Universal Pictures' R-rated comedy "Neighbors" confounded Hollywood research with an over-the-top $51.1 million in box office over its premiere three-day weekend, 46% higher than tracking studies that expected $35 million. The raunchy comedy stars Seth Rogan being abused by a college fraternity that shatters the peace of the neighborhood, and it far surpassed the second week of … [Read more...] about Research Struggles With ‘Neighbors,’ ‘Blended’
buzz
AMC Publicizes Apatow Film
AMC Theatres is mounting a movie publicity event connected with “This Is 40,” which ties into the circuit’s loyalty program. AMC is hosting a question-and-answer session Nov. 28 with director Judd Apatow at its AMC NorthPark 15 in Dallas. Members of AMC Stubs—which is the circuit’s loyalty program—are given tickets to see “This Is 40” for a by-invitation-only screening prior … [Read more...] about AMC Publicizes Apatow Film
‘Rock of Ages’ Soars Online, Stumbles at BO
Some movie marketing pros think that I’ve gone daft when I suggest that a movie being a hit in social media doesn't necessarily translate into to being a hit in cinema release. Now a research firm serves up an example. Social media research firm Attensity notes that the movie “Rock of Ages” was embraced by consumers in social media prior to its theatrical release, which … [Read more...] about ‘Rock of Ages’ Soars Online, Stumbles at BO
‘John Carter’ Rattles Disney
Disney’s mega-budget “John Carter” premiered with a disappointing $30 million in opening three-day box office after pushing an arty presentation in early marketing, though the film is not arty. The sci-fi flop -- whose budget reportedly is around $250 million -- likely will trigger a writedown of tens of millions or possibly over $100 million on Disney corporate earnings. … [Read more...] about ‘John Carter’ Rattles Disney
Fat-cats Gorge on Sundance Glitz
The Sundance Film Festival loves to dish out an ecological “green” sensibility and project a we’re-with-the-people face. So it’s a bit of a paradox that outfits catering to the “one percenters”—portrayed as filthy exploiters indie films that are Sundance staples—enthusiastically latch on to the film event. They are in evidence as both official sponsors and indirectly as … [Read more...] about Fat-cats Gorge on Sundance Glitz
Some ‘Twilight’ Moviegoers Suffer Convulsions
News reports indicate a some incidents occurred where moviegoers go into convulsions during a scene replete with flashing visuals in “Twilight: Breaking Dawn--Part One.” These apparently spontaneous attacks of jitters call to mind publicity stunts for pure horror films in the 1950s that promised over-the-top frights. This week’s episodes with the “Twilight” audience, which … [Read more...] about Some ‘Twilight’ Moviegoers Suffer Convulsions
‘Cars 2’ Merchandise Bonanza
Cars 2” is already a gusher in licensed merchandise for Walt Disney. The Wall Street Journal newspaper estimates that “Cars 2”—which is the G-rated animated movie opening Friday—will surpass the $2.8 billion merchandise haul of “Toy Story 3.” Ira Mayer, publisher of the “Licensing Letter” and EPM Communications (who is also quoted in the book “Marketing to Moviegoers: Second … [Read more...] about ‘Cars 2’ Merchandise Bonanza
Twitter Lifts ‘Super 8’ by $5m?
If tracking surveys are to be believed, Paramount Pictures squeezed another $5 million in boxoffice out of the opening weekend for “Super 8” with its tie-in promotion with Twitter. Not bad and not great either. The youth-oriented sci-fi yarn finished the three-day premiere weekend with $35.5 million (plus another $1 million from Thursday sneak previews arranged by … [Read more...] about Twitter Lifts ‘Super 8’ by $5m?
Brad Pitt Film Sneaks into Theaters
Other than reports from its premiere at the Cannes Film Festival, “Tree of Life” is barely making a ripple in the U.S. The website and ads are a bit of blur. The movie’s first poster is a mosaic that didn’t catch the eye graphically and barely communicated the star power with the names of Pitt and Penn. Their names are hard to read. Another poster with a dominant image of a … [Read more...] about Brad Pitt Film Sneaks into Theaters
‘Source Code’ Arm-twists Journalist
A journalist for news website TechCrunch, which is owned by AOL, went public with an internal request sent by AOL asking that the journalist's article “tone down” a “snarky tone” about the Summit Entertainment film “The Source Code,” which is scheduled to premiere April 1. Alexia Tsotsis posted an inter-company memo from an AOL executive (AOL also owns MovieFone) complaining … [Read more...] about ‘Source Code’ Arm-twists Journalist