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What a stinker of a weekend.

FYI, Ratatouille crossed $198m yesterday. It'll be at $200m by next weekend. Finally.

i'm still impressed with the performance of HAIRSPRAY. only down %22? and it constantly jumps up to the #5 position during the week...besting STARDUST, grossing more per screen than SIMPSONS, outpacing POTTER, CHUCK/LARRY, INVASION, etc. etc.

I'm really puzzled why Yari didn't do with Resurrecting the Champ what they did with The Illusionist last year by opening it in limited/platform last weekend or this one and then open it wider next week over Labor Day, when there are a lot more people in theatres looking for something to see. Surely it would have built up enough word-of-mouth. I figured that $4 million for the weekend would be its ceiling but $1.5 million is embarassing, especially considering how much better it is than every other release this weekend (and yes, I've seen them all including War, Illegal Tender, etc)

I think $200 million is a given for Bourne unless it kills by the upcoming guy flicks (Halloween, 3:10 and Shoot 'Em Up). Pretty amazing summer for Universal, Evan Almighty aside, and I think they h ave the strongest fall line-up of any studio as well, at least in terms of quality films. (And if you combine them with Focus releases, it's pretty damn killer.)

Yes, Dave... Universal HAS forced people to go see Bourne. They're "making a run for it." Or it could near-unamious critical praise and excellent word of mouth.

This movie will easily make over 200 million. "It's math."

Apparently, Lionsgate looks to push Yuma with 9/2 sneaks. Doubt it'll do well, but at least it's a flick worthy of a push.

Yes, I remember this argument.

"It's math, fnt...

This weekend, $160m... next weekend, $175m... the next weekend, $183m."

When in fact it was &165...this weekend, $185...next weekend, $195....and then, $200 and still going.

And no pushing involved. It's just a great movie, and it's sticking around with no special treatment. It'll probably drop only about 30-32% this weekend.

Glad to see that Ratatouille will finally cross $200 by next weekend. A truly wonderful film

The Nanny Diaries still doesn't have a date set for a release in Bangkok. I'll just have to wait. On the brighter side, there is a date for Atonement, albeit one in December. So, I'm waiting for Stardust (Oct. 4th), Becoming Jane (Sept. 27), and the Golden Compass (Dec. 6th). I envy people in the US!!

Ployp - see Stardust. I haven't seen the other two, but that one is definitely worth the wait.

Why do people continue to expect good box office from Scarlett Johansson? What has she done to deserve that A-list status? Whoever managing her career is doing a bad job to position her as a sex symbol without any real role that might appeal to women. While she struts on the red carpet and tries to look sexy, it's women like Julia Roberts and Reese who really rule Hollywood. This is why I think Anne Hathaway is the true star in the making: harmless beauty in roles that women really love.

Well, I think Nanny Diaries was supposed to appeal to women.

I "predict" RTC could have been a Golden Globe type nominated made for tv film produced by a Von Zerneck Sertner type production company, or a profitable direct to dvd film.

Here's a coolsville review:
http://www.thereeler.com/reviews/resurrecting_the_champ.php#comment-170864

I don't quite understand why the drama about a movie I raved and am happy to see succeed. Am I allowed to be wrong by $15 million on a movie without it being fetishized?

Waterbucket, I agree with you concerning Johansson, I don't understand why she keeps getting free passes all the time: PRESTIGE, BLACK DAHLIA, THE ISLAND, etc, as well as starring in three Woody Allen films, including an upcoming one (she's his new Diane Keaton/protege) *and* she gets cast in two high profile flicks as well: Polanski's POMPEII and THE SPIRIT.

Are there no more actresses left in Hollywood? She's like the female Josh Hartnett, no matter how many flops, she keeps getting work.

Speaking of Hartnett, did anyone think CHAMP wouldnt flop, irrespective of all the internet ads? The marketing was wrong for that flick, they should've sold it as a newsroom story a la ABSENCE OF MALICE and highlighted more of the supporting cast like Alan Alda in the ads, maybe then some of us adults would've showed up.

My apologies David, if it came across from my part as if I were making drama or rubbing your face in. Not my intention at all. The intent was to highlight how much better the film has been holding than most people expected, nothing more.

As for Johansson, I predict she's about two movies away from doing a much publicized nude scene in a heavy, unsexy drama to resuscitate her flagging career, ala Halle Berry/Monster's Ball. You read it here first folks!

I think The Nanny Diaries was, in Scarlett's mind, the film that would push her into "she's a lovely gal" territory but something went awfully wrong. Plus, being distributed by the Weinstein's didn't help. They couldn't open an envelope at this stage unless it's scary (or scary movie). And even then...

The numbers for Bean's Holiday are, quite literally, just extra gravy for Uni to swim around in.

the numbers for Bean's holiday, to me, are spectacular for a movie with little marketing, a character whose popularity in the U.S. is nominal at best, and released in a weekend with a lot of other product. it's kind of funny how it all played out in terms of spreading out the demo.

War - Action Film
Bean - Harmless Comedy
Nanny Diaries - Chick Flick

And they all pulled in about the same numbers. Yet, i don't think any of the numbers would have improved if any of the others hadn't opened.

Until the inevitable "Tsk Tsk, naysayers" piece that Dave writes every year when the box office is not praised enough, I will point this out here: again the actual tickets sold dropped this year. Only INCREASED TICKET PRICES is pushing that $4B milestone.

In other words, another what has become typical disappointing summer season, when the studios can't even release a slate of films that are supposed to be their mainstay (summer popcorn blockbusters).

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