June 16, 2008 – Back Seat Producers

Weekend Box Office For June 13 – 15

#1 The Incredible Hulk from Universal debuts at #1 bringing in $54.5 million. The Incredible Hulk showed in 3505 theaters. Budget was roughly $150 million.

#2 Kung Fu Panda drops to #2 spot bringing in $34.3 million, down 43%. Gross so far is $117,998,000. Kung Fu Panda showed in 4,136 theaters, thats up 22 theaters over last weekend. Budget was roughly $130 million.

#3 The Happening from M. Night Shyamalan debuts in the #3 position this weekend bringing in $30.5 million. The Happening showed in 2986 theaters. It’s production budget was roughly $60 million.

Rounding out the top 10 are:

#4 You Don’t Mess with the Zohan: Weekend Gross: $16,400,000 down 57.4% / Theaters: 3,466 up 4 / Gross $68,790,000 / Budget: $90 million.

#5 Indiana Jones And The Kingdom Of The Crystal Skull: Weekend Gross: $13,547,000 down 40.6% / Theaters: 3,804 down 386 / Gross $275,329,000 / Budget: $185 million

#6 Sex And The City: Weekend Gross: $10,185,000 million, down % 52.0 / Theaters: 3,155 down 170 / Gross: $119,919,000 / Budget $65 million.

#7 Iron Man: Weekend Gross: $5,130,000 down 31.4% / Theaters: 2,403 down 528 / Gross $297,428,000 / Budget: $140 million.

#8 The Strangers: Weekend Gross: $4,097,000 down 54.2% / Theaters: 2,410 down 67 / Gross $45,360,000 / Budget: $9 million.

#9 The Chonicles Of Narnia: Prince Caspian: Weekend Gross: $3,004,000 down 46.9% / Theaters: 2,308 down 757 / Gross $131,744,000 / Budget: $200 million.

#10 What Happens In Vegas: Weekend Gross: $1,700,000 down 50.5% / Theaters: 1,422, down 944 / Gross: $75,788,000 / Budget: $35 million

A note on “Gross”: On average, studios will earn approximately 55 percent of the final gross.

Sources:
Box Office Mojo

John Carter On His Way To The Big Screen

In January of last year it was announced that Pixar and Disney would be taking over the rights to Edgar Rice Burroughs’ classic sci-fi series John Carter of Mars for the big screen. In October of last year, Pixar confirmed that they’re planning on three John Carter of Mars films, the first arriving sometime before 2012. Now The Pixar Blog has confirmed that Andrew Stanton (of Finding Nemo, Monsters Inc., Toy Story and A Bug’s Life) is writing the adaptation.

Quoted from The Pixar Blog: The disclosure came at the end of the short, but extremely enjoyable, discussion (excerpts of which will be published here soon), when a writer from Suite101.com asked about Stanton’s next project, to which Stanton mentioned (not too loudly) ‘John Carter of Mars‘.

Doubting what I’m hearing, I interject, “What is that?” “John Carter of Mars“, Stanton replies. “You’re confirming John Carter? Are you serious?” At this point, I turn my tape recorder back on, “…say that on tape!”, I tell him. Stanton: “I am writing John Carter of Mars right now.” “Oh man, you just doubled my page views!“, I say. Everybody laughs.

The 11-book series centers on John Carter, a Civil War hero from Virginia who while prospecting in Apache country is transported to Mars and finds himself a captive of the savage, enormous and war-like green men from Thark. Eventually, he rises to become the greatest warrior of all time, marries the beautiful Dejah Thoris, Princess of Helium, raises a family and embarks on numerous adventures.

Sources:

The Pixar Blog

Imdb