Santa Clause III

[BRERALEX]

Wasn't it just a little too early to let this puppy out?

I saw Borat. I enjoyed Borat. Borat makes me laugh. Cohen is great as Ali G, Borat and Bruno.

Ali G: What happened to all the sick animals in Vietnam?
Poor Vetenarian: What do you mean all the sick animals?
Ali G: What about all them Vietnam vets?

But I think it's a little sad that Borat can beat out a Disney flick when both movies are going head to head on their opening weekends.

It was in 2621 less theatres then SCIII. It's like every movie that is released with the name Disney in front of it means less and less.

http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20061106/ap_en_mo/box_office

LOS ANGELES - Sacha Baron Cohen's Kazakh alter-ego Borat made glorious returns at the box office, surprising Hollywood with a No. 1 debut.

"Borat: Cultural Learnings of America for Make Benefit Glorious Nation of Kazakhstan," 20th Century Fox's big-screen incarnation of Cohen's Kazakh journalist from "Da Ali G Show," took in $26.4 million during its opening weekend, according to studio estimates Sunday.

"This picture was playing to full houses," said Bruce Snyder, head of distribution at 20th Century Fox. "The planets aligned, the moons aligned, the stars aligned, and everything came together perfectly for us on this weekend."

Box-office analysts had expected Disney's "The Santa Clause 3: The Escape Clause," with Tim Allen returning as St. Nicholas, to win the weekend. It was No. 2 with $20 million, followed by the Paramount-DreamWorks animated comedy "Flushed Away" in third place with $19.1 million.

With great Internet buzz and a built-in following from "Da Ali G Show," "Borat" succeeded where another cyber-sensation, "Snakes on a Plane," failed. "Snakes" opened last summer to modest crowds despite months of Internet hoopla.

The raucous, raunchy "Borat" follows the adventures of British comedian Cohen's TV journalist from Kazakhstan in a blend of fiction and improvised comic encounters as he travels the United States, meets and mocks Americans and reports back to his home country.

"It is what you go to the theater for," said Hutch Parker, the studio's head of production. "You get that infectious, outrageous, interactive experience. There are people yelling at the screen, there are cheers."

"Borat" played in only 837 theaters, fewer than one-fourth the count for "The Santa Clause 3" and "Flushed Away." Averaging a whopping $31,511 a theater, "Borat" easily outdistanced "The Santa Clause 3," which averaged $5,784 in 3,458 cinemas and "Flushed Away," which averaged $5,152 in 3,707 theaters.

Fox plans to expand "Borat" to as many as 2,500 theaters this Friday.

"The Santa Clause 3" pits Allen's St. Nick against Jack Frost ( Martin Short) as they battle for control of Christmas. "Flushed Away" features the voices of Hugh Jackman and Kate Winslet in the story of a pampered pet mouse forced to make his way among sewer rats.

The two movies split the family audience, but their opening weekends were solid starts for the holiday season. Disney and Paramount expect their movies to hang tough through year's end, even with the Warner Bros. animated penguin tale "Happy Feet" coming just before Thanksgiving.

"The Thanksgiving holiday is going to be just rocking," said Disney head of distribution Chuck Viane.

The previous weekend's top movie, Lionsgate's horror sequel "Saw III," held up solidly at No. 4 with $15.5 million, raising its 10-day total to $60.1 million.

However, the strong crop of new movies and holdovers did not quite stack up to the same weekend a year ago, when "Chicken Little" opened at No. 1 with $40 million and "Jarhead" debuted at No. 2 with $27.7 million. This weekend's top 12 movies took in $116.2 million, down 3 percent from the same period last year.

Estimated ticket sales for Friday through Sunday at U.S. and Canadian theaters, according to Exhibitor Relations Co. Inc. Final figures will be released Monday.

1. "Borat: Cultural Learnings of America for Make Benefit Glorious Nation of Kazakhstan," $26.4 million.

2. "The Santa Clause 3: The Escape Clause," $20 million.

3. "Flushed Away," $19.1 million.

4. "Saw III," $15.5 million.

5. "The Departed," $8 million.

6. "The Prestige," $7.8 million.

7. "Flags of Our Fathers," $4.5 million.

8. "Man of the Year," $3.8 million.

9. "Open Season," $3.1 million.

10. "The Queen," $3 million

 

[rantnnravin]

I know a LOT of parents are planning on taking their children to the movies on Tuesday (election day) and Friday (veteran's day) --when school is out.
Which provides a quite plausible explanation for poor box office performance this past weekend.

 

[EpcotMatt]

. It's like every movie that is released with the name Disney in front of it means less and less.

I agree. Those 2 clunkers about the talking Cars and that horrid sequel about some rogue pirate Jim Parrot or something? Both bombs. Disney must have lost a ton of money on those. I sure hope they don't come out with a 3rd pirate flick. If they do, I'd advise everyone to sell their Disney stock.

 

[Mickmse2002]

I know we're planning on taking the whole family this weekend to see SCIII. I think it will do very well over all.

 

[Squirlz]

Frankly I didn't even know Disney was behind the Santa Clause franchise. To me it's just a tired old sequel that shouldn't have been made in the first place.

 

[Mickmse2002]

Frankly I didn't even know Disney was behind the Santa Clause franchise. To me it's just a tired old sequel that shouldn't have been made in the first place.

Why not?

 

[BRERALEX]

that pic about the talking cars got butts into the seats cause of those letters that were attached to it.... p i x a r. Not because of the Disney Brand Name.

I agree. Those 2 clunkers about the talking Cars and that horrid sequel about some rogue pirate Jim Parrot or something? Both bombs. Disney must have lost a ton of money on those. I sure hope they don't come out with a 3rd pirate flick. If they do, I'd advise everyone to sell their Disney stock.

A Disney family film was put up against a retard and the retard won. I'm not saying sell the stock now but you don't think the brand is hurt from all these sequals?

Hold on to Pirates tightly. Very tightly. #3 will do crazy numbers that's for sure. It's like a license to print money. But what else is coming down the line? Will they stop at 3 of 4 or 5 or 6 direct to DVD or internet.

 

[EpcotMatt]

First off, your choice of words is borderline offensive. Second, Cars made it because it was a good film. The letters PIXAR don't guarantee a hit. But using your "logic", if Pixar is indeed the blueprint for success, Disney owns Pixar, so you've simply managed to contradict your original point.

 

[BRERALEX]

They own it now but didn't own it when CARS was being developed or even by the time it was probably finished. Even the regular folk and tell the difference between the two.

Using your logic the Pirate films have done away with all the Shaggy dogs that have come out or also that movie about the animals in that zoo in what was it central park was it madagascar? no it was the madagascar ripoff, I can't even remember the name. What was the gross of that puppy.

Two strong films have undone any harm Aladdan part X has done or Brother Bear 2. right.

Here's to borderline offensive

The letters PIXAR don't guarantee a hit.

They dont guarantee a hit but they established themselves as a solid brand. And when people hear Pixar film they think quality and good story. What I'm getting at is I think people hear Disney film and they think blah blah blah.

 

[KMovies]

All 3 Santa Clause movies were released the first weekend of November. Just like Elf was at the beginning of November. The thought is to make money being a new release, then get the Turkey weekend boost and then live off December's holiday cheer. These movies die right after Christmas so you have to give yourself enough time in the marketplace to make money.

Now if the movie dies a quick death, then yes it is a mistake. This one might not do as much as the first two, but it should do well over the next few weeks.

 

[BRERALEX]

The Wild, I found it.

Domestic Total Gross: $37,384,046

For a Disney animated film. That's hott!

 

[Stitch 03]

Hold on to Pirates tightly. Very tightly. #3 will do crazy numbers that's for sure. It's like a license to print money. But what else is coming down the line? Will they stop at 3 of 4 or 5 or 6 direct to DVD or internet.

They are already talking about a 4th pirates movie. Apparently, it will be about trying to find a career for Orlando Bloom that does not involve pirates or LOTR. Expect an unhappy ending to this one.

 

[BRERALEX]

Apparently, it will be about trying to find a career for Orlando Bloom that does not involve pirates or LOTR. Expect an unhappy ending to this one.

And also something doesn't have johnny Depp involved.

OT as usual I think Pirates is all Johnny of course. The other two can be done without.

 

[EpcotMatt]

You still contradict yourself. On one hand you say Pixar means good quality and on the other hand you say Disney means less & less. Any Pixar film is also a Disney film.

Just so we're all clear, what movie studios out there are on the fast track to successful movies years from now, something you think Disney isn't? Just curious.

 

[BRERALEX]

Just so we're all clear, what movie studios out there are on the fast track to successful movies years from now, something you think Disney isn't? Just curious.

I don't know, how lazy can you be, go check google.

You make it sound like Pixar was created and then Disney bought it.

Didn't they just buy it? Wasn't it finalized rather recently? Pixar before being aquired by Disney had a lot of quality. How many movies have come out since Disney aquired Pixar? Disney had to buy Pixar if anything to make themselves look better

Any Pixar film is also a Disney film.

Now it is yes but it wasn't always. So if Company X with one really really bad movie that lost tons of money goes out and buys Company Y that had two great movies; you can then say Company X makes great movies? OK.

And so you don't think any of the SCIII's or Shaggy dogs hurt the brand name?

 

[EpcotMatt]

How can I Google your opinion? You're talking about current & future movie releases when you speak about Disney meaning less & less right? All I asked was who you thought would be successful.

If you're not speaking about current & future films, then what period are you referring to when you say Disney films mean less & less? If you are speaking about current & future releases, then the timing of Disney's Pixar acquisition is moot.

 

[EpcotMatt]

And so you don't think any of the SCIII's or Shaggy dogs hurt the brand name?

And no, I don't think these films hurt as much as the films like Incrdedibles, Narnia, Sixth Sense, & Nemo help. People remember these successful films much more than those clunkers. You proved that yourself.

 

[BRERALEX]

I don't know who will be successful. I just think movies like SCIII, A Disney Family film getting beat out by a film like Borat is ridiculous and I think the word Disney in front of a film doesn't hold as much weight as it used to. You disagree, congratulations.

 

[EpcotMatt]

I was simply giving my opinion & trying to figure out your point in between your contradictions. Didn't mean to get you all testy. But thanks for the kudos. I'll take 'em.

 

[BRERALEX]

Disney didn't always own pixar. I see the success of CARS being because of the Pixar name not because of the Disney name. CARS was developed by Pixer and I dont know if it was 100% complete before Disney aquired Pixar.

Hows this, Pixar used to mean quality and it is yet to be seen if it still will now that it is owned by Disney. And all I am saying is that the Disney brand name in front of a flick doesn't mean as much. IMO