Newmarket Films' The Passion of the Christ had an astonishing resurrection at the boxoffice in North America during the Easter weekend, rising from the fifth slot a week ago to the top spot with $15.2 million. In its seventh weekend, the gross for The Passion marked an extraordinary 43% increase from a week earlier -- and with 168 fewer venues. Buena Vista's high-priced The Alamo, the weekend front-runner heading into the session, relinquished the fight with a debut in the fourth spot and a discouraging $9.1 million. Fox Searchlight's Johnson Family Vacation was the surprise hit of the session's new wide releases. The Cedric the Entertainer starrer, produced by Magic Hallway Pictures and directed by Christopher Erskin, grossed $9.4 million from 1,317 theaters to place third, taking in $11.8 million since its Wednesday opening. The theater count for Johnson was the lowest of the top 12 films and was half of the venue tally for The Alamo.
- 4/13/2004
- The Hollywood Reporter - Movie News
Music video director Christopher Erskin is in negotiations to make his feature helming debut by directing Cedric the Entertainer in the road comedy Johnson Family Vacation for Fox Searchlight Pictures. A February start is being eyed for the project, which centers on the comedic misadventures of a man (Cedric the Entertainer) and his dysfunctional family as they desperately make their way cross-country to their annual family reunion in Texas. The project marks Cedric the Entertainer's first starring role in a feature, following such recent successes as MGM's Barbershop and The Original Kings of Comedy.
- 10/3/2002
- The Hollywood Reporter - Movie News
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