossed $24 million its first weekend (inflation adjusted over $30 million) on its way to $119 million. And while Moore had also hoped to influence the presidential election that year, his target G.W. Bush won reelection.
What comes next: The attention these grosses bring pushes the film toward a wider audience beyond the initial marketing push. And in a weak market, the opportunity to expand further from the relatively low number of theaters is there.
9. Hope Springs (Sony) - Week 3; Last weekend #8
$6,000,000 (-34%) in 2,402 theaters (+41); PSA: $2498; Cumulative: $45,000,000
Bolstered by steady weekdays and a modest falloff, this is at $45 million, better than the initial numbers suggested. Once again, Meryl Streep fans, reliable and loyal, are turning out in later weeks.
What comes next: Though this will fall short of several of Streep's recent hits, all of which were boosted by broader younger appeal, this already has grossed more than her Oscar contenders "The Iron Lady" and "Doubt."
10. Hit and Run (Open Road) - NEW (Metacritic score: 51)
$4,675,000 in 2,870 theaters; PSA: $1629; Cumulative: $5,868,000
Tenth place looks very weak, but less so when compared to the $2 budget for this Dax Shepard starring and co-directed action comedy. However, marketing costs add to the expense for distributor Open Road (owned by theater chains AMC and Regal), who have had an uneven track record so far (Liam Neeson-starrer "The Grey" is their standout).
With previous box office draws Bradley Cooper and Kristen Bell buttressing the cast, and a Wednesday opening designed to build buzz, this failed to take off, with little chance for improvement.
What comes next: The Open Road model remains an alternative for the major chains, and "Hit and Run," by opening in a weaker time period does provide revenue above what else might have filled these screens.
10 Comments
Mike | August 27, 2012 12:54 AM
I would like to ask Mr. BRUEGGEMANN what he means by "underserved" in, "...the ill-fated 'Atlas Shrugged: Part 1,' which cater to underserved conservative moviegoers?" WTH is that supposed to mean? It sure doesn't make any sense and adds little to the critique... explique à moi, ça!
spiris333 | August 26, 2012 10:57 PM
Oh, how liberally cute that the story line calls it polemic, instead of documentary. Obama's past is a shadow, and people are interested in a rather truthful layout of his seedier connections to the past, and his membership in the socialist movement.
Obama's college transcripts are sealed for a reason, and most speculate that obama was not honest on his enrollment papers. Truth is the enemy of liberals.
Tim | August 26, 2012 3:10 PM
"2016: Obama's America" should be re-subtitled, "2016: The Paranoid Delusions of Easily Manipulated Dullards."
editor | August 25, 2012 7:44 PM
â2016â a Fantasy From the Right Wing Machine?
Tom Brueggemann | August 25, 2012 6:52 PM
Thanks for catching that - Utah it is.
NameDanny Lee Ladely | August 25, 2012 6:09 PM
Your CommentRocky Mountain Pictures is based in Salt Lake City, Utah, not Colorado, according to IMDb Pro.