2012: Box Office Armageddon
In the US: Roland Emmerich's fetishist disaster movie 2012 explodes into the chart at #1 with an impressive $65m (that's $19,000 at every cinema it was screening at), so looks on course to earn back its $200m budget... and festival darling PRECIOUS debuts at #3, and will likely drift downwards... also, PIRATE RADIO (aka The Boat That Rocked) proved to be a hopeless flop for Richard Curtis, debuting at #11 with a terrible $2.9m...
US TOP 10
(-) 1. 2012 $65.2m
(1) 2. A Christmas Carol $22.3m
(-) 3. Precious: Based On The Novel Push By Sapphire $5.87m
(3) 4. The Men Who Stare At Goats $5.86m
(2) 5. This Is It $5.08M
(4) 6. The Fourth Kind $4.61m
(7) 7. Couples Retreat $4.16m
(5) 8. Paranormal Activity $4.04m
(8) 9. Law Abiding Citizen $3.8m
(6) 10. The Box $3.16m
In the UK: Likewise, everyone flocks to see 2012 here in the UK, which makes a huge £6.4m after just one week... and Michael Caine scores a surprise hit with vigilante drama HARRY BROWN, in at #3...
UK TOP 10
(-) 1. 2012 £6.4m
(1) 2. A Christmas Carol £2.5m
(-) 3. Harry Brown £1.2m
(3) 4. Up £985k
(4) 5. The Men Who Stare At Goats £796k
(6) 6. Fantastic Mr. Fox £675k
(1) 7. This Is It £475k
(5) 8. The Fourth Kind £428k
(9) 9. An Education £202k
(7) 10. Jennifer's Body £181k
UK RELEASES THIS WEEK
GLORIOUS 39
Romantic drama. A mysterious tale set around a traditional British family on the eve of World War Two.Director: Stephen Poliakoff Starring: Romola Garai, Bill Nighy, Julie Christie, David Tennant, Juno Temple & Eddie Redmayne
Tomatometer: 54% (Fresh; based on 13 reviews)
THE INFORMANT!
Crime comedy. The U.S. government decides to go after an agri-business giant with a price-fixing accusation, based on the evidence submitted by their star witness, vice president turned informant Mark Whitacre.
Director: Steven Soderbergh Starring: Matt Damon, Scott Bakula, Lucas McHugh Carroll, Rusty Schwimmer, Eddie Jemison, Tom Papa & Rick Overton
Tomatometer: 76% (Fresh; based on 174 reviews) "A charismatic turn by star Matt Damon and a consistently ironic tone boost this quietly funny satire about a corporate whistle-blower."
THE TWILIGHT SAGA: NEW MOON
Fantasy drama. After Bella recovers from the vampire attack that almost claimed her life, she looks to celebrate her birthday with Edward and his family...
Director: Chris Weitz Starring: Kristen Stewart, Robert Pattinson, Billy Burke, Taylor Lautner, Ashley Greene & Michael Sheen
Tomatometer: 30% (Rotten; based on 121 reviews) "The Twilight Saga's second instalment may satisfy hardcore fans of the series, but outsiders are likely to be turned off by its slow pace, relentlessly downcast tone, and excessive length."
A SERIOUS MAN
Comedy drama. A black comedy set in 1967 and centred on Larry Gopnik, a Midwestern professor who watches his life unravel when his wife prepares to leave him because his inept brother won't move out of the house.
Director: Ethan Coen & Joel Coen Starring: Michael Stuhlbarg, Richard Kind, Fred Melamed, Sari Lennick, Aaron Wolff, Jessica McManus & Peter Breitmayer
Tomatometer: 86% (Fresh; based on 154 reviews) "Blending dark humor with profoundly personal themes, the Coen brothers deliver what might be their most mature -- if not their best -- film to date."
