*All historical figures cited are adjusted to today’s dollars.
I trust your dragons have been sufficiently trained. Despite sounding like a codename for masturbation amongst middle schoolers, “How to Train Your Dragon” is the number one movie at the box office with $43.3 million smackers. Depending on how you look at things, this result could be great or okay. Considering that Paramount and DreamWorks scored $60.5 million for “Monsters vs. Aliens” last March, it may look like a disappointment. But that film came out when 3D was still a novelty and had a hook right in the title that was simply never gonna miss with kids.
Now 3D is everywhere and ticket prices rose steeply over the weekend, possibly hindering the performance. Theater owners may want to chill out a bit because as soon as going to the movies becomes a luxury that the poor can no longer afford, it will cease to be a recession-proof business. In any case, you can continue to expect one big budget computer animated title every March until the end of time.
“Alice in Wonderland” relinquished its three week hold on the throne by slipping 49% to $17.3 million. That drop is mainly due to the loss of precious 3D venues, but the film already has just a shade under $300 million total so don’t shed any tears. I’m just waiting for CNN to break the story that Tim Burton has been locked in a basement somewhere for the last fifteen years and his twin brother has been directing movies armed only with some black and white striped fabric and VHS copies of previous Tim Burton films as his filmmaking training.
“Hot Tub Time Machine” is only MGM’s second release since “Valkyrie” and the studio is clearly rusty. Advertising has been everywhere but they couldn’t replicate the lightning in a bottle success of “The Hangover” and will have to settle with $13.7 million. All things considered, that’s not too bad for a film that was always going to be way more popular re-running on Comedy Central than at the multiplex. More important to note is that “The Sure Thing” came out in March 1985 and indicates that John Cusack has been starring in movies for 25 years without ever aging. Someone check this guy’s hot tub!
In a bit of a surprise, “Diary of a Wimpy Kid” dropped hardest amongst last week’s openers, no doubt hit by the kid-friendly competition. “The Bounty Hunter” held well enough and “Repo Men” somehow stayed in the top ten. The same can’t be said for “Avatar,” which finally exits the chart after 15 weeks and $740.4 million in the bank. Universal Pictures released 16 movies in 2009 and they grossed a combined $908 million. Just throwing that out there.
I didn’t see any films this week and I’m having a hard time motivating myself to get out to the theatre at all these days. Something needs to blow my mind and soon.
Here are the weekend’s top domestic grossers, courtesy of Exhibitor Relations:
Comments
20 responses to “SUNDAY CENTS: ‘Dragon’ slays”
“…a codename for masturbation for middle schoolers…”
Well played, Mr. Hartigan. Well played indeed.
Thank God, I thought I was the only person bothered by the title for that very reason.
Again, the title of the movie has the word “dragon” in it. Kids are just as excited about dragons as about Vikings.
But kudos on calling Hot Tub Time Machine pretty well.
And, yeah, Shutter Island continues to astound by doing the biggest B.O. of any period horror film and even preparing to supplant Inglourious Basterds place on the period film list if not having already done so. Nice!
I think your minds are just a bit dirty. Didn’t even cross mine once.
“Of any period horror film” is a peculiarly specific designation.
Very happy that Shutter Island, that was pushed back because Paramount had more fate in Up In the Air and bomb The Lovely Bones, is making money those other two movies can only dream of. It aslo made $125 mio overseas. Suck it, Paramount!
@ninja. Suck it Paramount? their decision HELPED the film to be o bigges hit. It had the entire february to go free and less competion.
Myself and three friends all went to an advance screening of “Dragon,” and I have to say, we weren’t expecting much, but ended up all LOVING it. A really solid script, score, and voice-work all around, not to mention at times very beautiful. I know they’ve been venturing out lately, but it was great to see Dreamworks Animation not relying on slapstick or pop-culture references. I definitely think it has far more in common with “Up” than “Shrek.”
Saw ‘Dragon’ today. And while 2 of my friends really liked it, I have to say that I flat-out LOVED it.
Gorgeous, moving, sweet, I could go on.
Is it the most original movie out there? Hell, no. But I teared up twice and actually cried once. That says a lot for me. A good 8.5/10.
The reception for the film has been overwhelmingly positive. I’m excited to see it.
@Lina
True, it helped SI become a hit it deserves to be although I think it would`ve done as well in its original, October, slot. We just had to wait longer.
Why do people continue to make movies about dragons? They ALWAYS disappoint.
“John Cusack has been starring in movies for 25 years without ever aging”
He looks old. Not older but old – I know nothing about his personal life, but for him to age the way he is now, he must be pissed about something.
Glenn, they ALWAYS disappoint? Can you provide some specifics? Just curious. :-)
i saw How to Train Your Dragon this weekend it was a great film
JJ,
Eragon, Dungeons & Dragons, and Reign of Fire immediately come to mind
Wait… wasn’t Fame MGM?
Yes. As Chad writes:
““Hot Tub Time Machine” is only MGM’s second release since “Valkyrie” and the studio is clearly rusty.”
“Fame” was the first.
Good examples. Gosh, they were bad.