box office – Page 6

July 19, 2009December 29, 2011

Star Wars in the news: George Lucas still rich, Harry Potter still popular

George tops Forbes Hollywood list. George Lucas is the top earner on the business mag’s brand new list of Hollywood’s highest-paid men. (Wait, men? I guess Oprah isn’t ‘Hollywood.’) Coming up second is Steven Spielberg, and Harrison Ford shows up at #11.

Number games Because Harry Potter could soon beat Star Wars as the best-grossing movie franchise in the U.S. And yeah, while it didn’t beat Transformers 2’s opening weekend, Half-Blood Prince hasn’t done too shabby. (Would J.K. Rowling count as ‘Hollywood,’ Forbes?)

Flashback. Geoff Boucher digs up an old photo from the 70’s.

Other franchies… Warwick Davis talks a bit about a sequel to Willow with MTV. (We also learn that I am not the only person who hated the sequel books!)

August 17, 2008August 18, 2008

The Clone Wars takes in $15.5 million

It’s not the greatest weekend for Star Wars at the box office: AP reports that the animated film took in $15.5 million, coming in third behind Tropic Thunder ($26M) and The Dark Knight ($16.8M.) Respectable, but not exactly the kind of figures we’re used to seeing… Plus, TDK also rolled over the original Star Wars’ to become the second highest grossing film, as it’s been threatening to for weeks. Bummer.

The film is not doing very well with reviewers (a stunning 19% on Rotten Tomatoes) but many fans do seem to be liking it. Yay? In any case, our poll on The Clone Wars is up now: Vote on the sidebar or under the cut. Continue reading “The Clone Wars takes in $15.5 million”

August 10, 2008December 28, 2011

The Dark Knight moves to #3…

Batman kicked ass at the box office yet again this weekend, netting $441.5 million and moving it ever closer to A New Hope’s domestic box office record…

August 7, 2008December 28, 2011

In the news: Travel, art, Minnesota, box office

Travel: InformationWeek’s top vacation spots for geeks features several locations of interest to Star Wars fans, while the S.F. Travel Examiner stays close to home with One Letterman Drive.
Art: Or, cheapest of all – io9 featured some of Big Rock Ranch’s art today. But come on, guys… Isn’t all Star Wars art inherently cheesy?
Exhibits: Where Science Meets Imagination’s Minnesota stay has been extended through August 27th. Best go soon if you haven’t already – who know when (or if) it’ll pop up again.
Box office: The Dark Knight continues it’s climb towards Star Wars domestic record, netting $400.04 million domestically last weekend.
Gaming: Lego Star Wars has sold 15 million units; Soulcaliber IV is shipping two million.

August 1, 2008December 28, 2011

Will The Dark Knight beat Star Wars?

Batman’s latest had taken in $324.3 million by Monday, putting it on the fast track to beat out Star Wars for the #2 spot on the domestic list of top grossing films Personally, I find TDK’s slim chances at taking out that Titanic schlockfest far more disheartening.

July 18, 2008December 28, 2011

The Dark Knight breaks ROTS’ midnight record

The Dark Knight took in $18.5 million from its midnight release earlier this morning, breaking the $16.9 million record Revenge of the Sith set back in 2005. TDK’s 3 a.m. and 6 a.m. showings were not counted, but it’s sure to make a mint this weekend. Spider-Man 3 better watch his back…

UPDATE: Indeed, it took in $66.4 million Friday, breaking Spider-Man 3’s opening day record of $59.8.

May 28, 2008December 29, 2011

Wrapping up the weekend of Indy…

Indiana Jones and the Kingdom of the Crystal Skull has now been out for almost a week. To celebrate this event, I ate some crispy minty Indiana Jones M&Ms and drank some Indiana Jones Dr. Pepper yesterday. Now that the caffeine headache has gone away, here’s what I learned:

2nd biggest Memorial Day opening, with domestically $151 million (after Pirates of the Caribbean: At World’s End) – and $311 million worldwide.
JediNews.co.uk and Lightsabre.co.uk have a joint review.
Scientific American plus a few articles that are tangential to archaeology and the kingdom of the crystal skull.
Communists in St. Petersburg, Russia are protesting the portrayal of Soviets of that era. What next, Ukrainians protesting Cate Blanchett’s accent?
Shia LeBeouf’s entrance a homage to Brando in The Wild One? Signs point to yes.
Indiana Jones vs Carrie Bradshaw: this weekend – will it be Sex and the City.. or Snakes and the Lost City?
and one of the shorter reviews: The Five Word Review

May 15, 2008August 20, 2009

Movie math: How far does $20 million go?

John Scalzi takes a look at Star Wars success when compared with Speed Racer’s failure – and how blockbuster culture has changed in the last thirty-some years. (A great companion to this piece is the NYT’s impressive box office chart from February.)

May 14, 2008December 28, 2011

In the news: Wedding, drunks, box office, TFU

The Brits really love them some Star Wars wedding: The GFFA-themed marriage ceremony of Bramwell Brightey and Tamsyn Lofts showed up in both The Guardian and The Sun today.
Could Indiana Jones and the Kingdom of the Crystal Skull beat Revenge of the Sith at the box office? That’s the magic of inflation!
No jail time for drunken Vader attacker. Shocking!
The Force Unleashed is “greatest Star Wars story that we’ve ever told in a video game,” says LucasArts’ Cameron Suey. Better than Masters of Teräs Käsi? That’s unpossible!

February 28, 2008December 28, 2011

Eye candy: As the box office turns

The New York Times has a stunning interactive on The Ebb and Flow of Movies: Box Office Receipts 1986 – 2007. Shown above, summer 1989, and below, summer 1999. Fascinating…