HAYDEN CHRISTENSEN - MOVIES RELEASED EARLY FOR DOUBLE HOLIDAY

Hollywood has decided to combine Valentine's Day with Presidents Day this year by releasing four new movies today (Thursday) in hopes of winding up with a rewarding 5-day weekend. Topping the list is 20th Century Fox's sci-fi thriller Jumper, starring Hayden Christensen and Samuel L. Jackson, which box-office prognosticators estimate will do about $32-38 million in business despite almost entirely negative reviews. Providing general family fare, Paramount's The Spiderwick Chronicles, whose views have mostly been positive, will likely take in $20-25 million. The romantic comedy Definitely, Maybe from Universal and Working Title and the dance sequel Step Up 2 the Streets from Disney are each expected to sell about $20 million worth of tickets. Entering the fray -- in 42 markets -- on Friday will be The Weinstein Co.'s George A. Romero's Diary of the Dead.

14/02/2008