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YESTERDAY'S POLL
What was the most DISAPPOINTING movie of 2008?
Indiana Jones 4 - 38% The Love Guru - 18% Quantum of Solace - 11% The Dark Knight - 8% W - 6% WALL-E - 5% Synecdoche, New York - 3% Pineapple Express - 2% X- Files - 2% Twilight - 1%
No name on the marquee was more pleasing to theater owners in 2008 than Will Smith, according to a survey of movie exhibitors.
Smith, star of "Hancock" and "Seven Pounds," was voted the star who generated the most box office revenue for theaters in an annual survey by Quigley Publishing Co.
Smith is only the second black actor to be chosen in the Quigley poll, which since 1932 has asked movie exhibitors to vote on the 10 stars who brought in the most business. Sidney Poitier topped the poll in 1968.
Smith's superhero summer blockbuster, "Hancock," grossed $228 million. "Seven Pounds," currently in theaters, has pulled in a somewhat lackluster $39 million in two weeks.
Following Smith, in order, were Robert Downey Jr. ("Iron Man," "Tropic Thunder"), Christian Bale ("The Dark Knight"), Shia LaBeouf ("Indiana Jones and the Kingdom of the Crystal Skull") and LaBeouf's "Indiana Jones" co-star Harrison Ford.
The top 10 were rounded out by Adam Sandler, Reese Witherspoon, George Clooney, Angelina Jolie and Daniel Craig.
Last year's winner, Johnny Depp, who didn't have a film released this year, didn't make this year's poll, nor did seven-time winner Tom Cruise.
HOLIDAY SEASON GETS MAJOR BOX OFFICE BOOST
The Christmas box office has turned into a cash cow for a diverse litter of titles, guaranteeing that ticket sales for 2008 will match or exceed last year’s record-breaking haul of $9.62 billion.
Twentieth Century Fox’s breakout holiday hit “Marley & Me” continues to lead, fetching a cume of $72.5 million through Wednesday -- in only its seventh day in release.
“Marley,” produced by Fox 2000 and New Regency, was one of five titles opening nationwide on Christmas Day. All but one -- “The Spirit” -- are collecting plenty of coin and seeing the sort of midweek grosses that can make the week between Christmas and New Year’s the most lucrative stretch of the year.
Disney’s Adam Sandler family comedy “Bedtime Stories” has chalked up a cume of $56.7 million through Wednesday.
“Benjamin Button,” directed by David Fincher and starring Brad Pitt and Cate Blanchett, has exceeded expectations, considering its running time of two hours and 47 minutes and its appeal to an older aud. Film’s cume through Wednesday was $52.7 million.
United Artists’ Tom Cruise starrer “Valkyrie,” the fifth wide release opening Dec. 25, also has found its footing, cuming $41 million through New Year’s Eve.
“Marley,” “Bedtime,” “Button” and “Valkyrie” take up the four top spots on the box office chart.
Through Wednesday, total domestic B.O. revenues for 2008 were north of $9.56 billion, and should eclipse $9.62 billion once New Year’s Day weekend receipts are tallied.
Admissions, however, are down 4% to 5% from last year. Still, that’s far less of a decline than other sectors of the economy are suffering. One report issued this week predicts that retail holiday sales would drop 16%.
CLASSIC FILMS
BY GENRE
Doubt
Gran Torino
The Wrestler
The Reader
The Curious Case of Benjamin Button
Valkyrie
Bedtime Stories
Marley and Me
Milk
Slumdog Millionaire
Frost/Nixon
The Day the Earth Stood Still
