'Seven Pounds' takes over international b.o.

It's been a good weekend overseas for Will Smith, as "Seven Pounds" topped the international box office with an estimated $19.8 million in ticket sales. The film's total currently stands at $40.8 million.

At No. 2, Catherine Hardwicke's vampire romance "Twilight" collected $13.1 million in 46 markets, reaching a cumulative gross of $135 million. Following in third place with $12 million was Jim Carrey's new comedy "Yes Man," which lifted its overseas total to $67 million.

Meanwhile, Baz Luhrmann's epic adventure "Australia" picked up another $10.3 million in 56 territories for a total haul of $118.5 million. That's about $70 million more than the film grossed in North America.

Finishing fifth was "Madagascar: Escape 2 Africa," which brought its international total to $380 million after weekend earnings of $8.3 million.

Other overseas box office results: Sam Mendes' drama "Revolutionary Road" picked up $2.4 million in five markets; "Bride Wars" collected $6.2 million; "Bedtime Stories" brought in $4.5 million; and "Bolt" took home $3.7 million

Source: The Hollywood Reporter

'Madagascar 2' reigns supreme overseas

"Madagascar: Escape 2 Africa" dominated the international box office this weekend with an estimated $15.8 million in ticket sales for an overseas total gross of $366 million.

Following closely at No. 2 was Will Smith's drama "Seven Pounds," which earned $13.4 million in 15 markets. Meanwhile, Baz Luhrmann's epic adventure "Australia" finished third with 12.3 million, bringing its overseas total to $103.5 million.

At No. 4, Jim Carrey's latest comedy "Yes Man" collected $12 million for a total haul of $50 million. Catherine Hardwicke's vampire romance "Twilight" took the No. 5 spot with a weekend gross of $11.1 million and a cumulative gross of $116 million.

Other results from the overseas box office: Adam Sandler's "Bedtime Stories" pulled $9.3 million for a total of $60.1 million; "The Day The Earth Stood Still" brought in $7 million to reach $140 million; and "Bolt" picked up $4.4 million for an international cume of $74 million.

Source: The Hollywood Reporter

'Madagascar 2' remains overseas b.o. king

"Madagascar: Escape 2 Africa" remained at the top of the overseas box office this weekend with another $32.2 million in ticket sales from 60 territories. The animated film's total currently stands at $340 million.

At No. 2, Baz Luhrmann's epic adventure "Australia" took home a solid $21.7 million, lifting its international total to $82.7 million. That's almost double what the film pulled in so far domestically ($46.6million).

Meanwhile, Adam Sandler's new family comedy "Bedtime Stories" finished third this weekend, collecting $21.2 million for a cumulative gross of $44 million.

Tied at No. 4 were "The Day The Earth Stood Still" and "Yes Man," which each picked up $12 million. "Day" reached a total gross of $128.6 million, while Jim Carrey's comedy "Yes Man" brought its overseas total to $34 million.

Disney's "Bolt" earned $11.9 million at No. 5, lifting its international cume to $64 million. Domestically, the animated tale about a dog who believes he has superpowers has pulled $109.8 million.

Other results from the overseas box office: "The Curious Case of Benjamin Button" reached a total of $6.2 million after weekend earnings of $2.3 million; "Marley & Me" took home $3 million; "The Spirit" picked up $2.6 million; and "The Tale of Desperaux" pulled in $3.4 million.

Source: The Hollywood Reporter

'Madagascar 2' still on top overseas

"Madagascar: Escape 2 Africa" continued its overseas box office reign this weekend with $31 million in ticket sales. The film's international total currently stands at $278 million.

At No. 2, Baz Luhrmann's epic adventure "Australia" picked up $26.1 million after opening in 45 new territories, lifting its cumulative gross to $46.2 million. Following in third place was "The Day The Earth Stood Still," which raced past $100 million after taking home $20.3 million this weekend.

Meanwhile, Adam Sandler's new family comedy "Bedtime Stories" earned $13.5 million in 15 markets, while Jim Carrey's comedy "Yes Man" pulled $9.1 million.

Other results from the overseas box office: Disney's "Bolt" lifted its total to $45.5 million after this weekend's earnings of $6.5 million; "Twilight" collected $7.7 million ($81 million cumulative gross); and "The Tale of Despereaux" snatched $5 million to reach $7.8 million total.

Also, "Four Christmases" picked up $3.1 million, while "Inkheart" pulled in $2.4 million.

Source: The Hollywood Reporter

'Madagascar 2' takes over international b.o.

"Madagascar: Escape 2 Africa" took the top spot at the international box office this weekend with $33.5 million in ticket sales, bumping up its total gross to $218.5 million.

Last week's winner "The Day the Earth Stood Still" dropped to No. 2, earning $21 million in 92 territories and lifting its overseas total to $72.3 million. Following in third place was Catherine Hardwicke's "Twilight," which picked up another $11 million to reach a cumulative gross of $64.6 million.

Meanwhile at No. 4, Seth Gordon's holiday comedy "Four Christmases" took home $5.7 million in 38 markets. The film's cumulative gross currently stands at $23.8 million.

Walt Disney's animated adventure "Bolt" collected $5.3 million for a total haul of $35.9 million, while Jim Carrey's new comedy "Yes Man" opened to a weekend gross of $3.5 million.

Other results from the overseas box office: "WALL-E" pulled $3.8 million for a total of $283 million; new entry "The Tale of Despereaux" earned $1.7 million; "Changeling" added $3 million; and "Australia" took $1.1 million.

Source: The Hollywood Reporter

Ten Best Movie Trailers of 2008

The year 2008 is quickly coming to a close, so I've decided to go back and pick my 10 favorite movie trailers of the year (yes, "The Dark Knight" is one of them). Before I get started, here are some notes about my selection:

I've only looked at trailers for films that were actually released in 2008. Trailers for films that won't be released until 2009 were excluded from my selection, but I will take those into consideration at the end of next year.

Also, the following list is solely based on the quality of the trailers, and they have nothing to do with my opinion about the actual movies.

Lastly, feel free to post your own selections using the comment section below.

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Box Office: 'Yes Man' outruns 'Seven Pounds'

By Franck Tabouring
Weekend of December 19 -21, 2008

Jim Carrey’s latest comedy “Yes Man” topped the North American box office this weekend with $18.1 million in ticket sales, according to studio estimates Sunday.

In the Peyton Reed-directed film, Carrey stars as a bitter man who decides to change his life and say yes to everything and anything. For a mainstream Carrey comedy, however, “Man” delivered an unusually low performance at the box office.

Contrary to his recent films, Will Smith’s latest drama “Seven Pounds” also failed to score a big opening, debuting with only $16 million at No. 2. Directed by Gabriele Muccino, the film follows a desperate IRS agent who embarks on a quest to forever change the lives of seven strangers.

New entry “The Tale of Despereaux” collected $10.5 million in third place. Based on the beloved book by Kate DiCamillo, the computer-animated family film tells the adventures of a brave mouse who rescues a princess from the claws of hungry rats.

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Baz Luhrmann talks 'Great Gatsby,' 'Australia'

Baz Luhrmann's expensive epic adventure "Australia" may not be delivering a heroic performance at the North American box office ($130 million budget; $39.1 million gross), but that doesn't scare the director in any way.

During a recent interview with the Hollywood Reporter, Luhrmann defended his latest movie, saying that "Moulin Rouge!" performed almost just as slowly at the box office. Indeed, the movie ended up grossing only $57.3 million, but it also costed a lot less.

Still, Luhrmann is pretty confident "Australia" will stick around a while. "'Moulin Rouge!' was supposed to go away," Luhrmann told THR. "Not only has it not gone away, but you can't read about modern musicals without reading about it. 'Australia' will not go away."

The Australian director also chatted a bit about his next project, an adaptation of F. Scott Fitzgerald's classic novel "The Great Gatsby," which is set during the roaring '20s.

Luhrmann said he would try and get this movie done faster than "Australia," although he has not decided on what studio to work with quite yet. He said he's currently talking to all those that are interested in the project.

Well Mr. Luhrmann, I wish you good luck. I'm one of those who really enjoyed "Australia" for several reasons, and if I had the time, I'd gladly see it again.

Box Office: Sci-fi remake 'Day' stills competition

By Franck Tabouring
Weekend of December 12 -14, 2008

Twentieth Century Fox’s “The Day the Earth Stood Still” destroyed its competition at the North American box office with $31 million in ticket sales, according to studio estimates Sunday.

Scott Derrickson’s remake of the 1951 sci-fi thriller directed by Robert Wise opened at 3,560 locations this weekend, landing at the No. 1 spot early Friday. The film stars Keanu Reeves as an alien travelling to Earth to warn humanity of an imminent destruction.

Last week’s box office champion “Four Christmases” dropped to second place, earning $13.2 million for a domestic total of $87.9 million after a strong three-week run. Starring Reese Witherspoon and Vince Vaughn, the holiday comedy follows a couple paying a visit to their four divorced parents.

At No. 3, Catherine Hardwicke’s vampire romance “Twilight” picked up another $8 million, lifting its cumulative gross to an impressive $150.1 million. The film based on the Stephenie Meyer novel of the same title tells of a teenage girl (Kristen Stewart) who falls in love with a friendly vampire (Robert Pattinson).

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'Madagascar 2' ends Bond's reign overseas

"Madagascar: Escape 2 Africa" kicked "Quantum of Solace" off the international box office throne with $52.2 million after expanding to 35 markets. The film's overseas total currently stands at $125 million.

Down to No. 2, Marc Forster's 007 adventure picked up another $10.8 million, lifting its total gross to $357.8 million. Following in third place was Catherine Hardwicke's "Twilight," which took home $9.8 million for a total haul of $33 million.

Meanwhile, Walt Disney's "Bolt" ranked fourth on the international circuit this weekend with $9.5 million, while Pixar's "Wall-E" followed at No. 5 with $5.5 million in Japan.

Other results from the overseas box office: "Body of Lies" earned $5 million for a total of $52.5 million; "High School Musical 3: Senior Year" picked up $4.5 million; "Changeling" collected "3.3 million; and "Australia" finished with $2.4 million.

Source: The Hollywood Reporter