September 17th, 2013
It's kind of a bad week for screeners, as there are four or so that either didn't arrive on time, or still are not here. This includes the biggest release of the week, World War Z, as well as a number of other releases I'm really looking forward to (Behind the Candelabra, Nashville: The Complete First Season, Sofia the First: Ready to Be a Princess, etc.). World War Z should lead the charts, both on DVD and on Blu-ray, but I'm not sure if I will agree with the pros or the cons on this one. Fortunately, some screeners did arrive, including the final season of Leverage. While I'm not happy this is the final season of the show, I'm very happy with the quality level for Season Five and it is the Pick of the Week.
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July 16th, 2013
Fruitvale Station earned top spot on the per theater chart with an outstanding average of $53,898 in seven theaters. This is the third best per theater average for the year, behind Spring Breakers and The Place Beyond the Pines. Last week's winner, The Way Way Back, slipped to second place with $14,201 in 79 theaters. Its theater count tripled and this average suggests it will expand a lot more before it is done. Crystal Fairy was right behind with an average of $12,526 in two theaters. There were three wide releases in the $10,000 club, led by Grown Ups 2 with an average of $11,890, while Pacific Rim was right behind with an average of $11,385. The overall box office leader, Despicable Me 2, rounded out the $10,000 club with an average of $10,965.
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July 3rd, 2013
I'm So Excited led the way on the per theater chart with an average of $19,466 in five theaters. It should expand significantly, but it is weaker than most of Pedro Almodovar's previous films. The Heat finished in second place on the overall chart and on the per theater average chart with an average of $12,296. Monsters University was the only other film in the $10,000 club with an average of $11,391.
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June 25th, 2013
You can tell it's summertime, because the two wide releases topped the per theater chart this weekend. Monsters University earned first place on both the overall chart and the per theater average chart with an average of $20,587. World War Z placed second with $18,412. Unfinished Song earned an average of $12,864 in two theaters. The only holdover in the $10,000 club was 20 Feet from Stardom, which earned an average of $10,744 in six theaters.
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June 23rd, 2013
Pixar will record its 14th consecutive number one opening this weekend, according to studio estimates released on Sunday morning. Monsters University is set to posted about $82 million, according to Disney, which places it comfortably ahead of zombie actioner World War Z on $66 million. That start is a big relief for Paramount, which spent $190 million on the film and could have lost a lot of money if it failed. It will still need good legs and lots of overseas income to record a profit.
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June 20th, 2013
The Bling Ring's reviews didn't hurt its opening as it scored an average of $42,597 in five theaters. Given this start, reaching at least one major milestone seems likely, even with its reviews. Man of Steel took second place on the per theater chart with an average of $27,720. 20 Feet from Stardom earned an average of $18,199 in three theaters. This is a great start for a documentary.
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June 16th, 2013
2013 has been a nervous time for Warner Bros.. After six straight years as the number one or number two domestic distributor, the studio's main franchise breadwinners, Batman, Harry Potter, Lord of the Rings and The Hangover are all coming to an end or already played out. They are running in third place for the year to date, and badly need a new money spinner if they are to avoid lean times in 2015 and beyond. This weekend they got their knight in shining armor, or, more accurately, Man of Steel. The reboot of the venerable Superman franchise will open this weekend with $113.08 million, a new record weekend in June and a huge shot in the arm for the studio.
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June 14th, 2013
This week's list of limited releases is dominated by horror films and documentaries, which is not a good sign, as neither genre tends to do well at the box office. Documentaries tend to have a better shot at thriving in the art house circuit, but rarely expand wide enough to earn any of mainstream success. On the other hand, one film is opening that has a lot of buzz: The Bling Ring. Given its pedigree, it should open well. But given its reviews, it likely won't last very long.
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June 2nd, 2013
May ended on a mixed note, but there was still enough to celebrate. Of the seven films I thought had a legitimate shot at $100 million, four have already gotten there, one more is a sure thing, and another has a good shot as well. Only one, After Earth, will definitely fail to get to that milestone. (Although Now You See Me might get there instead.) Looking forward to June, there are four weekends, each with two wide releases, for a total of eight films. Of those eight, six have a legitimate shot at $100 million. One, Monsters University, should have no trouble getting to $200 million, and another, Man of Steel, should top $300 million. It is hard to compare this June with last June, because last June there were five weekends. Taking that into account and ignoring the first week, which lines up with the final week of May, there were eight wide releases. Of those eight, five hit $100 million, including three $200 million movies. There were no $300 million movies, so if the two big hits this month do as well as expected, 2013 could come out ahead.
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