This story is free to read because readers choose to support LAist. If you find value in independent local reporting, make a donation to power our newsroom today.
This is an archival story that predates current editorial management.
This archival content was written, edited, and published prior to LAist's acquisition by its current owner, Southern California Public Radio ("SCPR"). Content, such as language choice and subject matter, in archival articles therefore may not align with SCPR's current editorial standards. To learn more about those standards and why we make this distinction, please click here.
Box Office Review: Seriously?
Look, Avatar is a fine movie. If I were ranking the best hundred movies of the year, it would certainly find a solid place in the top twenty-five purely based on its technical virtuousity. That said -- why are so many people flocking to the theater to see it? For the seventh God damned weekend in a row, it topped the box office taking in $30M ($594M) to easily bash Mel Gibson's Edge of Darkness which only managed $17.1M in its opening frame. The dreadful, apocalyptic When in Rome managed a mere $12M to top the almost as dreadful The Tooth Fairy ($10M | $26.1M).
The intentionally apocalyptic The Book of Eli rounded out the top 5 by gathering in $8.7M ducats ($74.3M). The, uh, apocalyptic Legion plummeted in its second weekend ($6.8M | $28.6M) but still bested The Lovely Bones ($4.7M | $38M) and the resilient Sherlock Holmes ($4.5M | $197.5M). Dumb Fucking Chipmunk Movie continued to grind out cash from dumb children and their moronic parents ($4M | $209.2M) while It's Complicated ($3.7M | $104M) did basically the same thing from lonely, middle-aged women. In limited release, Saint John of Las Vegas had a decent start ($11,200 per theater).
You come to LAist because you want independent reporting and trustworthy local information. Our newsroom doesn’t answer to shareholders looking to turn a profit. Instead, we answer to you and our connected community. We are free to tell the full truth, to hold power to account without fear or favor, and to follow facts wherever they lead. Our only loyalty is to our audiences and our mission: to inform, engage, and strengthen our community.
Right now, LAist has lost $1.7M in annual funding due to Congress clawing back money already approved. The support we receive from readers like you will determine how fully our newsroom can continue informing, serving, and strengthening Southern California.
If this story helped you today, please become a monthly member today to help sustain this mission. It just takes 1 minute to donate below.
Your tax-deductible donation keeps LAist independent and accessible to everyone.
Right now, LAist has lost $1.7M in annual funding due to Congress clawing back money already approved. The support we receive from readers like you will determine how fully our newsroom can continue informing, serving, and strengthening Southern California.
If this story helped you today, please become a monthly member today to help sustain this mission. It just takes 1 minute to donate below.
Your tax-deductible donation keeps LAist independent and accessible to everyone.
Senior Vice President News, Editor in Chief
