Evil Dead was the clear box office champ this weekend. The horror remake earned an estimated $26 million from 3,025 locations, or about $5 million more than originally projected. The weekend’s only other ‘new’ release was Jurassic Park 3D. With $18.2 million from 2,771 runs, the converted-classic fell to fourth behind the more-current 3D hit, The Croods.

For those who overlooked the record-breaking success of The Hunger Games one year ago, it was a great weekend at the US box office. Two of the three new releases exceeded expectations, with Olympus Has Fallen nearly doubling studio projections. Only the Tina Fey comedy Admission stumbled – barely topping what Spring Breakers brought in from half as many locations.

As director Sam Raimi’s fantasy-adventure Oz the Great and Powerful is currently dominating the box office, Disney has decided to release the film’s great opening credits sequence online for our viewing pleasure.  As with The Wizard of Oz, the beginning of Raimi’s film plays out in black-and-white and in Academy ratio.  The opening credits are a great introduction to the world of the film, and they’re quite fun to take in when presented in 3D.

Hit the jump to take a look at the full opening credits sequence, and click here to read Matt’s review of the film.  Oz the Great and Powerful is now playing in theaters everywhere.

For a second week in a row, Oz the Great and Powerful reigned at the domestic box office. The Disney hit earned an estimated $42.2 million, down 47% off from last weekend’s debut. But the big news this week is the film that took second place. With an estimated $17.1 million from 2,507 locations, The Call wound up stealing the spotlight from the comedy debut of The Incredible Burt Wonderstone.

It looks like another decent weekend at the box office, thanks to Oz the Great and Powerful. The Disney hit earned an estimated $11.4 million on its second Friday, and brought its domestic total up to an impressive $114.2 million. That Oz remained in first place was entirely expected; what was not so expected was the film that followed it. The Call, the thriller starring Halle Berry, opened with a modest weekend projection of around $10 million. Instead, the Sony/Tristar release earned an estimated $6.2 million from 2,507 locations on its first day alone – putting it on track for over $17 million and a second-place finish through Sunday. The relative success of The Call drew attention to the relative failure of Friday’s higher-profile debut: The Incredible Burt Wonderstone. From 3,160 locations, the Steve Carell-Jim Carrey comedy earned just $3.72 million: a total that included Thursday pm previews. The Warner Brothers release was expected to earn $18 million this weekend; but after its disappointing start, $11 million may be the limit of Wonderstone’s box office magic.  We’ll have full details tomorrow.

Now playing in theaters is director Sam Raimi’s fantastic prequel to The Wizard of Oz, Oz The Great and Powerful.  The film centers on a small-time circus magician with dubious ethics (James Franco) who finds himself transported to Oz and drawn into a battle between the three witches Theodora (Mila Kunis), Evanora (Rachel Weisz) and Glinda (Michelle Williams).  Loaded with incredible visuals, amazing 3D, and a beautiful world created by production designer Robert Stromberg (Alice in Wonderland, Avatar), Oz is the type of movie that definitely should be seen on a movie screen and it’s absolutely worth the extra charge to see it in 3D.  Oz The Great and Powerful also stars Zach Braff and Joey King.

Recently, I got to speak with Raimi.  After exchanging gifts, we talked about why he wanted to make Oz in 3D, deleted scenes, how he’s been waiting to hear what people think about the film, and a lot more.  Hit the jump to watch.

The fact that we all saw it coming doesn’t make it less sweet. Disney’s Oz the Great and Powerful opened big this weekend, earning an estimated $80.2 million from 3,912 locations. Not only does that more than double 2013’s highest debut, it also stands as the third-best March opening of all time, behind Alice in Wonderland and The Hunger Games.

I realize that it’s a little too March to be discussing my favorite holiday gifts, but I only recently had the opportunity to dive into one of mine and, as a result, I feel the need to share it’s greatness with our readers. The ESPN 30 for 30 Collector’s Set Blu-ray is an outstanding collection of sports documentaries that is rife with social commentary and almost sure to have something for sports and/or documentary fans alike. Before I get accused of paid programming, I’ll disclaim that all thirty of its films aren’t home runs (that’s right, a sports pun). Moreover, I’m fairly sure that all of the series’ entries are available to watch instantly on Netflix right now making the physical collection redundant for some. Regardless of how you partake, I encourage you to sift through the series, find a topic that interests you, and give it a shot.

All recommendations aside, this week’s Top 5 features a healthy portion of Iron Man 3 coverage (including the new trailer), Oz the Great and Powerful interviews with Sam Raimi, James Franco, Mila Kunis, and more, the first trailer for The Hangover Part III, a sizable Justice League movie rumor, and the new trailer and poster for Will Smith and Jaden Smith‘s After Earth. As you may be expecting, a brief recap and link for each of the above waits after the jump.

Opening this weekend is Disney and director Sam Raimi’s fantastic prequel to The Wizard of Oz, Oz The Great and Powerful.  The film centers on a small-time circus magician with dubious ethics (James Franco) who finds himself transported to Oz and drawn into a battle between the three witches Theodora (Mila Kunis), Evanora (Rachel Weisz) and Glinda (Michelle Williams).  Loaded with incredible visuals, amazing 3D, and a beautiful world created by production designer Robert Stromberg (Alice in Wonderland, Avatar), Oz is the type of movie that definitely should be seen on a movie screen and it’s absolutely worth the extra charge to see it in 3D.  Oz The Great and Powerful also stars Zach Braff and Joey King.

Recently, I got to speak with Williams.  We talked about what it was like to walk on the yellow brick road for the first time, her reaction to the finished film, 3D, doing so much press, and does she get to visit Disneyland for free after being in a huge Disney movie.   Hit the jump to watch.

Ding-dong the slump is dead! After weeks of disappointing returns, the domestic box office is receiving a much-needed boost from Oz the Great and Powerful. The Disney feature opened in 3,912 locations on Friday with an estimated $24.1 million – including $2 million from Thursday and midnight previews. Oz is now projected to earn almost $80 million through Sunday, dwarfing the $34.5 million of Identity Thief, 2013’s previous best-opener.  Though any relief from the mediocrity of recent frames is welcome, the Technicolor success of Oz the Great and Powerful should not come as a surprise. Inspired by one of cinema’s most beloved properties and heavily marketed to the family audiences that this year has so badly neglected, Oz the Great and Powerful was all but guaranteed an impressive debut. FilmDistrict’s Dead Man Down also opened on Friday but, as another in 2013’s long-line of unremarkable R-rated releases, the thriller’s prospects for success were never very strong. We’ll have full details tomorrow.

With Disney’s Oz the Great and Powerful opening today and news that the studio has already tapped screenwriter Mitchell Kapner to pen a sequel, it was only a matter of time before attention turned to director Sam Raimi as to whether or not he’d return to helm a follow-up.  With big box office franchises, as Disney is hoping Oz turns into, the studio wants a quick turn-around on the next film and would need to secure a director sooner than later.  Is Raimi up to the challenge or will a journeyman director be swooping in to take the opportunity?  Hit the jump to see what Raimi had to say (it’s spoilery on the movie’s ending).

Opening this weekend is Disney and director Sam Raimi’s fantastic prequel to The Wizard of Oz, Oz The Great and Powerful.  The film centers on a small-time circus magician with dubious ethics (James Franco) who finds himself transported to Oz and drawn into a battle between the three witches Theodora (Mila Kunis), Evanora (Rachel Weisz) and Glinda (Michelle Williams).  Loaded with incredible visuals, amazing 3D, and a beautiful world created by production designer Robert Stromberg (Alice in Wonderland, Avatar), Oz is the type of movie that definitely should be seen on a movie screen and it’s absolutely worth the extra charge to see it in 3D.  Oz The Great and Powerful also stars Zach Braff and Joey King.

Recently, I got to speak with Weisz.  We talked about what it was like to walk on the yellow brick road for the first time, her reaction to the finished film, 3D, collaborating with Sam Raimi, and not doing David Cronenberg’s next movie, Maps to the Stars.  Hit the jump to watch.

With Disney’s Oz the Great and Powerful looking to bank somewhere in the $80 million range on its opening weekend, the studio is quickly moving forward with plans for a sequel.  Reports have screenwriter Mitchell Kapner, who penned the original with David Lindsay-Abaire, tapped to write up the inevitable follow-up.  Obviously there are no details on the plot as of yet.  L. Frank Baum’s novel “The Wonderful Wizard of Oz,” is in the public domain, but Kapner can’t use any of the iconic imagery in Warner Bros.’ 1939 film.  Since Oz the Great and Powerful is considered a prequel to that film, there’s plenty of space between the two to suss out another story (or more).  Perhaps we’ll get a new installment of the terrifying 1985 film Return to Oz.

Starring James Franco, Mila Kunis, Michelle Williams and Rachel Weisz, Sam Raimi’s Oz the Great and Powerful opens in theaters tomorrow.  Check out Matt’s review of the film here, along with interviews from Sam Raimi, James Franco, Mila Kunis, Zach Braff and producer Joe Roth.  Hit the jump to watch the trailer for Return to Oz if you’re not familiar with it (and want nightmares).

Opening this weekend is Disney and director Sam Raimi’s fantastic prequel to The Wizard of Oz, Oz The Great and Powerful.  The film centers on a small-time circus magician with dubious ethics (James Franco) who finds himself transported to Oz and drawn into a battle between the three witches Theodora (Mila Kunis), Evanora (Rachel Weisz) and Glinda (Michelle Williams).  Loaded with incredible visuals, amazing 3D, and a beautiful world created by production designer Robert Stromberg (Alice in Wonderland, Avatar), Oz is the type of movie that definitely should be seen on a movie screen and it’s absolutely worth the extra charge to see it in 3D.  Oz The Great and Powerful also stars Zach Braff and Joey King.

Recently, I got to speak with Braff.  We talked about what it was like to walk on the yellow brick road for the first time, his reaction to the finished film, 3D, the unusual way he brought his character to life, and more.  In addition, Braff talked about his upcoming film, Wish I Was Here, which he wrote with his brother and plans to direct later this year.  Hit the jump to watch.

We can find truth in deception.  We find the deeper truth beneath the artifice.  Sam Raimi‘s Oz the Great and Powerful makes no secrets of its deception, and shows how deception can be used for good or evil.  We just don’t call it deception when it’s used for good.  Then it’s an illusion, not a trick.* Oz creates a beautiful illusion that we can get lost in not because of the visual effects wizardry or the size of the canvas, but because of the honesty of the characters and Raimi staying true to his oddball style.