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Are We Done Yet? (2007) More at IMDbPro »

14 articles from 2007

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Spidey Trounces 'Sith'

8 May 2007 | From Studio Briefing - Film News | See recent Studio Briefing - Film News news

Spider-Man 3 didn't set a new box-office record by taking in $373 million internationally and $148 million in North America as originally estimated. No, it set the record with $382 million internationally and $151 million in North America, according to final figures released by Media by Numbers on Monday. The total smashed the previous record of $303 million set by the final Star Wars episode, Revenge of the Sith, in 2005. The movie also set opening weekend records in 28 other countries including Canada, Japan, South Korea, China, Italy, Mexico and Brazil. In a statement, Sony distribution chief Jeff Blake said, "We couldn't be more overwhelmed or elated by the global reception to this movie. ... This was truly a massive achievement not only for Sony Pictures, but the film industry as a whole." The top ten films over the weekend, according to final figures compiled by Media by Numbers (figures in parentheses represent total gross to date): 1. Spider-Man 3, Sony, $151,116,516, (New); 2. Disturbia, Paramount, $5,844,363, 4 Wks. ($60,007,779); 3. Fracture, New Line, $3,696,060, 3 Wks. ($26,728,823); 4. The Invisible, Disney, $3,261,374, 2 Wks. ($12,482,712); 5. Next, Paramount, $2,892,335, 2 Wks. ($11,958,976); 6. Lucky You, Warner Bros., $2,710,445, (New); 7. Meet The Robinsons, Disney, $2,619,654, 6 Wks. ($91,925,051); 8. Blades of Glory, Paramount, $2,409,106, 6 Wks. ($111,738,387); 9. Hot Fuzz, Focus Features, $2,219,346, 3 Wks. ($16,310,098); 10. Are We Done Yet?, Sony, $1,744,619, 5 Wks. ($46,150,924).

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Along Came a Spider -- Man!

7 May 2007 | From Studio Briefing - Film News | See recent Studio Briefing - Film News news

Spider-Man 3 became an overnight box-office marvel over the weekend as it snared an estimated $373 million in its web internationally, $148 million of that in North America. It was the biggest three-day haul in history. The film accounted for more than 80 percent of all ticket sales, and could go into its second weekend with more than $200 million (domestic) on its accounts. Then again, there was little competition. The No. 2 film at the box office was Disturbia, which had held the top position for the previous three weeks. It took in $5.7 million. The only other new film released this weekend, the romantic comedy Lucky You, starring Drew Barrymore and Eric Bana, came nowhere near living up to its name. The film earned only $2.5 million, making it one of the biggest flops of the year. It had also flopped with critics. Claudia Puig in USA Today said that it was "lifeless as a poker face." Liam Lacey in the Toronto Globe & Mail remarked that it was "flatter than week-old beer." And Kyle Smith in the New York Post began his review with the words, "This spring, boredom has a new name: Lucky You." The top ten films for the weekend, according to studio estimates compiled by Media by Numbers: 1. Spider-Man 3, $148 million; 2. Disturbia, $5.7 million; 3. Fracture, $3.4 million; 4. The Invisible, $3.1 million; 5. Next, $2.8 million; 6. Lucky You, $2.5 million; 7. Meet the Robinsons, $2.46 million; 8. Blades of Glory, $2.3 million; 9. Hot Fuzz, $2.1 million; 10. Are We Done Yet?, $1.7 million.

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Waiting for Spidey

1 May 2007 | From Studio Briefing - Film News | See recent Studio Briefing - Film News news

It may have taken in only $9 million, but Paramount's Disturbia remained at the top of the box office for the third week in a row over the weekend. Analysts were checking record books attempting to discover when -- if ever -- a film had pulled off a box-office hat trick with such little revenue in its third week. It was the lowest take for a No. 1 film since The Covenant last September, a month that studios generally write off because kids are returning to school. Disney's The Invisible, which had received little advance publicity, had generated little buzz, and was not screened for critics, finished in second place with $7.7 million -- the best of three debuts. which also included Next with $7.1 million and The Condemned with $3.8 million. The total box office was down 31 percent from the comparable week a year ago. However, all that is due to change with the release of Spider-Man 3 on Friday. The top ten films over the weekend, according to final figures compiled by Media by Numbers (figures in parentheses represent total gross to date): 1. Disturbia, Paramount, $9,023,835, 3 Wks. ($52,109,598); 2. The Invisible, Disney, $7,717,309, (New); 3. Next, Paramount, $7,133,049, (New); 4. Fracture, New Line, $6,814,714, 2 Wks. ($21,075,259); 5. Blades of Glory, Paramount, $5,164,364, 5 Wks. ($108,050,741); 6. Hot Fuzz, Focus Features, $4,876,867, 2 Wks. ($12,601,055); 7. Meet the Robinsons, Disney, $4,840,972, 5 Wks. ($88,354,540); 8. Vacancy, Screen Gems, $4,112,502, 2 Wks. ($13,780,060); 9. The Condemned, Lionsgate, $3,807,595, (New); 10. Are We Done Yet?, Sony, $3,450,922, 4 Wks. ($43,868,838).

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September in April at Box Office

30 April 2007 | From Studio Briefing - Film News | See recent Studio Briefing - Film News news

There was likely to be hand-wringing aplenty at the studios today (Monday) in the aftermath of a weekend in which the top film earned less than $10 million and the top 12 movies took in a combined $62.9 million. Ordinarily, that's the kind of box-office total that analysts expect in September, when kids return to school. Spider-Man 3, which opens Friday, is expected to earn twice that amount -- on its own -- next weekend. For the third week in a row, the Shia LeBeouf peeping Tom horror flick Disturbia held on to the No. 1 position. It's the first time a movie has performed a box-office hat trick since December 2004. Disney's The Invisible opened in second place with $7.6 million. Audiences appeared tired of seeing Nicolas Cage in second-rate movies. His Next debuted in third place with $7.2 million, resulting in Paramount first outright dud this year. The top ten films for the weekend, according to studio estimates compiled by Media by Numbers: 1. Disturbia, $9.1 million; 2. The Invisible, $7.6 million; 3. Next, $7.2 million; 4. Fracture, $7.1 million; 5. Blades of Glory, $5.2 million; 6. Meet the Robinsons, $4.84 million; 7. Hot Fuzz, $4.8 million; 8. Vacancy, $4.2 million; 9. The Condemned, $4 million; 10. Are We Done Yet?, $3.4 million.

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Theater Owners: Where Did Everyone Go?

24 April 2007 | From Studio Briefing - Film News | See recent Studio Briefing - Film News news

During a weekend that saw the overall box office decline by 28 percent from the comparable weekend a year ago, Paramount's Disturbia remained at the top of the list with $13 million, 41 percent below its take a week ago. It was the third hit of the year for Paramount, which finished fifth among the six major studios in total ticket sales in 2006. Another Paramount movie, Blades of Glory remained on the top-ten list for a fourth week as it took in $7.7 million to bring its total gross past the $100-million mark. The real stand-out for the weekend, however, was Focus/Rogue's spoof Hot Fuzz, which debuted with $5.8 million in just 825 theaters. That's an average of $7,089 per theater versus $4,015 for the top film, Disturbia. In a modest, second-place debut, New Line's Fracture took in $11 million. However, Sony's horror flick Vacancy opened in a lot of nearly vacant theaters with just $7.6 million. Even worse was the debut of Warner Bros.' In the Land of Women, which landed in eighth place as it brought in only $4.7 million. The top ten films over the weekend, according to final figures compiled by Media by Numbers (figures in parentheses represent total gross to date): 1. Disturbia, Paramount, $13,010,778, 2 Wks. ($40,205,142); 2. Fracture, New Line, $11,014,657, (New); 3. Blades of Glory, Paramount, $7,677,569, 4 Wks. ($100,951,439); 4. Vacancy, Screen Gems, $7,603,376, (New); 5. Meet the Robinsons, Disney, $6,967,089, 4 Wks. ($82,089,959); 6. Hot Fuzz, Focus Features, $5,848,464, (New); 7. Are We Done Yet?, Sony, $5,181,426, 3 Wks. ($39,572,201); 8. In the Land of Women, Warner Bros., $4,712,341, (New); 9. Perfect Stranger, Sony, $4,104,808, 2 Wks. ($18,072,926); 10. Wild Hogs, Disney, $2,820,440, 8 Wks. ($156,161,335).

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'Fracture' Fails To Disturb 'Disturbia'

23 April 2007 | From Studio Briefing - Film News | See recent Studio Briefing - Film News news

New Line's Fracture, starring Anthony Hopkins and Ryan Gosling, couldn't break Disturbia's hold on the top spot at the box office over the weekend. Disturbia, starring Shia LaBeouf, dropped a relatively moderate 39 percent in its second week to $13.5 million, while Fracture opened with $11.2 million. But the most successful film over the weekend was the low-budget British spoof Hot Fuzz, which opened in only 825 theaters but grossed $5.8 million -- an average of $7,062 per theater. Another new horror film, Vacancy, fell far short of expectations, taking in just $7.6 million to open in fourth place. Even worse was the debut of In the Land of Women, starring Adam Brody and Meg Ryan, which tanked with just $4.9 million. Meanwhile, Blades of Glory, starring Will Ferrell, topped the $100-million mark, placing third in its fourth weekend with $7.1 million. Overall, ticket sales at the North American box office were down 22 percent from the comparable weekend a year ago. The top ten films for the weekend, according to studio estimates compiled by Media by Numbers: 1. Disturbia, $13.5 million; 2. Fracture, $11.2 million; 3. Blades of Glory, $7.8 million; 4. Vacancy, $7.6 million; 5. Meet the Robinsons, $7.1 million; 6. Hot Fuzz, $5.8 million; 7. Are We Done Yet?, $5.2 million; 8. In the Land of Women, $4.9 million; 9. Perfect Stranger, $4.1 million; 10. Wild Hogs, $2.9 million.

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'Disturbia' Superbia

17 April 2007 | From Studio Briefing - Film News | See recent Studio Briefing - Film News news

In an otherwise lackluster weekend, Paramount/DreamWorks' Disturbia proved to be a standout, earning $22.2 million, nearly twice what analysts had forecast it would take in, according to final figures released by Media by Numbers on Monday. Blades of Glory, also from Paramount/DreamWorks, slipped to second place with $13.8 million after spending the previous two weeks at the top of the list. Meanwhile Warner Bros.' 300 added another $4.5 million to its gross, putting it past the $200-million level. The top ten films over the weekend, according to final figures compiled by Media by Numbers (figures in parentheses represent total gross to date): 1. Disturbia, Paramount, $22,224,982, (New); 2. Blades of Glory, Paramount, $13,826,386, 3 Wks. ($89,956,404); 3. Meet the Robinsons, Disney, $12,467,155, 3 Wks, 72,367,907); 4. Perfect Stranger, Sony, $11,206,163, (New); 5. Are We Done Yet?, Sony, $8,952,686, 2 Wks. ($32,756,340); 6. Pathfinder, 20th Century Fox, $5,001,214, (New); 7. Wild Hogs, Disney, $4,676,734, 7 Wks. ($152,280,821); 8. The Reaping, Warner Bros., $4,567,478, 2 Wks. ($19,765,297); 9. 300, Warner Bros., $4,454,355, 6 Wks. ($200,965,135); 10. Grindhouse, Weinstein Co. $4,331,372, 2 Wks. ($19,792,200).

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Filmgoers Get a Peep of 'Disturbia'

16 April 2007 | From Studio Briefing - Film News | See recent Studio Briefing - Film News news

The Paramount/DreamWorks alliance paid off again over the weekend as Disturbia took over the top spot at the box office with an estimated $23 million in ticket sales, far ahead of expectations. It reportedly cost $20 million to make, and analysts had predicted that it would earn about $12 million. The film sent Blades of Glory, also from Paramount/DreamWorks, sliding to second place with $14.1 million after holding the No. 1 position for the previous two weeks. The success of the film also answers the question of whether 20-year-old Shia LaBeouf has enough vowel recognition to open a film on his own. On Friday, George Lucas and Steven Spielberg announced that LaBeouf had been selected to co-star in the next Indiana Jones movie. Meanwhile, things went from bad to worse for The Weinstein Co.'s Grindhouse, which plummeted 62 percent to tenth place with just $4.2 million. It was also a bad weekend for a slew of new releases, including Perfect Stranger, starring Bruce Willis and Halle Berry, which finished fourth with $11.5 million, while 20th Century Fox's Pathfinder debuted in sixth place with $.8 million. Redline, starring Eddie Griffin, didn't even make the top ten as it opened with $4 million. Opening on only 877 screens, Aqua Teen Hunger Force Colon Movie Film for Theaters took in a respectable $3.1 million. Sales for the top 12 films were down 9.4 percent to $99.4 million, according to Media by Numbers. Overseas, Mr. Bean's Holiday, starring Rowan Atkinson, which was knocked out of the top spot on the overseas box office last week by 300, returned to the top spot this weekend as it added another $18 million to its gross, bringing it to $127 million. The top ten films for the weekend, according to studio estimates compiled by Media by Numbers: 1. Disturbia, $23 million; 2. Blades of Glory, $14.1 million; 3. Meet the Robinsons, $12.1 million; 4. Perfect Stranger, $11.5 million; 5. Are We Done Yet?, $9.2 million; 6. Pathfinder, $4.8 million; 7. Wild Hogs, $4.6 million; 8. The Reaping, $4.6 million; 9. 300, $4.3 million; 10. Grindhouse, $4.2 million.

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'Grindhouse' Patrons Not Getting Money's Worth

10 April 2007 | From Studio Briefing - Film News | See recent Studio Briefing - Film News news

Some moviegoers who bought tickets to see the Robert Rodriguez/Quentin Tarantino "double bill" Grindhouse were apparently unaware that the feature comprised two separate movies -- and walked out after the first one, Rodriguez's Planet Terror, ended, published reports said today (Tuesday). "I don't think people understood what we were doing," Weinstein told today's New York Post. "The audience didn't get the idea that it is two movies for the price of one." The walk-outs could offer another partial explanation for the film's disappointing performance at the box-office. Most critics agreed that the second movie, Tarantino's Death Proof, was the superior of the two. Daily Variety also reported that The Weinstein Co. is overhauling its ad campaign but will be facing stiff competition next weekend when seven -- count 'em, seven -- new films open. The Post added that the company is also considering re-releasing the two movies as separate offerings in longer versions, as it had already decided to do overseas and on DVD. The top ten films over the weekend, according to final figures compiled by Media by Numbers (figures in parentheses represent total gross to date): 1 Blades of Glory, Paramount, $22,522,330, 2 Wks. ($67,905,237); 2. Meet The Robinsons, Disney, $16,715,437, 2 Wks. ($51,947,271); 3. Are We Done Yet?, Sony, $14,262,724, 1 Wk. ($18,517,017 -- Opened Wednesday); 4. Grindhouse, Weinstein Co. $11,596,613, 1 Wk. ($11,596,613 -- Opened Wednesday); 5. The Reaping, Warner Bros., $10,025,203, 1 Wk. ($11,958,518 -- Opened Thursday); 6. 300, Warner Bros., $8,368,382, 5 Wks. ($193,402,459); 7. Wild Hogs, Disney, $6,644,971, 6 Wks. ($145,260,566); 8. Shooter, Paramount, $5,856,494, 3 Wks. ($36,712,076); 9. TMNT, Warner Bros., $4,825,445, 3 Wks. ($46,607,331); 10. Firehouse Dog, 20th Century Fox, $3,838,916, 1 Wk. ($5,101,907 -- Opened Wednesday).

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The Old Grind Ain't Want It Used To Be

9 April 2007 | From Studio Briefing - Film News | See recent Studio Briefing - Film News news

A funny thing happened on Grindhouse's way to becoming the top film of the weekend. Well, actually three funny things -- the holdover comedies Blades of Glory and Meet the Robinsons and the newcomer Are We Done Yet? Grindhouse came in a disappointing fourth, earning just $11.6 million -- half the gross that analysts had predicted. By contrast, Glory dropped only 30 percent in its second weekend, raking in an estimated $23 million and bringing its total to 68.4 million. In second place, the animated Robinsons dropped just 32 percent to earn $17 million and bring its total to $52.2 million. Are We Done Yet?, a remake of Mr. Blandings Builds His Dream House with Ice Cube in the Cary Grant role, debuted with $10.1 million. And then there was the Quentin Tarantino/Robert Rodriguez "double bill" Grindhouse. Analysts had mixed explanations for the film's disappointing performance. Family films traditionally dominate the Easter weekend, they observed. Some noted that Grindhouse was up against another horror flick, The Reaping, starring Hilary Swank (which came in fifth with $10.1 million). Others noted that the effort to release Grindhouse, packaged as an old-fashioned double feature complete with fake previews, likely went over the heads of the younger crowd which dominates the movie market. Still others noted that the complete package lasts more than three hours, limiting the number of times it can be shown in theaters. In an interview with the Associated Press, Harvey Weinstein, whose The Weinstein Co./Dimension Films released the movie, said: "If you go see it with any audience, walk into any theater, you'll see people screaming and applauding like a rock concert. ... Maybe we didn't educate the audience that it's such an experience." In a separate interview with the Hollywood Reporter, Weinstein said, "It got such great reviews and such great [audience] scores, that it's baffling." Meanwhile, in limited release, Miramax's The Hoax, starring Richard Gere, opened in 235 theaters to an estimated $1.5 million. Overall, the top 12 films took in an estimated $113 million, up 9.7 percent from the comparable week a year ago. The top ten films for the weekend, according to studio estimates compiled by Media by Numbers: 1. Blades of Glory, $23 million; 2. Meet the Robinsons, $17 million; 3. Are We Done Yet?, $15 million; 4. Grindhouse, $11.6 million; 5. The Reaping, $10.1 million; 6. 300, $8.8 million; 7. Wild Hogs, $6.8 million; 8. Shooter, $5.8 million; 9. TMNT, $4.9 million; 10. Firehouse Dog, $4 million.

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Easter: Family Films vs. Horror Flicks

5 April 2007 | From Studio Briefing - Film News | See recent Studio Briefing - Film News news

It will be family films going head-to-head against horror flicks at the box office over the Easter weekend. Many analysts are predicting that the latter will slaughter the former, with the twofer movie Grindhouse coming out on top. The film (which opens with 10:00 p.m. showings in 13 cities tonight -- Thursday) wraps two stylized B movies, one by Quentin Tarantino, the other by Robert Rodriguez, into a literal double feature. Another heap of horror is being served by Warner Bros. with The Reaping, opening tonight, starring two-time Oscar winner Hilary Swank. They will be facing Wednesday's openers Are We Done Yet?, a remake of 1948's Mr. Blandings Builds His Dream House, starring Ice Cube in the role originally played by Cary Grant; Firehouse Dog, a dog-lovers' tale from Fox, and last weekend's winners Blades of Glory and Meet the Robinsons. Overseas, the Easter holiday is likely to see another win for Rowan Atkinson's comedy, Mr. Bean's Holiday.

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Three New Movies Released for Spring Break

4 April 2007 | From Studio Briefing - Film News | See recent Studio Briefing - Film News news

With Spring Break upon us, the studios are opening three movies today (Wednesday) in advance of the Easter holiday weekend. The three, Are We Done Yet?, Firehouse Dog, and Black Book, are not expected to offer a significant challenge to last weekend's winners, Blades of Glory and Meet the Robinsons.

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Movie Reviews: 'Firehouse Dog'

4 April 2007 | From Studio Briefing - Film News | See recent Studio Briefing - Film News news

Firehouse Dog apparently does not exhibit the same sort of restrained taste as Are We Done Yet? Roger Moore in the Orlando Sentinel remarks that he "could've lived without the shot of the dog doing his 'business' in a pot of stew. And breaking wind multiple times." But defending the movie, Bruce Westbrook writes in the Houston Chronicle that although some "potty humor" occurs, "it's not overdone. Just because times have changed since Rin Tin Tin doesn't mean they've gone to the dogs." Still, many reviews include warnings: "You'd be better off taking your kid to visit a dog run for a couple of hours," writes Kyle Smith in the New York Post. "A kid would have to be pretty desperate to leave the house -- and waste allowance money -- for this modest distraction," writes Elizabeth Weitzman in the New York Daily News. On the other hand, Alex Chun writes in the Los Angeles Times, "Though it never completely catches fire, there's enough earnestness and warmth that makes it a welcome alternative in a family film arena dominated by computer animation and associated toy lines." And Carrie Rickey concludes in the Philadelphia Inquirer that the movie is "touching, family-friendly," that is "barking up the right tree."

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Movie Reviews: 'Are We Done Yet?'

4 April 2007 | From Studio Briefing - Film News | See recent Studio Briefing - Film News news

Are We Done Yet? is ostensibly a sequel to 2004's Are We There Yet? But in fact it's a remake of the 1948 comedy Mr. Blandings Builds His Dream House, which starred Cary Grant and Myrna Loy. In this one, Ice Cube plays the Grant role, and critics warn that he's far from an improvement. "That a glowering sourpuss like Ice Cube should take a part once performed by the most engaging and mischievous of comedic players (Grant) is in itself depressing," writes Stephen Cole in the Toronto Globe & Mail. Moreover, Michael Phillips observes in the Chicago Tribune that Blandings had "a machine-tooled efficiency, and it didn't strain to please. Are We Done Yet? strains." But Bob Strauss of the Los Angeles Daily News suggests that the movie didn't strain hard enough: "There is only one fart joke and just a single butt-crack shot, so I guess you could say that the movie has a certain degree of class. But that just makes this kind of thing duller, too."

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14 articles from 2007

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