Four new films open and one film expands from limited to wide release over the four day Labor Day weekend. First up we have Vin Diesel returning to form with his latest action pic, Babylon A.D. It has been 4 years since his last action epic and his fan base is ready to see him kick ass again. The film is rated PG-13, unlike its closest competitor, Death Race which is rated R, so that should help its earning potential. I think Babylon A.D. should gross about $12M over the four day span. Next we have the comedy spoof, Disaster Movie. This movie will mostly appeal to teenage boys and should perform pretty well this weekend. I would expect Disaster Movie to make $9M this weekend. Traitor starring Don Cheadle and Guy Pierce opened on Wednesday to mixed reviews and should see a weekend gross of $8M with a 6 day total of $11M. Yet another comedy enters the fray this weekend, MGM’s R rated College. Awareness isn’t that high for this movie and it should gross about $3.5M over the 4 day frame barely making the top 10. Hamlet...

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The Ben Stiller action/comedy Tropic Thunder just barely held on to the top spot this weekend with the House Bunny packing some serious heat. Thunder grossed $16M bringing its total to $65M with The House Bunny hot on its heels with a much better than expected $15M.

This weekend, 4 new films open in wide release. First up is the action film Death Race starring Jason Statham. This is the  newcomer that has the best chance of opening at the top of the box office, but I don’t think it will. Death Race should make about $12M. Next we have the Rainn Wilson comedy The Rocker. This film should see a weekend gross of $3M, with a 5 day take (it opens on Wednesday) of about $5M. Also this weekend, Ice Cube stars in the inspirational, sports film The Longshots. This film has no real buzz, and its chances of being a box office hit are… well… a long shot. Opening in 2000 theatres, The Longshots should make about $4M. Next we have the Anna Faris comedy, The House Bunny. There are plenty of comedies playing right now, so I don’t think this one is going to make much of an impact. I’m guessing about $11.5M for The House Bunny this weekend. Also opening in limited release (90 theatres) this weekend is the Sundance darling, Hamlet 2. Reviews have been great for this comedy farce and it should...

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The Dark Knight was finally knocked from the top spot this weekend after 4 weeks as the #1 movie in America.  After 5 weeks, the new Batman flick now sits at #2 on the all time domestic blockbusters list, with a total cume of $471M.  Newcomer, Tropic Thunder took the #1 spot this weekend with a healthy take of $25.8M and a 5 day total of $36.8M. 

I’m fed up with all the George Lucas bashing. This man has created two of the greatest franchises in the history of cinema, Star Wars and Indiana Jones and deserves all the respect in the world. The summer movie season began with people being angry about the direction Indiana Jones went in (alien artifacts) and it is ending with people being angry about the direction he is taking Star Wars (too kid friendly). George Lucas ruined Indy! George Lucas is ruining Star Wars! Blah, blah, blah. Give me a break people. There would be no Star Wars or Indiana Jones if Mr. Lucas hadn’t created them in the first place. What does ruin them mean anyway? I didn’t love the prequel trilogy (in comparison to the original), but it certainly hasn’t ruined Empire Strikes Back for me. George Lucas can make 80 terrible Star Wars movies in a row and Empire would still be my favorite movie of all time.

Let’s begin with Indiana Jones. Critics and viewers were kind to the latest installment mostly due to Harrison Ford and Steven Spielberg. When...

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This weekend offers moviegoers six new films to choose from. First up is the Ben Stiller comedy/action film Tropic Thunder. Tropic Thunder looks hysterical and the reviews have been mostly positive. However, I don't know if audiences really want to see Jack Black and Ben Stiller running around a jungle with machine guns.  I think Tropic could gross $23M this weekend for a 5 day take (it opens on Wednesday) of $34M. Next we have Star Wars: The Clone Wars, the first ever animated Star Wars film. Reviews haven’t been too kind but I don’t think that should make much of a difference to the fan base. Poor reviews certainly didn’t hurt Episode I or II at the box office. I think that most people are underestimating how this movie will perform and I don’t understand why. Every father who is a Star Wars fan (there are many of us) will be taking their kids to see this. I know I am.  I think The Clone Wars will be at the top of the box office this weekend, grossing $24M. Mirrors, the R rated horror film, starring Kiefer Sutherland...

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Two films will try to knock The Dark Knight off its #1 spot this weekend, producer Judd Apatow’s stoner action comedy, Pineapple Express and The Sisterhood of the Traveling Pants 2. Pineapple stars Seth Rogen (also co writer) and James Franco, as two potheads who witness a murder and then are forced to go on the run. Judd Apatow has become the king of comedies producing such films as The 40 Year Old Virgin, Forgetting Sarah Marshall and this summers, Step Brothers. Seth Rogen became a comedy all star with the one, two punch of last years hit comedies, Knocked Up and Superbad (both also produced by Mr. Apatow), and should continue his success with Pineapple. Then there’s James Franco, who is getting incredible buzz for his role as a stoner/pot dealer in this movie. In fact, word is that he’s as good as Brad Pitt was in True Romance, the best portrayal of a stoner ever (in my opinion). Opening on a Wednesday, Pineapple will gross $28M over the weekend, with a 5 day take of $42M.

The Sisterhood of the Traveling...

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I was so excited to see Superman fly back into theatres I was like a little kid at Christmas. I rounded up my father and brother, bought our tickets online and headed to the theatre. We were all so psyched to be there and our expectations couldn’t have been higher. The lights dimmed, the familiar Superman theme started up and I was pumped now. I mean pumped. I was about to see the greatest Superman movie ever! But then something strange happened. I started shifting in my seat. I started looking at my watch. I found myself bored. This can’t be happening I thought. How is this not awesome? Needless to say, I left the theatre feeling angry and disappointed. Why has nobody been able to make a great Superman movie since 1980!? The animated series was great. Smallville is top notch. The straight to DVD animated feature Superman vs. Doomsday was incredible. So what’s the problem? Listen, I know Superman Returns is old news but this has been festering inside of me for too long. I need to purge! Especially after seeing...

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It was a tight race for the #1 spot this weekend, but as I predicted, The Dark Knight continued its reign for the third weekend in a row, just edging out the latest installment of The Mummy franchise. See the chart...

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