Archive for January, 2013

‘Mama’ heads US box office

Monday, January 21st, 2013

Jessica Chastain has continued her winning streak as two of her films ruled the US box office this weekend.

Horror Mama debuted at number one with $28.1m, while Zero Dark Thirty took second place with $17.6m.

Both films star Chastain, who recently took home a Golden Globe award for Zero Dark Thirty.

Two new releases also made it in the top ten – Broken City and The Last Stand.

The Mark Wahlberg and Russell Crowe movie Broken City came in fifth place with $9m, while Arnold Schwarzenegger’s The Last Stand took tenth place with $6.3.

Silver Linings Playbook rose from ten to third place with $11.3m, earning a total of $55.3m.

Last weekend’s second-placed A Haunted House slipped to six with $8.3m. Its total earning is now $29.9m.

Meanwhile, the ensemble movie Gangster Squad was knocked down one spot from three to four with $9.1m, earning a total of $32.2m.

Three of the holiday period’s big movies – Django Unchained, Les Misérables and The Hobbit: An Unexpected Journey – complete the top ten list.

The top ten in full (studio estimates):
1. (-) Mama – $28.1 million
2. (1) Zero Dark Thirty – $17.6 million
3. (10) Silver Linings Playbook – $11.3 million
4. (3) Gangster Squad – $9.1 million
5. (-) Broken City – $9 million
6. (2) A Haunted House – $8.3 million
7. (4) Django Unchained – $8.2 million
8. (5) Les Misérables – $7.8 million
9. (6) The Hobbit: Am Unexpected Journey – $6.4 million
10. (-) The Last Stand – $6.3 million

‘Zero Dark Thirty’ tops US box office

Sunday, January 13th, 2013

Zero Dark Thirty has risen to top the US box office this weekend.

The Kathryn Bigelow-directed thriller about the hunt for Osama bin Laden jumped from 16th place to number one upon opening on wider release, grossing $24m.

Last weekend’s first place winner Texas Chainsaw Massacre 3D was knocked down to number nine, earning $5.1m and bringing its total gross to $30.7m.

New movies A Haunted House and Gangster Squad debuted at second and third place, making $18.8m and $16.7m respectively.

Quentin Tarantino’s Django Unchained slipped from number two to number four with $11m, while Les Misérables also fell one place to number five with $10.1m.

Golden Globe and Oscar-nominated film Silver Linings Playbook rounds out the list at number ten.

The top ten in full (studio estimates):
1. (16) Zero Dark Thirty – $24 million
2. (-) A Haunted House – $18.817 million
3. (-) Gangster Squad – $16.710 million
4. (2) Django Unchained – $11.065 million
5. (4) Les Misérables – $10.127 million
6. (3) The Hobbit: An Unexpected Journey – $9.08 million
7. (8) Lincoln – $6.314 million
8. (5) Parental Guidance – $6.1 million
9. (1) Texas Chainsaw 3D – $5.150 million
10. (12) Silver Linings Playbook – $5 million

‘Lincoln’, ‘Life of Pi’, ‘Silver Linings’ lead Oscar nominations

Thursday, January 10th, 2013

Lincoln has picked up recognition in 12 categories to lead the 2013 Academy Award nominations.

Among the nominations, the historical drama is in the running for ‘Best Picture’, ‘Best Actor’ for Daniel Day-Lewis, ‘Best Supporting Actor’ for Tommy Lee Jones and ‘Best Supporting Actress’ for Sally Field.

Fellow ‘Best Picture’ nominees Life of Pi and Silver Linings Playbook earned 11 and eight nods respectively. Les Misérables also picked up eight nominations.

The ‘Best Picture’ category was rounded off by Amour, Argo, Beasts of the Southern Wild, Django Unchained, Les Misérables and Zero Dark Thirty.

Competing against Day-Lewis in the ‘Best Actor’ category are Bradley Cooper (Silver Linings Playbook), Hugh Jackman (Les Misérables), Joaquin Phoenix (The Master) and Denzel Washington (Flight).

The ‘Best Actress’ category saw Jessica Chastain (Zero Dark Thirty), Jennifer Lawrence (Silver Linings Playbook), Emmanuelle Riva (Amour), Quvenzhané Wallis (Beasts of the Southern Wild) and Naomi Watts (The Impossible) nominated.

Riva is the oldest ever ‘Best Actress’ nominee at 85 years old, while 9-year-old Wallis becomes the youngest ever in the category.

Aside from Spielberg, ‘Best Director’ nominees include Michael Haneke (Amour), Benh Zeitlin (Beasts of the Southern Wild), Ang Lee (Life of Pi) and David O Russell (Silver Linings Playbook).

Elsewhere, Brave, Frankenweenie, ParaNorman, The Pirates! Band of Misfits and Wreck-It Ralph were recognised in ‘Best Animated Feature’.

Skyfall earned five nominations, including ‘Best Cinematography’ and ‘Best Original Song’ for the title song performed by Adele.

The 2013 Academy Awards will be held on Sunday, February 24 at Hollywood’s Dolby Theater.

‘Texas Chainsaw 3D’ tops US box office

Monday, January 7th, 2013

Texas Chainsaw 3D has debuted at the top of the US box office this weekend.

The horror movie reboot ended the three-week number one streak of The Hobbit after grossing $23m. The fantasy film dropped to number three, earning $17.525m.

Quentin Tarantino’s revenge western Django Unchained remained at number two with $20.082m, while Les Misérables and Parental Guidance each dropped one spot to fourth and fifth place respectively.

Also holding on to the top ten are Tom Cruise’s Jack Reacher and This is 40 at number six and seven. The films made $9.3m and $8.5m respectively.

The political biopic Lincoln rose from seventh to eighth place with $5.25m in ticket sales, bringing its total gross up to $143.9m.

Promised Land, the new Gus Van Sant drama starring Matt Damon, made its top ten debut at number ten, earning $4.3m.

The top ten in full (studio estimates):
1. (-) Texas Chainsaw 3D – $23 million
2. (2) Django Unchained – $20.082 million
3. (1) The Hobbit: An Unexpected Journey – $17.525 million
4. (3) Les Misérables – $16.117 million
5. (4) Parental Guidance – $10.125 million
6. (5) Jack Reacher – $9.3 million
7. (6) This is 40 – $8.559 million
8. (7) Lincoln – $5.258 million
9. (8) The Guilt Trip – $4.53 million
10. (-) Promised Land – $4.312 million