NIA VARDALOS - UP LIKELY TO REMAIN UP -- WAY UP

UP LIKELY TO REMAIN UP -- WAY UP

Disney/Pixar's Up is likely to remain well above three new contending films when ticket sales are tallied this weekend, according to box-office analysts. All three films are receiving mostly negative reviews. Today's (Friday) Los Angeles said that Universal's Land of the Lost , based on the 1970s TV series, will likely earn $30-35 million, a dismal prospect given the film's reported budget of $100 million. Warner Bros.' low-budget The Hangover may not do much better, but it cost far less to make. And Fox Searchlight's My Life in Ruins, starring Nia Vardalos, may end up far behind with less than $10 million. In the meantime, Up is tracking to take in about $35-40 million in its second week.

05/06/2009