"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.

SCREAM 4 - MOVIE REVIEW

Still from Scream 4

You’ll laugh, you’ll scream. Although many were satisfied with Sidney Prescott (Neve Campbell) emancipating herself from the deadly Ghostface Killer in Scream 3, Director Wes Craven goes above and beyond for Fans in this latest installment of his wildly-successful Horror Franchise, Scream 4 (stylized as Scre4m).

Sidney returns as the celebrated Heroine of Woodsboro, in-town promoting her Memoir. Reuniting with good Friends Sheriff Dewey (David Arquette), Gale (Courteney Cox) and her distant Cousin Jill (Emma Roberts), she soon realizes that Ghostface Killer is still in her wake after receiving a bloody warning. And not only does he want to hurt those around her. This time he really, really, really, really wants Sidney dead.

Anyone familiar with the Scream Franchise should come to expect a certain level of camp and implausibility. Craven clearly is out to cater to the un-weak hearts of Fans. Filled to the brim with appearances from Girl-Next-Door cameos from the likes of Lucy Hale, Aimee Teegarden, Shenae Grimes, Anna Paquin, Kristen Bell and more, it’s clear which demographic is being targeted with Scream 4.

NEVE CAMPBELL AT TORONTO PREMIERE OF "SCREAM 4" | SIGNED PHOTO GIVEAWAY

Neve Campbell & Mr. Will-W.

Guelph native Neve Campbell had a busy day in Toronto today promoting the latest installment of Wes Craven's wildly successful Scream Franchise, Scream 4 (stylized as Scre4m). To date, all three of its predecessors combined have earned $145 million worldwide at the Box Office.

Campbell's stop-offs today included a last-minute appearance on CTV's The Marilyn Denis Show, CBC's George Stroumboulopoulous Tonight, Entertainment Tonight Canada and also Print Media including a Slasher-themed Photo Shoot with Eye Magazine. And that doesn't even include all the Media who queued-up early for a spot on the Red Carpet at Scotiabank Theatre this evening.  Luckily, I was able to get Campbell to stop for a second to pose for a Photo before she was whisked away to the madness... and she was lovely!

Although I am to hold off on my Review for Scre4m until its release date, April 15, 2011, I will say that I had an amazing time enjoying Craven's brand of campy Horror.  I literally was screaming at parts and laughing out loud at others - sometimes together simultaneously.

Campbell introduced the Film quickly in a gorgeous Alexander McQueen number - a fitting tribute the late London-based designer and Fashion Child of the City where she now resides. She returned right as the Credits rolled after enjoying a quick Dinner at Blowfish, then appearing on-stage in a brief Q&A with Toronto's favourite resident Film Guru Richard Crouse.

The Actress told the audience that to this day her favourite Horror Film still is The Changeling, which she discovered at the age of 13. Despite having much experience filming movies of the genre, Campbell says "I'm still a Suck. I am terrible at watching Horror Movies". In fact, she only saw her first Craven Film after her Scream Co-Star Jada Pinkett Smith bought her a stack of his DVDs while they were filming the second installment of the Series.

Despite one audience member professing his love for her in calling her a Legend, Campbell sees things on a more humble scale admitting: "To me, it's honestly about Corn Syrup on my face while filming, Plastic Masks and being chased around by a Prop Guy".

On filming with longtime Co-stars/former Couple David Arquette and Courtney Cox, she feels that her bond with them was tighter this time around. When they had first filmed Scream back in the mid-90s, they had little time to spend together considering that both Cox and Campbell had been busy with their respective TV series. With the new generation of Actors who are introduced in Scre4m like Hayden Panettiere and Emma Roberts, Campbell recalls joking to Cox during their Readings, "We could be their Mothers!".

On the rise of Social Media, Campbell revealed that times have changed since working on Scream 3 back in 2000 in that this time around they had a dedicated team of individuals who would consistently monitor what others were saying about Scre4m online, making efforts to thwart ideas of what the Movie was all about. Also, despite a new Twitter account surfacing recently alleging to belong to Campbell (@MissNeve), the Actress confirmed today that this is an Impostor and that she has not yet caught on to Twitter. And to think I clicked FOLLOW!

A No Camera Policy was enforced strictly at the Theatre tonight, meaning that I could not record the Q&A portion of the evening.  I did however, get a Clip of Campbell chatting with eTalk and Entertainment Tonight Canada on the Red Carpet from my Blackberry, which you can peruse below:

THE CAST OF "PRETTY LITTLE LIARS" IN TORONTO

Ashley Benson, Mr. Will-W. & Lucy Hale

It's like Desperate Housewives for Teens. Or like a slightly less glamorous, but equally scandalous Cousin to Gossip Girl. ABC Family Series Pretty Little Liars in its first Season has become an international phenomena and its popularity only continues to spread among Women, ranking in its debut last June as the number one-rated Scripted Show for that demographic, ranging ages 18-49.  It is now seen around the World in the U.K., Philippines, Australia and Spain.

The Series takes place in a fictional town called Rosewood where four popular girls at Rosewood High School begin receiving mysterious messages from someone identified only with the initial "A", a year after their former Queen Bee Alison disappears. "A" threatens to uncover their deepest, darkest secrets. The Principal Cast members of the Show including up-and-coming Actresses Lucy Hale, Ashley Benson, Troian Bellisario and Canadian Shay Mitchell, have just arrived in Toronto for a few days of Promotion for the Series, which has been a ratings hit for MuchMusic.

I caught up with Cast Members Benson and Hale, who were wonderfully gracious and sweet to Fans-in-waiting earlier this evening at their Hotel. Having lots of fun, we bantered back-and-forth about our favourite subject, Movies. Hale, who can be seen in the upcoming fourth installment of the Scream franchise, was fascinated that I got to review new Anthony Hopkins Horror Flick The Rite earlier this evening (check back Friday for a review), telling me she's been wanting to see it for a while. Benson admitted to me she can't stand Horrors and is more of a Romantic Comedy kind of Girl. We then chat about Natalie Portman and we all agree that we love her and Hale revealed to us that she just saw her new flick No Strings Attached last night. The Girls were really excited to see the City and let me know that their follow Cast Mates Mitchell and Belissario would be arriving soon, although they weren't sure when. It turns out though that Mitchell's flight from  New York City was cancelled last night unfortunately.