Box Office Report Nov 18th 2007

Dude here again. Sorry about missing last week's report. I was in New Jersey. And really, nothing important happened. Movies made money. Money that will slowly be dwindling if this strike goes on for too long. I'm not taking sides on this fight, mainly because I avoid all politics and major decisions. Unless it's about what color a new M&M should be. That's a serious decision that affects us all.

This weekend, the future of the movie business was unleashed on an unsuspecting public. Was said public ready for such a change? Let's go to the numbers, shall we? (All in millions, remember, and these are the studio estimates, the actuals will be available on Monday. Just to prove me wrong).

1. Beowulf (Par) - $28.1, 3153 screens, week 1, $28.1 total
2. Bee Movie (Par/DW) - $14.3 3984 screens, week 3, $93.8 total
3. American Gangster (Uni) - $13.2, 3110 screens, week 3, $100.9 total
4. Fred Claus (WB) - $12.0, 3603 screens, week 2, $35.7 total
5. Mr. Magorium's Wonder Emporium (Fox) - $10.0, 3164 screens, week 1, $10.0 total
6. Dan in Real Life (BV) - $4.5, 1901 screens, week 4, $37.0 total
7. No Country For Old Men (Mira)- $3.0, 148 screens, week 2, $4.9 total
8. Lions For Lambs (UA) - $2.9, 2216 screens, week 2, $11.5 total
9. Saw IV (LGF) - $2.3, 2097 screens, week 4, $61.8 total
10. Love In The Time Of Cholera (NL) - $1.9, 852 screens, week 1, $1.9 total

So those are the numbers, but what do they mean? Well, it means that animated naked Angelina Jolie can't bring in the crowds like regular kind can. (Although the live action kind doesn't seem to be drawing them in as much these days either). I'm not sure how much money was made on the 3-D IMAX screenings (sometimes they're tabulated differently), but I'm willing to bet it was a fair amount, as I've heard the 3-D is the way to view the film. (Hence, my talk of the future of movie going). Still, almost $30 million is nowhere near 300 numbers, and Beowulf is going to have to put up some serious legs to recoup all it's costs.

Mr. Magorium's Wonder Emporium came in fifth place, vying for attention from Fred Claus and Bee Movie. (For family audiences, although I saw families at my screening of American Gangster, which makes me question a lot of people's values). Still, with only $10 million, and with Enchanted opening up next week, Mr. Magorium will most likely fall by the wayside. For about thirty years, that is, until someone, probably Tim Burton's son, will produce a remake that people will love.

Speaking of love, there's not much of it in the time of cholera. (You like that? I'm very proud of it, myself). Audiences chose seeing Javier Bardem as a blood thirsty madmen in No Country For Old Men then as a man pining for his lost love for 50 years (or patiently waiting for her to come back, I'm not sure, I haven't read the obscenely popular book the underperforming film was based on). Regardless, it was met with pretty harsh reviews, and probably won't receive much recognition come awards time.

For what it's worth, No Country For Old Men rocks hardcore.

Below the radar, Richard Kelly's Donnie Darko follow-up, Southland Tales, finally was released on 63 screens and took in $117,000 total. not bad, but I'm willing to bet that, much like his previous film, Southland Tales will find it's audience on video. Whether folks love it or hate it will remain to be seen, as it seems to be polarizing audiences already. Also, Margot at the Wedding, the new comedy from Noah Baumbach, opened up on 2 screens and took in $83,000, with the biggest per screen average of the weekend.

And in the "Because It's There" series: The After Dark Horrorfest 2 took in $243,000 on 242 screens, bringing it's grand total to $896,000 in 2 weeks.

There you have my break down. Next week, the holiday week comes, and with it comes Enchanted, The Mist, and Hitman, which looks like it could be the greatest adaptation of a videogame since Doom. Take that however you want to. Until next weekend....