Box Office Update: "Immortals" Conquers Dispersed Weekend

NOTE - Currently, my computer is completely incapacitated, so my ability to upload pictures is nixed. Sorry!

This weekend proved to set 2011 on the right track towards finishing up, with a series of prosperous debuts and holdovers holding excitement up to a generally positive level. I am not the least bit excited about any of the films in the top ten, but I don't expect it possible for them to satisfy me at such a time as this season. "Immortals" led the weekend box office, mostly from profits generated by 3D screenings. I'd also consider the generally masculine atmosphere about it as an important factor. Plenty are calling this film stunning, but I have no idea where they're drawing that conclusion. In any case, I expected this to do well with male demographics, and it did.

So where did everyone else go? Apparently the women went to see "Jack and Jill", since I can find no other demographic who might be interested in it. Hell, I can't find a single demographic aside from idiot children and their gullible parents, but they were more interested in "Puss in Boots" this weekend. That is, unless the kids flocked to "Jack and Jill" and older demographics went to "Puss in Boots" from positive word of mouth. I'll go with any estimates in this game. And no matter the reason for it, "Puss in Boots" still shot above $100 million this weekend, just a hair faster than "Paranormal Activity 3", which also passed the benchmark. Together, they're the first of the fall season.

The last debut of the weekend was "J. Edgar", which managed Clint Eastwood's strongest debut since "Space Cowboys", but still weak in comparison to "Hereafter" when it widened to further theaters last year. Holdovers were modest, but it's clear that "Tower Heist" and "Harold and Kumar" are beginning to evaporate from relevance. Overall, the weekend surged above the same weekend last year, when "Megamind" held modestly well against "Unstoppable", "Skyline", and "Morning Glory". But who's to say what % the films this weekend will fall next weekend, when "Happy Feet Two" and "Twilight: Breaking Dawn" launch onto the scene.

1. "Immortals" (First Weekend; $32 million)

2. "Jack and Jill" (First Weekend; $26 million)

3. "Puss in Boots" (Third Weekend; $25.5 million)

4. "Tower Heist" (Second Weekend; $13.2 million)

5. "J. Edgar" (First Weekend; $11.5 million)

6. "Harold and Kumar" (Second Weekend; $5.9 million)

7. "In Time" (Third Weekend; $4.2 million)

8. "Paranormal Activity 3" (Fourth Weekend; $3.6 million)

9. "Footloose" (Fifth Weekend; $2.7 million)

10. "Real Steel" (Sixth Weekend; $2 million)

Box Office Update: Kitty's Got Claws (sorry.)

This weekend was always on pace to be 25.9% lower than the same weekend last year, when "Megamind" opened to the top spot of $46 million. I still find quite a degree of guilty pleasure out of that one, but it's such a fun little charmer, despite those corny musical cues. "Puss in Boots" didn't exactly draw me out in the same fashion, and I doubt I'll see it at all. All the same, you've gotta hand it to the film for making the best out of an at first regrettable situation. The film opened to $34 million last weekend, which nobody was really that ecstatic about. However, the film turned it around this weekend with an astonishing drop of just 3%, and just $1 million less than last weekend.

So that certainly gave this weekend an extra boost. It didn't change the fact that "Puss" was $13 million below "Megamind", "Tower Heist" $7.5 million down from "Due Date", and "Harold and Kumar" $6 million away from "For Colored Girls". Though I will say that that last comparison is in no way appropriate the way the other two comparisons are. Suffice it to say that "Paranormal Activity 3" is holding much better than its predecessor, though still going by intermittent 50% drops here and there. It'll certainly be the first $100 million hit of the fall season, though "Puss in Boots" will so follow, not to mention the windfall of holiday blockbusters on the rise. So consider this weekend to be a mild, but not outstanding, success of sorts. Be thankful for what you have.

Box Office Update: "Puss" Wins the Weekend

This weekend has just been a complete barrage against the box office that nobody could have foreseen before two days ago. There was bound to be some slight weakness in the pot, as there most definitely will be on Halloween weekend. But the freak snowstorm combined with Game 7 of the World Series just set things back colossally. I'd say if you give these films about 10% interest, you'll get what they would have made this weekend. Instead, we have this, and it's not all that inspiring. All that said, it still was a welcome increase upon where we were in 2010, which was with "Saw 3D" reaping its meager opening earnings.

And that's meager in comparison to the films this weekend, the top spot going unsurprisingly to "Puss in Boots", which was pushed forward a week to get the kiddie market who was all jazzed up for Halloween. That idea clearly backfired a bit. All the same, the film opened well-ish. But it's still worth noting that "Paranormal Activity 3" dropped as much as we expected it to, so perhaps the weekend box office wasn't totally affected by the onslaught of outlying elements this weekend. All the same, that doesn't ring too well for "In Time" or "The Rum Diary", the first of which performed admirably in comparison to its counterpart. Sure, this weekend was a success compared to last year, but the films are still in a dicey situation as far as the box office goes.

1. "Puss in Boots" (First Weekend; $34 million)

2. "Paranormal Activity 3" (Second weekend; $18.5 million)

3. "In Time" (First Weekend; $12 million)

4. "Footloose" (Third Weekend; $5.4 million)

5. "The Rum Diary" (First Weekend; $5 million)

6. "Real Steel" (Fourth Weekend; $4.7 million)

7. "The Three Musketeers" (Second Weekend; $3.5 million)

8. "The Ides of March" (Fourth Weekend; $2.7 million)

9. "Moneyball" (Sixth weekend; $2.4 million)

10. "Courageous" (Fifth Weekend; $1.8 million)

Box Office Update: Ambiguous "Activity"

Sorry for the two day break, but some big things were happening in the town where I go to school and that took up a great deal of my time. What took up the rest of my time is something you'll learn about by the end of the week. Suffice it to say that I didn't feel motivated enough to head out to see "Paranormal Activity 3", even though I've not been to the theaters in weeks. Not to say that my presence was sorely missed, if it ever is, as the film still managed to bring in a massive sum, despite degenerating interest from last year's film which many were disappointed by. It looks like that franchise has quite enough juice in it to last a while longer. And what with all the positive buzz from reviews, though not overwhelmingly positive, you can expect this entry to do well in coming weeks.

Meanwhile, elsewhere down the box office chain, "Real Steel" managed to hold up better in its third weekend, a drop of just %, and still holding strong over the other new releases. The robot boxing film currently stacks up at $67 million, likely making the $100 million mark by the end of its run. Right behind it was "Footloose", which fell an almost equal percentage, indicating similar adoration for the teen dance flick. Such could not be said for "The Three Musketeers", which opened to director Paul W.S. Anderson's lowest sum since he started working on the "Resident Evil" franchise. The man was thankfully not missed.

Box Office Update: "Steel" on Ice

It's a typically slow weekend at the box office, and it's sad that the word "typical" is part of that sentence. I'll say that this year has been one of massive disappointments more than anything, at least in my opinion. The dry spell of those first three months, and a continued stall from April, an unenthusiastic summer, and now a fall season that won't come soon enough. There's just nothing really seductive this year, at least comparative to last year. Color me discontented, and the box office figures do not help that disposition. Even less helpful is where most of the money is coming from.

Of the top ten films this weekend, I've only seen one, and that was on a minor whim. No opportunity to get to "50/50" or "The Ides of March", though they seem to do be doing well for themselves. Both had such small drops of less than 30% this weekend, which does bring a slight smile to me. Though I'll admit that the more time goes by, the less I'm really enthused about seeing them. Who was so fortunate to win the weekend but "Real Steel", once again protesting with loud bangs of cash streaming in. It just barely won out over "Footloose", which itself brought in the typical teen crowd to its door.

Box Office Update: "Steel" knocks out Clooney's "Ides"

Here we are, and exactly as was expected heading into this weekend. "Real Steel" won the end game, though not in an absolute runaway victory. Sure, it made a strong Columbus Day weekend opening, but how will it hold up in coming weeks? Well, actually quite well. Oddly enough, audiences get a real hard on for giant robot fighting movies. "The Ides of March", on the other hand, didn't fare so well. True, Clooney's dramas have never made huge bangs of openings. Still, this was a bit on the weaker side of that spectrum. Other than that, not much doing this weekend. Prosperous, though just 3.3% higher than last year when "Life As We Know It" and "Secretariat" failed to beat "The Social Network".

1. "Real Steel" (First Weekend; $27.3 million)

2. "The Ides of March" (First Weekend; $10.4 million)

3. "Dolphin Tale" (Third Weekend; $9.2 million)

4. "Moneyball" (Third Weekend; $7.5 million)

5. "50/50" (Second Weekend; $5.5 million)

6. "Courageous" (Second Weekend; $4.6 million)

7. "Lion King 3D" (Fourth Weekend; $4.5 million)

8. "Dream House" (Second Weekend; $4.4 million)

9. "What's Your Number" (Second Weekend; $3 million)

10. "Abduction" (Third Weekend; $2.9 million)

Weekend Report: Probability of Success

It's truly disappointing that the local mainstream theater in my home town is featuring "Real Steel" and not "The Ides of March", although, it's something I absolutely understand. "The Ides of March" has less chance of huge success as its competition. It's an Oscar bait political drama with a straight dramatic cast, but it just doesn't have the mass appeal that drew people so magnetically to "The Social Network" last year. Expect mild success, but what can you classify as mild success these days? The inevitable $13 million opening doesn't sound too promising, and I can't imagine it doing anything for the film's Oscar odds.

And then there's "Real Steel", which has everything to draw people in. It has Hugh Jackman, who is a strong draw in pretty much whatever he's in. He has this palpable sense of magnetism and a charisma that's beyond simple charm. He's entertaining to watch, and that usually brings people in. Even more than that, there's giant robots boxing each other. It's a feel good sports movie, but with giant fighting robots! It's the science-fiction twist on the underdog story, so that'll clearly draw people in. But I just don't care enough to see it.

For Your Anticipation: True No-Holds-Barred Violence

So, is anybody else seriously concerned about a robot uprising making "Real Steel" take a cynical and depressing turn towards the end? Apparently not, because this is the sweet and happy kid-and-his-robot movie. Leave it to the braver, and more severely twisted, directors to disturb us with apocalyptic nightmares. If I seem angry at "Real Steel", it's mostly because of the name. If they'd called it "Rock 'Em, Sock 'Em Robots", I'd be totally on board. Hell, I'd have my tickets bought and payed for now. The fact of the matter is, I'm just not interested. I'd rather spend my time on "Transformers: Dark of the Moon". In fact, I think I'll probably do that.

Films to See in 2011: October

It's strange that September may indeed end up the highlight of my motion picture autumn, as October slows things down a considerable bit with stale comedy, Oscar bait, and amateur horror. That may be a degenerative statement, but it's a highly degenerative month. Last year kicked the month off with "The Social Network" and "Let Me In", which are both equally good films, though perhaps not as great as imagined. This year it's George Clooney's Academy hopeful "The Ides of March", crashing metal hybrid between kids flick and fight film "Real Steel", and off-path indie comedy "Dirty Girl". Which of those catches my interest best? Oddly enough "Dirty Girl". It has one more Juno Temple than its competitors.

Then there's the obvious mixture of pathetic horror-remake "The Thing", pathetic not-really-a-musical remake "Footloose", and whatever the hell "The Big Year" is supposed to be. "The Skin I Live In" is opening in limited release, but my interest in that one is rather restrained. "Paranormal Activity 3" and "The Three Musketeers" follow, pushing me deeper into my own hole that weekend. And then things pick up considerably in that last weekend of the month. Disregarding "Johnny English" of course.

"Anonymous" has gotten some strong buzz out of Toronto, though don't expect me to invest a second of my time in that. Nothing against director Roland Emmerich, but I'm just not that interested in a Victorian era dramatic piece one week after "The Three Musketeers" comes out. And in limited release there are two films that everyone has more vested interest in than myself. "Like Crazy" got a ton of buzz out of Sundance, but it just looks like an illogical romantic story with a simple solution. And I just don't entirely see the point of "The Rum Diary". Given what films are left out of this recap, it may be all too easy to guess my most anticipated three. That comes either way, so take a look after the jump!

Teaser Trailer: Real Steel

Well this is kind of... stupid. I guess we were bound to get our first look at Hugh Jackman's next film, Real Steel, eventually, but if you thought it might smarter than the premise sounds, you would have been wrong. This film looks to reach new heights (or depths) of stupidity, with robots that look like the unholy offspring of Mudflap and Skids from Transformers: Revenge of the Fallen. The one honor that I will give this trailer, is Huge Jackman. Jackman is a more than capable actor, and somehow brings this obviously dumb up to the class of something I'll probably, and unfortunately, end up seeing. Take a look, and let me know what you thought of it.