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New in theaters/on DVD (11/25)

Laff at the Movies — Wed, 25 Nov 2009 11:16:11 +0000

Another comedy from the makers of “Wild Hogs”, a non-CGI animated movie, a violent ninja action movie, and four limited release movies… combine that with one of my favorite family movies of the year moving to the $4.00 Woodland… and some pretty good new offers out on DVD this week, and its time to eat turkey and watch movies!!

New this Week at Theaters (Wednesday): “Old Dogs”, “Fantastic Mr. Fox”, “Ninja Assassin”, “A Serious Man” (limited), “Boondock Saints 2″ (limited), “The Damned United” (limited-Friday), “Paris” (limited-Friday)

Limited Release in Grand Rapids market:
“A Serious Man” (Celebration North),
“Boondock Saints II: All Saints Day” (Celebration RiverTown and Celebration Lansing),
Friday 11/27 – “The Damned United” (The Harbor Theater in Muskegon) through 12/3,
Friday 11/27 – “Paris” (The Harbor Theater in Muskegon) through 12/3,
“Big Fan” (UICA in Grand Rapids) through 12/3,
“Precious” (Celebration South) expands 12/18

Moving to Woodland Mall this week ($4.00 shows): “Cloudy with a Chance of Meatballs”, “Surrogates”, ”Up”

Best Bets (in decending order):

The new movies in our market with the best reviews are the Coen Brothers drama “A Serious Man” (limited release – see above) and the stop-motion animated family movie “The Fantastic Mr. Fox”.

“The Damned United” and “Paris” both open in limited release on Friday (see above) and have decent reviews but not wide ranging audiences.

“Boondock Saints II: All Saints Day” (limited, see above) and “Old Dogs” have gottten mostly negative… the first being the sequel to the 1999 shoot ‘em up action drama that gained cult status when the movie made more in DVD sales than at the box office… and the later from the makers of “Wild Hogs”.

“The Road” starring Viggo Mortensen was scheduled to open this week… but my sources say its opening in the Grand Rapids market may now be pushed back to next Friday 12/4.

LAST WEEKEND’S BOX OFFICE REPORT

Next Week at Theaters: “Armored”, “Brothers” (limited), “Everybody’s Fine”, ?? “The Road” ??, “Transylmania” (limited), “The Horse Boy” (UICA in Grand Rapids), “American Sailors” (GRFF Winner) (12/4 only at 7:30pm Celebration Carousel Muskegon)

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New this Week on DVD: “Angels & Demons”, “Four Christmases”, “Funny People”, “Janky Promoters”, “The Maiden Heist”, “Santa Buddies”, “Shorts”

Best Bets: I liked “Angels & Demons” more than “The DaVinci Code”, but I may be one of the few, I will admit months later that I gave the movie a higher rating than it probably deserved (perhaps a 7.5 would be more accurate). A solid new entry to the Christmas movie family: “Four Christmases” I enjoyed it – its really good, but not great, its certainly worthy of a holiday rental… but not quite classic status. The Adam Sandler/Judd Apatow dramedy “Funny People” did well this summer… but I haven’t seen it, so you’re on your own with that plus the family friendly movies “Shorts” and “Santa Buddies”.

Next Week on DVD: “Night at the Museum: Battle of the Smithsonian”, “Paper Heart”, “Terminator Salvation”

MY REVIEWS OF OTHER MOVIES CURRENTLY PLAYING IN THEATERS OR AVAILABLE TO RENT/BUY:

Playing at West Michigan movie theaters:
“500 Days of Summer” (9.5 / 10)
“District 9″ (9.0 / 10)
“Precious” (9.0/ 10)
“The Hurt Locker” (8.9/ 10)
“Big Fan” (8.5/ 10)
“Paranormal Activity” (8.5 / 10)
“The Hangover” (8.0 / 10)
“Where The Wild Things Are” (7.9 / 10)
“The Men Who Stare At Goats” (8.0 / 10)
“A Christmas Carol” (8.0 / 10)
“Whip It” (7.9 / 10)
“The Blind Side” (7.5 / 10)
“Cloudy with a Chance of Meatballs” (7.5 / 10)
“Couples Retreat” (7.5 / 10)
“Weather Girl” (7.5 / 10)
“Law Abiding Citizen” (7.5 / 10)
“This Is It” (7.0 / 10)
“Twilight Saga: New Moon” (6.9 / 10)
“Extract” (6.5 /10)
“Surrogates” (6.5 / 10)
“Love Happens” (7.0* review deferred to my wife)
“All About Steve” (5.5 / 10)

- – -

Available to rent or buy:
“Slumdog Millionaire” (9.5/ 10)
“The Curious Case of Benjamin Button” (9.5 / 10)
“The Dark Knight” (9.5 / 10)
“Changeling” (9.5 / 10)
“WALL-E” (9.0)
“Pride and Glory” (9.0 / 10)
“The Wrestler” (8.9 / 10)
“Righteous Kill” (8.9 / 10)
“Transformers: Revenge of the Fallen” (8.9 / 10)
“Star Trek” (8.5 / 10)
“Eagle Eye” (8.5 / 10)
“Burn After Reading” (8.5 / 10)
“The Answer Man” (8.5 / 10)
“Wanted” (8.0 / 10)
“Defiance” (8.0 / 10)
“I Love You, Man” (8.0/ 10)
“The Proposal” (8.0 /10)
“State of Play” (8.0 / 10)
“The Visitor” (8.0 / 10)
“The Taking of Pelham 1 2 3″ (8.0/ 10)
“Australia” (7.9 / 10)
“Frozen River” (7.9 / 10)
“Revolutionary Road” (7.9 / 10)
“New in Town” (7.9 / 10)
“Felon” (7.9 / 10)
“X-Men Origins: Wolverine” (7.5 / 10)
“Quantum of Solace” (7.5 / 10)
“Taken” (7.5 / 10)
“G.I. Joe: Rise of Cobra” (7.5 / 10)
“The Air I Breathe”
“Hancock”
“Fanboys” (8.5 for me, adjusted to 7.5 for most)
“Traitor” (7.5 / 10)
“The Bank Job”
“He’s Just Not That Into You” (7.5 / 10)
“The Ugly Truth” (7.5 / 10)
“The Chronicles of Narnia: Prince Caspian”
“Role Models” (7.5 / 10)
“The Boy in the Striped Pajamas” (7.5 / 10 )
“Marley & Me” (7.5 / 10)
“Bride Wars” (7.5 / 10)
“The Women” (7.5 / 10)
“Rachel Getting Married” (7.0)
“Paul Blart: Mall Cop” (7.0 / 10)
“Get Smart” (7.0 / 10)
“The Happening”
“Bedtime Stories” (7.0 / 10)
“Twilight” (7.0 / 10)
“Knowing” (7.0 / 10)
“Watchmen” (7.0 / 10)
“Funny Games”
“Nights in Rodanthe” (7.0 / 10)
“Hotel for Dogs” (7.0 / 10)
“Forgetting Sarah Marshall” (6.9 / 10)
“Appaloosa” (6.9 / 10)
“Surveillance” (6.9 / 10)
“Indiana Jones and the Kingdom of the Crystal Skull”
“The Invasion”
“What Just Happened” (6.5 / 10)
“Hamlet 2″
“Lakeview Terrace” (6.5 / 10)
“Before the Devil Knows You’re Dead”
“Imagine That” (6.5 / 10)
“Hellboy II: Golden Army” (6.5 / 10)
“Tropic Thunder” (6.5 /10)
“Good Luck Chuck”
“The Day the Earth Stood Still” (6.5 / 10)
“Ghosts of Girlfriends Past” (6.0 / 10)
“Journey to the Center of the Earth”
“Star Wars: The Clone Wars” (6.0 / 10)
“Body of Lies” (6.0)
“Monsters Vs. Aliens” (6.0 / 10)
“Zach and Miri Make a Porno” (6.0 / 10)
“Noise” (6.0 / 10)
“The Chaos Experiment” (6.0 / 10)**
“Fragments” (5.5 / 10)
“Confessions of A Shopaholic” (5.5 / 10)
“My Life in Ruins” (5.5 / 10)
“Quarantine” (5.5 / 10)
“Charlie Wilson’s War”
“Mad Money”
“Year One” (4.0 / 10)
“Dance Flick” (2.0 / 10)

–

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New on DVD (11/24)

Laff at the Movies — Tue, 24 Nov 2009 12:43:53 +0000

A summer blockbuster sequel… a Christmas movie thats really good, but not great … a summer dramedy… two family movies…

New this Week on DVD: “Angels & Demons”, “Four Christmases”, “Funny People”, “Janky Promoters”, “The Maiden Heist”, “Santa Buddies”, “Shorts”

Next Week on DVD: “Night at the Museum: Battle of the Smithsonian”, “Paper Heart”, “Terminator Salvation”

MY REVIEWS OF OTHER MOVIES CURRENTLY PLAYING IN THEATERS OR AVAILABLE TO RENT/BUY:

Playing at West Michigan movie theaters:
“500 Days of Summer” (9.5 / 10)
“District 9″ (9.0 / 10)
“The Hurt Locker” (8.9/ 10)
“Paranormal Activity” (8.5 / 10)
“The Hangover” (8.0 / 10)
“Where The Wild Things Are” (7.9 / 10)
“The Men Who Stare At Goats” (8.0 / 10)
“A Christmas Carol” (8.0 / 10)
“Whip It” (7.9 / 10)
“Cloudy with a Chance of Meatballs” (7.5 / 10)
“Couples Retreat” (7.5 / 10)
“Weather Girl” (7.5 / 10)
“Law Abiding Citizen” (7.5 / 10)
“This Is It” (7.0 / 10)
“Twilight Saga: New Moon” (6.9 / 10)
“Extract” (6.5 /10)
“Surrogates” (6.5 / 10)
“Love Happens” (7.0* review deferred to my wife)
“All About Steve” (5.5 / 10)

- – -

–

Follow my updates on twitter: http://twitter.com/aaronlafferty

On Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/pages/Laff-at-the-Movies/166412513994

Add to your RSS feed: http://feeds2.feedburner.com/woodtv8-blogs-laff-at-the-movies?format=html

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YouTube Highlights:
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‘Transformers 2′ destroys records at box office

Laff at the Movies — Mon, 29 Jun 2009 17:33:20 +0000

“Transformers: Revenge of the Fallen” beats everyone at the weekend box office

There wasn’t really any doubt which movie would be number one during the weekend… it was just a matter of by how much… “Transformers: Revenge of the Fallen” pulled in $112 million for the weekend and $201 million since its Wednesday opening. “Transformers 2″ set a new high for a June weekend, its also the highest-grossing non-holiday, highest grossing non-Friday opening weekend and becomes the seventh opening weekend overall. “The Dark Knight” is still the biggest 5-day opening all time ($203.8 million).

“Transformers 2″ boosted the entire box office 35% more than last weekend and at $194.97 million, it marks the biggest weekend of the year. “Up” has passed “Star Trek” as the biggest movie of 2009 with $250 million so far.

TOP MOVIES AT WEEKEND BOX OFFICE (estimated results):
1. “Transformers: Revenge of the Fallen” - $112.00 million ($201 million total) (1st week)

2. “The Proposal” – $18.47 million
(2nd week, was #1 last week, lost 45% from last week)

3. “The Hangover” - $17.22 million
(4th week, was #2 last week, lost 36% of audience from last week)

4. “Up” – $13.05 million ($250 million total)
(5th week, was #3 last week, lost 45% from last week)

5. “My Sister’s Keeper” – $12.03 million (1st week)

6. “Year One” - $5.80 million
(2nd week, was #4 last week, lost 70% from last week)

7. “The Taking of Pelham 1 2 3″ - $5.40 million
(3rd week, was #5 last week, lost 55% from last week)

8. “Star Trek” – $3.61 million ($246 million total)
(8th week, was #7 last week, lost 35% from last week)

9. “Night at the Museum: Battle for the Smithsonian” – $3.50 million
(6th week, was #6 last week, lost 55% from last week)

10. “Away We Go” – $1.68 million
(4th week, was #13 last week, added 93% moving into wide release after 3 weeks in limited release)

CLICK HERE FOR LAST WEEK’S BOX OFFICE REPORT

“Transformers: Revenge of the Fallen” poster courtesy Paramount

Box Office numbers courtesy Box Office Mojo

‘Proposal’ woos audiences at the box office

Laff at the Movies — Mon, 22 Jun 2009 11:43:44 +0000

“The Proposal” beats Hangover” and ”Up” at the weekend box office

Audiences said yes to Sandra Bullock and Ryan Reynolds’ “The Proposal”… the romantic comedy easily beat “The Hangover” and “Up”… “Year One” opened in 4th place, but is likely to start dropping quickly.

“Star Trek” is still the best holdover movie, losing the least of its audience (13.8%) and adding to its overall total, now at $239 millon. The weekend’s offerings actually propped up the box office – up almost 7% from last week, making $140.6 million, a total that will easily be surpassed next weekend as “Transformers: Revenge of the Fallen” opens on Wednesday.

TOP MOVIES AT WEEKEND BOX OFFICE (estimated results):
1. “The Proposal” – $34.11 million (1st week)

2. “The Hangover” - $26.86 million
(3rd week, was #1 last week, lost 18% of audience from last week)

3. “Up” – $21.34 million ($224.11 million total)
(4th week, was #2 last week, lost 31% from last week)

4. “Year One” - $20.20 million (1st week)

5. “The Taking of Pelham 1 2 3″ - $11.30 million
(2nd week, was #3 last week, lost 52% from last week)

6. “Night at the Museum: Battle for the Smithsonian” – $7.30 million
(5th week, was #4 last week, lost 24% from last week)

7. “Star Trek” – $4.70 million ($239.44 million total)
(7th week, was #7 last week, lost 14% from last week)

8. “Land of the Lost” – $3.98 million
(3rd week, was #5 last week, lost 56% from last week)

9. “Imagine That” - $3.10 million
(2nd week, was #6 last week, lost 44% from last week)

10. “Terminator Salvation” – $3.07 million
(5th week, was #8 last week, lost 36% from last week)

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11. “Angels & Demons” - $2.80 million
(6th week, was #9 last week, lost 32% from last week)

13. “Away We Go” – $0.90 million
(3rd week of limited release, was #14 last week, added 61% in 87 more theaters from last week)

14. “X-Men Origins: Wolverine” – $0.61 million
(8th week, was #12 last week, lost 35% from last week)

15. “My Life in Ruins” – $0.45 million
(3rd week, was #11 last week, lost 74% from last week)

CLICK HERE FOR LAST WEEK’S BOX OFFICE REPORT

“The Proposal” poster courtesy Touchstone Pictures

Box Office numbers courtesy Box Office Mojo

‘Hangover’ still #1 at box office

Laff at the Movies — Tue, 16 Jun 2009 11:11:24 +0000

“Hangover” and ”Up” still tops at the weekend box office

The word of mouth and solid reviews (read mine) for “The Hangover” is keeping the buzz going for the R-rated comedy, with “Up” close behind, new movies “The Taking of Pelham 1 2 3″ and “Imagine That” were 3rd and 6th respectively.

“Star Trek” dropped just two spots with the weekend’s two new movies, still losing just 33% of its audience and adding to its overall total, now at $231 millon. But the weekend box office was down 17% from last week, making $131.97 million, the 2nd lowest total in the 7 weeks of the summer season so far.

TOP MOVIES AT WEEKEND BOX OFFICE (estimated results):
1. “The Hangover” - $32.79 million
(2nd week, was #1 last week, lost 27% of audience from last week)

2. “Up” – $30.76 million ($187.43 million total)
(3rd week, was #2 last week, lost 30% from last week)

3. “The Taking of Pelham 1 2 3″ - $23.37 million (1st week)

4. “Night at the Museum: Battle for the Smithsonian” – $9.62 million ($143.46 million total)
(4th week, was #4 last week, lost 34% from last week)

5. “Land of the Lost” – $8.99 million
(2nd week, as #3 last week, lost 52% from last week)

6. “Imagine That” - $5.50 million (1st week)

7. “Star Trek” – $5.45 million ($231.88 million total)
(6th week, was #5 last week, lost 34% from last week)

8. “Terminator Salvation” – $4.79 million
(4th week, was #6 last week, lost 42% from last week)

9. “Angels & Demons” - $4.11 million ($123.21 million total)
(5th week, was #8 last week, lost 37% from last week)

10. “Drag Me To Hell” – $3.93 million
(3rd week, was #7 last week, lost 44% from last week)

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11. “My Life in Ruins” – $1.71 million
(2nd week, was #9 last week, lost 47% from last week)

12. “X-Men Origins: Wolverine” – $0.93 million ($176.15 million total)
(7th week, was #11 last week, lost 52% from last week)

CLICK HERE FOR LAST WEEK’S BOX OFFICE REPORT

“The Hangover” poster courtesy Warner Bros.

Box Office numbers courtesy Box Office Mojo

Box Office UPDATE: ‘Hangover’ buzzes past ‘Up’

Laff at the Movies — Tue, 09 Jun 2009 11:36:47 +0000

UPDATED!!! Final numbers show “Hangover” beating “Up” at the weekend box office

R-rated comedy “The Hangover” ($44.98 million) burst the balloons of ”Up” ($44.14 million) to win the weekend, “The Hangover” was estimated to lose by less than a million behind last weekend’s number one movie. But when the final results came in, “The Hangover” was the winner by $800,000.

Will Ferrell’s “Land of the Lost” ($19.5 million) was a distant and disappointing third… by more than $23 million. “My Life in Ruins” barely made the top 10 in its debut weekend with $3.2 million. “Star Trek” held onto to the 5th spot despite three new movies… as its slower descent keeps it near the top, adding more to its overall total (now $222 millon).

Overall, the weekend pulled in an estimated $160.14 million, down just a half-percent from last weekend.

TOP MOVIES AT WEEKEND BOX OFFICE (estimated results):
1. “The Hangover” - $44.98 million (1st week)

2. “Up” – $44.14 million ($137.31 million total)
(2nd week, was #1 last week, lost 35% of audience from last week)

3. “Land of the Lost” – $19.52 million (1st week)

4. “Night at the Museum: Battle for the Smithsonian” – $14.65 million ($127.34 million total)
(3rd week, was #2 last week, lost 40% from last week)

5. “Star Trek” – $8.40 million ($222.80 million total)
(5th week, was #5 last week, lost 33% from last week)

6. “Terminator Salvation” – $8.18 million
(3rd week, was #3 last week, lost 50% from last week)

7. “Drag Me To Hell” – $7.34 million
(2nd week, was #4 last week, lost 54% from last week)

8. “Angels & Demons” - $6.5 million ($116.13 million total)
(4th week, was #6 last week, lost 43% from last week)

9. “My Life in Ruins” – $3.23 million (1st week)

10. “Dance Flick” - $2.0 million
(3rd week, was #7 last week, lost 58% from last week)

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11. “X-Men Origins: Wolverine” – $1.86 million ($174.28 million total)
(6th week, was #8 last week, lost 52% from last week)

13. ”The Brothers Bloom” (LIMITED RELEASE) – $0.43 million
(4th week of limited release (173 theaters), was #11 last week, lost 32% from last week, added 25 theaters)

CLICK HERE FOR LAST WEEK’S BOX OFFICE REPORT

“Up” poster courtesy Dinsey-Pixar

Box Office numbers courtesy Box Office Mojo

‘Up’ soars to number one at box office

Laff at the Movies — Mon, 01 Jun 2009 03:20:28 +0000

“Up” floats high above the weekend box office competition

“Up” beat other newcomer “Drag Me To Hell” easily, but its estimated $68.20 million also beat last week’s number one “Night at the Museum: Battle for the Smithsonian” ($16.63 million) by more than 2-to-1. “Star Trek” is still slowing its descent, losing the least of its audience and falling slower than the rest of the top 10 movies… a trend not as strong, but reminiscent of “Iron Man” last summer. We’ll have to see if “Star Trek” can hold on another 16 weeks and/or earn another $118 million to match “Iron Man”… or if this summer’s blockbusters are just too much to keep it around long enough.

Overall, the weekend pulled in an estimated $162.99 million, that would make it the 3rd best weekend so far, but down 4% from the memorial day weekend that stands as the biggest weekend of 2009 (actual $169.81 million).

TOP MOVIES AT WEEKEND BOX OFFICE (estimated results):
1. “Up” – $68.20 million (1st week)

2. “Night at the Museum: Battle for the Smithsonian” – $25.50 million ($105.29 million total)
(2nd week, was #1 last week, lost 53% of audience from last week)

3. “Drag Me To Hell” – $16.63 million (1st week)

4. “Terminator Salvation” – $16.14 million
(2nd week, was #2 last week, lost 62% from last week)

5. “Star Trek” – $12.80 million ($209.50 million total)
(4th week, was #3 last week, lost 44% from last week)

6. “Angels & Demons” - $11.20 million ($104.76 million total)
(3rd week, was #4 last week, lost 48% from last week)

7. “Dance Flick” - $4.9 million
(2nd week, was #5 last week, lost 54% from last week)

8. “X-Men Origins: Wolverine” – $3.90 million ($170.87 million total)
(54th week, was #6 last week, lost 52% from last week)

9. “Ghosts of Girlfriends Past” – $1.91 million
(5th week, was #7 last week, lost 51% from last week)

10. “Obsessed” – $0.67 million
(6th week, was #8 last week, lost 66% from last week)

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11. “The Brothers Bloom” (LIMITED RELEASE) – $0.65 million
(3rd week of limited release (148 theaters), was #15 this week, gained 70% from last week, added 96 theaters)

CLICK HERE FOR LAST WEEK’S BOX OFFICE REPORT

“Up” poster courtesy Dinsey-Pixar

Box Office numbers courtesy Box Office Mojo

‘Night at the Museum’ 2 beats ‘Terminator’ 4 at holiday weekend box office

Laff at the Movies — Tue, 26 May 2009 03:31:48 +0000

“Night at the Museum: Battle for the Smithsonian” has a longer title and made more money than “Terminator Salvation” at Memorial weekend box office

“Night at the Museum: Battle for the Smithsonian” clobbered “Terminator Salvation”… by more than $10 million during the 4-day holiday weekend (Friday-Monday), “Night at the Museum 2″ pulled in a estimated $70.0 million while “Terminator 4″ made an estimated $53.8 million.

Last week’s number one “Angels & Demons” dropped to 4th with $27.7 million… while “Star Trek” shows its staying power, actually moving up one spot to 3rd at $29.4 million. The worst movie of the year, “Dance Flick” opened in 5th with $13 million.

Friday-Sunday of Memorial weekend was the biggest weekend of 2009 so far, with the top 12 movies pulling in $169.44 million… a 29% increase over last weekend and nearly $5 million more than the previous best of $164.76 million during the 3rd weekend of January (that included “Paul Blart: Mall Cop”).

TOP MOVIES AT WEEKEND BOX OFFICE (4-day estimated results):
1. “Night at the Museum: Battle for the Smithsonian” – $70.00 million (1st week)

2. “Terminator Salvation” – $53.83 million (1st week)

3. “Star Trek” – $29.40 million
(3rd week, was #2 last week, lost 32% of audience from last week)

4. “Angels & Demons” - $27.70 million
(2nd week, was #1 last wek, lost 40% from last week)

5. “Dance Flick” - $13.10 million (1st week)

6. “X-Men Origins: Wolverine” – $10.10 million
(4th week, was #3 last week, lost 31% of audience from last week)

7. “Ghosts of Girlfriends Past” – $4.84 million
(4th week, was #4 last week, lost 27% of audience from last week)

8. “Obsessed” – $2.50 million
(5th week, was #5 last week, lost 46% of audience from last week)

9. “Monsters vs. Aliens” – $1.90 million
(9th week, was #7 last week, lost 40% from last week)

10. “17 Again” – $1.28 million
(6th week, was #6 last week, lost 62% from last week)

—

11. “The Soloist” – $1.08 million
(5th week, was #8 last week, lost 55% from last week)

CLICK HERE FOR LAST WEEK’S BOX OFFICE REPORT

“Night at the Museum: Battle for the Smithsonian” poster courtesy 20th Century Fox

Box Office numbers courtesy Box Office Mojo

‘Angels and Demons’ number one at box office

Laff at the Movies — Mon, 18 May 2009 11:08:41 +0000

“Angels & Demons” barely beats “Star Trek” to top the weekend box office

“Angels & Demons” was number one with $48.00 million, but the second Dan Brown novel-turned-movie made almost $30 million less than “The DaVinci Code” (2006), which opened with $77.07 million.

It didn’t take long for “Star Trek” to crack the $100 million mark… with $147.61 million, its now the biggest earner ever for the franchise… passing the $109.71 million mark held by “Star Trek IV: The Voyage Home” (1986).

“Monsters vs. Aliens” is still holding strong in its 8th week of release, actually moving up one spot from 8th to 7th as the rest of the field mostly moved down one spot. Overall, the weekend earnings ($132 million) were down for a second straight weekend… 7% lower… but next weekends’ big openings of action franchiser ”Terminator Salvation” and the family friendly ”Night at the Museum: Battle of the Smithsonian” should turn that trend around.

TOP MOVIES AT WEEKEND BOX OFFICE (estimated results):
1. “Angels & Demons” - $48.00 million (1st week)

2. “Star Trek” – $43.00 million
(2nd week, was #1 last week, lost 43%of audience from last week)

3. “X-Men Origins: Wolverine” – $14.80 million
(3rd week, was #2 last week, lost 44% of audience from last week)

4. “Ghosts of Girlfriends Past” – $6.86 million
(3rd week, was #3 last week, lost 33% of audience from last week)

5. “Obsessed” – $4.55 million
(4th week, was #4 last week, lost 31% of audience from last week)

6. “17 Again” – $3.40 million
(5th week, was #5 last week, lost 20% from last week)

7. “Monsters vs. Aliens” – $3.00 million
(8th week, was #8 last week, lost 8% from last week)

8. “The Soloist” – $2.43 million
(4th week, was #7 last week, lost 39% from last week)

9. “Next Day Air” – $2.28 million
(2nd week, was #6 last week, lost 45% from last week)

10. “Earth” – $1.68 million
(4th week, was #9 last week, lost 37% from last week)

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CLICK HERE FOR LAST WEEK’S BOX OFFICE REPORT

“Angels & Demons” poster courtesy Sony Pictures

Box Office numbers courtesy Box Office Mojo

New at theaters/on DVD this week (5/15)

Laff at the Movies — Fri, 15 May 2009 12:13:39 +0000

New at Theaters (Friday): “Angels & Demons”, “Is Anybody There?” (limited release), “The Chaos Experiment” (May 15-21 limited run at Celebration! Lansing only)

Best Bet(s): If you’re really looking forward to seeing “Angels & Demons” (read my review), then you shouldn’t be disappointed, but if you haven’t seen “Star Trek” (read my review) yet, its the movie to see even if you aren’t a fan of the franchise, it has wide ranging appeal and it may turn out to be the “Iron Man” of this summer with its wide-ranging appeal and positive reviews.

New on DVD (Tuesday): “The Grudge 3″, “Passengers”, “Personal Effects”, “Taken”, “Underworld: Rise of the Lycans”

Best Bet(s): One of the early surprises for many at the box office this year was the staying power of the action thriller “Taken”, for more, check out my interview with actress Maggie Grace about her role in the movie.

CLICK HERE TO FIND A MOVIE SHOWTIME

Next Week at Theaters: “Terminator Salvation” (Thursday)

Next Week on DVD: “Fanboys”, “My Bloody Valentine”, “Outlander”, “Paul Blart: Mall Cop”, “Valkyrie”

MY REVIEWS OF OTHER MOVIES CURRENTLY PLAYING IN THEATERS OR AVAILABLE TO RENT/BUY:

Playing at West Michigan movie theaters:
“Slumdog Millionaire” (9.5/ 10)
“Star Trek” (8.5 / 10)
“Angels & Demons” (8.5 / 10)
“Defiance” (8.0 / 10)
“I Love You, Man” (8.0/ 10)
“State of Play” (8.0)
“Revolutionary Road” (7.9 / 10)
“New in Town” (7.9 / 10)
“Fanboys” (8.5 for me, adjusted to 7.5 for most)
“He’s Just Not That Into You” (7.5 / 10)
“Four Christmases” (7.5 / 10)
“Paul Blart: Mall Cop” (7.0 / 10)
“Knowing” (7.0 / 10)
“Watchmen” (7.0 / 10)
“The Day the Earth Stood Still” (6.5 / 10)
“Monsters Vs. Aliens” (6.0 / 10)
“Confessions of A Shopaholic” (5.5 / 10)

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Available to rent or buy:
“Slumdog Millionaire” (9.5/ 10)
“The Curious Case of Benjamin Button” (9.5 / 10)
“The Dark Knight” (9.5 / 10)
“Changeling” (9.5 / 10)
“WALL-E” (9.0)
“Pride and Glory” (9.0 / 10)
“The Wrestler” (8.9 / 10)
“Righteous Kill” (8.9 / 10)
“Eagle Eye” (8.5 / 10)
“Burn After Reading” (8.5 / 10)
“Wanted” (8.0 / 10)
“The Visitor” (8.0 / 10)
“Australia” (7.9 / 10)
“Frozen River” (7.9 / 10)
“Quantum of Solace” (7.5 / 10)
“Taken” (7.5 / 10)
“Traitor” (7.5 / 10)
“The Chronicles of Narnia: Prince Caspian”
“Marley & Me” (7.5 / 10)
“Bride Wars” (7.5 / 10)
“Rachel Getting Married” (7.0)
“Get Smart” (7.0 / 10)
“Bedtime Stories” (7.0 / 10)
“Twilight” (7.0 / 10)
“Hotel for Dogs” (7.0 / 10)
“Appaloosa” (6.9 / 10)
“Lakeview Terrace” (6.5 / 10)
“Hellboy II: Golden Army” (6.5 / 10)
“Body of Lies” (6.0)
“Noise” (6.0 / 10)

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