Weekend Boxoffice Chart [Archive]

Evil Avatar

11-07-2005, 08:50 AM

Chicken Little, the first fully computer-animated movie produced by Walt Disney Co., exceeded industry expectations by selling $40.1 million in tickets in North American in its first three days of release, the company said on Sunday.

Here is the Weekend Boxoffice Chart for the weekend of November 4th to November 6th.

Chicken Little $40.0/$40.0
Jarhead $28.7/$28.7
Saw II $17.2/$60.4
The Legend of Zorro $10.0/$30.2
Prime $5.2/$13.4
Dreamer: Inspired by a True Story $4.8/$23.8
Good Night, And Good Luck. $3.1/$11.0
The Weather Man $2.9/$8.7
Shopgirl $2.5/$3.4
Flightplan $2.3/$84.4
North Country $2.1/$15.5
The Fog $2.0/$28.0

Anyone see Jarhead? I got out to see SAW II, which was just a fun flick. It had a lot more plot holes than the first film, but was still enjoyable and the opening sequence is just eye gougingly frightning.

fitbabits

11-07-2005, 08:52 AM

I thought about going to see Jarhead, but it got a very lukewarm review on CNN. Plus, I had some bushes to dig up in my front yard.

Chicken Little is a must for the wife and I this weekend!

Kefkataran

11-07-2005, 09:00 AM

Only movie I've seen of late: I went and saw a showing of Hitchcock's wonderful Strangers on a Train at the classic film fest held at the local theater this weekend. Friggin' fantastic seeing that awesome movie on the big screen.

EternalGamer

11-07-2005, 09:03 AM

Everyone needs to see Good Night and Good Luck. It was one of the best films I've sene all year and they way it incorporates real video footage into the film demonstrates real skill. The film will also make you realize how how right Morrows was about the direction the news media was heading, and where it has finally, and sadly, arrived.

Dan

bean19

11-07-2005, 09:05 AM

I've heard really good things about "The Weather Man". Pretty disappointing results at the Box Office though.

There are a few reasons why I don't go to the theater very often anymore. The reasons, in order:

1. Too much of the same exact thing in Movies. I feel like I'm watching the same movies over and over. Rarely do you encounter original plots or characters anymore.

2. Cost - Basically, I'll get the movie for much less by waiting for it to be released on DVD, so I only go out for the best movies. Ones I can't wait for or that my friends drag me to because they can't wait for them.

3. Refreshments - I'd like to be able to buy these when I go to the movies, but I can't afford them as I'm a college student. This lowers the experience for me because I can't drink a soda and munch on something whiel the movie is going like I can at home. Also, the quality of snacks at movies is really bad. Even if I was rich, they wouldn't have anything there for me beyond a Diet Soda. Who really eats stale chips covered in cheese sauce or big buckets of grease-covered starch anymore? I'm thin, so I don't worry about the calories, but I do worry about the taste and lack of healthiness. I guess I'd be able to buy Junior Mints if I wasn't so damn poor (mostly because of my gaming hobby).

4. Other People - Cell phones, babies, people who talk in the theater, and kids who put their feet on the back of your seat during the movie. A lot of these can be overcome by simply going to the latest or earliest showings of films, but there are exceptions.

I'll be hitting the theatre to see Harry Potter for certain, and I'll probably go to see "Rent" too (got to see the traveling show and it is now my favorite musical). Other than that. . . well, I'm probably among those who are the reason for films being on such a downward spiral in money-making potential. However, I'm convinced they are making it up on DVDs. I own probably 50 of them.

bean19

11-07-2005, 09:06 AM

I thought about going to see Jarhead, but it got a very lukewarm review on CNN. Plus, I had some bushes to dig up in my front yard.

Chicken Little is a must for the wife and I this weekend!

Why doesn't Ev Av do a Thursday story about what films are opening the next day?

The Iron Weasel

11-07-2005, 09:09 AM

Why doesn't Ev Av do a Thursday story about what films are opening the next day?

because theres the movies opening this week in the weekly release.

fitbabits

11-07-2005, 09:10 AM

Why doesn't Ev Av do a Thursday story about what films are opening the next day?
I think because they are already mentioned in The Weekly Release (http://www.evilavatar.com/forums/showthread.php?t=6843) post at the beginning of the week.

However, feel free to post something in the Movies, Books, Comics (http://www.evilavatar.com/forums/forumdisplay.php?f=8) forum each Thursday - I'm sure that some people would find it useful.

Roc Ingersol

11-07-2005, 09:12 AM

AnthraxKitty

11-07-2005, 09:13 AM

SAW or Jarhead?

I think I'll stay at home and poke my eye.

The Iron Weasel

11-07-2005, 09:17 AM

I'd like to see Saw 2, loved the original. And I hear that the sequal is almost as good.

fitbabits

11-07-2005, 09:18 AM

SAW or Jarhead?

I think I'll stay at home and poke my eye.
With what?

Genital Eclipse

11-07-2005, 09:19 AM

I watched Jarhead. Loved it. I hate people.

Deadend

11-07-2005, 09:21 AM

Saw 2 was fun, except I burst out laughing at a couple 'scary' spots.

Suicidal ShiZuru

11-07-2005, 09:21 AM

Weather Man was good. It's so far afield, I'm amazed that anyone in Hollywood greenlit it. It didn't do well for that same reason.

Jarhead's not bad, but it's not a war movie. Despite what the advertising would have you beleive, it's more a social introspective about people not going to war.

Ironically, I think the marketing people stumbled onto the perfect way to market the film though. Everyone shows up expecting gun battles and carnage, waits around for a while, and winds up generally disappointed -.much like the main characters.

Those who see the previews and expect "gun battles and carnage" deserve to be disappoointed for being so ignorant. You can tell the basic premise of the movie from the previews, besides whats the "war" its centered around? Exactly.

EternalGamer

11-07-2005, 09:24 AM

Kyle Jones

11-07-2005, 09:24 AM

I do really want to see Jarhead, it looks pretty entertaining, but I don't feel like throwing money at the theatres to watch it.

fitbabits

11-07-2005, 09:27 AM

Am I the only one who ventured out to see Good Night and Good Luck? This film needs some good word of mouth promotion. Though I have not seen Saw 2 or Jarhead (though I have read reviews), I would venture to say it is a much better film and it is certainly a more culturally significant one.

Dan
Dan,

Don't you know that the majority of people don't want their lives to be culturally enriched - they want to be entertained! How else do you explain the release of Christmas with the Kranks on DVD this week? :rolleyes:

Malovech

11-07-2005, 09:28 AM

SAW II was utter shite. I walked out it was so bad. I am sick and tired of twist-and-turn films that have twists and turns that are blatantly obvious. Also the visceral elements of the movie were pathetic. You want a good horror movie? A horror movie that will almost make you throw up it's so sick- just wait until Hostel (http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0450278/) comes out on the 21st of December- now that is a horror movie (unless they've completely gutted it since the Toronto Film Festival), it doesn't pull any punches.

Kalash

11-07-2005, 09:35 AM

Dan,

Don't you know that the majority of people don't want their lives to be culturally enriched - they want to be entertained! How else do you explain the release of Christmas with the Kranks on DVD this week? :rolleyes:

Christmas with the Cranks? SUH-WEET! Just in time for the holidays!

But seriously, I am looking forward to seeing Good Night and Good Luck sometime this week, if I can just convince the GF that she will actually like it. I somehow convinced her to rent Confessions of a Dangerous Mind a couple of months ago, so hopefully my powers of persuasion still have the same effect.

Wish me luck!

MaiXu

11-07-2005, 09:38 AM

Saw Shopgirl, in limited release here in Philadelphia. Date loved it (she read the book), I enjoyed it but felt it had a few problems. But over all, a very refreshing romantic film, and Steve Martin's writing just gets better and better.

RandomViolence

11-07-2005, 09:43 AM

Jarhead was a beautiful movie. It's the beginning of Full Metal Jacket mixed with a bit of Three Kings (mostly because of the setting). I would recommend it to movie buffs interested in seeing something aside from the typical saccharine war movie.

Saw II sucked balls. I like stories that are well put together. Every bit inside that fucking house was insipid as shit. Outside, meh, fine. I could see a bit of the magic that made people like the first one, but it was definitely just a whiff. The rest was shit on film.

Cubfan

11-07-2005, 09:45 AM

Those who see the previews and expect "gun battles and carnage" deserve to be disappoointed for being so ignorant. You can tell the basic premise of the movie from the previews, besides whats the "war" its centered around? Exactly.

I haven't seen Jarhead, but the commercial does seem misleading, a soldier barking orders, explosions, burning oil fields, all of this set to music... it definitely has a 'war movie' feel to it. I read reviews and understand it to be otherwise, but those who haven't might be surprised when they actually see the movie.

EternalGamer

11-07-2005, 09:47 AM

Dan,

Don't you know that the majority of people don't want their lives to be culturally enriched - they want to be entertained! How else do you explain the release of Christmas with the Kranks on DVD this week? :rolleyes:

I am working under the assumption that the dignified readers of EvilAvatar are above viewing such films as Christmas with the Kranks. Aside from that, however, Good Night and Good Luck is just a very good, tightly made 90 minute film. Even the MTV ADD kids could theoretically hold their attention for that long... well, assuming they could get past the black and white thing...

Dan

Captain Awesome

11-07-2005, 09:50 AM

Jarhead was really good and beautifully poetic like the book. The 3 main actors did an amazing job showcasing their talents as actors. This isnt like every other war film, its more of a personal account of a soldier and what they go through whether "for it" or "not" or both. Lots of black humor, realistic tones and a great meloncholy to it.

Well worth the money.

agentgray

11-07-2005, 09:51 AM

Goronmon

11-07-2005, 09:56 AM

Jarhead's not bad, but it's not a war movie. Despite what the advertising would have you beleive, it's more a social introspective about people not going to war.
Yeah, I would said its more of an insight as to what the average soldier prolly deals with nowadays. Its not epic, hollywood-style battles, its boredom and uncertainty. I actually liked the movie, but it was definately not what I was expecting.

EternalGamer

11-07-2005, 09:59 AM

Yeah apparently that is actually cheaper than actual B&W film these days. I believe that is why the Coen brothers did the same thing for The Man Who Wasn't There. We have a new theatre here in town and the picture quality on there screens really is fantastic. This film really shows off how beautiful a traditional black and white film can be.

Dan

Dracula-X

11-07-2005, 10:09 AM

Jarhead was quite good, beautifully shot, and well done over all.

Roc Ingersol

11-07-2005, 10:13 AM

bean19

11-07-2005, 10:33 AM

I am working under the assumption that the dignified readers of EvilAvatar are above viewing such films as Christmas with the Kranks. Aside from that, however, Good Night and Good Luck is just a very good, tightly made 90 minute film. Even the MTV ADD kids could theoretically hold their attention for that long... well, assuming they could get past the black and white thing...

Dan

I'd like to see this movie, but my 4 reasons listed in my post above mean that I'll wait for video. I'll go see "The Weather Man" if someone invites me or I go on a date and I get to choose. Nothing about this movie says that it needs to be seen on a big screen. Also, I think I know the movie already. . . bascially an almost-documentary with spectacular acting that educates us on how McCarthy was able to misuse his Senatorial office, what the effects were, and how brave this reporter and the television station were to air this special report. I can do this for most movies without seeing them, but since I am familiar with American History, this one has even fewer surprises for me than most.

agentgray

11-07-2005, 10:33 AM

Steve Martin has an evil twin.
The good Steve made this one.
"The new phone books are here! The new phone books are here! The new phone books are here! I am somebody!"

Bone

11-07-2005, 10:38 AM

He hates these cans!

mpsmith

11-07-2005, 10:43 AM

Jarhead was great. No combat, as has already been mentioned, but still very intense. I dont think the same kinds of problems persist in the current situation in Iraq as did in the first because there is more to do.
That being said, my little experience with the army is that boredom is present even in a hot AO... So maybe the same things apply coupled with additional stressors.

Roc Ingersol

11-07-2005, 10:46 AM

I was thinking more along the lines of: OKLAHOMA OKLAHOMA OKLAHOMA OKLAHOMA!

agentgray

11-07-2005, 11:06 AM

I was thinking more along the lines of: OKLAHOMA OKLAHOMA OKLAHOMA OKLAHOMA!

"He'll really have fun in Oklahoma. The wide open plains where he can just run and run."

...

"Pardon me? May I go to the bathoroom"

"Yes, Rupert. You may."

"uh..thank you."

...

"Why does he have a cork on his fork?"

Classic.

Oblivion

11-07-2005, 11:10 AM

I read the book Jarhead and was impressed by its brutal honesty. it was a true story, written by a honest soldier. So, does the movie do justice to the book, EvAv readers?

EternalGamer

11-07-2005, 11:13 AM

I'd like to see this movie, but my 4 reasons listed in my post above mean that I'll wait for video. I'll go see "The Weather Man" if someone invites me or I go on a date and I get to choose. Nothing about this movie says that it needs to be seen on a big screen. Also, I think I know the movie already. . . bascially an almost-documentary with spectacular acting that educates us on how McCarthy was able to misuse his Senatorial office, what the effects were, and how brave this reporter and the television station were to air this special report. I can do this for most movies without seeing them, but since I am familiar with American History, this one has even fewer surprises for me than most.

I think it is assumed that most of the films audience members will be at least somewhat familiar with the Morrows/McCarthy relationship going into the film. What was interesting to me is the frame Clooney builds around the film--a speech Morrows is giving to an audience about the inevitable trend in television journalism. It is the implicit social implications and parallels that are being drawn that make the film so intriguing.

Dan

PantherModern

11-07-2005, 11:44 AM

I read the book Jarhead and was impressed by its brutal honesty. it was a true story, written by a honest soldier. So, does the movie do justice to the book, EvAv readers?

Well, I haven't read the book personally, so it is difficult to measure. However, I can say that the film did not pull any punches in respect to the characters or the situation. I think that the character of Swafford seems strong and real, so I imagine that he was captured well. The only place where I think the film was "Hollywood-ized" is likely in his squad. There were just too many archetypal characters that triggered specific situations and provided conflict at appropriate moments. It is certainly possible that his squad filled those roles, but they broke down pretty easy into "family guy," "crazy guy," "timid guy," and so on. Troy was extremely well done, but hey - it's Peter "I completly rule the male supporting actor category this year" Sarsgaard. And, personally, I think Jake Gyllenhaal is turning into one of the finest actors of his generation. To go from doing something like Bubble Boy to this is simply amazing.

Really, a great flick.

Citizen Philip

11-07-2005, 12:01 PM

I didn't see any movies this weekend. I did see Fright Night last night, it was dumb.

YoungAlCapone

11-07-2005, 12:13 PM

Jarhead was decent, If you are interested then go see it, it is worth seeing at least once.

I also finally got the chance to see Serenity this weekend, and then made the time yesterday to go see it again, awesome movie.

agentgray

11-07-2005, 12:46 PM

Well, I haven't read the book personally, so it is difficult to measure. However, I can say that the film did not pull any punches in respect to the characters or the situation. I think that the character of Swafford seems strong and real, so I imagine that he was captured well. The only place where I think the film was "Hollywood-ized" is likely in his squad. There were just too many archetypal characters that triggered specific situations and provided conflict at appropriate moments. It is certainly possible that his squad filled those roles, but they broke down pretty easy into "family guy," "crazy guy," "timid guy," and so on. Troy was extremely well done, but hey - it's Peter "I completly rule the male supporting actor category this year" Sarsgaard. And, personally, I think Jake Gyllenhaal is turning into one of the finest actors of his generation. To go from doing something like Bubble Boy to this is simply amazing.

Really, a great flick.
Nope, the book has those characterizations as well. It gets so gritty I caught myself thinking...c'mon no way. Each person represents someone. I have a brother in the Corps and him and his buddies stationed in Japan say it is nothing like that now or where they are at. It only is if you want it to be.

Magnanimous Gnome

11-07-2005, 12:51 PM

I really want to go see Good Night and Good Luck, and hopefully with some luck (har har) will see it sometime later this week. It's too bad that such an important film (with a powerful message for present day America) isn't getting a larger audience. I'm not surprised though - most Americans seem to be against knowledge in general.

I'm going to see Shopgirl with a friend tomorrow, another movie that I've been wanting to see.

Jarhead isn't realy the type of movie that I would normally see, but I am tempted by one major thing. Jake Gyllenhaal shirtless. Is that shallow?

Oh well, it's probably just a body double, like he used in filming Brokeback Mountain. *sigh*

RMan

11-07-2005, 12:58 PM

I'm not surprised though - most Americans seem to be against knowledge in general.
Although there may be truth to that, I think the primary reason is that this type of movie is just not enough of an event to draw people to the theater. I mean, if it's not a spectacle, or a good date/kids movie, I really don't see why many people wouldn't just rent it. I'll definately rent that one, but there's no way I'd bother going to a theater for it (which I think is hurting most movie's box office revenues).

Malovech

11-07-2005, 01:03 PM

Although there may be truth to that, I think the primary reason is that this type of movie is just not enough of an event to draw people to the theater. I mean, if it's not a spectacle, or a good date/kids movie, I really don't see why many people wouldn't just rent it. I'll definately rent that one, but there's no way I'd bother going to a theater for it (which I think is hurting most movie's box office revenues).

I really wish studios and film distributors would just give in and start providing their films in a digital format we can download and watch on a media-centre or TiVO like device. The movie-house is so dead, despite the fact that I love it so much. Maybe then Hollywood can start putting out some half-decent films instead of the fluffy-crap they've been peddling over the last few years.

ÜberJumper

11-07-2005, 01:17 PM

Wife picked the movie this weekend, so we ended up with Wallace and Gromit: Curse of the WereRabbit. It was pretty good.

didragondi

11-07-2005, 01:20 PM

Saw serenity again now at the cheap theater and its still good. I want to see Kiss kiss bang bang, but it is not playing by me. Not sure about Jarhead, somewhere there is an unwritten rule that war movies can do well critically and monetarily without having character development or really identifying anything other than everyone shooting everyone else and stuff blowing up. Dont get me wrong I am a fan of stuff blowing up, but I need to know something about the people too.

mkelehan

11-07-2005, 01:26 PM

I saw the 3D verison of Chicken Little. The 3D effect was good (glasses and everything), but the movie itself was poor. In direct contrast to Pixar's work, this was clearly meant to be a kids' movie and only a kids' movie.

RandomViolence

11-07-2005, 01:58 PM

Magnanimous Gnome

11-07-2005, 02:28 PM

Although there may be truth to that, I think the primary reason is that this type of movie is just not enough of an event to draw people to the theater. I mean, if it's not a spectacle, or a good date/kids movie, I really don't see why many people wouldn't just rent it. I'll definately rent that one, but there's no way I'd bother going to a theater for it (which I think is hurting most movie's box office revenues).

You make some good points. Obviously if the makers of Good Night and Good Luck wanted to attract a large American audience into a historical movie, they should have gotten Jack and Kate on board to do a few puke-worthy kissy scenes.

Bone

11-07-2005, 03:12 PM

And throw in a boob- everyone likes a boob.

Kefkataran

11-07-2005, 03:50 PM

I was seriously and completely uninterested in Jarhead, but man it's been getting some strong reviews. 3.5 stars from Ebert? I'll probably have to give in and go check it out.

RMan

11-07-2005, 04:18 PM

I just think that these days since home theaters are so common and high quality and DVD releases seem easier to get than finding a movie near you, the overall experience is better for most movies to watch them at home. So the main advantage left for watching a movie is seeing it 3 months earlier, and that's just not worthwhile. I'd love to see box office/dvd comparrisons, I know the box office revenues are down, but if people are just watching movies at home then DVD and pay-per-view sales should be up (IOW, sucks for theaters but not as much for movie makers).

Another thing I've noticed the last few years, I'm personally enjoying TV shows more than movies. I think the fact that you can get them on DVD and the high quality home theaters makes TV a supperior medium for me than movies (shows like Lost display character development that is just not possible in the movie format). I typically watch them without commercials, so that helps, but still I think TV is another small factor in why people aren't as interested in movies these days.