Monday, July 1, 2013
WEEKEND BOX OFFICE: 'Monsters University' Repeats, Taking 'The Heat' and 'White House Down' to School
Raunchy buddy cop films and Roland Emmerich's latest assault on the White House since his 1996 film, Independence Day failed to put a dent into Pixar's continuing success of the final box office frame in June.
Pixar prequel, Monsters University topped the charts for the second week in a row with a $46 million weekend, more than half of its $82 million opening haul. With Despicable Me 2 and The Lone Ranger set for Wednesday release this holiday weekend, the family competition grows stiff.
Sandra Bullock and Melissa McCarthy's comedy The Heat opened in second with $40 million, coming up short of the top spot, but bolting past the frame's only other new wide release, White House Down. The Jamie Foxx action vehicle scored a decade low for Roland Emmerich outside of his 2011 film, Anonymous.
Sunday, June 23, 2013
WEEKEND BOX OFFICE: 'Monsters University' and 'World War Z' Scare Superman Reboot Off Top Spot
The summer box office season might have started last month with $400 million blockbuster Iron Man 3, but with both Monsters University and World War Z opening north of $65 million, the first official weekend of summer 2013 ranks as the 8th largest weekend ever.
Pixar can rest easy now that their 14th feature, Monsters University cleared $80 million, a near-impossible feat that's only been broken once before by the animation studio. After a strong $30 million opening day, Monsters University already finds itself off to a more impressive start than Pixar's previous two films, Cars 2 and Brave.
Brad Pitt's zombie apocalyptic film, World War Z also opened higher than expected with $66 million. With Monsters University and World War Z taking the top two spots, last week's superhero champion, Man of Steel dropped to a third place finish.
Tuesday, June 18, 2013
WEEKEND BOX OFFICE: 'Man of Steel' Overpowers Competition Over Father's Day Weekend
Superman blasted through the box office this Father's Day weekend like a speeding bullet with no signs of stopping anytime soon. Zack Snyder's Superman reboot, Man of Steel, broke the June record opening up to $129 million. ($12 million came from Walmart exclusive showings the night before).
Already one of the highest grossing films of 2013, Man of Steel is already looking ahead at the inevitable sequel. While critics were mixed on Man of Steel, audiences are warming up to this reboot more than 2006's Superman Returns.
Though Superman overshadowed every other title over the weekend, Seth Rogen's comedy This is the End managed to debut in second place with $21 million over its 3-day run and $33 million over 5 days.
Saturday, June 15, 2013
'Man of Steel' Sacrifices Superman's Origin Story for Cynical CGI-Fest
![]() |
General Zod (Michael Shannon) vows revenge Jor-El and his son Kal-El, later known on Earth as the Man of Steel, Superman. |
Superman, we hardly knew you. After enduring a pretentious two-and-a-half hour origin story, Zack Snyder's Superman reboot, Man of Steel forces the iconic epithet into the plot for one random instance. Snyder's iteration doesn't stand for truth, justice or the American way, rather assuming the role of an alien refugee attempting to remain off the grid except for the occasional phantom heroism.
Man of Steel goes through the same expected motions Richard Donner's Superman: The Movie did back in 1978. Still a carbon copy origin story, the alien planet Krypton is dying and in a last-ditch effort, scientists Jor-El (Russell Crowe) and his wife Lara (Ayelet Zurer) send their newborn son to Earth for a chance to live and grow up to become humanity's savior.
Tuesday, April 23, 2013
Trek, Superman and Hunger Games Trailers Debut With Darker Flair
![]() |
Three of 2013's most anticipated releases all debuted brand new trailers this past week. |
There should be no doubt in anyone's minds that the marketing minds in Hollywood are certainly kicking things up into high gear as of late. After countless months of wondering when we'll witness a glimpse of 2013's tentpole release, we not only get one (no, no), but count them three major trailers in a 72-hour block.
First up to plate is the final trailer to J.J. Abrams' Star Trek Into Darkness, which no pun intended is still leaving Trekkies in the dark about this sequel to the 2009 reboot. All audiences can still gather is that Benedict Cumberbatch plays a charismatic terrorist who has it out for the Federation. And despite the warnings coming from all personal and professional directions, Chris Pine's hot-headed rendition of Captain Kirk takes matters into his own hands.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)