The writer's strike is looming and it is fall, scary Halloween-time at the box office. A scary time for studios as well, especially for those who have sunk lots of money into heavy films like "Rendition." As one studio executive told Variety, "October has become the Bermuda triangle for adult dramas."
Variety reports that the surprise success of Julie Taymor's whimsical "Across the Universe" underscores that audiences are hungry, even starving, for feel-good pictures. "Universe," a hit among girls, has grossed $16.7 million to date in its limited run.
The horror lovers came out in droves for the latest slasher-sicko film, "Saw IV", the number one movie is Lionsgate's "R" rated eek-fest making $32.1 million into 3,183 theaters from Friday through Sunday..
In second place, Disney's comedy, "Dan In Real Life" debuted in only 1,921 venues but raked in $12 million this weekend.
Number 3 spot went to "30 Days Of Night" which took $6.7 million this weekend from 2,859 dates for a new total of $27.3 million.
Number 4 spot went to Disney, "The Game Plan" making $6.28 million for a new total of $77 million.
Number 5 spot went to Lionsgate, "Tyler Perry's Why Did I Get Married?" making $5.7 million for a new total of $47.3 million.
Number 6 spot went to Warners, "Michael Clayton" made $5 million for a new total of $28.7 million.
Number 7 spot went to Miramax, "Gone Baby Gone," making $3.9 million for a new total of $11.3 million.
Number 8 spot went to Fox's "The Comebacks" for $3.4 million for a new total of $10 million.
Number 9 spot went to Sony, "We Own The Night," taking $3.3 million for a new total of $25 million.
Tim Burton's "Nightmare Before Christmas 3D" (Disney) made the 10 spot making $3.3 million.
Dateline Hollywood reporter Nikki Finke writes that the surprise of the weekend "was the news that Roadside Attractions' little known PG-13 'Bella' opened in only 165 theaters to make $1.3 million this weekend but surprisingly had Friday's 3rd best per screen average ($8,026)"
Finke writes that with "less than a $3M budget, Bella surprised everyone at the 2006 Toronto Film Festival by winning the people's choice award. Despite that, no distributor made an offer until, finally, Roadside came aboard. In this climate of filmed torture, it's nice to see a socially redeeming film do a little business."
Some limited debuts also happened this past weekend.
Finke reports that ThinkFilm released Sidney Lumet's dark crime drama "Before the Devil Knows You're Dead" starring Philip Seymour Hoffman and Ethan Hawke in 2 venues this weekend where it made $73.5 million for the No. 1 best per screen average ($36,750).
MGM released "Music Within" with Ron Livingston playing a Vietnam vet promoting causes for the disabled: it opened with $45K from 17 dates.
Alison Eastwood made her directorial debut in "Rails & Ties" starring Kevin Bacon and Marcia Gay Harden that took in $10K Friday from 5 theaters.
Eastwood is the daughter of director and actor, Clint Eastwood.
Strand's "Slipstream" written and directed by Anthony Hopkins, who also stars as a screenwriter, debuted in 6 dates for $6K.
Sony Pictures Classics released Jonathan Demme's documentary, "Jimmy Carter Man From Plains", based on footage shot during the ex-Prez's Palestine book tour, for $10K in 7 plays.
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