MOVIEGOERS CAN'T GET ENOUGH OF "PIRATES"

If there was any concern over the world ending this weekend, Moviegoers certainly were undeterred from heading to the theatres this weekend.  Pirates of the Caribbean: On Stranger Tides debuts this weekend with an excellent $91.5 million, making it the biggest-grossing opening weekend for a Film in 2011.  Although not quite as successful as the second and third installments of the Pirates of the Caribbean Franchise -  Dead Man's Chest opened with $135 million back in 2006 - On Stranger Tides, doubled The Curse of the Black Pearl's $46.6 million opening back in 2003.  The Disney Franchise clearly has seen better days, but by no means is showing signs of stopping yet.

Truly embodying what it means to be a Bridesmaid by coming in second two weeks in a row, Universal Pictures' Bridesmaids brings in a healthy $20.9 million this weekend.  In two weeks the Comedy has earned $60 million, almost doubling the Studio's $32 million investment in production costs.

Paramount's Thor is still performing well, landing in third in its third week of release with $15.6 million, just ahead of another former Box Office champion Fast Five with $10.1 million.  Something Borrowed is still hanging on in the Top Ten in seventh, now surpassing the $30 million mark, while 20th Century Fox's Water for Elephants spends its fifth week there with $2.3 million in ninth spot. 

"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.

WATER FOR ELEPHANTS - MOVIE REVIEW

Still from Water for Elephants

Jacob (Robert Pattinson) is a Veterinary student at Cornell University who takes up an assignment with the Benzini Brothers' Most Spectacular Show on Earth during the Great Depression. Among those Animals under his care are Rosie the Elephant (Tai), who is deemed untrainable until Jacob taps into her full potential essentially saving the floundering Circus from demise.

It is at the Circus where Jacob meets and becomes enamored with a beautiful and translucent-skinned Marlena (Reese Witherspoon), the Star of the Show. Marlena however, is married to volatile and abusive Animal Trainer August (Christoph Waltz).  

Jacob and Marlena work closely together with Rosie and along the way, they find their attraction to one another insuppressible. As passions flare, August becomes suspicious of his Wife's loyalties and we wonder whether Marlena, Jacob, the Circus Performers and Rosie will be able to escape August's wrath before he destroys them all.

Based upon the best-selling Novel by Canada's Sara Gruen and directed by Francis Lawrence, Water for Elephants actually surpassed all my expectations.  Lawrence strikes a fine balance here, making this Adaptation equally suspenseful as it is a Love Story.   Masterfully, he keeps the Pot at a simmer, offering small jolts of heat until everything culminates in a fiery Boiling Point.

ENTER TO WIN A PASS FOR TWO TO THE CANADIAN PREMIERE OF "WATER FOR ELEPHANTS"

Jacob (Robert Pattinson) is a Veterinary student who takes up an assignment with the Benzini Brothers' Most Spectacular Show on Earth during the Great Depression.  Among those Animals under his care are Rosie the Elephant, who is deemed "untrainable".  

It is at the Circus where Jacob meets and becomes enamored with Marlena (Reese Witherspoon), a beautiful Equestrian in the Circus.  Marlena however, is married to volatile and abusive Animal Trainer August (Christoph Waltz).  As the Show struggles to stay afloat and passions flare, will Marlena, Jacob and the Workers be able to escape August's wrath?

Water for Elephants is based upon the best-selling Novel by Sara Gruen and directed by Francis Lawrence.  It opens in theatres on Good Friday, April 22, 2011.