Box Office: December 2006 Archives

After months of build-up and sneak previews, "Dreamgirls" finally made its debut in theaters across the country on Christmas Day. What a gift to mankind! Paramount Pictures, which released this splendid musical starring Beyonce Knowles. Jamie Foxx, Eddie Murphy and the astonishing Jennifer Hudson. "Dreamgirls" had a splendid first-day take of $8.7 million playing in just 852 locations - the third-highest Christmas Day debut in history. That is an even more impressive number when you compare it to Paramount's other new release, "Charlotte's Web" which grossed a total of $8 million Friday through Sunday and is playing in 3,728 theaters.
"That is a really good number," box office analyst Paul Dergarabedian, president of Media By Numbers,. told me this morning. "I think this movie will be an absolute crowd pleaser and it has Oscar written all over it."
Obviously, I think Paul is absolutely right. I predict this movie - which I consider to be the best Hollywood musical in ages - will make giobs of money over the next few months fueled by Golden Globe wins and Oscar nominations. I've seen it twice and figure I'll go at least a few more times. Love, love LOVE it!

Paramount Pictures knows it has a great movie on its hands with "Dreamgirls" so why not build up the word-of-mouth to a fever pitch? The studio will not release the movie nationwide until Dec. 25 but this weekend, offered limited showings in Los Angeles, New York and San Francisco.
All 21 shows were sold out with each location grossing $120,000. Moviegoers who got into the showings paid $25 a ticket and received a commemorative program as well. I got a program at an industry preview last week and it is a keeper: filled with amazing photos from the movie and giving credit to all of those in front of and behind the camera who helped to bring this musical sensation to life.

Well, whaddaya know, MORE Daniel Craig news and another legitimate excuse to post another picture of my favorite James Bond along with his lovely leading lady, Eva Green. "Casino Royale," which has this blond-haired, blue-eyed sensation making his debut as Bond, finished in second place for the third weekend in a row adding $15.1 million to its three-week haul for a total domestic gross of just under $116 million. But the real story is overseas where "Royale" took in a dominating $44.7 million and is nearing the $200 marK in foreign grosses. That gives it a worldwide gross of $312.4 million. With openings next weekend in Australia and Mexico, "Royale" is well on its way to passing the $431 million worldwide total of "Die Another Day" four years ago. This 007 has left me shaken AND stirred.

My friends were teasing me over dinner last night over how many photos I have posted of a shirtless Daniel Craig, the new James Bond, in recent weeks. They were not complaining, of course, just teasing. And so, for them, and all of you, I post another on this Friday afternoon. But, I have a legitimate reason for doing so: "Casino Royale," Craig's debut as Agent 007, crossed the $100 mark in domestic grosses on Wednesday, its 12th day of release. The film begins its third weekend in a strong position and has been either number one or number two (switching places with 'Happy Feet') every day of its release. With a trio of newcomers that I don't think will slow the momentum of "Bond," I'd say the film is in good position to surpass the $160 million earned by 2002's "Die Another Die" starring Pierce Brosnan which is the highest-grosser of any of the 21 movies in the Bond franchise.