Transformers 3 blows away the competition, while Hanks and Roberts fail to capture the box office Crowne; Thomas Jane is howling mad that he didn't get to star in Headshot but he does get to capture The Lycan; just like we predicted - Stiller and Vaughn take on Neighborhood Watch; Drew Barrymore lives in a Heist Society and Beyonce was born a Star - but was Leonardo DiCaprio?
It's July 4th weekend and that means it's a bonanza at the box office. The weekend saw director Michael Bay reunite with star Shia LaBeouf (but not Megan Fox, who has been replaced by Rosie Huntington-Whiteley as the non-CGI eye candy) for the third film in the mega successful franchise which is based on the Hasbro toys of yesteryear- (read Transformers: Dark of the Moon review). The pricey 3D pic scored an estimated $97 million over the three days. That means that the film is on target to bank $115 million over the four day weekend or a massive $180 million since its Tuesday launch. A worldwide gross of $400 million is already in the kitty.
Fellow talking car movie - Cars 2 is on track to gross around $24.7 million over the weekend ($30.5 million over the four days). The Disney Pixar film has now banked $121 million since it opened last week.
Cameron Diaz's Bad Teacher is holding up well and showing okay legs (have you seen the poster?). The raunchy comedy grossed $14 million over the weekend ($17.5 million over the four days) for a $62 million total. It might finish its run just shy of $100 million, but could cross the barrier if it stabilizes in the coming weeks.
Tom Hanks and Julia Roberts' Larry Crowne had a very disappointing debut. The bankable A-listers failed to impress in the economic comedy. Crowne, which is co-written, produced, and directed by Hanks should close the weekend with $13.5 million ($16.7 million over the four days) and all involved will be hoping that it holds up well in the future – a strong possibility since it's an adult-oriented comedy. Fingers crossed.
Monte Carlo was positioned as chick-friendly counter-programming to the wham bam action of Transformers. The film did little to trouble the grosses of Michael Bay and company because it will see in the weekend with only $7.5 million ($9.5 million over the four days).
Green Lantern banked another $7 million over the weekend for a smidgen under $10 million over the four day weekend. A sequel has been announced, but this superhero film is starting to fade with a cumulative gross of just $104 million.
Super 8 should see the weekend in with another $6.7 million in the till, or a little over $8 million over the four days. The Abrams/Spielberg joint has now banked nearly $109 million.
Mr. Popper's Penguins should steal around $5 million from moviegoer's pockets ($6 million over the four days) for a $51 million total. Meanwhile, Woody Allen's Midnight in Paris and Bridesmaids rounded out the top ten. The sleeper hits have now scored $34 million and $153 million respectively.
Pirates of the Caribbean: On Stranger Tides may have dropped out of the top ten, but the film has now crossed $1 billion at the worldwide box office. This is the second Pirates, third Johnny Depp, and fourth Disney film in history to cross the mark. Congratulations on such sterling business acumen.
1. We've been bringing you news that actor Thomas Jane was dumped from the Sylvester Stallone film Headshot. The news was mainly innuendo and gossip, but now Jane has spoken out about his departure from the Walter Hill directed actioner.
JANE: Well, Wayne Kramer brought me into the project and when Wayne left the project I suggested Walter Hill to Stallone and the next week they hired Walter Hill and I was very happy about that because I've always wanted to work with him.
JANE: Well, Joel Silver came onboard the project and said that he has a quote-unquote 'formula' for these quote-unquote 'buddy movies' and it has to be a white guy and a quote-unquote 'ethnic guy.' And they relieved me of duty and basically paid me off, which I was really upset about, you know? I didn't get a call from Stallone. I was a little upset about that. Maybe they didn't want anybody on the movie with a bigger d*$k than him.
Wayne Kramer was sort of abruptly fired from that film too. Was it over him being too violent? Because I've been told that it's still an R-rated movie and Stallone's comment was that [Kramer had] made a [script] that was too violent and that they were doing something that was a little less extreme.
JANE: Well, Wayne Kramer is very dark, very extreme, which I personally like. But I know that Stallone is a bit more of a traditionalist. That doesn't make it worse it just makes it different. Walter Hill for my money was the man to fulfill both. He can do great with character and he's great with action. So he is the man…I hope they can still make a great film without me.
Is there any chance they could find another role in the film for you?
JANE: I doubt it. I'm kinda like the spurned lover…let 'em go shoot themselves.
JANE: No, I mean…shoot the film themselves. (laughter).
However, it's not as if the Hung star will be resting on his laurels, he's starring as country star Glen Sherley for director Billy Bob Thornton, he's got a 3D western in development and a werewolf horror film titled The Lycan, which is "basically Alien, set in a castle, with werewolves".
Jane's a cool guy and it's a shame that he won't be going toe to toe with Stallone. While he's never made it on to the A-list, Jane has managed to star in a wide range of films - many of which cater to the "geek" audience (Deep Blue Sea is definitely a guilty pleasure).
Oh, and The Lycan sounds cool – as long as they go the practical effects route and pass on the CGI!
2. In 2009 we first brought you news on Neighborhood Watch, a film which is being written by Seth Rogen and Evan Goldberg. Back then we mentioned that "someone will be on the phone to Ben Stiller, or Will Ferrell, or Vince Vaughn" - Guess what?
Vince Vaughn is now in negotiations to join Ben Stiller in Neighborhood Watch! Coincidence? You tell us.
"Akiva Schaffer is directing the sci-fi comedy about a suburban "neighborhood watch" group that serves as a front for dads to get some male-bonding time away from their families. The group finds itself in over its head when it uncovers a plot to destroy the world".
The pair starred together in Starsky & Hutch, Anchorman, Dodgeball and Zoolander.
3. We also previously reported that Shauna Cross had been tapped to adapt Ally Carter's book The Heist Society for the screen. Now we have news that Drew Barrymore is attached to produce with and possibly direct the film.
Heist Society will age-up the characters from their teens to their twenties.
4. Beyonce Knowles and Leonardo DiCaprio are the latest names to be associated with Warner Bros. long gestating fourth remake of A Star is Born.
"Clint Eastwood? Can you believe that? I can't believe it still. When I met with him I was just in awe. I'm so, so honoured that he believes in me. And I can't wait to do this film."
DiCaprio is currently working with Eastwood on J.Edgar so, it'll be interesting to see if he is willing to saddle-up and make another film with the artist formerly known as Rowdy Yates.
That's it for now. See you at the movies!