Despicable Me

Weekend Box Office – THE LORAX Claims Highest Debut of 2012 with $70.7 Million

by Nicole Pedersen    Posted: March 4th, 2012 at 8:43 am

We all knew The Lorax was going to be number one, and a big number one at that.  But most box office watchers were expecting the animated film to land somewhere between $49 and $59 million on its first weekend – making it easily the biggest debut of 2012.  Instead, the adaptation of Dr. Seuss’ classic has earned an estimated $70.7 million from 3,927 locations.  Not only is that the third-highest March debut ever, it also stands as the biggest animated feature debut since Toy Story 3.  In other words, this is huge.

	Title	Weekend	Total
1	The Lorax	$70,720,000	$70.7
2	Project X	$20,775,000	$20.7
3	Act of Valor	$13.700,000	$45.2
4	Safe House	$7,210,000	$108.1
5	Good Deeds	$7,000,000	$25.7
6	Journey 2	$6,925,000	$85.6
7	The Vow	$6,100,000	$111.7
8	This Means War	$5,625,000	$41.4
9	Ghost Rider 2	$4,700,000	$44.8
10	The Artist	$3,900,000	$37

Friday Box Office – THE LORAX Sees Green with $17.4 Million Debut

by Nicole Pedersen    Posted: March 3rd, 2012 at 8:52 am

He is the Lorax! He speaks for the trees… and for dozens of other corporate sponsors if the marketing for the new animated feature is to be believed.  All of that advertising helped the adaptation of Dr. Seuss’ classic The Lorax achieve the highest single-day debut of 2012 with an estimated $17.4 million from 3,729 locations.  That puts the family film on track for a weekend in the $60 million range.  Not only would that be significantly higher than initial tracking indicated, it would also help The Lorax beat the $56.4 million that Despicable Me, the first animated feature from Illumination Entertainment, earned for its own debut in July of 2010. Predictably, The Lorax sucked up most of the available resources at Friday’s box office, though there was enough green left over for Project X to claim a solid launch.  The R-rated Warner Brothers’ comedy earned an estimated $8.2 million on Friday, including $1.15 million from midnight screenings, and is projected to come close to $20 million through Sunday. We’ll have full details and analysis tomorrow.

	Title	Friday	Total
1	The Lorax	$17,400,000	$17.4
2	Project X	$8,200,000	$8.2
3	Act of Valor	$3,800,000	$35.3
4	Safe House	$1,900,000	$102.8
5	Good Deeds	$1,900,000	$20.6

Teaser Trailer and Poster for DESPICABLE ME 2

by Matt Goldberg    Posted: March 1st, 2012 at 10:09 am

Universal has released the teaser trailer and poster for Despicable Me 2.  There aren’t any plot details or even footage from the film, but that doesn’t mean the marketing campaign can’t begin 15 months before the movie opens.  So how do you sell a movie without the movie?  The minions!  By being adorable, the minions can sell anything.  Granted, this is really more of an announcement trailer, although I have no idea why they’re “singing” the Beach Boys’ “Barbara Ann”.  I can’t remember if that was a thing in the first movie or not.

Hit the jump to check out the teaser trailer and poster.  The film features the voice talents of Steve Carell, Jason Segel, and Al Pacino.  Despicable Me 2 opens in 3D on July 3, 2013.

Weekend Box Office – BREAKING DAWN PART 1 Makes it Three in a Row with $16.9 Million

by Nicole Pedersen    Posted: December 4th, 2011 at 9:10 am

After two weeks spent chasing the superior numbers of New Moon, The Twilight Saga: Breaking Dawn Part 1 has finally achieved something that its predecessor could not: three weeks in a row on top of the domestic box office.

	Title	Weekend	Total
1	Breaking Dawn Part 1	$16,900,000	$247.2
2	The Muppets	$11,200,000	$56.4
3	Hugo	$7,625,000	$25.1
4	Arthur Christmas	$7,350,000	$25.2
5	Happy Feet	$6,000,000	$51.7
6	Jack and Jill	$5,500,000	$64.3
7	The Descendants	$5,200,000	$18
8	Immortals	$4,394,000	$75.5
9	Tower Heist	$4,134,000	$70.7
10	Puss In Boots	$3,050,000	$139.5

Promo Poster for DESPICABLE ME 2

by Matt Goldberg    Posted: September 27th, 2011 at 10:09 am

Universal scored a big hit with Despicable Me and they sent a sequel into development almost immediately after the animated film opened #1 at the box office.  This past June, we reported that the studio had set Despicable Me 2 for July 3, 2013 and even though that’s ridiculously far away, the marketing has begun.  Collider reader Max has sent along the first promo poster for the movie and it proclaims “More Minions.  More Despicable.”  Unless the entire planet is getting covered in adorable minions, I don’t see how they could fit any more of the scene-stealing characters into the movie.

Hit the jump to check out the poster.

Weekend Box Office – HARRY POTTER AND THE DEATHLY HALLOWS PART 2 Breaks Weekend Record with $168.5 Million

by Nicole Pedersen    Posted: July 17th, 2011 at 9:34 am

In its magical debut, Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows Part 2 has claimed another record: the all-time domestic weekend opening.  With an estimated $168.5 million from its 4,375 locations, Harry Potter’s final installment topped the former record of $158.7 million that The Dark Knight set in July 2008.

	Title	Weekend	Total
1	Harry Potter 7b	$168,550,000	$168.5
2	Transformers 3	$21,250,000	$302.8
3	Horrible Bosses	$17,630,000	$$60
4	Zookeeper	$12,300,000	$32.3
5	Cars 2	$8,344,000	$165.3
6	Winnie the Pooh	$9,000,000	$8
7	Bad Teacher	$5,200,000	$88.5
8	Larry Crowne	$2,572,000	$31.6
9	Super 8	$1,925,000	$122,2
10	Midnight in Paris	$1,891,000	$41.8

DESPICABLE ME Blu-ray Review

by Ethan Anderton    Posted: June 8th, 2011 at 3:24 am

Though Pixar has the market cornered on high-quality computer animated feature films, every now and then a nice surprise comes along that comes close to the magic of the people behind Toy Story. Films like Cloudy with a Chance of Meatballs and How to Train Your Dragon have recently impressed the hell out of me, and while Despicable Me doesn’t quite live up to those standards, Universal and Illumination Entertainment have delivered a charming family feature with heart, hilarity and a throwback to some classic cartoons from decades past. Hit the jump for my take on this entertaining animated feature.

Weekend Box Office – HOP Has 2011′s Best Debut with $38.1 Million

by Nicole Pedersen    Posted: April 3rd, 2011 at 9:58 am

Universal’s Hop has just earned 2011’s highest debut weekend – if today’s estimate of $38.1 million from 3,579 locations proves accurate. For now the three-day estimate for the live-action/CGI-animated comedy stands less than one million ahead of Rango’s record from five weeks back.

	Title	Weekend	Total
1	Hop	$38,100,000	$38.1
2	Source Code	$15,000,000	$15
3	Insidious	$13,500,000	$13.5
4	Diary of a Wimpy Kid 2	$10,200,000	$38.3
5	Limitless	$9,400,000	$55.6
6	The Lincoln Lawyer	$7,050,000	$39.6
7	Sucker Punch	$6,085,000	$29.8
8	Rango	$7,560,000	$113.7
9	Paul	$4,335,000	$31.9
10	Battle: Los Angeles	$3,500,000	$78.4

Friday Box Office – HOP Ahead with $11.4 Million Debut; SOURCE CODE in Second with $5 Million

by Nicole Pedersen    Posted: April 2nd, 2011 at 8:54 am

As expected, Universal’s Hop was Friday’s number one film with an estimated $11.4 million from 3,579 locations.  The live action/CGI-animated comedy was heavily promoted as hailing from the team behind last year’s Despicable Me and, though it ultimately fell short of that film’s $21.3 million first Friday, Hop has a shot at passing Rango to claim the biggest first weekend of 2011 if its projected three day take of $38 million proves accurate.  Summit Entertainment’s Source Code placed second with an estimated $5 million from 2,961 locations, which would indicate a weekend figure in the mid-teens.  In other words, not quite as strong as recent releases like Limitless in the sci-fi genre. Fellow newbie Insidious came in at number three on Friday with $4.8 million from 2,408 locations.  Weekend projections for the supernatural horror flick are between $10 and $15 million but, as FilmDirect’s follow-up to Paranormal Activity, the ultra low-budget Insidious is already counting its profits.  Details and analysis tomorrow.

	Title	Friday	Total
1	Hop	$11,400,000	$11.4
2	Source Code	$5,000,000	$5
3	Insidious	$4,800,000	$4.8
4	Limitless	$3,000,000	$49.2
5	Diary of a Wimpy Kid 2	$2,800,000	$30.9

Exclusive: Producer Christopher Meledandri on CURIOUS GEORGE, Tim Burton’s ADDAMS FAMILY, FLANIMALS & THE LORAX

by Steve 'Frosty' Weintraub    Posted: March 19th, 2011 at 8:39 pm

With Universal and Illumination Entertainment’s Hop opening April 1, I was able to sit down with Christopher Meledandri (CEO of Illumination) earlier today for an extended interview.  As most of you know, Illumination’s first movie, Despicable Me, went on to earn over five hundred and twenty seven million dollars at the worldwide box office.  Not bad for a film that had no build in audience.

Over the past year, Illumination has been developing a number of projects and towards the end of my interview, I asked Meledandri about each of them.  So if you’re curious about the status of Curious George, Tim Burton’s stop-motion animation adaptation of The Addams Family, Ricky Gervais’ Flanimals, The Lorax, and the Despicable Me sequel, hit the jump:

Nominations for the 2010 Annie Awards Announced

by Adam Chitwood    Posted: December 6th, 2010 at 10:00 am

Award season is in full-swing, and today the nominations for the 38^th Annual Annie Awards were announced. Headed by the International Animated Film Society, the Annies’s recognize the best in the field of animation including best animated feature, television production, commercials, short subjects, video games and outstanding individual achievements. “This has been an unprecedented year for animation, as the high quality of work represented by our nominees will attest,” says ASIFA-Hollywood President Antran Manoogian. “On behalf of ASIFA-Hollywood, we congratulate all of the nominees and their respective studios.” The Annie’s are usually a fairly good predictor of Oscar gold, with the winner of the Annie for Best Animated Feature matching the winner of the Oscar for the same category 6 of the 9 years the Annie’s have been in existence.  Winners will be announced at the 38th Annual Annie Awards ceremony on Saturday, February 5, 2011. Hit the jump for the list of nominees, as well as the special honorees for this year’s ceremony.

15 Animated Films Submitted for Best Animated Feature Film Oscar

by Adam Chitwood    Posted: November 15th, 2010 at 2:08 pm

The Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences has announced the fifteen animated feature films that have been accepted for consideration in the Animated Feature Film category at the 83^rd Academy Awards.  The list includes the obvious blockbusters such as Toy Story 3, How to Train Your Dragon, and Shrek Forever After, as well as less traditional but no less critically praised fair such as My Dog Tulip, Summer Wars, and the French film The Illusionist.

Under Academy rules, any year in which 8 to 15 animated features are released, a maximum of 3 motion pictures may be nominated. If 16 or more animated features are submitted and accepted in the category, a maximum of 5 motion pictures may be nominated. Since the Academy only deemed 15 animated feature films from this year worthy of being considered, there will only be 3 nominations in the Best Animated Feature Film category at the Oscars in February.  However, films submitted in the Animated Film category are also eligible for Academy Awards in other categories, such as Best Picture, so fear not Toy Story 3 fans, it’s still got a shot at the top prize. Hit the jump to check out the full list of films under consideration, as well as speculation as to which three films are most likely to be nominated.

Over 30 3D Blu-ray Releases Headed for the Holiday Season including PIRANHA 3D, A CHRISTMAS CAROL, and DESPICABLE ME

by Adam Chitwood    Posted: November 2nd, 2010 at 3:32 pm

As the current 3D trend is taking over movie theaters everywhere, it’s now poised to invade your living room.  In order to complement the surge in production of 3D televisions and Blu-ray players, The Digital Entertainment Group (DEG) has announced 36 titles set to be available just in time for the holiday season, with dozens more to follow in early 2011.  10 of the titles will hit stores on November 16, just in time for Black Friday.

The releases include a wide range of titles from AIX Records, DreamWorks Animation, Giant Screen Films, Image Entertainment, IMAX Corporation, Lionsgate, Sony Pictures Home Entertainment, Twentieth Century Fox Home Entertainment, Universal Studios Home Entertainment, Walt Disney Studios Home Entertainment and Warner Home Video. It also includes a number of high-profile titles that will be released as exclusives for certain 3D televisions. “We are excited to see so much industry support for bringing Blu-ray 3D home,” said Ron Sanders, President, Warner Home Video and President, DEG: The Digital Entertainment Group. “And now, consumers buying 3D home entertainment systems over Black Friday weekend will have ample 3D programming to accompany them.” For a full list of films being released on 3D Blu-ray for the holidays, hit the jump.

Weekend Box Office – INCEPTION Leads for Third Straight Week with $27.3 Million; DINNER FOR SCHMUCKS Takes Second with $23.3 Million

by Nicole Pedersen    Posted: August 1st, 2010 at 9:59 am

After briefly giving way on Friday for newcomer Dinner For Schmucks, Inception is back on top for a third straight weekend. Once again, Christopher Nolan’s original thriller retained nearly 65% of its grosses from last weekend and is now looking to cross $200 million by midweek. Schmucks placed second with $23.3 million while the weekend’s two other wide releases, Charlie St. Cloud and Cats & Dogs 2: The Revenge of Kitty Galore became the latest disappointments in a summer that has seen little else.

	Title	Weekend	Total
1	Inception	$27,500,000	$193.3
2	Dinner for Schmucks	$23,300,000	$23.3
3	Salt	$19,300,000	$70.8
4	Despicable Me	$15,500,000	$190.3
5	Cats & Dogs 2	$12,500,000	$12.5
6	Charlie St. Cloud	$12,100,000	$12.1
7	Toy Story 3	$5,035,000	$389.6
8	Grown-Ups	$4,500,000	$150.7
9	Sorcerer’s Apprentice	$4,320,000	$51.8
10	Twilight: Eclipse	$3,965,000	$288.1

Weeeknd Box Office – INCEPTION Stays on Top; SALT Opens a Strong Second with $36.5 Million

by Nicole Pedersen    Posted: July 25th, 2010 at 10:29 am

Inception continued to dominate the box office in its second weekend, earning an estimated $43.5 million from its 3,792 locations. That is a loss of only 31% over last weekend; an amazing hold attributable to the great word of mouth and repeat business Inception is inspiring. Angelina Jolie’s spy-thriller Salt placed second with an estimated $36.5 million, making this, arguably, the first week of the summer when two adult-skewing features have led the domestic box office.

	Title	Weekend	Total
1	Inception	$43,500,000	$143.7
2	Salt	$36,500,000	$36.5
3	Despicable Me	$24,100,000	$161.7
4	The Sorcerer’s Apprentice	$9,685,000	$42.6
5	Toy Story 3	$9,000,000	$379.5
6	Ramona & Beezus	$8,000,000	$8
7	Grown-Ups	$7,600,000	$142.4
8	Twilight Saga: Eclipse	$7,030,000	$279.6
9	Last Airbender	$4,170,000	$123.2
10	Predators	$2,850,000	$46.5

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