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

Safe House rises to the top as the newbies struggle at the Box Office

Over the four day Presidents Weekend Holiday, audiences declared their love for violence and Denzel Washington as his action thriller, Safe House costarring Ryan Reynolds, rose a notch to the top of the box office. It took in another $28 million for a two week take of $82 million. That’s good news for the expensive film (a reported $85 million production budget and that’s before marketing costs) which now looks like it can turn a little profit…. Definitely turning a profit is last week’s chart topper, The Vow, which cost only $30 million and has now amassed $ 88 million. Both films (and Journey 2) beat the three newcomers as Nicholas Cage’s Ghost Rider sequel landed an ok $25.7 million while the Reese Witherspoon/Tom Hardy/Chris Pine action comedy This Means War opened to just $22 million. We’ll see if either can turn a profit depending onhow they hold up in the weeks ahead. The final new entry was the Oscar nominated Japanese animated feature The Secret World of Arriety which opened to a paltry $ 8 million. Luckily it has made a ton outside the U.S…. 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 2 Safe House Uni. $28,400,000 -29.3% 3,121 +2 $9,100 $82,600,000 $85 2
2 1 The Vow SGem $26,600,000 -35.4% 2,958 – $8,993 $88,527,000 $30 2
3 3 Journey 2: The Mysterious Island WB $26,400,000 -3.4% 3,500 +30 $7,543 $59,516,000 $79 2
4 N Ghost Rider: Spirit of Vengeance Sony $25,700,000 – 3,174 – $8,097 $25,700,000 $57 1
5 N This Means War Fox $20,400,000 – 3,189 – $6,397 $22,010,000 $65 1
6 4 Star Wars: Episode I – The Phantom Menace (in 3D) Fox $10,150,000 -54.8% 2,655 – $3,823 $36,023,000 – 2
7 5 Chronicle (2012) Fox $9,200,000 -23.9% 2,556 -352 $3,599 $52,679,000 $12 3
8 N The Secret World of Arrietty BV $8,102,000 – 1,522 – $5,323 $8,102,000 – 1
9 6 The Woman in Black CBS $7,920,000 -21.6% 2,559 -297 $3,095 $46,530,000 – 3
10 7 The Grey ORF $3,768,000 -25.3% 2,107 -694 $1,788 $48,661,000 $25 4

A Hilarious Golden Globes Wrap Up

Ok, I feel a little bad… I haven’t done one of my usual big awards show wrap ups. I’m sorry, this week is crazy. I’m prepping for a short film shoot that I’m acting in and producing, so I’m a bit all over the place… Anywho, I can’t leave ya’ll without some hilarious commentary… I mean who can forget the ridiculous 80′s shoulder pad dresses that were foolishly on display everywhere at the show? Bad fashions and hair  (ahem, Miss Scarlett Johansson) were, unfortunately, all over the place. At least there were great winners (Colin Firth, Annette Bening, Chris Colfer, Jane Lynch, Glee, Diane Warren, Jim Parsons, Melissa Leo, etc), wonderful speeches (Colfer and Lynch again), a lot of hotness (Chris Hemsworth, Chris Pine, Zac Efron and Matt Bomer oh my!) and Ricky Gervais going balls to the wall with aggressive hilarity. But for even more in-depth look at the show, check out the post from my friend Johnny Lopez on his blog “The Johnny Lopez”. You might recognize him from the pages of Us Weekly too… um, as a commentator not a drunken naked celebrity people! … So, enjoy and add Johnny’s blog to your favorites too!

Johnny Lopez on the 2011 Golden Globes

Things learned watching the 2011 Golden Globes:

1. Nolan Miller must be dressing Hollywood again because I haven’t seen that many shoulder pads, sequins and sparkle since Dynasty’s Moldavian massacre.
2. I’m going to miss Ricky Gervais.
3. Christina Aguilera needs a water pill.
4. Tilda Swinton and Helena Bonham Carter need a reality show together.
5. With wins by Glee, Chris Colfer, Jane Lynch, Jim Parsons, Burlesque, Kids Are All Right, Annette Bening, and Scott Rudin, the Globes were so gay (and I mean that in a great way!) they made the Tonys look like a Yes on 8 rally.
6. Natalie Portman’s laugh will haunt your nightmares.
7. No matter what Sandy says, Scarlett Johansson and Sandra Bullock were kept on opposite ends of the telecast for a reason.
8. “Social Network” will probably win an Oscar, as MySpace gets ready to fold. It’s crazy how things change in 5 years … just ask Jennifer Lopez’s career.

As always, send me your thoughts and comments to thejohnnylopez@gmail.com

Ricky Gervais – Anyone who has the balls to make a joke about closeted Scientologists on national television is ok in my book. That being said, someone let me know if his body surfaces.

Scarlett Johansson – Taylor Swift chic with a Franken-updo. Apparently Ryan Reynolds got to keep all the style in the divorce.

Christian Bale – Completely forgot he’s British. You gotta love a guy who isn’t afraid to have the exact same hairdo as his wife.

Katey Sagal – Peg Bundy looks hot… her dress not so much. Anyone know where her sisters, the “Double Trouble” twins, are?

Julianne Moore – Molly Ringwald wants her “Pretty in Pink” prom dress back.

That guy who played “Carlos’ – hot!

Leighton Meester – Didn’t Crystal Gayle wear the exact same thing to the CMAs in 1974? Country WRONG.

Chris Colfer/Glee – Congrats. Hopefully it really does get better from here.

Eva Longoria – The Anti-Scarlett Johansson … divorce never looked so good. Flawless.

Kevin Bacon – Six degrees of the Social Network …remove Kev’s glasses and he becomes Jesse Eisenberg.

Milla Jovovich – There must be another “Resident Evil” coming out this year because that’s the only time you ever see her.

Steve Buscemi – or John Waters with a weave?

Elizabeth Moss – from Mad Men to the Hillary Clinton biopic.

Christina Hendricks – With her porcelain skin, scarlet hair and huge breasts, Christina managed to find the perfect dress to …blend into the red carpet.

Jennifer Lopez – This is what a triple threat looks like in this economy. Singer/dancer/REALITY SHOW JUDGE!

Diane Warren – What the hell happened to Adam Lambert? I had no clue Diane was in “Party Monster.” Club kid realness!

Trent Reznor – you know Goth is over when even Nine Inch Nails has turned into a frat boy. Head like a a-hole.

Justin Bieber – The original choice to play Annette Bening’s character in “The Kids are All Right.”

Robert Downey Jr – It’s the Globes, not a wedding. Put on a tux.

Annette Bening – She obviously shares a hairstylist with Al Pacino.

Sylvester Stallone – If he keeps it up, his face is going to start looking like Nicole Kidman’s.

Tilda Swinton – Rockin’ the new GapMormon Sister Wives chic … for men.

Al Pacino – Somebody call Jack Kevorkian and put an end to the misery of his endless speech.

Claire Danes – Did she win for playing Temple Grandin or Carol Brady?

Temple Grandin – Can she come to every award show… just because? You know, like Jennifer Love Hewitt does.

Zac Efron – Roids much?

Tina Fey & Steve Carrel – Funnier than “Date Night.”

Chris Hemsworth & Chris Evans – Is it me or is Evans a lot less hot standing next to Hemsworth? Team Thor!

Olivia Wilde – Out of this world. No really. If you squint you can see the Little Dipper.

Jane Fonda – Fresh from a nip/tuck and wearing remnants of Carol Burnett’s Norma Desmond curtain dress.

Matt Bomer – Gay eyes.

Jim Parsons – Gay eyes with a little Mad Magazine’s Alfred E. Neumann.

Melissa Leo – Unrecognizable. Like Zoe Saldana in “Avatar”, no one will know Melissa is the mom in The Fighter. Where were the sisters???

Robert De Niro – No wonder the Fockers sucks, he’s not funny! Gervais gets all the flack but he’s the one who made a lame racist joke. Deport him!

Megan Fox – Sorry but no matter how many gowns and jewels you throw on “4 AM Angelina Jolie,” she still looks like she should be cooking meth in a San Bernardino Super 8.

Halle Berry – The Curious Case of Halle Berry. How does she do it? Half-Black don’t crack either!

Paul Giamatti – Stole the award from my Jake!

Natalie Portman – Forget the win, the dress and the baby, it’s all about the crazy Portman LAUGH. Awkward! I want it to be my ring tone. And she thanked everyone in her cast except … Winona! Stay away from any nail files, Nat.

Winona Ryder – Was not present to pick up her award for best comedic performance by a sometime actress.

Nicole Kidman – the only bump she hasn’t had smoothed over with Botox, Restalyne and plutonium … her baby bump! So much for the return of her face for “Rabbit Hole.”

Catherine Zeta-Jones (CSJ) – CZJ loves her some Astro Turf chic.

Lisa Chodolenko – Her next film should be SINGLE WHITE LESBIAN … starring Annette Bening.

Sandra Bullock – Bitchin’ bangs compliments of the Westminster Kennel Club. Best in show for sure.

Michael Douglas – Forget Laura Linney, he’s the real winner of the big C.

Mila Kunis – Lil CZJ ..if she were at an ‘80s prom in Queens.

Gabourey Sidibe – Her resort wear dress is available at a Bed, Bath & Beyond.

Anne Hathaway – Never mind her new gig on ‘Glee,’ Anne has a lock on playing Fallon Carrington in that new “Dynasty” movie.

Helena Bonham Carter – Rockin’ Emma Samms’ version of Fallon Carrington hair from ‘The Colbys”.

Michelle Williams – Please don’t pick the daisies!

Brad & Angelina – Every time Angelina applies lip gloss a third world baby gets adopted. She looked great,but it’s too bad by the time they made their way on to the red carpet even I was wearing an emerald dress!

Here’s the link again for Johnny’s blog. Enjoy!

http://thejohnnylopez.blogspot.com/2011/01/2011-golden-globes.html

Megamind is still Unstoppable at the Box Office

The title of the new Denzel Washington/Chris Pine action is Unstoppable. However, the film didn’t quite live up to that claim as the Will Ferrell toon Megamind made it two weeks at the top of the box office pulling in another $30 for a two-week take of $90 million. Instead, Unstoppable opened in second with a good $23.5 million and could hold well in the weeks ahead as many Washington films do. Opening to more mediocre results were the atrocious new sci-fi mess Skyline with $11.6 million and the fun new comedy Morning Glory which netted $9.6 million (for a total of $12 million since opening Wednesday). I’d day Glory could hold up in the weeks ahead as more mature audiences may still discover it, but Skyline will most likely collapse next week. Still performing well in limited release was the Oscar contender 127 Hours with the biggest per screen average of the weekend at over $20,000 a screen on only 22 screens. For full box office details, 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 1 Megamind P/DW $30,055,000 -34.7% 3,949 +5 $7,611 $89,757,000 $130 2
2 N Unstoppable Fox $23,500,000 – 3,207 – $7,328 $23,500,000 $100 1
3 2 Due Date WB $15,530,000 -52.5% 3,365 +10 $4,615 $59,008,000 $65 2
4 N Skyline Uni. $11,678,000 – 2,880 – $4,055 $11,678,000 $10 1
5 N Morning Glory Par. $9,625,000 – 2,518 – $3,822 $12,231,000 $40 1
6 3 For Colored Girls LGF $6,750,000 -65.4% 2,127 – $3,173 $30,920,000 $21 2
7 4 Red Sum. $5,114,000 -40.9% 2,878 -351 $1,777 $79,818,000 $58 5
8 6 Paranormal Activity 2 Par. $3,050,000 -57.0% 2,403 -765 $1,269 $82,000,000 $3 4
9 5 Saw 3D LGF $2,750,000 -64.4% 1,976 -832 $1,392 $43,468,000 $20 3
10 7 Jackass 3-D Par. $2,300,000 -53.5% 1,607 -558 $1,431 $114,708,000 $20 5