Box Office: 'Megamind' scores massive $47M

Wow! DreamWorks Animation's latest family adventure "Megamind" stormed the North American box office this weekend with a superb $47.6 million in ticket sales, according to studio estimates Sunday.

Playing at 3,944 sites, "Megamind," which features the voices of Brad Pitt and Will Ferrell, scored a huge average of $12,081 per theater. The animated film's budget is estimated at a big $130 million.

Coming in second this weekend was Todd Phillips' comedy "Due Date" with Robert Downey Jr. and Zach Galifianakis. The flick collected $33.5 million via an average of $9,985 per sites at 3,355 theaters.

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Box Office: 'Saw 3D' wins weekend with $22M

Lionsgate scored an easy win at the North American box office as Kevin Greutert's horror sequel "Saw 3D" bagged a solid $22.5 million from ticket sales at 2,808 sites, according to studio estimates Sunday.

"Saw 3D," the supposedly last installment in the profitable series, scored a strong average of $8,013 per theater. The seventh film outperformed its 2009 predecessor by $8 million on opening weekend.

Last week's box office winner "Paranormal Activity 2" slipped to second place this weekend, earning another $16.5 million for a cumulative gross of $65.6 million after just a little more than a week in release.

At No. 3, Summit's action comedy "RED" picked up $10.8 million, reaching its total gross to $58.9 million. Following in fourth place with $8.4 million was "Jackass 3D," which brought its total to $101.5 million.

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Box Office: 'Jackass 3D' bags a massive $50M!

Stupidity reigned at the North American box office this weekend, as Johnny Knoxville's "Jackass 3D" raced to the top spot with a strong $50 million in ticket sales, according to studio estimates Sunday.

Directed by Jeff Tremaine and featuring the "Jackass" regulars, the flick scored a massive average of $16,228 per theater at 3,081 locations. Opening gross is almost double that of "Jackass: Number Two."

At a distant second place, Summit Entertainment's action comedy "RED" debuted with $22.5 million. The Robert Schwentke-directed movie stars Bruce Willis as a retired black-ops agent targeted by the CIA.

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'Jackass 3D' is king of Friday box office

WOW! Johnny Knoxville and the crazy "Jackass" boys are blowing up the North American box office now that "Jackass 3D" debuted at the No. 1 spot with a stunning $21.8 million in ticket sales Friday.

The 3D film directed by Jeff Tremaine scored an average of $7,076 per theater at 3,081 locations, which is almost double the amount "Jackass: Number Two" pulled in when it debuted back in 2006.+

Following far behind at No. 2 was "RED," Summit's action comedy starring Bruce Willis, Helen Mirren, Mary-Louise Parker and Morgan Freeman. "RED" bagged $7.2 million from ticket sales at 3,255 locations.

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Box Office: 'The Social Network' stays on top

David Fincher's "The Social Network" made a late comeback this weekend and held on to the top spot at the North American box office with $15.5 million in ticket sales. Cume stands at $46 million.

Audiences definitely friended "Network" for a second weekend round, helping the film score an average of $5,594 per theater at 2,771 locations. That only marks a 30 percent drop from last weekend.

New entry "Life As We Know It" debuted in second place, earning $14.6 million from ticket sales at 3,150 loctions. Katherine Heigl and Josh Duhamel star as two individuals struggling to care for a baby.

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'Life As We Know It' leads Friday box office

This weekend isn't exactly memorable in terms of new movie releases, but Josh Duhamel and Katherine Heigl's new comedy "Life As We Know It" performed rather well at the top of the North American box office.

The Greg Berlanti-helmed comedy scored $5.2 million Friday via an average of $1.667 per theater at 3,150 locations. The film follows two people struggling to take care of a kid after the parents' death.

Coming in second was "The Social Network," which bagged another $4.9 million Friday for a total of $35.4 million. New entry "Secretariat" followed in third place with an opening day gross of $4 million.

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'Secretariat' gets a so-so second poster

I don't know what it is, but somehow, I can't really get all too excited about Randall Wallace's upcoming Walt Disney horse drama "Secretariat." Maybe it's because I think it's impossible to beat "Seabiscuit."

Needless to say, this one opens Oct. 8, 2010, and a new poster has shown up online courtesy of Disney. To tell you the truth, it's not even as compelling as the previous poster, which itself was okay at best.

The cast, however, is promising, with Diane Lane leading the race. She will slip into the role of Penny Chenery, an American racehorse owner whose thoroughbred Secretariat won the 1973 Tripe Crown.

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New 'Secretariat' poster now online

Here's a simple but nice poster for Randall Wallace's upcoming Walt Disney adventure drama "Secretariat," which will be riding to theaters Oct. 8, 2010. See the full version right after the jump.

The cast for this one is promising, with Diane Lane leading the race. She will slip into the role of Penny Chenery, an American racehorse owner whose thoroughbred Secretariat won the 1973 Tripe Crown.

Chenery first stepped into the world of horses and racing when she took over her father’s horse farm in Virginia. She later became known as the “first lady of racing.” John Malkovich co-stars.

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First trailer for 'Secretariat' rides to web

Randall Wallace's horse drama "Secretariat" will be riding to theaters Oct. 8, 2010, and a first trailer for the Walt Disney release has debuted online. Check it out after the jump. One thing you'll notice really quick is that this one boasts quite the solid cast, including Diane Lane, John Malkovich and James Cromwell.

Lane will slip into the role of Penny Chenery, an American racehorse owner whose thoroughbred Secretariat won the 1973 Tripe Crown. Chenery first stepped into the world of horses and racing when she took over her father’s horse farm in Virginia. She later became known as the “first lady of racing.”

Mike Rich ("The Nativity Story") wrote the script, and as you can see below, the film promises to be an entertaining horse race movie that will likely find an audience even though I doubt it will match the excellence of "Seabiscuit." Anyway, it's always good to see Diane Lane in great shape.

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Fred Thompson set to ride 'Secretariat'

Fred Thompson is one among a bunch of actors who just joined Randall Wallace's upcoming Walt Disney horse movie "Secretariat," which also stars Diane Lane, John Malkovich, Dylan Walsh and Scott Glenn.

Others joining the flick are A.J. Michalka, Kevin Connolly, Margo Martindale, Eric Lange and Drew Roy. Lane plays Penny Tweedy, the racehorse owner whose thoroughbred Secretariat won the '73 Tripe Crown.

The Hollywood Reporter says Thompson plays famous horse breeder Bull Hancock. Michalka plays Lane's daughter, and Connolly is a sports writer. Walsh plays Lane's husband, and Malkovich plays a horse trainer.

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