HARRY POTTER - G.I. JOE RISES TO THE TOP

G.I. JOE RISES TO THE TOP

Another Hasbro toy has triumphed at the box office. G.I Joe The Rise of Cobra , which blew up critics' reviews, which would ordinarily have run on Friday, like the Eiffel Tower in the movie, posted an estimated $56.2 million at the domestic box office and $44.3 million overseas. It was the first blockbuster film -- it reportedly cost $175 million to make -- that was not shown to critics in advance, a strategy that seemed to work (although the critics themselves would undoubtedly argue that few if any G.I. Joe ticket buyers were likely to have been influenced by what they had to say since hardly any of them read reviews anyway). After all, scorching reviews by critics failed to keep another Paramount movie, Transformers Revenge of the Fallen , from becoming one of the biggest hits of the year. In an interview with the Associated Press, Paramount Vice Chairman Rob Moore said, "With these kind (sic) of movies, at times critics have a hard time getting their arms around them. ... But the audience got exactly what it was a fun summer movie, a great way to end your summer. You just relax and have a good time. You don't have to worry about global politics or global warming." The movie also rescued the box office from four weeks of losses compared with last year (when The Dark Knight continued to rule). The overall gross for the top ten films was up 22 percent from the comparable weekend a year ago. The movie also performed well overseas -- where some analysts figured it would face anti-U.S.-military sentiment. It performed particularly well in Russia. Also opening solidly was the Meryl Streep-starrer Julie & Julia , a far less costly movie (estimated budget $38 million) that earned $20.1 million, to place second. However last week's winner, Judd Apatow's Funny People plummeted 65 percent to $7.9 million, to place fifth. An the horror flick A Perfect Getaway got away with a far-from-perfect $5.8 million in its debut, placing seventh.

The top ten films for the weekend, according to studio estimates compiled by Box Office Mojo 1. G.I. Joe The Rise of Cobra , $56.2 million; 2. Julie & Julia , $20.1 million; 3. G-Force , $9.8 million; 4. Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince , $8.9 million; 5. Funny People, $7.9 million; 6. The Ugly Truth, $7 million; 7. A Perfect Getaway, $5.8 million; 8. Aliens in the Attic , $4 million; 9. Orphan , $3.73 million; 10. 500 Days of Summer, $3.7 million.

10/08/2009