Box Office: 'Iron Man 2' generates strong $133M

Paramount won the weekend race at the North American box office as Jon Favreau's sequel "Iron Man 2" crushed its competition with a strong $133.6 million in ticket sales, according to studio estimates Sunday. The film beat its predecessor on opening weekend by $31 million, and that's a good start for "Iron Man 2."

The movie, which is now No. 1 worldwide, scored a massive $30,502 per theater at 4,380 locations. Robert Downey Jr. returns as Tony Stark, who this time must face Sam Rockwell's Justin Hammer and Mickey Rourke's Whiplash. Don Cheadle, Samuel L. Jackson, Scarlett Johansson and Gwyneth Paltrow co-star.

"Babies," this week's second release, finished at No. 10 with a decent $1.5 million at only 534 locations. The documentary about one year in the life of four babies from around the world delivered a surprisingly strong average of $2,949 per theater.

Meanwhile, "A Nightmare on Elm Street" took a big dive this weekend, earning only $9.1 million in second place. Domestically, the horror remake directed by Samuel Bayer has collected a total gross of $48.5 million. Following at No. 3 was "How to Train Your Dragon," which lifted its total to $201 million.

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Box Office: 'Train Your Dragon' back on top!

DreamWorks Animation's "How to Train your Dragon" swallowed its competition at the North American box office this weekend with $15 million in ticket sales, according to studio estimates Sunday. It was a weak weekend at the movies, but the 3D-animated pic easily reclaimed the No. 1 spot.

The new releases this weeked delivered disappointing performances, with Jennifer Lopez's new comedy "The Back-up Plan" scoring $12.2 million in second place. The film opened at 3,280 locations, reaching an average of $3,735 per theater. Story follows JLO as she meets the man of her dreams right after getting pregnant.

Meanwhile, Sylvain White's big-screen adaptation of the comic "The Losers" came in fourth only with $9.6 million. The action flick starring Jeffrey Dean Morgan and Zoe Saldana is now playing at 2,936 sites, and the story follows a team of black ops soldiers seeking revenge against the man who betrayed them.

Disneynature released "Oceans" on Earth Day, and the documentary about the planet's oceans and its fantastic creatures only made it to No. 8 this weekend, collecting $6 million. The film reached a total gross of $8,4 million. "Oceans" is currently showing at 1,206 locations only.

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Kick this: 'Kick-Ass' is No. 1 at box office after all!

Matthew Vaughn's fantastic comic book adaptation "Kick-Ass" is the box office leader after all. Weekend actuals show "Kick-Ass" beat DreamWorks Animation's "How to Train Your Dragon" by almost nothing. "Ass" bagged $19.8 million while "Dragon" picked up $19.6 million, and not $20 million.

Note: Lionsgate includes earnings from Thursday night showings in the weekend's gross. This is usually not the case, but it explains why "Kick-Ass" jumped to No. 1.

That's certainly goods new for the Lionsgate flick, even though we have to remember it still underperformed at the box office. Meanwhile, "Date Night" earned $16.7 million, while "Death at a Funeral" opened with $16.2 million, and not $17 million. "Clash of the Titans" brought home $15.3 million.

Source: Box Office Mojo (www.boxofficemojo.com)

Box Office: 'Dragon' defeats new entries!

DreamWorks Animation's 3D-anmiated adventure "How to Train Your Dragon" swallowed its competition at the North American box office this weekend and reclaimed the No. 1 spot with a solid three-day gross of $20 million, according to studio estimates Sunday. The film is now in its fourth week of release.

"Dragon" beat new entries "Kick-Ass" and "Death at a Funeral," which didn't really live up to box office expectations. Matthew Vaughn's "Kick-Ass" came in second with $19.7 million via an average of $6,444 per theater at 3,065 locations. Analysts predicted the comic book adaptation would win the weekend.

Meanwhile, Neil LaBute's remake "Death at a Funeral" debuted at No. 4 with $17 million. Starring Chris Rock and Martin Lawrence, the comedy follows a family's misadventures during a funeral ceremony. "Funeral," which scored an average of $6,913 per theater, is now playing at 2,459 locations.

"How to Train Your Dragon," by the way, lifted its domestic total to $158.6 million. The third spot on the circuit went to Shawn Levy's comedy "Date Night," which bagged another $17.3 million and brought its total gross to $49.2 million. Tina Fey and Steve Carell star.

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'Kick-Ass' leads Friday box office with $7M

Matthew Vaughn's "Kick-Ass" didn't exactly kick butt at the North American box office Friday. The Lionsgate release based on the comic by Mark Millar only bagged $7.6 million from ticket sales at 3,065 locations, and that's a lot less than box office analysts predicted. It's shame, because the film is fantastic.

Starring Aaron Johnson, Chloe Moretz and Nicolas Cage, among others, the film follows a teenager trying to spice uo his life by becoming a costumed vigilante. "Kick-Ass" generated a lot of buzz prior to its theatrical release, but the action-packed movie only scored an average of $2,480 per theater.

Debuting in second place with $5.6 million was Neil LaBute's remake of "Death of a Funeral," which Screen Gems released at 2,459 locations. Chris Rock and Martin Lawrence star in the comedy about a family's misadventures during a funeral ceremony. The film scored an average of $2,277 per theater.

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Movie Review: "Death at a Funeral" (2010)

Seen on: April 16, 2010

The players: Director: Neil LaBute, Writer: Dean Craig, Cast: Peter Dinklage, Chris Rock, Regina Hall, Keith David, Martin Lawrence, Tracy Morgan, Zoe Saldana

Facts of interest: Remake of Frank Oz's 2007 comedy.

The plot: The film tells the story of a family desperately trying to make it through a funeral ceremony.

Our thoughts: If you’ve seen Frank Oz’s 2007 British comedy “Death at a Funeral,” you may as well stick with it and skip Neil LaBute’s American remake, because the new “Death at a Funeral” is so close to the original one, it almost becomes a completely unnecessary viewing experience. Okay, maybe this one’s a tad raunchier, but in my book, it’s not exactly funnier.

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Shitty red band clip from 'Death at a Funeral'

Neil LaBute's remake of Frank Oz's 2007 hit comedy "Death at a Funeral" is opening in theaters April 16, 2010, and, well... it doesn't exactly look hilarious. There are parts about the trailer I liked, but in general, I'm still not convinced this one will deliver the goods.

A new red band clip has just shown up on the Web, and you can check it out after the jump. What starts as a silly sequence quickly turns into a shitty (literally) moment: Tracy Morgan's hand gets stuck in Danny Glover's ass. The result is anything but funny.

Chris Rock, Zoe Saldana, Regina Hall, Columbus Short, Martin Lawrence, Luke Wilson, James Marsden, Peter Dinklage and Loretta Devine are part of the cast. The film  follows a family stumbling across all sorts of weird secrets during a funeral that quickly turns into a disaster.

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'Death at a Funeral' remake trailer is kinda funny

I still have not seen Frank Oz's 2007 hit comedy "Death at a Funeral," but the remake is already heading towards a release. It will open April 16, 2010, and first trailer has now shown up online!

Much like the original, this new version follows a family stumbling across all sorts of weird secrets during a funeral ceremony that quickly turns into a disaster. Neil LaBute directed a script by Dean Craig.

The cast includes some big names: Chris Rock, Zoe Saldana, Danny Glover, Regina Hall, Columbus Short, Martin Lawrence, Tracy Morgan, Luke Wilson, James Marsden, Peter Dinklage and Loretta Devine.

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Lawrence, Morgan join 'Death at a Funeral'

Tracy Morgan and Martin Lawrence are gearing up to star alongside Chris Rock in the remake of Frank Oz’s 2007 comedy “Death at a Funeral."

Loretta Devine, Ron Glass, Danny Glover, Regina Hall, James Marsden, Zoe Saldana and Columbus Short are also part of the acting crew, according to the Hollywood Reporter.

The story focuses on a funeral ceremony during which cadavers are misplaced, people engage in indecent exposure, and dirty family secrets suddenly come to light.

Neil LaBute is directing a script by Rock and Ayesha Carr (“Everybody Hates Chris”). Dean Craig, writer of the original British comedy, is on board to executive produce the project.

Morgan, who can be seen on "30 Rock," has a couple of projects coming up, including "Nailed" and "Freshman Roommates." Rock recently joined the cast of an untitled comedy for Columbia Pictures.

I still have to watch the original "Death at a Funeral," but I hear it's a wildly funny comedy.

Chris Rock to co-write ‘Funeral’ remake

Chris Rock will co-write and star in the remake of Frank Oz’s 2007 comedy “Death at a Funeral,” according to Variety.

The film focuses on a funeral ceremony during which cadavers are misplaced, people engage in indecent exposure, and dirty family secrets suddenly come to light.

Rock will co-write the screenplay with Aeysha Carr (“Everybody Hates Chris”). Dean Craig, writer of the original British comedy, is on board to executive produce the project.

Oz’s film opened in North America last year and ended up scoring $8.5 million at the box office. The film also picked up a warm welcome by many of the nation’s top critics.

I don’t really know about this one; something tells me Rock may just mess this one up big time. I truly believe in his capabilities as a top comedian, but remaking a funny British farce? It’s a risky project…

By the way, you can currently listen to Rock as Marty on the big screen in “Madagascar: Escape 2 Africa.”