Josh Groban gets “Brave”

Grammy nominated “Popera” star Josh Groban is finally bringing us some new music. After dabbling in acting (Crazy Stupid Love) and TV Hosting (Live with Kelly), the booming baritone is readying his sixth studio album All that Echoes set to drop on February 5th next year. Giving us a taste of his more contemporary sound, Groban’s new single “Brave” hit iTunes this week and I have your first listen below. It’s a great song, that Groban co-wrote, and it is likely to be another AC smash. The question is can he cross over to the pop charts? Let me know after you sample it below. Then, head to Josh’s website here for more info on his new album and the latest Groban news.

Josh Groban “Brave”

“Ice Age” Keeps Sequels atop the Box Office

With an opening of $46 million, Ice Age: Continental Drift, did pretty well for a fourth film in the franchise. However, the new animated comedy came up a little short of this summer’s other family films Brave and Madagascar 3. Nonetheless, the latest sequel to top the box office this summer should end up a profitable venture especially with big grosses overseas. It also will present a nice counter-programming choice to next weekend’s expected behemoth, The Dark Knight Rises…. Ice was the only new film hitting the top ten this weekend as the holdovers continued to do well with decent drops for Spiderman, Ted, Brave and even Magic Mike. For more on all the numbers, head to Box Office Mojo here and check out the new top ten below.

TW LW Title (click to view) Studio Weekend Gross % Change Theater Count / Change Average Total Gross Budget* Week #
1 N Ice Age: Continental Drift Fox $46,000,000 – 3,881 – $11,853 $46,000,000 – 1
2 1 The Amazing Spider-Man Sony $35,000,000 -43.6% 4,318 – $8,106 $200,900,000 $230 2
3 2 Ted Uni. $22,147,000 -31.2% 3,303 +47 $6,705 $158,993,000 $50 3
4 3 Brave BV $10,695,000 -45.5% 3,392 -499 $3,153 $195,596,000 $185 4
5 5 Magic Mike WB $9,030,000 -42.3% 3,090 -30 $2,922 $91,850,000 $7 3
6 4 Savages (2012) Uni. $8,735,000 -45.5% 2,635 +7 $3,315 $31,466,000 $45 2
7 6 Tyler Perry’s Madea’s Witness Protection LGF $5,600,000 -45.0% 2,004 -157 $2,794 $55,628,000 $20 3
8 8 Katy Perry: Part of Me Par. $3,735,000 -47.7% 2,732 +2 $1,367 $18,588,000 $12 2
9 9 Moonrise Kingdom Focus $3,662,000 -19.0% 924 +40 $3,963 $32,427,000 $16 8
10 7 Madagascar 3: Europe’s Most Wanted P/DW $3,500,000 -53.5% 2,285 -576 $1,532 $203,732,000 $145 6

Dirty Teddy Bears and Strippers Rule the Box Office

Hollywood can finally breathe a little sight of relief as the summer box office got a much-needed jolt from some dirty strippers, a naughty teddy bear and a grumpy granny this weekend. Way over performing and landing a big $54 million opening was Universal’s raunchy Mark Wahlberg/Teddy bear comedy Ted. The movie held off the hottest cast  ever seen in film from a top spot debut as Magic Mike opened to a strong $39 million. That’s already a big profit for the $7 million picture starring It boy Channing Tatum and his hottie friends Matt Bomer, Joe Manganiello, Alex Pettyfer, Adam Rodriguez and a delightfully devilish Matthew McConaughy. We’ll see how the latter film holds up in the weeks ahead as it was a very front-loaded box office weekend. (I, for one, was rather disappointed by the film which was like 4 different movies in one that never gelled. Mike wasn’t really funny or all that sexy and the dramatic indie feel to the second half of the movie didn’t work at all. Grade: C+) … But curiosity could keep it going strong thru the 5th of July holiday… Also opening well was Tyler Perry’s Madea’s Witness Protection which took in his usual $26 million and Brave weathered the newcomers well with another $34 million… The big loser this weekend was the new Chris Pine/Elizabeth Banks dramedy  People Like Us (which I gave a “B” grade to) which tanked with only $4.3 million… For more on these numbers, head to Box Office Mojo here and check out the new top ten below.

TW LW Title (click to view) Studio Weekend Gross % Change Theater Count / Change Average Total Gross Budget* Week #
1 N Ted Uni. $54,100,000 – 3,239 – $16,703 $54,100,000 $50 1
2 N Magic Mike WB $39,155,000 – 2,930 – $13,363 $39,155,000 $7 1
3 1 Brave BV $34,011,000 -48.7% 4,164 – $8,168 $131,685,000 $185 2
4 N Tyler Perry’s Madea’s Witness Protection LGF $26,350,000 – 2,161 – $12,193 $26,350,000 $20 1
5 2 Madagascar 3: Europe’s Most Wanted P/DW $11,815,000 -40.1% 3,715 -205 $3,180 $180,012,000 $145 4
6 3 Abraham Lincoln: Vampire Hunter Fox $6,000,000 -63.2% 3,109 +1 $1,930 $29,034,000 $69 2
7 4 Prometheus Fox $4,925,000 -50.3% 1,951 -911 $2,524 $118,262,000 $130 4
8 11 Moonrise Kingdom Focus $4,873,000 +43.6% 854 +459 $5,706 $18,406,000 $16 6
9 5 Snow White and the Huntsman Uni. $4,405,000 -45.5% 2,337 -582 $1,885 $145,591,000 $170 5
10 N People Like Us BV $4,306,000 – 2,055 – $2,095 $4,306,000 $16 1