"HARRY POTTER & THE DEATHLY HALLOWS PART 2" IS 2011'S HIGHEST-GROSSING FILM

Still from Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows Part 2

It is absolutely no surprise that 2011 tallies show that Franchise Finale Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows Part 2, is internationally the year's highest-grossing Film.  The Warner Bros. Fantasy Drama earned a whopping $1.328 billion worldwide, over $200 million more than its closest competition, Transformers: Dark of the Moon. This past Summer I was lucky enough to be a part of the Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows Part 2 Canadian Press Tour.  Click here to read my Interview with burgeoning Star, Matthew Lewis.

Note that eight out of ten of these Films actually are sequels with Warner Bros., Buena Vista/Disney and Paramount Pictures each accounting for two each. Based on Rotten Tomatoes ratings for the Top Ten, it would appear there is a bit of a divide between Critical and Commercial tastes with these ten averaging 56.3% among Critics, below the "Certified Fresh" threshold.

Without further ado, here are your Top Ten Grossing Films of 2011:

"THOR" DOMINATES THE BOX OFFICE OVER A RESILIENT "FAST FIVE"

Still from Thor

Although there never was a doubt that it would debut at the top, the question always was just how big it would open. Thor is poised to bring in an impressive $66 million this weekend at the Box Office, equally making it a critical and Box Office hit. Rotten Tomatoes pegs the Marvel adaptation in at 78% on its Tomatometer.

Slipping to second spot but equally performing amazingly well is last week's number one Movie, Fast Five. The high-octane fifth installment of the Fast and the Furious franchise is set to bring in $35 million for Universal Pictures in its second week bringing its North American tally to $142 million.  Believe it.

Sony Pictures' Jumping the Broom starring a talented primarily Black cast of Angela Bassett, Omar Epps, Paula Patton and Loretta Devine exceeds expectations, debuting in third spot with $13.5 million.  The Comedy from Director Salim Akil received heavy promotion on Urban outlets like BET.

Warner Bros.' Something Borrowed had the misfortune of opening up against Fast Five and Thor, and is expected to land in fourth this weekend with $13.4 million.  Despite being targeted towards primarily a Female audience, surely many of those Women had the split decision of seeing those Blockbusters or this Rom-Com negatively impacting Something Borrowed's performance.

Rio is still going strong in its fourth week with $9.5 million for 20th Century Fox bringing its tally to $116 million, ahead of its Sister Film from the same studio Water for Elephants, which slips to sixth with $5.7 million.

Rounding out the Top Ten is Soul Surfer with $2.1 million in its fifth week.  To date it has made $36.7 million in its run.

"FAST FIVE" RACES TO THE TOP OF BOX OFFICE

Still from Fast Five

Moviegoers raced to the theatres this weekend for  Fast Five, the latest in the series of Auto-racing/Action Films, a massive success at the Box Office taking in $83.6 million in its debut. This makes it the best opening yet for The Fast and The Furious Franchise, with the distinction also of being the biggest opening weekend for a Movie so far in 2011.  It is estimated that Fast Five made  $165 worldwide this weekend alone for Universal Pictures. Critics also agree that this one is a hit, with it earning a 79% rating on the Tomatometer at Rotten Tomatoes.

20th Century Fox continues to perform well with RIO 3-D, slipping to second this weekend after two weeks on top.  This weekend it pulled in $14.4 million from 3708 theatres, landing just ahead of Madea's Big Happy Family in third with $10 million.

Romantic Drama Water for Elephants slips one spot to fourth with $9.1 million, bringing its tally to $32.1 million domestically.

Debuting below expectations was Disney's PROM which lands in fifth with $5 million from 2,730 theatres.  The Teen Romance was estimated to make upwards of $9 million this weekend.

Hoodwinked Two Hood vs. Evil is the second film in its Series, and it debuts in sixth with $4.1 million.  Its predecessor made a total $51.4 million at the Box Office worldwide for The Weinstein Co.

Rounding out the Box Office Top Ten is Scre4m which after three weeks of release, brings in $2.2 million this weekend.  It its theatrical run domestically, the Horror/Comedy has just surpassed the $70 million mark worldwide for The Weinstein Co./Dimension.

"RIO" MAKES IT TWO-FOR-TWO

Still from RIO 3-D

20th Century Fox's RIO 3-D makes it two-for-two at the Box Office this Easter weekend, with $26.8 million from 3,842 theatres. Showing no signs of stopping, perhaps we can expect it on-top for a third?

It always amazes me how loyal Tyler Perry's following is and their support along got him to second spot this weekend with the tenth installment of his Madea Franchise, Tyler Perry's Madea's Big Happy Family bringing in $25.7 million from 2,288 theatres. The Film ranks as the Director/Screenwriter's fourth-highest grossing opening ever.

Water for Elephants makes it two Films in the Top Three for 20th Century Fox with the Romantic Drama earning $17.5 million. The Film starring Reese Witherspoon and Twilight Hunk Robert Pattinson, was made for $38 million, looking to be a profitable venture for the Studio.

Former Champion Hop from Universal Pictures fares well still in its fourth week of release, landing in fourth with $12.4 million, doubtedly aided by the fact that it is Easter weekend and it is an Easter-themed Film. To-date it has made $147.7 million worldwide.

The Weinstein Co.'s Scream 4 places fourth this weekend with $7.1 million. Thus far in its two-week run, its tally is $31.2 million in North America and it was made for $40 million.

Disney's African Cats fares well in its debut, showing in only 1,220 theatres, but still landing in sixth spot. The Documentary narrated by Samuel L. Jackson has fared well with Critics, earning a 69% rating on Rotten Tomatoes' Tomatometer.

Summit Entertainment's well-reviewed Source Code rounds out the Top Ten this week with $5 million this weekend in its fourth week of release.

"RIO" FLIES OVER COMPETITION AT BOX OFFICE

Still from RIO 3-D

Congratulations to 20th Century Fox on their Box Office victory this weekend with RIO 3-D. A clear winner, taking in $41 million it its debut, the Animated Feature not only was a hit with audiences, but reviews also fared on the positive side, garnering 71% on the Tomatometer at Rotten Tomatoes.

Despite some high expectations for Scre4m, it places second in its first week of release, earning $19.5 million. Weekend projections had the fourth installment of the Horror franchise pegged it in the upper $20 million mark. Reviews on the whole haven't been too bad, just shy of positive at the 57% mark on the Tomatometer.

Two-week champion Easter-themed Hop slips to third this weekend with $11.5 million, bringing its tally to $82.9 million for Universal Pictures. Impressive ....and it's still not even Easter Weekend yet.

Soul Surfer continues to fare well in fourth spot this weekend with $7.7 million, ahead of another FilmDistrict title on the Top Ten Insidious from SAW creators James Wan and Leigh Whannell lands in sixth spot also for the U.S. distributor with $7 million. To date it is made $36 million and was made for only $1 million, turning in a huge profit.

The Conspirator opened in limited released at 707 theatres in the U.S. this weekend. Directed by Robert Redford, the Film received a TIFF premiere last September. It debuted in tenth spot this weekend with $3.8 million and will expand in another 300 theatres according to Nikki Finke at Deadline.

RIO - MOVIE REVIEW

Still from RIO

The Creator of Ice Age, Carlos Saldanha, has done it again - this time in 3-D with his latest Animated Feature, RIO. Blu (Jesse Eisenberg) is a rare Macaw Bird, who has been domesticated by his Owner Linda (Leslie Mann) in Minneapolis after she had found him in a box rolled-off a truck. Upon having it brought to her attention by Ornithologist Tulio (Rodrigo Santoro) that Blu's species is in danger of becoming extinct, he and Linda make their way to Rio de Janero, where he is to mate with beautiful and free-spirited Jewel (Anne Hathaway).

Before long, both Blu and Jewel are kidnapped by a team of greedy Poachers. They are terrorized by tyrannous Watch Bird Nigel (Jemaine Clement), but manage to escape. One catch though - Blu does not know how to fly and after having been captured, both he and Jewel are bound together by chains. Together they find themselves on the wildest adventure of their lives with the help of their Friends Rafael (George Lopez), Nico (Jamie Foxx) and Pedro (will.i.am) who protect them from the Poachers and Nigel. Will Blu and Jewel manage to stay free of their Captors? Will Linda and Blu ever unite again? And above all, will this species of Blue Macaw birds become extinct forever?

On the rare occasion, I take the time to review an Animated Feature as admittedly it isn't a favourite genre of mine. RIO however, truly exceeded my expectations through and through.  Visually, it is a spectacle with enough vivacity, depth and detailing to make any Brazilian proud to call this Film their own - even with all the Urban North American-isms found throughout its Script.  RIO's multi-layered story line is told clearly and the heart it possesses underneath it all is palpable. Its ambition to educate our Children on the dangers of Extinction is expressed and understood, while packaged in the universality of a Love Story between a Bird and his Owner, and also that Bird and another.

If there was any doubt of Blu's visceral appeal as a Hero, a Child attending my Screening in tears had cried out "Blu!!!!!" as the Macaw had to fight his biggest challenge yet against his Captors.  My general rule of thumb is that Children rarely lie and perhaps that Child's sentiments also could be felt throughout the Theatre, although suppressed by the inhibitions that come with Age.

WIN A "RIO" PRIZE PACK

From the creators of Ice Age comes an animated 3-D Musical about two almost-extinct Macaw Birds, Blu (Jesse Eisenberg) and Jewel (Anne Hathaway). The two are brought together in Rio de Janero but kidnapped soon after. After managing to escape from a pair of greedy Poachers who are looking to sell them off, the two Birds find themselves on the wildest adventure of their lives!

RIO features the voices of George Lopez, Leslie Mann, Jamie Foxx, Wanda Sykes, Tracy Morgan and Bebel Gilberto. Released through Fox, you won't want to miss RIO when it hits Theatres on April 15, 2011!