Ghost Protocol Alive At US Box Office
Dragon Tattoo Arrives Fourth
Despite this weekend boasting Christmas day opportunities for US filmgoers to hit the multiplexes, there was little cheer to go around the box office once the big man in the red suit had been down the chimney and the estimates calculated. But there was good news for another man obsessed with climbing down high objects, as Tom Cruise and his Mission: Impossible team at least claimed the top of the charts, with Ghost Protocol riding the success of last week’s IMAX sneak peeks to snatch $26.5 million over the weekend for a $58.9 running total so far.
Sherlock Holmes: A Game Of Shadows held on well, seeing off the other new competition and falling to second place with $17.8 million, while Alvin And The Chipmunks: Chipwrecked also stayed strong with $13.3 million in third.
As mentioned, Cruise’s new release competition didn’t fare quite as well. David Fincher’s The Girl With The Dragon Tattoo managed fourth with $13 million but Tintin saw US audiences much more reluctant to embrace it than those over here, earning $9.1 million for a fifth place launch. Still, the movie’s overseas success should help it keep the cash registers ringing.
Sadly for Cameron Crowe, his big return to filmmaking with We Bought A Zoo appears extinct on arrival. Despite boasting the likes of Matt Damon, Scarlett Johansson and a pack of heart-warming animals, the emotional comedy drama could only manage sixth place, taking $7.8 million.
New Year’s Eve was seventh with $3 million, Arthur Christmas fell to eighth with $2.7 million, The Twilight Saga: Breaking Dawn was down to ninth with $2.1 million and, rounding out the top 10, Hugo made $2 million this weekend.
To break into the full charts from outside the server room, head to Box Office Mojo.
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Battle Of The Super Bowl Movie Ads
Which worked? We take a look…
This year’s crop of Super Bowl advertising for 2012′s upcoming blockbusters followed the seemingly standard pattern of recent years – more and more are either getting teased in increasingly tiny chunks days before the match itself and some, like the G.I. Joe: Retaliation promo, are online in full before a single touchdown has been scored. But even with the early sneak peeks, a few actually waited until the day itself, so we thought we’d slap them together into one big list and take a look to see how effective they were.
First up, Universal’s big blockbuster hope, Battleship. Most of the footage in this one has already been seen in the various trailers. There was a little more of Taylor Kitsch vs. a suited alien type, which added a bit of flare, but on the whole there was not much to convince anyone either way. We’re seemingly in for another Transformers-style burst of bombast and if that floats (or sinks?) your boat, have at it.
UK release: April 11
The John Carter marketing team have had a tougher job selling what is a big movie with a lot of moving parts and a basis in a pulp series of books the mainstream isn’t quite so familiar with. But this new promo gives a bit more story and lets the wow factor do the talking. It’s certainly a step in the right direction. Here’s hoping the film itself can complete the job.
UK release: March 9
Ruffalo Asks Can A Song Save Your Life?
He’s starring with Scarlett Johansson
He’s set to roar across our screens as a giant green rage monster (and his slightly calmer alter-ego) in The Avengers this year, but Mark Ruffalo has just singed on for something entirely less action-packed, joining the cast of John Carney’s Can A Song Save Your Life?
The film will see Ruffalo reunite with Avengers cast mate Scarlett Johansson for the tale of a young female singer who moves to New York City to try launching a music career. But when her boyfriend dumps her, her life suddenly takes a turn for the better when a down-on-his-luck record producer discovers her and helps her succeed even as they fall in love.
Carney, of course, is still best known for writing and directing musical romance Once, so this should be second nature for him. And given that Johansson has long since proved she’s got the pipes to carry off a singing career in addition to her acting work. As for Ruffalo, he’ll have to prove he’s got what it takes to sit in an office and listen to records, then snog Johansson. He’s a brave trooper, that man.
As mentioned above, both of the stars will share the screen in The Avengers when it arrives on April 27. Johansson also has alien drama Under The Skin in the can and Ruffalo will be seen in sex addiction drama Thank You For Sharing.
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