Box Office: 'Alice in Wonderland' takes $62M!

Weekend of March 12 – 14, 2010: 'Alice' still going strong while new releases struggle...

Tim Burton’s “Alice in Wonderland” continued its North American box office reign this weekend with a stunning three-day gross of $62 million in ticket sales at 3,728 locations, according to studio estimates Sunday. Domestically, “Alice” has now grossed $208.6 million in a little more than one week.

New entry “Green Zone,” Paul Greengrass’ explosive war thriller starring Matt Damon, debuted in second place with $14.5 million. Playing at 3,003 locations, the film scored an average of $4,840 per theater. Damon plays a U.S. soldier who starts doubting the existence of the Iraqi WMDs program.

Following at No. 3 this weekend was Jim Field Smith’s charming comedy “She’s Out of My League,” which bagged $9.6 million from ticket sales at 2,956 sites. The Paramount release stars Jay Baruchel as an insecure airport security guard whose life takes a surprising turn when a hot event planner asks him on a date.

Meanwhile, Robert Pattinson’s new film “Remember Me” finished fourth on the chart, earning $8.3 million. The “Twilight” star plays a young man who struggles with the suicide of his brother and falls in love with a young woman whose mother was murdered when she was a young girl.

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Huge! 'Alice in Wonderland' scores $41M Friday!

Tim Burton's "Alice in Wonderland" destroyed its competition at the North American box office Friday with a stunning $41 million in ticket sales, according to early estimates. The Walt Disney release could potentially bag $120 million this weekend.

Playing at 3,728 theaters, Burton's 3D version of the classic tale scored a superb average of $10,998 per theater after being boosted by a solid marketing campaign. Despite mixed reviews, the film has Johnny Depp, which easily helped luring folks to theaters.

At a distant No. 2, Antoine Fuqua's new cop drama "Brooklyn's Finest" opened with a decent $4.7 million from ticket sales at 1,936 locations. Starring Richard Gere, Don Cheadle and Ethan Hawke, the film follows three troubled Brooklyn cops trying to get by.

Meanwhile, Martin Scorsese's "Shutter Island" picked up another $3.9 million in third place, reaching a domestic total of $86.5 million after a strong two-week run. Warner's "Cop Out" followed at No. 4, generating $2.8 million for a cume of $26 million.

Breck Eisner's horror remake "The Crazies" collected $2.3 million at No. 5, lifting its total haul to $22.7 million after one week in release. James Cameron's "Avatar" followed closely in sixth place Friday, reaching a total gross of $714.4 million.

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

Box Office: 'Shutter Island' takes the weekend again!

Weekend of February 26 – 28, 2010: 'Shutter Island' scares off competition

Martin Scorsese’s thriller “Shutter Island” beat its competition to stay on top at the North American box office this weekend with a decent $22.2 million in ticket sales at 3,003 locations, according to studio estimates Sunday.

Domestically, the film starring Leonardo DiCaprio and Mark Ruffalo has reached a total haul of $75 million after a little more than one week in release. “Island” ended up scoring an average of $7,393 per theater.

Following in second place with $18.5 million was Kevin Smith’s new comedy “Cop Out,” a film starring Bruce Willis and Tracy Morgan as two cops hunting down a gang of murderers while trying to find a stolen baseball card.

New entry “The Crazies” came in third this weekend, bagging a solid $16.5 million from ticket sales at 2,476 locations. The horror remake directed by Breck Eisner follows a group of survivors as they struggle with the outbreak of a dangerous virus.

Meanwhile, James Cameron’s “Avatar” is not giving up its spot in the top five. The hit sci-fi epic landed at No. 4 with a weekend gross of $14 million, reaching a cumulative gross of $706.9 million after 11 weeks in release.

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'Shutter Island' slashes new releases Friday

'Shutter Island' holds on to No. 1 for now...

Martin Scorsese's "Shutter Island" defended the No. 1 spot at the North American box office Friday with a solid $6.6 million in ticket sales, according to early studio estimates. Ever since its release last weekend, "Island" has reached a cumulative gross of $59.5 million.

New entry "Cop Out," the new comedy directed by Kevin Smith, finished second Friday, earning $5.975 million. The film, which is now playing at 3,150 locations, stars Bruce Willis and Tracy Morgan as two buddy cops trying to find a stolen baseball card. Read my review here.

Following closely in third place was Breck Eisner's horror remake "The Crazies," which bagged $5.970 million from ticket sales at 2,476 locations. The film follows a group of people trying to stay alive while everyone else in their small town goes crazy and turns to brutal violence.

Meanwhile, James Cameron's "Avatar" landed in fourth place with $3.1 million, reaching a domestic total of $696 million after a superb 71-day run. "Valentine's Day" followed at No. 5, generating $2.9 million for a total haul of $93.7 million.

Movie Review: “The Crazies”

Seen on: February 26, 2010

The players: Director: Breck Eisner, Writers: Scott Kosar, Ray Wright, Cast: Timothy Olyphant, Radha Mitchell, Joe Anderson, Danielle Panabaker

Facts of interest: Remake of George A. Romero's 1973 flick.

The plot: The film follows what happens to a group of people after a strange virus infects a small-town population.

Our thoughts: Breck Eisner’s remake of “The Crazies” delivers the goods. It’s not a perfect horror flick, but it sure boasts enough energy and thrills to keep viewers entertained to the fullest extent. I didn’t think I would say this, but this one fully captured my attention and got my heart to race more than once.

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'The Crazies' mini trailer shows new footage

A new mini trailer for Breck Eisner's remake of the 1973 George A. Romero horror flick "The Crazies" is now online, and while it does look similar to its predecessors, it sure boasts a bit of brand-new footage. Check it out below.

"The Crazies" focuses on what happens to the people in a small American town hit by a deadly virus that enters the local water supply and turns many of the town's residents into creepy freaks feeling the urge to kill and destroy.

Timothy Olyphant stars as the town's sheriff and Radha Mitchell plays his wife. Danielle Panabaker, Preston Bailey, Justin Welborn and Joe Anderson co-star in the film written by Ray Wright and Scott Kosar. It opens Feb. 26, 2010.

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New photo from 'The Crazies' remake

Ouverture Films released a new photo of Radha Mitchell in action in Breck Eisner's upcoming horror remake "The Crazies," and you can check it out just above.

The film focuses on what happens to people in a small American town hit by a deadly virus that enters the local water supply and turns many of the town's residents into freaks feeling the urge to kill and destroy.

Timothy Olyphant stars as the town's sheriff and Radha Mitchell plays his wife. Danielle Panabaker, Preston Bailey, Justin Welborn and Joe Anderson co-star in the film written by Ray Wright and Scott Kosar.

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'The Crazies' trailer debuts online

Breck Eisner's remake of the 1973 George A. Romero horror flick "The Crazies" now has a first official trailer, and you can check it out after the jump. My first impression: this doesn't look that bad at this stage.

The film focuses on what happens to people in a small American town hit by a deadly virus that enters the local water supply and turns many of the town's residents into freaks feeling the urge to kill and destroy.

Timothy Olyphant stars as the town's sheriff and Radha Mitchell plays his wife. Danielle Panabaker, Preston Bailey, Justin Welborn and Joe Anderson co-star in the film written by Ray Wright and Scott Kosar.

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Brand-new teaser poster for 'The Crazies' remake

Ouverture Films today released a brand-new teaser poster for its upcoming horror remake "The Crazies," which is currently set for release Feb. 26, 2010. Check out this simple, yet cool poster right after the jump.

"The Crazies" is a reinvention loosely based upon the George Romero classic about the inhabitants of a small Iowa town beset by insanity and then death after a mysterious toxin contaminates their water supply.

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Panabaker, Anderson board 'Crazies' remake

Danielle Panabaker and Joe Anderson are the latest to join the cast of Breck Eisner's remake of the 1973 George A. Romero horror flick "The Crazies."

The plot of the film focuses on what happens to people in a small Kansas town hit by a deadly virus that enters the local water supply after a plane crash.

According to the Hollywood Reporter, Panabaker plays a receptionist at the town's medical center, while Anderson is on board as the town's deputy.

Also starring are Timothy Olyphant as the sheriff and possibly Radha Mitchell as his wife.

Ray Wright and Scott Kosar wrote the screenplay for Ouverture Films. Romero will serve as executive producer.

Panabaker is currently onscreen in the remake of "Friday the 13th." Anderson starred in "Across the Universe." He will also be seen in "Amelia" and "Traveling."