Paranormal Activity has now grossed $8.3 million, most of that in last weekend’s expansion from 33 to 160 theaters. To put that in perspective, Whip It, with all the heft of Drew Barrymore and actual TV commercials, has grossed $8.8 million from over 1,700 theaters.
(More on how I think Paranormal Activity represents a crucial part of the future of distribution here. I talk about chocodiles, too.)
Oh, and Zombieland deserves every last dollar it’s making.
10/16
Wide
WHAT’S THE PITCH?
Guy’s mom starts going out with this dude but things get sketchy when the neighbor sees the dude’s picture on America’s Most Wanted and winds up dead. Seriously? America’s Most Wanted? Is anyone even trying anymore?
WILL IT SUCK?
Seems about as useless a remake as the version of The Cars’ “Drive” that opens the trailer. Or the Prom Night remake the screenwriter penned.
HOW WELL WILL IT DO?
Any real horror fans are will wait for Saw VI next week and any thriller junkies will opt for Law Abiding Citizen. $19mil.
WILL ANYBODY REMEMBER IT AT OSCAR TIME?
We should have a Remake Awards so this can lose it.
WHAT’S THE PITCH?
Spike Jonze, meet everyone’s favorite bedtime story.
WILL IT SUCK?
If anyone can pull this off, it’s Jonze. As if to pile on the indie cred, Dave Eggers co-wrote the screeplay with him. Author Maurice Sendak has given the adaptation his blessing. Early buzz is good.
HOW WELL WILL IT DO?
Astro Boy and Cirque du Freak next week, but this has the better branding. $89mil.
WILL ANYBODY REMEMBER IT AT OSCAR TIME?
It’s conceivable. Jonze has been to the show before. Screenplay?
WHAT’S THE PITCH?
Don’t fuck with Gerard Butler.
WILL IT SUCK?
Director F. Gary Gray sure likes him some wronged folks taking on the system (Set It Off, The Negotiator). Writer Kurt Wimmer can be innovative (Equilibrium), or pedestrian (The Recruit), or just plain suck (Ultraviolet). Looks like the combo works here because the early buzz is solid. Plus, Viola Davis as the Mayor of Philadelphia!
HOW WELL WILL IT DO?
No real competition. Biggest other film in the room (Wild Things) appeals to a completely different demo. $58mil.
WILL ANYBODY REMEMBER IT AT OSCAR TIME?
Unless this film takes the premise to Collateral levels of quality, not so much.
Limited
WHAT’S THE PITCH?
Whole bunch of short movies that take place in the Big Apple.
WILL IT SUCK?
Concept worked for Paris, je t’aime. Should work here, too (same producers). Directors include Yvan Attal, Allen Hughes, Shekhar Kapur, Mira Nair, Natalie Portman, and Brett Ratner (!), but, surprisingly, no Martin Scorsese or Woody Allen. Cast includes Bradley Cooper, Natalie Portman (not in her own segment), Shia LaBeouf, Orlando Bloom, Christina Ricci, James Caan, Ethan Hawke, John Hurt, Olivia Thirlby, Justin Bartha, Chris Cooper, Andy Garcia, Eli Wallach, and many, many, more.
I feel like the cast might be more impressive this time but the directorial bench isn’t as deep. Early buzz is mixed.
HOW WELL WILL IT DO?
Plenty of people have been looking forward to this one. $16mil.
WILL ANYBODY REMEMBER IT AT OSCAR TIME?
The rules of the Academy weren’t built for a film like this.
WHAT’S THE PITCH?
I’m Gonna Git You Sucka but, like, way funnier.
WILL IT SUCK?
Early buzz is great. Trailer is one of the funniest things I’ve seen all year. Even the ancillary Web site is hilarious. And who can resist a movie where Arsenio Hall plays a character named Tasty Freeze?
HOW WELL WILL IT DO?
Good buzz going back to Sundance, but still a fairly niche appeal. $9mil.
WILL ANYBODY REMEMBER IT AT OSCAR TIME?
Seriously, they have to add a Best Trailer category to encourage this kind of thing.
WHAT’S THE PITCH?
A maid who has served the same family for 23 years feels threatened when a younger model steps in.
WILL IT SUCK?
Early buzz is strong. Catalina Saavedra, who plays the maid, is supposed to be fantastic.
HOW WELL WILL IT DO?
Not going to be able to stand up to New York. $1mil.
WILL ANYBODY REMEMBER IT AT OSCAR TIME?
If this were a higher profile (read: English language) film, I could see Saavedra being up for a Best Actress nod. As it is, could be a Best Foreign contender if Chile (or is it Mexico? Co-production, I think) submits it.
Next Week: The teen vampire novel series installment you’ve been waiting for. No, the other one.
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