"THE BOURNE LEGACY" CONTINUES TRADITION AT TOP OF BOX OFFICE



Still from The Bourne Legacy

If there was every any doubt that the Bourne Series would survive without its most recognizable face, Matt Damon, then away with that as The Bourne Legacy tops the Box Office this weekend in its debut with $40.3 million in North America for Universal Pictures. Opening in 3.745 theatres, the Film starring brilliant Jeremy Renner, is the third-strongest opening for the Franchise behind the second and third installments released in 2004 and 2007 respectively.

The Campaign starring Will Ferrell and Zach Galifianakis seems to have benefited from its ambitious and rowdy Whistle Stop Tour, including a stop in Toronto recently, earning $29 million for Warner Bros. The Political-Comedy opened in 3,205 theatres to a positive 66% on Rotten Tomatoes' Tomatometer.

Three-week Champion The Dark Knight Rises finally falls to number three in this its fourth week of release, earning $19.5 million this weekend also for Warner Bros., just ahead of Sony Pictures' Hope Springs starring Thespian Queen Meryl Streep and Steven Carrell. It made $15.5 million this weekend after opening solidly on Wednesday; strong reviews for this one also with 74% on the Tomatometer.

Diary of a Wimpy Kid: Dog Days, the third in the Franchise finds itself in fifth spot this weekend with $9 million, ahead of a disappointing Total Recall which in its second week only earned $8.1 million despite some high expectations with its $250 million budget. Still waiting on Overseas numbers where it continues to expand and should fare well...

Universal Pictures' Ted still is going strong in ninth spot in its seventh week with $3.5 million, now breaking the $200 million mark.  Meanwhile The Amazing Spider-Man rounds out the Top Ten with $2.4 million.

"THE DARK KNIGHT RISES" THREE FOR THREE AT BOX OFFICE: "TOTAL RECALL" DEBUTS AT #2

Still from The Dark Knight Rises

Although it was expected to face stiff competition from Total Recall, alas The Dark Knight Rises reigns supreme a third straight week at the Box Office with a stunning $36.2 million earned this weekend. To-date in North America, it has grossed $353 million for Warner Bros.

With high expectations, the Remake of Total Recall from Len Wiseman debuts in second with a decent $26.5 million from 3,601 theatres. This still is a far cry from the $250 million in production costs footed by Sony Pictures for the Toronto-filmed Blockbuster starring Colin Farrell, Kate Beckinsale and Jessica Biel. Critics also have been harsh on the Film, with Rotten Tomatoes having it at 31% on their Tomatometer.

20th Century Fox's Diary of a Wimpy Kid 3 opens in third with $14.5 million, which is well below the $23 million the second installment of the Franchise opened with in March 2011.

Ted which in its sixth week of release is still in the Top Ten at number six with $5.5 million for Universal Pictures, just ahead of Step Up: Revolution in its second week slipping to seventh a with $5.3 million, earning a total $23 million domestically.

Former Box Office Champion Brave still is going strong in this its seventh week with $2.8 million, while Magic Mike rounds out the Top Ten with $1.7 million, making it a Warner Bros. top and bottom this weekend.

"THE DARK KNIGHT RISES" STILL ON-TOP ON TEPID WEEKEND

Still from The Dark Knight Rises

In a tepid weekend at the Box Office, The Dark Knight Rises’ dominance still isn’t enough to spark some heavier Moviegoing with last week’s Colorado Tragedy still v. present in the Public’s Pysche. Add above that the fact that everyone's glued to their Television Sets watching the Olympics. Earning $65 million this weekend, the Batman Trilogy Finale cumulatively has earned $278 in North America, surpassing the $420-million mark globally for Warner Bros.

Despite limited promotion, 20th Century Fox’s all-star Comedy The Watch still manages to debut at number two with $13.3 million. Despite a Cast of Jonah Hill, Vince Vaughn, Ben Stiller and Seth Rogen, it still only mustered an embarrassing 14% rating on Rotten Tomatoes’ Tomatometer.  This betters Ice Age 4: Continental Drift's showing just slightly in third with $13.2 million in its third week.

Step Up Revolution 3D dances its way to a debut in fourth spot with $11.8 million from 2,567 theatres, which actually is the lowest opening to-date for the Franchise. Now onto its fourth Film, the Series’ Sequels have yet to eclipse the performance of their Predecessor in 2006, which debuted with a bang at number two with $20.6 million.

Ted still continues to go strong with $7.4 million in this its fifth week of release, now earning $192.5 million in North America alone for Universal Pictures, just ahead of The Amazing Spider-Man which earns $7 million for Sony Pictures in its fourth week. It’s safe to say that the Reboot has somewhat underwhelming in terms of performance.

Meanwhile, Magic Mike still hangs-on at number eight with $2.2 million and Madea’s Witness Protection rounds out the Top Ten with $1.2 million in its fifth week.

BILLY & “TED”

Billy & Bear

It seems as though Billy is channeling his inner-Mark Wahlberg in Ted, opting to sleep with his own Teddy Bear.  In fact, I caught him cuddling with it this morning in my bed!

I just finally saw the Seth MacFarlane Adult Comedy finally tonight after holding-off for a few weeks and must say I rather adored it.  It is everything: Action, Drama, Comedy and Thriller. I confess that I balled my eyes out as it genuinely is visceral at moments, despite the raunchy laughs. Wahlberg is Boss. Kunis is mesmerizing. MacFarlane is on another level.  Ribisi is terrifying; yes, he made me scream out loud in one scene. He`s that scary and he`s that good.

If you haven`t seen Ted still, please do! It`s a Charmer and quite possibly my favourite Film so far of 2012.

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(Photo credit: Mr. Will-W.)

"ICE AGE 4" FREEZES THE COMPETITION AT TOP OF BOX OFFICE

Still from Ice Age 4: Continental Drift

20th Century Fox's Ice Age 4: Continental Drift debuts on-top this weekend with $46 million from 3,879 theatres. Although this number is by no means a shame, it is far off the mark of 2006 Sequel, The Meltdown. Critics unfortunately aren't responding well, with the Animated Feature which showcases the voices of Jennifer Lopez, Ray Romano, Queen Latifah and more, garnering only 40% on Rotten Tomatoes' Tomatometer.

The Amazing Spider-Man slips to second this weekend with $35 million for Sony Pictures. Thus far in North America it has made $197 million in just over two weeks of release - hardly the record-breaking numbers it might've anticipated with its $230 million budget. Overseas though, it continues to wow with $208 million earned thus far.

Universal Pictures' Adult Comedy Ted continues to perform exceedingly well in third this weekend with $22 million. In three weeks it has earned $156 million.

Disney's Brave trails in a distant fourth with $10.6 million, just ahead of Magic Mike in fifth with $9 million and Oliver Stone's disappointing Savages in sixth with $8.2 million.

Katy Perry's Part of Me 3-D sits in eighth in its second week of release with $3.7 million, earning a total $18.8 million - hardly the big numbers Paramount Pictures was hoping for.  Meanwhile, Moonrise Kingdom and Madagascar 3: Europe's Most Wanted round out the Top Ten with $3.6 million and $3.5 million respectively.

"SPIDER-MAN" AMAZES IN DEBUT: NO RECORDS THOUGH

Still from The Amazing Spider-Man

Although many doubted the need for re-telling Spider-Man, The Amazing Spider-Man starts off with a bang earning $65 million in its debut weekend from 4,318 theatres. Opening on Tuesday, the Film since then has grossed a total $140 million domestically for Sony Pictures. Critics are responding fairly well, with the Andrew Garfield and Emma Stone-starring Reboot earning 73% on Rotten Tomatoes' Tomatometer. No records though here, although a second installment is on-the-way. By comparison, 2002's Spider-Man earned $114 million in its debut weekend from 3,876 theatres.

Ted continues to exceed expectations, pulling-in $32.5 million this weekend for Universal Pictures. The Teddy Bear Adult-Comedy starring Mark Wahlberg and Mila Kunis in just two weeks has grossed a superb $122 million and it was made only for $50 million by comparison.

Disney's Brave is still going strong in third with $20.1 million this weekend in this its third week of release.  Domestically, it has now garnered $178.3 million. Overseas it has earned $26 million ($11 million from Russia) so far, but will continue to expand in various territories.

Oliver Stone's Savages, which debuts in fifth with $16.6 million for Universal Pictures. Critics haven't been so kind to the Film with an Allstar Cast including John Travolta, Taylor Kitsch, Salma Hayek, Blake Lively, Benicio del Toro and Aaron Johnson. It earned 52% on the Tomatometer. Magic Mike follows closely behind with $14.9 million earned and $75.7 million earned in two weeks for Warner Bros.

Paramount Pictures' Katy Perry: Part of Me 3-D only could muster a debut of $7.3 million in eighth this weekend from 2,730 theatres, after a July 4th Opening. Critics surprisingly loved the Film with it earning 75% on the Tomatometer.

Woody Allen's latest, To Rome with Love, rounds out the Top Ten with $3.2 million in its third week of release. The panned Comedy (45% on the Tomatometer) stars Alec Baldwin, Penélope Cruz and Jesse Eisenberg.

"TED" TOPS BOX OFFICE WITH RECORD-BREAKING DEBUT; "MAGIC MIKE" SECOND-BEST

Still from Ted

Stellar weekend at the Box Office with us celebrating Canada Day Weekend up north and Americans gearing-up to celebrate their 4th of July Weekend. Although it was a heated battle between two strong R-Rated Openers in Ted and Magic Mike, alas it is the former which takes the top spot with $52.5 million from 3,239 theatres for Universal Pictures. The Comedy starring Mark Wahlberg, Mila Kunis and Seth MacFarlane also is a hit with Critics, earning 70% on the Tomatometer at Rotten Tomatoes. Above this, it sets the record previously held by The Hangover as the largest-ever Opening for an R-Rated Comedy.

Magic Mike also stuns in its Debut for Warner Bros., opening at number two with $38 million. The Male Stripper Dramedy starring Channing Tatum, directed by Steven Soderbergh, was made for only $7 million apparently and also has fared v. well with Critics, earning a stellar 80% on the Tomatoemeter.

Disney/Pixar's Monster Brave continues to perform well in its second week, earning $35.5 million from 4,164 theatres. To-date, it has made $132.7 million.

Meanwhile Lionsgate Films' Madea's Witness Protection Program opens in fourth spot with $27 million, one of Tyler Perry's more decent showings in quite some time considering his last few Films failed to fire.

Abraham Lincoln: Vampire Hunter continues to plod along with $6.2 million this weekend for 20th Century Fox, good enough to land it in sixth spot, just ahead of Moonrise Kingdom which from just 854 theatres, earns $5 million in eighth.

DreamWorks Pictures' People Like Us starring Chris Pine and Elizabeth Banks fails to impress, taking-in just $4.2 million and rounding out the bottom of the Top Ten.