fantastic and very wise move by Searchlight. i was expecting this. wonderful.
--- In [email protected], Anil Nair <rhythmca...@...> wrote: > > On Friday, Searchlight expands "Slumdog" to 2,943 theaters in the wake of > the film's Oscar wins. It's the widest release in Searchlight's history. > > http://www.variety.com/article/VR1118000636.html?categoryid=13&cs=1 > > Best picture 'Slumdog Millionaire' expandingBy DAVE > MCNARY<http://www.variety.com/index.asp?layout=bio&peopleID=1508> > , PAMELA MCCLINTOCK<http://www.variety.com/index.asp? layout=bio&peopleID=1578> > > > Disney will bow 'Jonas > Brothers<javascript:zodInfuser.FillDescriptions('Jonas Brothers');>: > 3D Concert Experience' Friday, hoping for "Hannah Montana"-style success. > > [image: 'Street Fighter: The Legend of Chun-Li'] > Fox's 'Street Fighter: The Legend of Chun-Li' is hoping to draw young males. > More than one option > > - (Person) Nick > Jonas<http://www.variety.com/profiles/people/main/2203073/Nick%20Jonas .html?dataSet=1> > - (Person) Joseph > Jonas<http://www.variety.com/profiles/people/main/2203074/Joseph%20Jon as.html?dataSet=1> > - (Person) Kevin Jonas > II<http://www.variety.com/profiles/people/main/2203075/Kevin%20Jonas%2 0II.html?dataSet=1> > - (Person) Jonas > Brothers<http://www.variety.com/profiles/people/main/2203076/Jonas%20B rothers.html?dataSet=1> > > MORE ARTICLES: > 'Australia' sets record Down > Under<http://www.variety.com/article/VR1118000644.html? categoryid=13&cs=1>GM > ads lead a retreat from > Oscars<http://www.variety.com/article/VR1118000640.html? categoryid=13&cs=1>Next > 'Narnia' writer > tapped<http://www.variety.com/article/VR1118000632.html? categoryid=13&cs=1>Alterman, > Aguilar form Dos > Tontos<http://www.variety.com/article/VR1118000638.html? categoryid=13&cs=1>Sprout > visits 'Underworld'<http://www.variety.com/article/VR1118000635.html? categoryid=13&cs=1>Carrey, > Gyllenhaal do 'Yankees'<http://www.variety.com/article/VR1118000631.html? categoryid=13&cs=1> > More people are going to the movies despite the bad economy -- or because of > it. > > Domestic theater admissions were up an unheard of 9.3% in January and > February, usually one of the slowest times of the year. > > In North America, revenues are up 13% for the first two months of 2009, > clocking in at $1.62 billion through Tuesday, according to Rentrak. > > Admissions also are on the rise overseas. However, the vagaries of currency > exchange, including a stronger dollar, are hurting Hollywood. > > The six major studios have seen a decline of more than 10% in revenues from > foreign markets for the first two months of the year. > > The value of the euro is off 20% compared with a year ago and the British > pound has declined more than 35%. But, overall, international moviegoing > remains decent in terms of local admissions and currency compared with a > year ago. > > Back home, admissions are often down even when revenues are up, thanks to > increased ticket prices. This year's spike in actual foot traffic bucks that > trend. > > This weekend, observers will be watching to see if Disney's new entry "Jonas > Brothers: The 3D Concert Experience" continues the box office boom. > > That boom has seen several notable films beating expectations and racking up > sizeable grosses. Last > weekend,Lionsgate<http://www.variety.com/profiles/Company/main/2013882 /Lionsgate.html?dataSet=1>'s > "Tyler Perry's Madea Goes to Jail" opened to $41 million, the best bow of > any Perry pic, as well as any Lionsgate release. > > Three films -- Warners' "Gran Torino," Sony's "Paul Blart: Mall Cop" and Fox > Searchlight's Oscar winner "Slumdog > Millionaire"<http://www.variety.com/profiles/Film/main/190486/Slumdog% 20Millionaire.html?dataSet=1> > -- > have all crossed the $100 million mark this year. > > "Torino's" cume through Tuesday was $135.5 million; "Mall Cop's," $122.2 > million; and "Slumdog's," $101.9 million. > > On Friday, Searchlight expands "Slumdog" to 2,943 theaters in the wake of > the film's Oscar wins. It's the widest release in Searchlight's history. > > It's been a good winter for the Fox family. The big studio's sleeper hit > "Taken," <javascript:zodInfuser.FillDescriptions('"Taken."');> with a gross > of $96.5 million, should jump the $100 million mark by Sunday. > > Distribs say they've never seen so many January and February films do this > kind of business. > > There have been casualties, however. > > Disney's "Confessions of a > Shopaholic,"<http://www.variety.com/profiles/Film/main/150853/Confessi ons%20of%20a%20Shopaholic.html?dataSet=1> > produced > by Jerry Bruckheimer<http://www.variety.com/profiles/people/main/29063/Jerry%20 Bruckheimer.html?dataSet=1>, > hasn't caught on. The Isla > Fisher<http://www.variety.com/profiles/people/main/55427/Isla%20Fisher .html?dataSet=1>starrer > has grossed $28.3 million since its Feb. 13 release, compared with a cume of > $71.4 million for New Line/Warner Bros.' "He's Just Not That Into You," > which opened one week earlier. > > Sony's suspense drama "The > International,"<javascript:zodInfuser.FillDescriptions('"The > International."');> released > the same day as > "Confessions,"<javascript:zodInfuser.FillDescriptions('"Confessions."' );> > has > done even less business, cuming $17.8 million through Tuesday. Studio said > the film could have a strong run overseas. Pic launches this weekend in > Russia, South Korea, the U.K. and more than a dozen other markets. It's > cumed $5.5 million from a limited launch so far in seven markets, mostly > from Germany. > > Besides "Jonas Brothers," the only other wide release at the domestic B.O. > this weekend is Hyde Park's "Street Fighter: The Legend of Chun-Li," which > Fox opens today in 1,136 runs. Pic doesn't have much buzz, but it will have > an advantage if it can draw young males, since they likely won't be going to > see "Jonas Brothers." > > B.O. observers will be watching to see if "Jonas Brothers" can match last > year's $32.1 million opening of Disney's 3-D "Hannah Montana/Miley Cyrus: > Best of Both Worlds Concert > Tour."<javascript:zodInfuser.FillDescriptions('"Hannah Montana/Miley > Cyrus: Best > of Both Worlds Concert Tour."');> > > The forecast for "Jonas Brothers" is all over the map. Advance ticket sales > aren't anywhere near the levels of those for "Hannah > Montana,"<http://www.variety.com/profiles/TVSeries/main/173918/Hannah% 20Montana.html?dataSet=1> > although > the latter was billed as a one-week run, which boosted pre-sales. > Regardless, "Jonas Brothers," opening in 1,271 3-D theaters, will have no > trouble winning the weekend. > > The Disney machine is hoping that "Jonas Brothers" will be a must- see for > tween and teen girls. During their recent concert tour, the pop band incited > near-mayhem among fans. > > Some say Cyrus' fanbase is bigger since she's the star of her own Disney > show. The Jonas Brothers have appeared on Disney television, but their own > show won't begin to air until summer. At the same time, the trio has seen > wild success with its music, including being nominated for a Grammy for new > artist. > > Disney Records is simultaneously releasing a soundtrack of the film. > > *Around the world* > > Overseas, the top performer of 2009 is Warner Bros. Intl.'s "The Curious > Case of Benjamin > Button,"<http://www.variety.com/profiles/Film/main/25863/The%20Curious %20Case%20of%20Benjamin%20Button.html?dataSet=1> > with > a cume of more than $160 million. "Button" has led the international B.O. > for three straight sessions and will probably top what's looking like a > moderate session this weekend. > > "Australia" <javascript:zodInfuser.FillDescriptions('"Australia"');> has > managed to salvage a disappointing domestic run with $150 million > internationally -- three times the domestic total, led by $23 million in > Australia and $15 million each in France, Germany and Spain. This weekend, > "Australia" goes into Japan, its final major market. > > "Valkyrie,"<http://www.variety.com/profiles/Film/main/187566/Valkyrie. html?dataSet=1> > handled > by Fox overseas, has cumed roughly $85 million in foreign markets, > outdistancing the domestic run by more than $10 million. It's opening in > China this weekend. > -- > -A > http://viewsnmuse.blogspot.com >
