HORROR FLICK TAKES "POSSESSION" OF BOX OFFICE

Still from The Possession

Horror Flick The Possession rockets to the top of the Box Office in its debut for Lionsgate/Alliance Films. Starring Kyra Sedgwick, Jeffrey Dean Morgan and Matisyahu, the Film earns $17.7 million this Labour Day weekend (Friday to Sunday) from 2,816 theatres; it was made for $14 million already making back its Production costs.  In Canada alone this weekend, Alliance Films accounts for all top three Films.

Western Lawless opens with $9.6 million from 2,888 theatres for The Weinstein Co. and Alliance Films, a positive showing boosted undoubtedly by its all-star Cast including Tom Hardy, Shia Labeouf, Guy Pearce, Gary Oldman and Jessica Chastain. The Film which premiere at Cannes in May, has received positive reviews, garnering 65% on Rotten Tomatoes' Tomatometer.

Former Champion The Expendables 2 earns $8.8 million it its third week of release, now earning a cumulative total of $69.3 million, just ahead of The Bourne Legacy in fourth with $7.2 million.

Family-focused Films occupy the fifth and sixth spot with ParaNorman and The Odd Life of Timothy Green respectively. The former earns $6.5 million this weekend, while the latter earns $6 million.
 

2016 Obama's America, continues to gain feverish buzz in the U.S., expanding to 1,750 theatres and earning $5.1 million in ninth. The anti-Obama Documentary to date has earned $19 million thus far all on word-of-mouth with its micro-budget.

Sony Pictures' Hope Springs rounds out the Top Ten with $4.7 million in its fourth week of release. It now has earned $52.5 million domestically.

"THE EXPENDABLES" ON-TOP A SECOND WEEK: TEPID WEEKEND OVERALL

Still from The Expendables 2

It's a tepid weekend at the Box Office, but not enough to stop The Expendables 2 from firing their way back to number one again .. even with a meager $13.5 million. The Action Blockbuster in two weeks has earned a cumulative $51.2 million in North America.

The Bourne Legacy once again finds itself at number two this weekend with $9.3 million and a total $84.9 million banked in three weeks of release - just enough to edge-out ParaNorman in third with $8.5 million in its second week.

Sony Pictures' Premium Rush is one of only a few Films opening this weekend, but could muster only an seventh-place debut with $6.3 million, despite solid reviews on Rotten Tomatoes (76% on the Tomatometer).  This raises some questions about talented Joseph Gordon-Levitt's bankability as a Lead Actor with Looper coming out next month.

2016 Obama's America debuts in eight spot with $6.2  million, impressive for a small-budget Documentary opening in only 1,091 theatres this weekend in the U.S.  The Film asks what America would be like if President Obama were to be re-elected once again; it is said to be anti-Obama.

Meanwhile, Hit and Run, the Comedy starring (and directed by) Dax Sheppard and Wife Kristen Bell debuts in tenth spot with $4.6 million.

"THE EXPENDABLES 2" OPENS STRONG ON ACTION-PACKED WEEKEND AT BOX OFFICE

Still from The Expendables 2

It was no match for The Expendables 2 at the Box Office this weekend as the Sequel with an all-star Cast debuts at number one for Lionsgate/Alliance Films with $28.7 million, from 3,316 theatres across North America. Audiences and Critics also are responding well with the Film receiving many positive reviews, tallying a 66% on Rotten Tomatoes. This result falls just-shy of the previous Film in the Series, earning $35 million back in 2010 in its opening.

Slipping to second this weekend is Universal Pictures' The Bourne Legacy with $16.8 million, for a two-week total of $69.4 million.

Sony Pictures' Musical Sparkle opens at number three this weekend, with the distinction of being Whitney Houston's last Film ever. It opens with $14 million, already recouping its production costs back. Reviews also have been fairly decent despite perceptions, rating a 55% on Rotten Tomatoes. There is much praise for Mike Epps' performance in the Film.

ParaNorman, from the same Creators as Coraline, debuts in fourth spot with $14 million from 3,429 theatres, with the misfortune of opening on a crowded weekend of new releases. Like Coraline, it has also has received overwhelmingly positive reviews, rating 87% on Rotten Tomatoes.

The Odd Life of Timothy Green which opened mid-week for Disney also had a decent opening in seventh, earning $10.9 million from 2,598 theatres. Its five-day total is $14.9 million.

Hope Springs is proof that there indeed is a market for mature audiences, slipping to eighth spot in its second week with a respectable $8.7 million, a two-week tally of $34.6 million. I did actually see the Rom-Com starring Tommy Lee Jones and Meryl Streep and can vouch that it is entertaining, with strong performances all around.

Total Recall rounds out the Top Ten with $3.5 million in its third week, which surprisingly almost is being out-performed by Hope Springs - also from Sony Pictures - costing about an eighth ($30 million) of what it cost to make Total Recall ($250 million).

On a side note, Toronto-filmed Cosmopolis also has a strong bow in a U.S. limited release. The David Cronenberg Film starring Robert Pattinson earns $97k from three theatres, an average of $24.1k per theatre.

TIM HORTONS COLD STONE CREAMERY UNVEILS "GREEN PARANORMAN" CREATION: TRY IT AT PILAROS TASTE OF THE DANFORTH!

Howard Lichtman & Characters from ParaNorman

Yum. The 19th annual Greektown Taste of the Danforth sponsored by Pilaros, takes place in Toronto from August 10-12, 2012.  The Festival celebrating Hellenic Culture and Food, has something for everyone to try with local Restaurants offering highly-affordable and tasty options from their Menu on the street.  Believe me, you won't even know where to begin and when to stop!

To help kick-off the Fun yesterday, Characters from Alliance Films' ParaNorman joined Howard Lichtman, President of The Lightning Group - which handles the Festival's Marketing and Sponsorship - to unveil an exciting new Creation at Tim Hortons Cold Stone Creamery, inspired by one of this Summer's most exciting Animated Features. Samples will be available at points during the Festival.

Presented in a green Waffle Cone Bowl at additional charge, Tim Hortons Cold Stone Creamery's Green ParaNorman Creation (seen above) contains signature Mix-Ins like Gummy Bears and Sprinkles, blended into premium Sweet Cream Ice Cream.

Be sure to try it for a limited time only while ParaNorman is in theatres.

From the same Team behind 2010's brilliant Coraline, ParaNorman hits theatres August 17, 2012.  

Watch the Trailer below:

ENTER TO WIN A COPY OF "THE ART AND MAKING OF 'PARANORMAN'"

ParaNorman Zombie Slippers

With just two weeks till its release, expectations and hopes are high for ParaNorman, the Stop-Motion Animation Feature from the same Team which brought us Academy Award-nominated Coraline.  Upon checking my mail today, I was delighted to find these v. cute Slippers inspired by the Zombies seen in the Movie.  I can't stop wearing them and furthermore, can't wait to review it next week!

ParaNorman centers around a misunderstood Boy named Norman (Kodi Smit-McPhee) who is called upon to save his Town - under-siege by Zombies - with his abilities to communicate with the Dead.  The Film also features the Voices of Anna Kendrick, Christopher Mintz-Plasse, Jodelle Ferland, John Goodman and Casey Affleck.

Alliance Films releases ParaNorman in Canada on August 17, 2012.

Watch the Trailer in full below:

NEW TRAILER: "PARANORMAN"

Still from ParaNorman

"There's nothing wrong with being scared Norman, as long as you don't let it change who you are."

Blithe Hollow's Norman Babcock is often misunderstood, but when that Town is about to be overtaken by the Undead, the young Ghoul Whisperer just might be the one to save its People from a Witch's Curse.

From the same Creators as Academy Award-nominated Coraline, ParaNorman features the voice work of Kodi Smit-McPhee, Casey Affleck, Tempestt Bledsoe, John Goodman, Leslie Mann, Christopher Mintz-Plasse, Anna Kendrick and many more.  With a rumoured budget of $60 million, we can expect to be dazzled by this  3-D Stop-Motion Animated Thriller-Comedy when it hits theatres August 17, 2012 via Alliance Films!

Watch this brand new Trailer for ParaNorman below:

WATCH THE TRAILER FOR "PARANORMAN"

ParaNorman Promo Pack

If the $124 million-earning success of 2009's Coraline is any indication of how this is going to do, expect this to be massive. Slotted for an August 17, 2012 release date, Chris Butler & Sam Fell bring us ParaNorman, a 3-D Stop-motion Animated Comedy/Thriller about a Boy named Norman (Kodi Smit-McPhee) who has the ability to communicate with Ghosts and Zombies. With his abilities, he is called-upon to save his Town from a Curse which dates back many centuries.

ParaNorman features the voice work of Anna Kendrick, John Goodman, Casey Affleck, Leslie Mann, Jodelle Ferland, Christopher Mintz-Plasse and The Cosby Show's Tempestt Bledsoe (!!!).

Our Friends at Alliance Films sent over the above cute Promo Pack for the Movie, so I decided to check it out.   One for your radars - it will be a smash.

Watch the Trailer below: