Box: Matt Damon Is The Thing From Uranus

1. The Martian - $40m / $40m / $125m
2. Hotel Transylvania 2 - $27m / $85.5m / $155m
3. Sicario - $11m / $14m / $40m
4. The Intern - $10.5m / $36m / $63m
5. The Maze Runner: The Scorch Trials -$7.5m / $63.5m / $83m
6. Everest - $7m / $35.5m / $54m
7. Black Mass - $5.5m / $52.5m / $64m
8. The Walk - $3.5m / $4.5m / $65m
**The Visit - $3.5m / $57m / $64m
10. War Room - $2.5m / $60.5m / $67m

Another strong weekend ahead. The first weekend in October is now officially a blockbuster date following Gravity in 2013 and Gone Girl last year. The Martian has (inter?)stellar reviews and Damon in this type of film is a big draw. Hotel Transylvania 2 now holds the September weekend record. Sicario has been killing it in limited but will slow down a bit with its expansion. Lionsgate has done very well before, so maybe I'm underestimating it's appeal to a broader audience. The marketing has been very sleek. The Walk opens in IMAX only, but I doubt it does as well as Everest did. Everest kind of stalled in its expansion, whereas I think The Walk might play better in regular theaters.

Box: I think The Intern in The Intern should've been Diane Keaton. Imagine how much fun that would be!

1. Hotel Transylvania 2 - $39m / $39m / $130m
2. Everest - $19m / $29m / $75m
3. The Intern - $15m / $15m / $53m
4. The Maze Runner - $13.5m / $52m / $85m
5. Black Mass - $10.5m / $42.5m / $67m
6. The Visit - $5.5m / $51m / $62m
7. The Green Inferno - $5m / $5m / $12m
8. War Room - $4.5m / $56.5m / $72m
9. The Perfect Guy - $4m / $48m / $56m

I have no idea what's coming in tenth because there haven't been any confirmations on screen counts of Sicario or Stonewall. Sicario had the highest PTA for a 2015 release last week, so hopefully that bodes well for it. The Emily Blunt thriller opens wide next weekend. Stonewall will be severely hurt by catastrophically bad reviews. Hotel Transylvania 2 will do well, not sure if it'll top the opening of the original though. That film still holds the record for biggest September opening. Everest did great in its IMAX-only release last week, and if word of mouth is strong it could hit $20m+. The Intern should do okay, though being the first comedy in awhile might help it. Maze Runner and Black Mass both slightly underwhelmed last weekend, while War Room keeps plugging along. Also opening this weekend is Eli Roth's long delayed The Green Inferno. (It was supposed to open just over a year ago.). Roth has a following, but being from a brand new studio might be a hurdle.

Box: Green Mass

1. The Maze Runner: Scorch Trials - $39m / $39m / $110m
2. Black Mass - $30m / $30m / $100m
3. The Visit - $10.5m / $42.5m / $64m
4. The Perfect Guy - $10m / $42.5m / $62m
5. Everest - $6m / $6m / $75m
6. War Room - $5m / $48m / $60m
7. A Walk In the Woods - $2.5m / $25m / $30m
**Mission Impossible: Rogue Nation - $2.5m / $192m / $198m
9. Captive - $2m / $2m / $5m
**Straight Outta Compton - $2m / $159m / $163m
**Grandma - $2m / $4m / $10m

An exciting weekend ahead! Some people are going much bigger on Maze Runner, but I'm not feeling the buzz. (Famous last words!) It'll do fine, but I'm baffled by these $50m predictions for it. Black Mass has great marketing by WB and it's been very aggressive. It could be the #1 film if I'm correct about Maze. Everest is doing a 500+ IMAX only run before expanding to regular theaters next weekend. Captive opens in just under a thousand theaters and I had to watch the trailer after not seeing any television ads whatsoever. Grandma is also getting a big expansion to probably around a thousand locations so it could make the top 10. A successful run would be a nice boost to Tomlin's Oscar campaign. Sicario opens in 6 locations, before expanding to top markets next weekend and wide on the 2nd.

SUMMER 2015 WRAP-UP

(Given some of these films are still in release, all total grosses are projected.)

1. JURASSIC WORLD - $652m

Chris Pratt wins summer for the second year in a row. This is the crown jewel in Universal's 2015 box-office dominance. A fantastic, shockingly great performance all around. I really did not see this coming.

2. THE AVENGERS: AGE OF ULTRON - $459m

This was supposed to be the winner. The film has largely been forgotten and please let this be the beginning of the end of these low stakes superhero movies.

3. INSIDE OUT - $354m

Pixar's highest grossing original movie. Surprisingly, it defeated Minions for highest grossing animated film of the year. 

4. MINIONS - $334m

A great performance, but I expected it to go higher. Sandra Bullock must just go home and roll around in money. Universal strikes again. 

5. MISSION: IMPOSSIBLE - ROGUE NATION - $196m

Okay, there's a bit too large of a gap between #4 & #5. It's hard to believe no films landed in the 200 range. This is just below the last installment, and overall third in the franchise. I kind of hope this is the last.

6. PITCH PERFECT 2 - $184m

Get it, Elizabeth Banks. One of the best performances for a film directed by a woman. Universal strikes again.

7. ANT-MAN - $178m

This felt very underwhelming, but it's actually higher than the first Captain America movie and just below the first Thor movie. The lack of a major family movie at the end of summer probably helped its legs. 

8. STRAIGHT OUTTA COMPTON - $167m

It managed to overcome the frontloading most urban-aimed films get. Fun fact: it's actually extremely rare for R-rated non-comedies to make the top 10 summer movies. Universal strikes again.

9. SAN ANDREAS - $155m

It's a decent number, but everyone has already forgotten this movie.

10. MAD MAX: FURY ROAD -$153m

It's massive budget probably prevents it from being considered a huge hit, nonetheless the studio is probably happy with the number. Another R-rated non-comedy in the top 10.

11. SPY - $111m

Another large gap between #10 & #11. I was expecting just a tad more for this, but I think the release date might have been a slight detriment. Anyways, it's profitable and another impressive run for Melissa.

12. TRAINWRECK - $110m

Amy Schumer may be 2015's breakout star. Now, just get her to host the Golden Globes and we'll all be set. Universal strikes again.

13. TOMORROWLAND - $93m

A bomb because of a massive budget. I think they should have saved this for late summer where there was no family film. I get why they went with Memorial Day.

14. TERMINATOR: GENISYS - $90m

This is doing very well overseas. Let's stop calling Jai Courteney a franchise killer. These franchises were pretty much dead already. That said, he should totally do gay porn.

15. TED 2 - $81m

And Universal strike out. This is their only misfire of the summer and even it didn't do terribly from a budget/gross perspective. It's just significantly less than the first, which I predicted/was hoping for.

16. PIXELS - $76m

I'm kind of surprised audiences didn't bite with this one. The first trailers had great reaction, but it ended up such a non-event. Second flop in a row for Adam Sandler, and audiences are clearly tiring of his schtick. Of course, Hotel Transylvania 2 will probably do very well at the end of this month. 

17. MAGIC MIKE XXL - $66m

It had a very low budget, so it's fine. Warner had a rough year though, so they are probably glad they didn't get carried away with this. 

18. VACATION -$59m

Had this been better, it could've done very well. (I know, that goes without saying.)

19. FANTASTIC FOUR - $56m
The mega-budget bomb of the summer. Terrible buzz destroyed it. Of course, being terrible didn't help.

20. SOUTHPAW - $53m
Decent performer.

21. INSIDIOUS: CHAPTER 3 - $52m
Probably didn't cost much, none of the movies in this series do. I'm guessing we'll get one more.

22. POLTERGEIST - $47m
It's kind of shocking what a non-event this was. The studio was just too low-key and late with the marketing.

23. WAR ROOM - $46m
Another breakout Christian movie. Probably the indie breakout of the summer, sadly.

THE MAN FROM U.N.C.L.E. - $46m

The studio spent too much money on an adaptation of a series there is no love for. A cast filled with non-draws didn't help.

25. THE GIFT - $45m
This might be the non-Christian indie breakout of the summer. Solid word of mouth carried it this far. Good win for Joel Edgerton.

26. MAX - $42m
How did this fail? Cute animal + patriotism = big bucks. RIGHT???

27. HOT PURSUIT - $35m
Probably should have been bumped up a month or saved for the end of the summer.

28. PAPER TOWNS - $32m
No Fault In Our Stars, that's for sure.

ENTOURAGE - $32m
This show was largely forgotten (outside of punchlines) the second it went off the air, so I'm not sure what Warner was thinking.

30. NO ESCAPE - $31m
Pretty much as expected for an end of summer thriller with lackluster reaction.

31. SINISTER 2 - $29m
The rest of the movies in this franchise will probably go direct to VOD.

32. RICKI AND THE FLASH - $27m
Meryl's first end of summer misfire, as far as grosses goes. Marketing was just too bland.

33. HITMAN: AGENT 47 - $23m
I'm not sure why this was made, and the executives probably agree right about now.

THE GALLOWS - $23m
Bleh. I'm sure it was cheap.

35. ALOHA - $21m
Goodbye. Luckily, the film was forgotten the weekend after it opened so its stars won't suffer. What happened to Cameron Crowe?

36. SHAUN THE SHEEP - $19.5m
This could've done so well. It actually had one of the best multipliers of the summer. It just needed a more confident ad campaign and could've held on well in late summer.

37. MR. HOLMES - $18m
A win for Roadside Attractions and seniors.

38. DOPE - $17.5m
The first of two Sundance faves that didn't live up to expectations.

39. AMERICAN ULTRA - $15m
I'm not sure what happened here. I thought the ads were fun.

40. LOVE AND MERCY - $12.5m
Small indie winner.

41. SELF/LESS - $12m
Ryan Reynolds just can't win.

FAR FROM THE MADDING CROWD - $12m
Decent gross, I suppose.

43. AMY - $8m
Another winner for A24 after spring's sleeper Ex Machina. This is a fantastic gross for a documentary.

DRAGON BALL Z: RESURRECTION "F" - $8m
I have no fucking clue what this is, but apparently it made $8m.

45. I'LL SEE YOU IN MY DREAMS - $7.5m
For a new studio and a movie where the only major name is Blythe Danner, this is very solid.

46. ME AND EARL AND THE DYING GIRL - $7m
This had all the buzz coming from Sundance. Not sure what happened. Fox Searchlight just couldn't work any magic and reviews ended up not being as good as expected.

47. WE ARE YOUR FRIENDS - $4m
More like Where Are Your Friends, am I right?

IRRATIONAL MAN - $4m
Woody Allen keeps dropping. Guess maybe SPC should try a spring or fall slot next year.


Summer lessons:
Universal = big winner. Outside of big winner Jurassic World, their films were modestly budgeted films that aimed at specific audiences as opposed to mass appeal. This is what studios should be doing.

Warner = big loser. They should be fine for next year, unless the superhero trend is actually in its last stages. Save us, Harley Quinn!

Chris Pratt continues to dominate.

Funny ladies = good money. (As long as the movie is funny. Sorry, Reese and Sofia!)

Make sure you support your filmmakers so they don't trash you, thus creating horrible buzz. Don't revive franchises that are only a decade old. Don't do anything Fantastic Four did.

Seniors had a decent selection to choose from, and some of the films did okay. The studios just
couldn't capitalize on it and make them big breakouts. 

Trailer: Krampus

Christmas horror comedy from the writer-director of Trick r' Treat. Looks fun.

Box: I swear if the twist is they both just have Alzheimer's...

1. The Visit - $23m / $23m / $55m
2. The Perfect Guy - $16m / $16m / $35m
3. War Room - $5m /$36.5m / $46m
4. A Walk In the Woods - $4.5m / $20m / $30m
**Straight Outta Compton - $4.5m / $156m / $167m
6. 90 Minutes In Heaven - $4m / $4m / $13m
7. Mission Impossible Rogue Nation - $3.5m / $187.5m / $196m
8. Transporter Refueled - $3m / $14m / $20m
9. No Escape - $3m / $24.5m / $31m
10. Man From UNCLE - $1.8m / $43m / $46m

The Visit an The Perfect Guy will inject just enough life in the box-office to hold things over until the big guns arrive later in the month. Both films will probably be very front-loaded, which shouldn't matter. It's just about temporarily reviving things. I have no idea what the screen count is for 90 Minutes In Heaven, but Christian films remain tough to predict. With War Room still doing well, it might no be anything worth noting.

Trailer: "Demolition" & "Our Brand Is Crisis"

The first trailer is for Demolition. For some reason, I thought this was a dark thriller but that's clearly not what it is. Poor Naomi Watts appearing for only 2 seconds. Gyllenhaal continues building his impressive resume. This has been saved for 2016.



Here's the trailer for Our Brand Is Crisis. It looks kind of like Argo meets Primary Colors. Sandra is probably getting Oscar nomination #3.

New Oscar Producers Selected, Show to Likely Have 2 Hosts

Sorry for the strange formatting. 

The producers for the 88th Oscars have been chosen. 

From AMPAS:         
       Emmy®-winning live television producer David Hill and Oscar®-nominated producer-director          Reginald Hudlin will produce the 88th Oscars telecast, Academy President Cheryl Boone Isaacs        announced today.  It will be their first involvement with the Academy Awards®, which will air          live on the ABC Television Network on Oscar Sunday, February 28, 2016.

“We’re delighted to have this talented team on board,” said Boone Isaacs. “David is a true innovator with a dynamic personality.  His vast experience as a live events producer, coupled with Reggie’s energy, creativity and talent as a filmmaker, is sure to make this year’s Oscar telecast a memorable one.”
"What a great and exciting honor!  The quest is to honor the year in film, honor the art, and above all, make it fun," said Hill.
“I’m looking forward to working with the Academy again,” said Hudlin.  “I love every kind of film and this year’s awards will be a celebration of the total range of cinema.”
“We’re excited to work with David and Reggie,” said Academy CEO Dawn Hudson.  “With their enthusiasm and breadth of experience, they will bring a fresh perspective to the Oscar show.”

In an interview with EW, Hill stated there would be two hosts. 

“There will be multiple hosts for sure – there will be two,” says David Hill, the former Fox executive who will produce the show with Reginald Hudlin, a producer of Django Unchained and a former entertainment president at BET.
When asked why he thought two hosts would be better, Hill hesitated. “Two is better than one,” he said, before joking. “Just imagine, you’re in there. One of your hosts drops dead from cardiac arrest. What do you do? Second host goes on! And you keep going. … Note to self. Check out their heart rates.”

It's rumored that one of the hosts will be Kevin Hart. Scott Feinberg of Hollywood Reporter seems certain of it. Plus, Hart has stated he absolutely wants to do it. I'll guess I'll just make peace with this happening, but when it ends up being a giant disaster I've got my "I told you so!" dance moves ready.

As for the other host? I'm predicting either Dwayne Johnson (aka The Rock) or Anna Kendrick. The Rock has proven to have a knack for live performance on his terrific recent appearance on Saturday Night Live and he's also shown that he can bring in audiences at the box-office. Truth be told, I think he'd be kind of a fantastic choice. As for Kendrick, the Academy seems to like her. She's been nominated, presented, and last year sang on the telecast. And while there is a segment of the audience will say that Anne Hathaway didn't work so why would Anna, Kendrick seems to be viewed more favorably by the general public. Kendrick also presented last year with Hart, so that's what I'm basing all of this on. I guess if Kevin Hart is one and there are indeed two hosts, the question is who can tolerate being on stage with him for a few hours. 

Of course, the success of the host is almost entirely dependent on how well the other elements of the show (specifically the producers and writers) come together. 

As many people have pointed out, Amy Schumer has been a popular name when Oscar hosting duties have been mentioned. She's huge right now, but I have firmly stated before and still believe that her talents are best suited for the Golden Globes. (I believe a high ranking HFPA member hinted that Schumer was being considered.) I'm hoping she is Amy and Tina's replacement. As for Amy and Tina, both have gone on record numerous times saying they would never host the Oscars. In fact, Tina has turned it down several times. 

Expect the hosts to be announced in the next several weeks. 

Box: Did the transporter really need refueled? Wasn't Jason Statham doing just fine? What is happening?

3 day / Total So Far / Projected Final Gross

1. The Transporter Refueled - $9m / $11m / $26m
2. Straight Outta Compton - $8.5m / $147.5m / $167m
3. War Room - $8m / $23.5m / $40m
4. Mission Impossible: Rogue Nation - $7m / $180m / $195m
5. No Escape - $6m / $19.5m / $33m
6. A Walk In the Woods - $5.5m / $6.5m / $16m
7. The Man From UNCLE - $3m / $39m / $45m
**Minions - $3m / $329m / $336m
9. Ant-Man - $2.5m / $173m / $178m
**The Gift - $2.5m / $39.5m / $45m
**Hitman: Agent 47 - $2.5m / $20m / $25m
**Jurassic World - $2.5m / $646.5m / $652m
**Sinister 2 - $2.5m / $23m / $28m

Very close call for the weekend. I wouldn't be surprised if one movie wins the 3-day, but another wins the 4-day. A handful of movies are getting re-released, but I doubt any will make the top 10 other than the summer winner Jurassic World. Be back next week with my summer movie wrap-up.

Wes Craven (1939 - 2015)

Well, I certainly didn't want to write this.

Wes Craven has died. I'd imagine if you've been to this blog before and/or have any knowledge of who I am as a person, you would have an idea how devastating this is to me. In 10th grade, we were required in English class to do a presentation on someone we admired. I chose Wes. The scoffs and strange looks I got when announcing this is who would be my subject did not go unnoticed. When asked why I chose Wes, I simply said that he's endured a career in making movies for decades and did things (mostly) the way he wanted to. It was much bigger than that and something the 16-year-old me probably didn't quite understand at the time. Now, I see things a little more clearly.

Why I admire Wes and why I'm such a horror fan is actually quite simple: they prove that even in the most dire, scary and uncertain circumstances, life and love are worth fighting for. They allow us to face our own all-too-real demons. They show us that there is a light at the end of the tunnel. And no matter who we lose along the way, no matter how much kicking and screaming we have to do to get through it, no matter how bloody we emerge at the end, the fight is worth it.

I could go into more about Wes, but Hollywood Reporter has a nice obituary so I'll just link to that. There are a few tweets from people who worked with him, people who I grew up admiring. It's weird to think that we're all older now. It's comforting knowing that when people hear the name Wes Craven, it takes them back to late weekend nights staying up too late watching his movies with our friends.

You made me scream. You gave me nightmares. You gave me the strength to face a world that gets a little too scary sometimes.

Thank you, Wes.

I'll see you in the sequel.

Box: The studio is trying to make #WAYF happen. Desperate times call for desperate measures.

1. Straight Outta Compton - $15m / $137m / $172m
2. No Escape - $9m / $12m / $30m
3. Mission Impossible: Rogue Nation - $8m / $170m / $192m
4. We Are Your Friends - $7m / $7m / $20m
5. Sinister 2 - $4.5m / $18.5m / $30m
**Man From U.N.C.L.E. - $4.5m / $34.5m / $47m
7. Hitman: Agent 47 - $3.5m / $15.5m / $24m
8. The Gift - $3m / $36m / $45m
9. Minions - $3m / $325m / $337m
10. Ant-Man - $3m / $169m / $179m

Two openers, No Escape and We Are Your Friends. No Escape looks like the typical late summer adult-aimed thriller, while We Are Your Friends..well, I'm not even sure. He's a DJ and he's having problems? I don't see it breaking out of single digits, and Zac Efron definately isn't much of a draw anymore. The holdovers (minus last week's duds) should post strong holds. Also, I don't think I'm supposed to laugh that hard (or at all?) when Owen Wilson tosses his daughter from one building to another. I'm not sure how many screens Z For Zachariah is getting - I know it's getting a VOD release to coincide - but the studio should have released it in a couple hundred theaters and expanded it wide next weekend instead.

ETA:

A Christian film from the Fireproof/Courageous team is coming out this weekend, too. Those films were surprise performers so this might not have trouble making the top 5.

War Room - $5m / $5m / $18m

Trailer: The Final Girls

This had pretty good reviews when it played at a few festivals this year. Basically, it's Friday the 13th meets Back to the Future. Looks pretty fun, but I'm a little disappointed with the PG-13 rating. Fun cast, though!

Trailer: The Witch

I did this one separate because OMG I WANT THIS TRAILER IN ME NOW.




Yaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaassssssssssssssssssssssssssss.

Trailers: The Martian, The Hateful Eight, Victor Frankenstein, Carol

Playing catch-up with some recent trailers.

Second trailer for Ridley Scott's sci-fi film. This is a much better trailer and looks like a fine showcase for Damon. And you know I'm always about a fine showcase for Matt Damon.




First full trailer for Quentin Tarantino's Christmas western (though there's buzz it won't be finished in time and might be pushed to 2016). Totally here for Jennifer Jason Leigh getting a comeback role courtesy of QT. I'd love to see this be the role that finally pushes her into the awards conversation after nearly three decades of impressive work.




Here's the trailer for Victor Frankenstein, an updating of the classic story that will hopefully at least be better than last year's terrible I Frankenstein. I'm not sure about Daniel Radcliffe as Igor, but James McAvoy is always welcome.




Trailer for Todd Haynes' lesbian melodrama with Cate Blanchett and Rooney Mara. Will no doubt be terrific and stylish.

Box: Ice Cube Chills at #1

1. Straight Outta Compton - $24m / $110m / $160m
2. American Ultra - $13m / $13m / $34m
3. Sinister 2 - $12m / $12m / $31m
4. Mission Impossible 5 - $10m / $156m / $182m
5. Hitman: Agent 47 - $8m / $8m / $20m
6. Man From U.N.C.L.E. - $7.5m / $27.5m / $44m
7. The Gift - $4m / $31m / $42m
**Minions - $4m / $320m / $333m
9. Fantastic Four - $3m / $49m / $56m
**Ant-Man - $3m / $163.5m / $172m
**Vacation - $3m / $52m / $60m
**Ricki and the Flash - $3m / $20.5m / $29m

Compton did huge business last weekend and the high PTA might help alleviate some of the frontloading. Three openers this weekend, all R-rated late summer fare. I think Ultra has had the best marketing of the bunch but reviews are all over the place. Sinister 2 will probably go neck and neck for the #2 position. I'll be surprised if Hitman does double digits.

Mara Wilson is my new hero.

Box: Armie's the hammer and Henry's the nail.

1. Straight Outta Compton - $40 / $40m / $90m
2. The Man From U.N.C.L.E. - $23m / $23m / $75m
3. Mission Impossible - Rogue Nation - $15.5m / $138.5m / $180m
4. Fantastic Four - $9m / $44.5m / $60m
5. The Gift - $7m / $25m / $45m
6. Vacation - $5m / $45m / $58m
**Minions - $5m / $314m / $332m
8. Ant-Man - $4.5m / $157m / $169m
9. Ricki and the Flash - $4m / $14.5m / $26m
10. Trainwreck - $4m / $98m / $110m

Compton's impressive marketing and solid reviews should translate to a big weekend. However, films of its type have terrible legs. Man From U.N.C.L.E. could be a late summer sleeper as most of the openers in the next 2 weeks are R-rated. Fantastic Four is, as you've probably heard, a fantastic flop of epic proportions. I'd like to think studios will learn to cool it with reboots so soon to the original series, but it won't do anything. The Gift did surprisingly well, and with a budget of only about $5m will pull off a nice return for the studio. Ricki will be out with a flash, and Shaun the Sheep didn't even make the top 10.

Box: Not Chris Evans. Not Fantastic.

1. Fantastic Four - $37m / $37m / $100m
2. Mission Impossible - Rogue Nation - $26.5m / $107.5m / $180m
3. Shaun the Sheep - $11m / $15m / $45m
4. Ricki and the Flash - $10m / $10m / $35m
5. Minions - $7m / $303m / $322m
**Ant-Man - $7m / $147m / $167m
**Vacation - $7m / $35.5m / $54m
8. The Gift - $6m / $6m / $16m
9. Pixels - $5m / $58m / $70m
**Trainwreck - $5m / $90m / $103m

Fantastic Four will need all the superheroic drawing power it can muster to overcome bad buzz and bad reviews. The remaining three openers all have decent to very good reviews but will likely struggle to break into double digits.