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Beowulf (2007)

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Two More Studios To Sell New Movies on iTunes
17 April 2008 (StudioBriefing)
Two more major film studios are risking the wrath of major retailers like Wal-Mart and Best Buy by making movies available on Apple's iTunes store on the same day the DVD versions hit the shelves in stores. Daily Variety reported today (Thursday) that Fox will offer Juno online next Tuesday, when it also releases the DVD and Blu-ray versions. The trade publication also reported that Paramount offered Beowulf for purchase online shortly after it hit the stores on Feb. 26 and that Jackass 2.5 -- a straight-to-video release -- actually hit the Web a week before it came out on DVD. In yet another move likely to perturb traditional retailers, Fox struck a deal with Starbucks, which began offering the Juno DVD in its coffeeshops last Tuesday. Meanwhile. Starbucks itself announced Wednesday that it had reached an agreement with Apple under which it will give away access cards allowing customers to download one "Pick of the Week" song or video from the iTunes store each week.

'Beowulf' Tops DVD Charts
6 March 2008 (StudioBriefing)
Paramount Home Entertainment's Beowulf took over the lead on both the DVD sales charts and rental charts last week, dropping last week's winner, Universal's American Gangster, to second place on each of the charts. The film earned $10.9 million in rentals, according to Home Media magazine. Several of last year's animated films returned to the sales charts, including Disney/Pixar's Ratatouille, which came in at No. 3; DreamWorks Animation's Shrek the Third at No. 7; and Fox's The Simpsons Movie, at No. 8. Home Media attributed the surge in sales for the animated fare to the "looming Easter gift-giving season."

IMAX's Blow-Ups Blow Up Profits, Too
17 January 2008 (StudioBriefing)
Blowing up conventional movies to the giant screen generated giant profits for IMAX last year as its net soared 56 percent above 2006, the company said Wednesday. Leading the pack, it said, were 300, Spider-Man 3, Harry Potter and the Order of Phoenix, Transformers, Beowulf and I Am Legend.

'Pulp Fiction' Writer Apologizes for Fatal Crash
16 January 2008 (WENN)
Pulp Fiction screenwriter Roger Avary has apologized after he was arrested in connection with a fatal car crash in Los Angeles. Avary, 42, was charged with vehicular manslaughter and driving under the influence after Andreas Zini, a passenger in his car, died on Sunday. At the time of the crash the 34-year-old was apparently visiting Avary and his wife, Gretchen, who was also was also seriously injured - but is expected to survive. Zini was cut from the vehicle by firefighters but died several hours later at Ventura County Medical Center. An autopsy report issued on Monday determined that he died of "blunt force chest and abdominal injuries." And now Avary has expressed his sympathy to Zini's relatives. A statement from the writer says, "Roger wishes to publicly convey his heartfelt condolences to the family of the deceased. Words cannot express how sorry he is, and this tragic accident will always haunt him." The writer, who has been freed on $50,000 bail, faces an arraignment hearing on Friday. Avary won an Oscar, along with Quentin Tarantino, for his work on 1994 cult movie Pulp Fiction. He was also a co-writer on last year's animated epic Beowulf.

Jolie Thanks Pitt for Comforting Her After Her Mother Died
21 December 2007 (WENN)
Angelina Jolie has praised her boyfriend Brad Pitt for the "extraordinary" way he comforted her in the aftermath of her mother's death earlier this year. The Beowulf actress, who lost her mom Marcheline Bertrand to cancer in January, is grateful to Pitt for helping her to focus on the happiness she'd shared with her mother over the years. Jolie tells British magazine Grazia, "He is just a great friend and when my mother passed, he was so great. He sat with me and held (my mother's) hand. After she passed away he spent the night asking me and my brother about our mother and got us to tell funny stories about her. He focused on all the love and joy we were fortunate enough to have had. He was extraordinary."

'Compass' Needs Direction
11 December 2007 (StudioBriefing)
New Line Cinema's The Golden Compass traveled even farther off course than originally estimated, taking in a total of $25.78 million over the weekend for an average of $7,308 per theater. Disney's Enchanted took the runner-up spot with $10.71 million. Every other film earned less than $5 million. The Catholic League, which had urged a boycott of Compass, took credit for the film's disappointing performance. Kiera McCaffrey, a spokeswoman for the organization, told MarketWatch.com, "It looks like people voted with their feet on this." But Paul Dergarabedian, president of box-office tracker Media By Numbers, attributed it to a slow marketplace and so-so reviews. On the other hand, the film played very well overseas, where it took in $55 million. In fact, there appeared to be no general slump in the foreign box office, which saw Enchanted coming in second with $11.6 million (bringing its overseas total to $35.8 million) and Bee Movie coming in third with $10.1 million.

The top ten films over the weekend, according to final figures compiled by Media by Numbers (figures in parentheses represent total gross to date): 1. The Golden Compass, New Line, $25,783,232, (New); 2. Enchanted, Disney, $10,709,515, 3 Wks. ($83,868,421); 3. This Christmas, Sony Screen Gems, $4,961,083, 3 Wks. ($42,721,264); 4. Fred Claus, Warner Bros., $4,608,314, 5 Wks. ($65,536,922); 5. Beowulf, Paramount, $4,536,667, 4 Wks. ($76,119,822); 6. No Country For Old Men, Miramax, $4,116,888, 5 Wks. ($28,744,592); 7. August Rush, Warner Bros., $3,510,446, 3 Wks. ($25,133,572); 8. Hitman, Fox, $3,488,135, 3 Wks. ($35,822,721); 9. Awake, MGM, $3,327,369, 2 Wks. ($10,743,207); 10. The Mist, MGM, $2,629,290, 3 Wks. ($23,477,175).

'Golden Compass' Is Really Dark
10 December 2007 (StudioBriefing)
Gold, it turns out, may not have been the best ingredient for making a compass. Although New Line Cinema reportedly spent $250-300 million to make and market The Golden Compass, the movie earned only $26.1 million in its opening weekend. Most analysts had predicted an opening of between $30 million and $40 million -- and even that would have been low for a movie carrying such a huge budget. Other studios had expected such a big opening for Compass that they went out of their way to give it a wide berth, not opening another film against it in wide release. The disappointing opening was attributed to mediocre reviews and efforts by the Catholic League, the nation's largest Catholic lay group, to persuade moviegoers to stay home on the grounds that the movie might encourage children to read His Dark Materials, the book trilogy on which it is based and which the League claims espouses atheism. The film, nevertheless, landed at the top of the box-office list, deposing Enchanted which held the crown -- or, in this case, the tiara -- for the previous two weekends. Sales for the top 12 films totaled $73.2 million, down 10 percent from the comparable weekend a year ago. "It's been a tough marketplace in terms of revenue and attendance," Paul Dergarabedian, president of Media By Numbers, told Bloomberg News. "Despite the fact that there have been some high- quality films out there, the great ones aren't doing great box office."

The top ten films for the weekend, according to studio estimates compiled by Media by Numbers: 1. The Golden Compass, $26.1 million; 2. Enchanted, $10.7 million; 3. This Christmas, $5 million; 4. Fred Claus, $4.7 million; 5. Beowulf, $4.4 million; 6. No Country for Old Men, $4.2 million; 7. August Rush, $3.5 million; 8. Hitman, $3.48 million; 9. Awake, $3.3 million; 10. Bee Movie, $2.6 million.

Weekend After Thanksgiving Is a Turkey
4 December 2007 (StudioBriefing)
On the weekend following the Thanksgiving holiday, when the box office ordinarily takes a dip, attendance reached its lowest point in over a decade, box office analysts observed Monday. The top film, Disney's Enchanted, held the top spot for the second straight week with just $16.4 million. In its third week, Paramount's Beowulf took second place with only half that amount. The only new film to be released over the weekend, Awake, from MGM and the Weinstein Co., took in a paltry $5.9 million.

The top ten films over the weekend, according to final figures compiled by Media by Numbers (figures in parentheses represent total gross to date): 1. Enchanted, Disney, $16,403,316, 2 Wks. ($70,000,316); 2. Beowulf, Paramount, $8,208,565, 3 Wks. ($68,939,986); 3. This Christmas, Sony, $7,941,068, 2 Wks. ($36,431,987); 4. Hitman, 20th Century Fox, $6,021,927, 2 Wks. ($30,426,328); 5. Awake, MGM, $5,856,872, 1 Wks. ($5,856,872); 6. Fred Claus, Warner Bros., $5,501,437, 4 Wks. ($59,784,054); 7. August Rush, Warner Bros., $5,021,435, 2 Wks. ($20,225,907); 8. The Mist, MGM, $4,553,008, 2 Wks. ($19,563,276); 9. Bee Movie, Paramount, $4,444,798, 5 Wks. ($117,616,494); 10. No Country for Old Men, Miramax, $4,385,290, 3 Wks. ($22,914,851)

'Enchanted' Wins; Box Office Loses
3 December 2007 (StudioBriefing)
During a weekend when box-office business traditionally sinks, the top earner was the three-week-old Enchanted with just $17 million, according to studio estimates. It has grossed about $70.6 million thus far. The only new movie, Awake, starring Hayden Christensen and Jessica Alba, proved to be no sleeper. The Weinstein Co. movie distributed by MGM opened with just $6 million. This Christmas, which cost only $13 million to make, repeated in the second spot with $8.4 million to bring its two-week gross to $37 million, while Beowulf remained in third place with $7.9 million. It has now grossed $69 million (but it reportedly cost $160 million to make). The only good box-office news came from the indie sector, as the Coen Bros.' No Country for Old Men, the best-reviewed movie of the season, expanded into 995 theaters, where it took in $4.5 million. Fox Searchlight's The Savages opened in four theaters, taking in $185,000, while Miramax's The Diving Bell and the Butterfly debuted in three theaters with $75,000. Overall, the box office was down a whopping 8.2 percent from the comparable weekend a year ago, according to Media by Numbers.

The top ten films for the weekend, according to studio estimates compiled by Media by Numbers: 1. Enchanted, $17 million; 2. This Christmas, $8.4 million; 3. Beowulf, $7.9 million; 4. Awake, $6 million; 5. Hitman, $5.8 million; 6. Fred Claus, $5.6 million; 7. August Rush, $5.2 million; 8. No Country for Old Men, $4.5 million; 9. Bee Movie, $4.47 million; 10. American Gangster, $4.3 million.

Witherspoon Tops Highest-Paid List
3 December 2007 (WENN)
Walk The Line star Reese Witherspoon is officially the highest-paid actress in Hollywood. The 31-year-old Oscar winner has beaten the likes of Angelina Jolie, Cameron Diaz and Nicole Kidman to claim the number one spot in the Hollywood Reporter's annual female rich list - receiving a staggering $15-$20 million paycheck per picture. Tomb Raider star Jolie, 32, comes in second, though her salary for the current Beowulf picture was said to be a "mere" $8 million. Diaz, 35, is placed third, with a $15 million-per-movie salary demand, though her take-home earnings from the recent Shrek The Third are pegged at a very healthy $30 million. Last year's number two, Nicole Kidman, 40, fell to fourth place, with an asking price of $10 million to $15 million a film. Also in the $10 million to $15 million club are Renee Zellweger, Sandra Bullock and Julia Roberts, despite an absence from the screen since 2004. The full list is: 1. Reese Witherspoon - $15 million-$20 million; 2. Angelina Jolie - $15 million-$20 million; 3. Cameron Diaz - $15+ million; 4. Nicole Kidman - $10 million-$15 million; 5. Renee Zellweger - $10 million-$15 million; 6. Sandra Bullock - $10 million-$15 million; 7. Julia Roberts - $10 million-$15 million; 8. Drew Barrymore - $10 million-$12 million; 9. Jodie Foster - $10 million-$12 million; 10. Halle Berry - $10 million.

'Awake' Attempts To Lift Slumbering Box Office
30 November 2007 (StudioBriefing)
In what is generally regarded as the one of the worst weekends of the year -- if not the worst -- for the domestic box office, only one film, the Weinstein Co.'s Awake, starring Hayden Christensen, will be opening wide -- and that film wasn't even shown to film critics. The film concerns a man who undergoes surgery but remains alert, although essentially paralyzed, throughout. Producer Joana Vicente told today's (Friday) Los Angeles Times that she expects the film "will do to surgery what Jaws did to swimming in the ocean." Analysts expected Disney's Enchanted, Sony's This Christmas, and Paramount's Beowulf to finish 1-2-3 as they did last weekend, with a possibility that Awake might land in third, or even second, place.

Overseas Competition Between 'Enchanted' and 'Beowulf' Revs Up
28 November 2007 (StudioBriefing)
Disney's Enchanted and Warner Bros.' Beowulf have begun a neck-and-neck competition at the overseas box office, Daily Variety reported today (Wednesday). The trade publication noted that over the weekend Beowulf was the winner over Enchanted in Russia, while Enchanted edged out Beowulf in Spain. However, one unnamed exhibition executive told the trade publication that while results in each of the countries were "O.K," they were unimpressive. "Disney hasn't got a huge Christmas hit on in its hands in Spain, and Beowulf, as its U.S. bow suggested, isn't a 300," the executive observed.

'Enchanted' Charms Box Office
27 November 2007 (StudioBriefing)
A traditional Disney movie that some critics said seemed to have been guided by the spirit of Walt himself became a big hit at the domestic box office over the Thanksgiving holiday, according to final figures released Monday. Enchanted earned $34.4 million over the weekend and $49 million over the five-day holiday period, box office trackers Media By Numbers said. In second place was Sony/Screen Gems's This Christmas, which raked in $17.96 million over the weekend and $26.34 million over the holiday. In fact the movie earned more on a per-theater basis than Enchanted, averaging $9,665 per theater versus $9,233 for the Disney film. Also scoring strongly was the critically praised No Country for Old Men, playing in only 830 theaters. It earned $7.78 million and averaged $9,043 per theater. Last weekend's top film, Beowulf dropped 40 percent to third place with $16.53 million ($23.6 million for the holiday), but saw only a 15-percent drop-off in business at 3-D IMAX houses.

The top ten films over the weekend, according to final figures compiled by Media by Numbers (figures in parentheses represent total gross to date): 1 Enchanted, Disney, $34,440,317, 1 Wk. ($49,060,281 -- From Wednesday); 2. This Christmas, Sony, $17,958,183, 1 Wk. ($26,341,492 -- From Wednesday); 3. Beowulf, Paramount, $16,538,666, 2 Wks. ($56,633,821); 4. Hitman, 20th Century Fox, $13,180,769, 1 Wk. ($21,094,148 -- From Wednesday); 5. Bee Movie, Paramount, $11,813,502, 4 Wks. ($111,860,810); 6. Fred Claus, Warner Bros., $10,575,400, 3 Wks. ($52,869,835); 7. August Rush, Warner Bros., $9,421,369, 1 Wk. ($13,243,069 -- From Wednesday); 8. American Gangster, Universal, $9,013,925, 4 Wks. ($115,550,290); 9. The Mist, MGM, $8,931,973, 1 Wk. ($12,861,800 -- From Wednesday); 10. Mr. Magorium's Wonder Emporium, 20th Century Fox, $7,936,035, 2 Wks. ($22,179,439).

'Enchanted' Lives Up to Its Name
26 November 2007 (StudioBriefing)
Disney had some Enchanted weekend, with its latest hand-drawn animated/live romance drawing $50.05 million over the five days, $35.3 million over the weekend. "I think Disney has a major hit on their hands," Paul Dergarabedian, president of Media By Numbers, told Bloomberg News. "I think word-of-mouth will be very good on this one." Underscoring the appeal of family movies, the low-budget film This Christmas, starring a relatively unknown cast, placed second with $27.1 million for the five days and $18.6 million for the weekend. After weeks of mostly dismal box-office results, the weekend gave studios much to be thankful for, with an overall gross up 4.4 percent over 2006. "That's good for an industry that's been in a downtrend for almost two months," Dergarabedian said in a separate interview with the Associated Press. "Thanksgiving sets the tone for the rest of the year and the holiday season in general. This was a key weekend, and it delivered." Meanwhile, Beowulf held on to the box office lead overseas with a weekend gross of $26 million, Daily Variety reported today (Monday). It also noted that Disney's Ratatouille pushed past the $400-million mark in foreign sales. The only other films to accomplish that feat this year were the latest Pirates of the Caribbean, Spider-Man, Shrek, and Harry Potter sequels.

The top ten films for the weekend, according to studio estimates compiled by Media by Numbers: 1. Enchanted, $35.3 million; 2. This Christmas, $18.6 million; 3. Beowulf, $16.2 million; 4. Hitman, $13 million; 5. Bee Movie, $12 million; 6. Fred Claus, $10.7 million; 7. August Rush, $9.4 million; 8. American Gangster, $9.2 million; 9. The Mist, $9.1 million; 10. No Country for Old Men, $8.1 million.

Some 'Enchanted' Thanksgiving
24 November 2007 (StudioBriefing)
As expected, Disney's Enchanted appears to be proving as popular as turkey and cranberry sauce over the Thanksgiving Day holiday. The first two days of the holiday at the box office were reportedly dominated by the Disney animated/live production, according to analysts, with the movie earning an estimated $8.2 million on opening day. Its closest rival was Fox's Hitman, which earned $4.5 million. Making a surprising showing in third place was Sony's family flick This Christmas, with $4.3 million on Wednesday. Last week's top film, Beowulf, placed fourth with $3.8 million. Two other new films made the top ten: The Weinstein Co.'s The Mist opened with $2.1 million, while Warner Bros.' August Rush debuted with $1.9 million.

Winstone To Take a Break From Movies
23 November 2007 (WENN)
British actor Ray Winstone is to take a break from making films, because his heavy workload has left him exhausted. The 50-year-old has starred in variety of recent blockbusters including The Departed, Beowulf and the forthcoming Indiana Jones And The Kingdom Of The Crystal Skull - and his raised profile has led to a number of offers pouring in. But Winstone is determined to keep his work schedule clear for the foreseeable future - no matter how lucrative - so he can enjoy some well-earned time off. He says, "I just turned one down. It was a biggie, and good and all. But I thought, 'I've had enough for a while. I'm knackered. I need to recharge my batteries'."

Box Office: The (3-D) Eyes Have It
20 November 2007 (StudioBriefing)
It might have been a dismal weekend at the box office had it not been for 3-D. Although 3-D theaters accounted for just 20 percent of the nearly 3200 theaters that screened the No. 1 film, Beowulf, they accounted for more than 40 percent of the film's gross of $27.5 million. "It just shows the potential of what 3D can be in the future," Paramount distribution chief Don Harris told The Hollywood Reporter. Other films made only so-so showings. The No. 2 film was the Jerry Seinfeld animated cartoon Bee Movie, which earned $14 million in its third week. Another family film, Mr. Magorium's Wonder Emporium, opened with a less-than-wondrous $9.6 million. The only other newcomer, Love in the Time of Cholera was DOA with just $1.9 million. There were a couple of bright spots on the list, however. The critically praised No Country for Old Men from the Coen Bros. earned $3.1 million despite widening its release to only 148 theaters. It placed seventh on the box-office list. And Universal's American Gangster became the first film of the fall to cross the $100-million mark in gross ticket sales.

The top ten films over the weekend, according to final figures compiled by Media by Numbers (figures in parentheses represent total gross to date): 1. Beowulf, Paramount, $27,515,871, (New); 2. Bee Movie, Paramount, $14,008,444, 3 Wks. ($93,570,695); 3. American Gangster, Universal, $12,875,250, 3 Wks. ($100,650,615); 4. Fred Claus, Warner Bros., $11,914,323, 2 Wks. ($35,712,980); 5. Mr. Magorium's Wonder Emporium, 20th Century Fox, $9,630,085, (New); 6. Dan in Real Life, Disney, $4,343,185, 4 Wks. ($36,931,806); 7. No Country for Old Men, Miramax, $3,075,722, (New); 8. Lions for Lambs, MGM, $2,896,594, 2 Wks. ($11,584,339); 9. Saw IV, Lions Gate, $2,248,805, 4 Wks. ($61,766,718); 10. Love in the Time of Cholera, New Line, $1,924,860, (New).

3-D Makes Big Comeback
19 November 2007 (StudioBriefing)
The majority of moviegoers who saw Beowulf over the weekend sought out 3-D theaters to see it in, Paramount indicated Sunday. Although the film played in just 740 theaters equipped with digital 3-D projectors, the film earned twice as much in those theaters than in all the rest combined. In all, the film grossed $28.1 million -- a figure that came in at the low end of analysts' expectations. Nevertheless, Paramount marketing and distribution chief Rob Moore told today's (Monday) Los Angeles Times: "This will do great work in terms of convincing exhibitors that they should be investing in 3-D technology." In second place was Jerry Seinfeld's animated Bee Movie, with $14.3 million. Another family flick, Mr. Magorium's Wonder Emporium, opened in fifth place with $10 million. But the film that impressed the most was Oscar-touted No Country for Old Men, which came in in seventh place with $3.1 million despite the fact that it had expanded into only 148 theaters. According to estimates, the Coen Bros. film averaged $20,932 per theater; by contrast, the No. 1 film, Beowulf, opened with $8,912 per theater.

The top ten shows of the week according to Nielsen Research: 1. Beowulf, $28.1 million; 2. Bee Movie, $14.3 million; 3. American Gangster, $13.2 million; 4. Fred Claus, $12 million; 5. Mr. Magorium's Wonder Emporium, $10 million; 6. Dan In Real Life, $4.5 million; 7. No Country for Old Men, $3 million; 8. Lions for Lambs, $3 million; 9. Saw IV, $2.3 million; 10. Love in the Time of Cholera, $1.9 million.

Movie Reviews: 'Beowulf'
16 November 2007 (StudioBriefing)
For the most part, critics are amused by the translation of Beowulf from weighty Olde English epic poem to 3-D cartoon. Claudia Puig in USA Today observes, "It's a lot more fun than the mythic adventure most of us read in school." But Roger Ebert in the Chicago Sun Times notes that it only "resembles the original in that it uses a lot of the same names." He also notes that, as in "all 3-D movies it spends a lot of time throwing things at the audience: Spears, blood, arms, legs, bodies, tables, heads, mead, and so forth. ... Not bad for a one-dimensional story." Lou Lumenick in the New York Post remarks that they're "some of the most spectacular 3-D effects I've ever seen." Manohla Dargis in the New York Times notes that the 3-D images may be necessary in order to keep "your eyes engaged when your mind starts to wander." Kenneth Turan in the Los Angeles Times is also impressed with the performance-capture animation used in the film but suggests it is overused. Nevertheless, he adds, "Beowulf is still more something to see than to hear. Rarely has so much expensive technique been put at the service of such feeble and pathetic screenwriting." And Mick LaSalle in the San Francisco Chronicle says that, in the end, Beowulf, is all about the 3-D and the effects, "which means that as soon as the novelty of 3-D wears off, the experience has been had. That takes about 45 minutes."

First Box-Office Jingles
16 November 2007 (StudioBriefing)
Hollywood studios are hoping that moviegoers will get into the holiday spirit early this year and turn out for a slew of new releases arriving today and next Wednesday. Box office analysts predict this weekend to be dominated by Beowulf, expected to replace the Cliffs Notes version among English 101 students for years to come. The film is due to be screened in 3-D in more than 1,000 theaters, where it will command a premium ticket price. (Many analysts are predicting that Disney's Enchanted, which opens on Wednesday, will trounce everything in sight.) A box-office boost would be cheered throughout Hollywood, which has seen revenue fall behind last year's figures every week except one since Labor Day. According to box-office trackers Media By Numbers, ticket sales are down almost 10 percent versus the same period last year (although overall revenue for the year is up about 5 percent).

Katzenberg Predicts 3-D Will Be Sight for Sore Box Office
15 November 2007 (StudioBriefing)
DreamWorks Animation chief Jeffrey Katzenberg is predicting that new 3-D projects will drive up the box office as moviegoers seek out entertainment that they can not duplicate at home. As Katzenberg put it in an interview with the New York Post following announcement of a deal with IMAX to release his forthcoming films in 3-D IMAX, "I think this becomes something that so differentiates what you get in your home versus what you get in a movie theater, it becomes a real driver to keep people excited about the movie going experience." Box office analysts will be keeping an eye on receipts for 3-D screenings of Beowulf, which opens tomorrow, to see whether audiences will in fact be willing to pay premium prices to see the 3-D version. The film, from director Robert Zemeckis, uses the same 3-D performance-capture animation technology that Zemeckis introduced in The Polar Express. Meanwhile, a daughter-in-law of John Wayne says she is hoping to restore the actor's 1953 Western Hondo, which was filmed in 3-D, and re-release it. The Hollywood Reporter reported today (Thursday) that a digital print of the movie was screened Tuesday by the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences. Gretchen Wayne, widow of Wayne's son Michael, told the trade publication, "I would love to get this film [restoration] as good as possible and take it out for a theatrical release. ... The digital world is constantly evolving, and as it does we are able to do more and more with this very old 3-D version of Hondo."

'Bee' Buzzes Past 'Gangster'
12 November 2007 (StudioBriefing)
Jerry Seinfeld, who is used to making end runs around his competition, has taken the lead at the box office with his animated Bee Movie. The film, which opened in second place last week behind American Gangster, moved to No. 1 with an estimated take of $26 million and should further enhance its standing today (Monday) with kids out of school for the extended Veteran's Day holiday. Its gross now stands at around $72.2 million. "It's so rare to do what Bee Movie has done," Media by Numbers President Paul Dergarabedian told today's (Monday) Los Angeles Times, attributing its jump to first place to "terrific word of mouth." Meanwhile, Gangster remained a potent force as it chalked up earnings of $24.3 million. After remaining ahead of the Seinfeld flick from Monday through Thursday, the film can now boast a 10-day total of $80.6 million. On the other hand, Fred Claus, starring Vince Vaughn -- the film most box-office prognosticators thought would wind up as the top film -- wound up in third place with $19.2 million, at the low end of their predictions. The Tom Cruise-Robert Redford-Meryl Streep anti-war drama Lion for Lambs performed slightly better than analysts had imagined, taking in $6.7 million. The stalker flick P2 opened in 1,032 theaters with $2.2 million. Making an impressive debut in just 28 theaters, the Coen Bros.' No Country for Old Men earned $1.2 million or $42,900 per theater. That compares with $6,600 per theater for Bee Movie.Overall, the box office was down 11.6 percent from the comparable weekend last year. Next week, however, is expected to see a significant rise with the opening of the Robert Zemeckis-directed Beowulf, starring Angelina Jolie. The film will have the largest rollout ever on 3-D screens -- more than 1,000 -- with premium pricing attached to those screenings and those at dozens of IMAX venues.

The top ten films for the weekend, according to studio estimates compiled by Media by Numbers: 1. Bee Movie, $26 million; 2. American Gangster, $24.3 million; 3. Fred Claus, $19.2 million; 4. Lions for Lambs, $6.7 million; 5. Dan in Real Life, $5.9 million; 6. Saw IV, $5 million; 7. The Game Plan, $2.4 million; 8. P2, $2.2 million; 9. 30 Days of Night, $2.1 million; 10. Martian Child, $1.75 million.

Jolie Annoyed at Comparisons to Aniston
12 November 2007 (WENN)
Angelina Jolie has hit out at the media for constantly comparing her to Jennifer Aniston, insisting the topic is of no importance to anyone. The 32-year-old actress - who has been dating Aniston's ex, Brad Pitt, since 2006 - has previously claimed she has no problems with the Derailed star, and would even welcome a meeting with her. But at a press junket in Beverly Hills for her new movie Beowulf on Saturday, Jolie reportedly snapped at a journalist who asked for her opinion of the nine limited edition W magazine covers - which features both the Tomb Raider beauty and Aniston on competing covers. She retorted, "Why would I comment on that? That matters because...?"

Jolie "Shy" of Beowulf Nude Scene
6 November 2007 (WENN)
Actress Angelina Jolie was bashful after seeing herself in a simulated nude scene in forthcoming animated movie Beowulf. The Tomb Raider star - who plays a temptress killer lizard, painted gold and fitted with a tail - admits the motion capture technology was so shockingly real, she phoned her partner Brad Pitt to warn him about the nudity in the family movie. She says, "I was really surprised that I felt that exposed. There are certain moments where I felt actually shy - and called home, just to explain that the fun movie that I had done that was digital animation was, in fact, a little different than we expected. I didn't expect ourselves to come out as much. I didn't expect it to feel as real, and so because of especially the type of character I play, it was kind of funny at first."

U.K. Theater Chain To Install 3-D Projectors
9 October 2007 (StudioBriefing)
U.K. exhibitor Cineworld, which has already converted 72 of its screens to digital projection, announced today that it will convert 30 of those screens to 3-D in time for the release of Warner Bros.' Beowulf on November 16. The company said that it will employ the REAL D 3-D system. Cineworld CEO Steve Wiener said in a statement that the deal "will revolutionize the cinema experience for our moviegoers across the country. ... The impact of 3-D on the film industry can be compared to the move from black and white to color."

Jolie Set To Buy Luxury Los Angeles Pad
13 August 2007 (WENN)
Hollywood actress Angelina Jolie has been house hunting in Los Angeles without long-term partner Brad Pitt. The Beowulf star privately viewed a $2 million luxury villa in Laurel Canyon. Current owner Wolfgang Wind says, "It was very strange because it was just her, no bodyguard, no assistant, no nanny, no kids and no Brad. I had no idea who the potential buyer was until I saw her. She looked extremely skinny. She was very flattering and said the house was extremely nice and I am hoping that she'll make an offer." Jolie recently quashed rumors her relationship with Pitt is on the rocks, insisting the pair have "blind faith" in each other.

Disney and Zemeckis To Create 3-D Company
6 February 2007 (StudioBriefing)
Director Robert Zemeckis, whose The Polar Express and Monster House were released in the 3-D IMAX format, is teaming up with the Walt Disney Co. to create a new company that will produce additional 3-D features, Disney announced Monday. "The creation of this new company is yet another step in our leadership role in cutting edge technology as it relates to the movie industry." Disney Studios chairman Dick Cook said in a statement. Zemeckis is currently working on a 3-D version of the classic Beowulf.On Monday, Daily Variety reported that the number of screens equipped to show 3-D films is expected to double from about 250 to 500 worldwide in the next two months and rise to 1,000 by the end of the year.

Jolie Lands Dream Role As Taggart
22 September 2006 (WENN)
Angelina Jolie has won her dream role - as author Ayn Rand's iconic heroine Dagney Taggart. Jolie, a longtime fan of Russian-born Rand, has been quietly campaigning to play Taggart in new film Atlas Shrugged - and now she's landed the role, according to trade newspaper Daily Variety. The movie adaptation of Rand's epic tome has been kicking around Hollywood for many years, and, at one point, was set to star Faye Dunaway. The project sets up a busy 12 months for Jolie, whose next movie will be another epic adaptation, Beowulf. She'll also be seen alongside Matt Damon in The Good Shepherd and she'll also star in the adaptation of Mariane Pearl's book about the kidnap and murder of her husband, journalist Daniel Pearl.