Entertainment

The Weekend Box Office: ‘The Hunger Games’ Destroys Competition, $152 Million in Debut

by Chris Quibol | Mar 27, 2012 | 1 comment

Who would have guessed that a film based on a popular novel would break records at the box office? Apparently, most people, as “The Hunger Games” dominated this past weekend, debuting with over $152 million at the box office, which ranks third all-time behind “Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows Part 2” and “The Dark Knight”. Sony Pictures’ “21 Jump Street” dropped 43 percent in its second weekend with just over $20 million, which put the film at second place this past weekend.

Hit the jump for a rundown of this week’s box office results.

Sony Pictures Acquires Rights to ‘Brooklyn Castle’

by Chris Quibol | Mar 22, 2012 | 10 comments

After premiering very strongly at the recent SXSW film festival, the rights to remake chess documentary Brooklyn Castle have recently been acquired by Sony Pictures, with Scott Rudin set to produce.

The original documentary is about an inner city school in Brooklyn, New York that went from “school in need” to one of the best public schools in New York, primarily because of the accomplishments of the school’s chess team program; however, budget cuts to public schools means that the chess team risks getting shut down. The documentary, which apparently received a standing ovation at its premiere at SXSW last week, is still in need of a distribution deal.

Sony Pictures acquired the rights to remake the film, but not the distribution rights to the original documentary. Scott Rudin previously directed Searching for Bobby Fischer, another chess-oriented film, so Brooklyn Castle seems like a natural fit for the producer.

Check out the trailer for the original documentary after the break.

Sony’s ‘Community’ Picked Up By Comedy Central in Syndication Deal

by Chris Quibol | Mar 20, 2012 | 12 comments

With the future of cult-hit sitcom ‘Community’ in jeopardy, a deal was recently made to give rights to Comedy Central to air the Sony Pictures Television-owned show. The deal gives Comedy Central the rights to air episodes from all three seasons of the show’s run.

According to broadcastingcable.com, Comedy Central’s executive VP of program strategy David Barnath had this to say about Community’s addition to there programming lineup:

“Within the chaos of the current media landscape we are fortunate that we live in a timeline where Community comes to Comedy Central. Our staff is celebrating with a game of paintball in the offices today.”

‘Community’ recently returned after a long hiatus, with the show finishing its third season currently on NBC. Despite great ratings upon its return, “Community” has yet to be renewed for a fourth season.

Catch Troy, Abed, and the rest of the study group Thursdays at 8:00 PM on NBC.

The Weekend Box Office: Sony Pictures’ ’21 Jump Street’ Opens On Top

by Chris Quibol | Mar 19, 2012 | 10 comments

After a few weeks of absence, Sony Pictures once again dominates the box office, this time with the Channing Tatum and Jonah Hill-lead “21 Jump Street.” The film opened very strong, earning over $36 million for the weekend; however, this is the first weekend that the box office was down compared to last year. Still, the one major new release in “21 Jump Street” managed to find success, besting “Dr. Seuss’ The Lorax,” which sat on top for two straight weeks.

Hit the jump for a full rundown of this week’s box office results.

Sony Pictures News Roundup: Sony to Distribute ‘Robocop’ Remake, New ‘Men in Black 3’ Trailer

by Chris Quibol | Mar 13, 2012 | 3 comments

Sony distributing “Robocop” remake:

Apparently, the part man, part machine, all cop is returning to theaters sometime in the near future, thanks to Sony Pictures. According to Deadline Hollywood, Sony Pictures recently signed on to distribute a remake to the 1987 classic Robocop, which is being produced by MGM.

The remake, simply dubbed Robocop, is being directed by Jose Padilha (Elite Squad), and will star Joel Kinnaman from 2011’s The Killing. According to Deadline, Sony Pictures and MGM have developed a pretty good relationship lately, with the two entertainment giants collaborating on 21 Jump Street, upcoming James Bond movie Skyfall, and last year’s The Girl With The Dragon Tattoo and Zookeeper. Not much else is known about Robocop, but we’ll keep you updated when more news drops.

Sony Pictures nabs the rights to “Lockdown at Franklin High” script:

After a competitive bidding war, Sony Pictures recently acquired the rights to a script for Lockdown at Franklin High, written by Dance of the Dead writers Greg Bishop and Joe Ballarini. The film is reportedly about a brother and sister duo who try to escape from their “prison-like high school” which has “plunged into anarchy and pandemonium” after an attack from a supernatural creature. Brad Fuller, Andrew Form, and Michael Bay, of Transformers fame, are in talks to produce.

Second trailer for “Men in Black 3”:

If you haven’t already seen it, the second trailer for this summer’s surefire blockbuster Men in Black 3 released last week. The trailer gives us a better look at Josh Brolin’s character (the 1960’s version of Tommy Lee Jones’s Agent K) as well as a look at the film’s updated special effects. Starring Will Smith, Tommy Lee Jones, and Josh Brolin, Men in Black 3 releases this summer on May 25.

Check out the full “Men in Black 3” trailer for yourself after the break.

The Weekend Box Office: Despite Huge Budget, Disney’s ‘John Carter’ Disappoints

by Chris Quibol | Mar 12, 2012 | 2 comments

Despite an extremely large $250 million budget and backing from the house of mouse itself, Disney’s John Carter disappointed at the box office this past weekend. The film sat at second place behind last week’s number one, Dr. Seuss’ The Lorax, which held on to the top spot despite a 44 percent drop off from last week. Other newcomers in the top ten this week included the horror/thriller Silent House and Eddie Murphy-lead comedy A Thousand Words, though neither film managed to break the $10 million barrier. Once again, Sony had no new debuts this week, though Sony/Screengems powerhouse The Vow remained in the top ten. Ghost Rider Spirit of Vengeance fell out of the top ten this weekend.

Hit the jump for a full rundown of this weekend’s box office results.

The Weekend Box Office: ‘The Lorax’ Towers Over Competition

by Chris Quibol | Mar 5, 2012 | 16 comments

“Dr. Seuss’ The Lorax” surprised everyone this weekend, debuting atop the box office with a staggering $70.2 million. “The Lorax” had the biggest opening this year, making nearly four times more than party film “Project X,” which also debuted this weekend in second place. Outside of those two newcomers, this week’s results look largely the same, with Sony-backed films “The Vow” and “Ghost Rider: Spirit of Vengeance” beginning to bottom out.

Hit the jump for a full rundown of this weekend’s box office.

Sony Pictures to Adapt Valiant Comics’ ‘Bloodshot’ into Live Action Feature Film

by Chris Quibol | Mar 5, 2012 | 7 comments

While he may not have the same popularity as Spiderman or Ghost Rider, thanks to Sony Pictures’ recent acquisition, Valiant Comics’ Bloodshot is going to have his day in the sun. According to Deadline New York, Sony Pictures recently acquired the film rights to the Valiant Comics anti-hero after reading a spec script from Jeff Wadlow (“Never Back Down”)

“Bloodshot” is a 1990’s comic book series that follows Angelo Mortalli, a hired mobster/killer who is framed by the very mob he is supposed to be working with. Mortalli enters witness protection only to be exploited by his FBI handler and forced to undergo a scientific experiment that turns him into a nanite-powered super soldier. “Bloodshot” is one of Valiant Comics’ most successful comic book franchises, spanning 70 issues and two volumes since 1992.

Matthew Vaughn, who produced critically-lauded comic book films “Kick-Ass” and “X-Men: First Class,” was originally reported to be attached to a Bloodshot film adaptation; however, he seemingly is no longer going to be a part of the development. Instead, Neal Moritz, producer of various films including “I Am Legend” and the “Fast and the Furious” franchise, is set to produce the Bloodshot live action feature.

With the project in its earliest stages, not much else is known about the film, but with a lesser-known comic book hero and a deep history of violent and action-packed stories to pull from, Bloodshot is definitely capable of turning into a successful movie franchise.

First Look: Sony Classics Sets March 23 Release Date for ‘The Raid: Redemption’

by Chris Quibol | Mar 1, 2012 | 4 comments

If you haven’t heard about the critically acclaimed indie film “The Raid,” prepare to have your skull crushed against a wall a few dozen times. Sony Pictures Classics recently announced that it’s bringing the Indonesian martial arts/action film to the US on March 23, with a new subtitle (“The Raid: Redemption”) and soundtrack.

The movie, directed by newcomer Gareth Evans, focuses on Rama and a squad of 19 other elite special-forces officers who have to make their way through a rundown apartment complex full of murderers, rapist, and thugs in order to apprehend Jakarta’s most powerful drug lord who, naturally, is sitting on the highest floor.

“Rama, a member of a special forces team, arrives at a rundown apartment block with a mission to remove its owner, a notorious drug lord. The building has become a sanctuary to killers, gangs, rapists and thieves seeking accommodation in the one place they know they cannot be touched by the police. When a spotter blows their cover, Rama and his team must fight their way through every floor and every room not just to complete their mission but to survive their bloody ordeal.”

The simple premise masks a film filled with intense action sequences reminiscent of classic action films like “Hard Boiled” and “Ong Bak,” both of which have achieved cult status here in the United States. Furthermore, Sony Pictures has also tasked Linkin Park’s Mike Shinoda to redo the films soundtrack in order to help the film appeal more to a western audience.

“The Raid” was already a hit with 2011 Toronto Film Festival attendees, where the film won the Cadillac People’s Choice Midnight Madness Award. Sony Pictures soon after acquired the film’s North American distribution rights after seeing clips at the Cannes Film Festival and now “The Raid” is set to release later this month.

Hit the jump to see the skull-cracking trailer for yourself.

The Weekend Box Office: Modern War Film ‘Act of Valor’ Takes Top Spot

by Chris Quibol | Feb 28, 2012 | 0 comments

Despite a lack of true star power, Relativity Studios’ “Act of Valor” dominated this weekend’s box office, making over $24 million and easily becoming Relativity’s highest ever grossing film. The rest of this weekend’s top ten looks fairly similar to last week’s, with only three other new films debuting in the top ten. Despite dropping over 50 percent in revenue from last week, Sony affiliated films ‘The Vow’ and ‘Ghost Rider: Spirit of Vengeance’ also remained in the top ten.

Hit the jump for a full rundown of this weekend’s results.

‘Community’ is Back! NBC Announces March 15 Return

by Chris Quibol | Feb 22, 2012 | 21 comments

Pop Pop! Community fans everywhere can finally breathe a sigh of relief. NBC recently announced that the cult comedy/Sony Pictures produced show is coming back on the air next month, on March 15.

The show returns to its traditional 8 p.m. slot on Thursday nights as part of NBC’s new comedy lineup. Community will now precede The Office, followed by the new show Up All Night. According to Entertainment Weekly, NBC was considering giving Community a different time slot; however, with 30 Rock struggling, they decided to give Community a chance against current TV juggernaut Big Bang Theory on CBS.

NBC announced last November that the show would be going on “hiatus.” With no set date to resume the show’s third season, fans were outraged. Community soon after won TV Guide’s second annual “Fan Favorites” contest and comedy website Collegehumor collaborated with the cast to rally support to “Save Greendale” and bring forth the show’s return.

Be sure to watch the continuation of season three when Community returns on March 15 at 8 p.m. “Troy and Abed back on TV!”

The Weekend Box Office: ‘The Vow’ Falls to Second, Slow Opening for ‘Ghost Rider’ Sequel

by Chris Quibol | Feb 20, 2012 | 1 comment

The box office results look largely familiar this week, thanks to the strength of the Denzel Washington-lead Safe House and the Valentine’s Day-powered The Vow once again taking the top spots, with Safe House managing to outpace The Vow this weekend for the top spot. Sony Pictures Ghost Rider: Spirit of Vengeance took a respectable fourth place with $25.7 million; however, this pales in comparison to 2007’s Ghost Rider opening weekend that took in $52 million. Only three new films managed to break into the top ten this weekend, with Ghost Rider, This Means War, and The Secret World of Arrietty all making strong debuts.

Hit the jump for a full rundown of this weekend’s box office.

Sony Pictures Working On Twisted Metal Movie

by Jan Hutchings | Feb 14, 2012 | 1 comment

A killer clown is coming to a theater near you!

According to a report on Deadline.com, Sony is indeed working on bringing Twisted Metal to the big screen. That means vehicular carnage, Sweet Tooth, Calypso, and the entire Twisted Metal crew are about to get their time in the celluloid limelight.

Reports have mentioned both Avi and Ari Arad (Producers of the Spider-Man trilogy) have signed a deal with Ghost Rider: Spirit of Vengeance director Brian Taylor to write and direct the film based on Sony’s iconic car combat game. It seems that the film will keep as close as it can to the game’s plot, characters, and unique sense of humor/horror.

The film will be about an underground car combat tournament run by mega-mogul Calypso who promises fame, fortune, and wishes-come-true to those who survive the deadly game. Think Death Race, but with a serial killer clown, a doll-faced woman, Death himself, and a whole bunch of unique and interesting characters.

Those who are worried that the Twisted Metal movie will suck will be glad to hear that director Brian Taylor has made such films as: Crank, Gamer, and Crank: High Voltage; so we can be sure that the TM film will be high-octane, LSD-fast, videogame-flavored action that will certainly entertain.

Now… I wonder what David Jaffe has to say about this bit of Twisted Metal news?

The Weekend Box Office: Sony/Screen Gems ‘The Vow’ Takes Top Spot in Huge Movie Weekend

by Chris Quibol | Feb 13, 2012 | 0 comments

As usual, Valentine’s Day weekend brought in huge numbers for the movie industry, marking only the second time in history that four movies brought in over $20 million during the three-day span. Naturally, The Vow, produced by Sony/Screen Gems studios took the top-spot, bringing in over $41 million, capitalizing on the romantic holiday weekend. Fascinatingly enough, action-thriller Safe House also brought in huge numbers, following closely behind with just above $40 million. Rounding out the top five were Journey 2: The Mysterious Island, Star Wars: Episode I (in 3D), and last week’s top draw, Chronicle. Sony/Screen Gems Underworld Awakening also stayed in the top ten this weekend with $2.4 million after a solid top five showing last week.

Backed by Valentine’s Day weekend, The Vow took in impressive numbers, the most for any Screen Gems release in history. The “inspired by true events” film stars Channing Tatum (G.I. Joe) and Rachel McAdams (Mean Girls) in a romantic drama similar to another McAdams film – 2004’s The Notebook.

Crime thriller Safe House, lead by Denzel Washington and Ryan Reynolds, took a very close second place with just over $40 million. This is Washington’s second-highest weekend debut behind 2007’s American Gangster. The film focuses on a young CIA agent (Reynolds) on the run with a captured fugitive (Washington).

Journey 2: The Mysterious Island had a solid showing at number three with just over $27 million. Starring Dwayne “The Rock” Johnson, The Mysterious Island is a sequel to 2008’s Journey to the Center of the Earth.

Continuing the success of 3D rereleases, Star Wars: Episode I – The Phantom Menace took in $22.4 million for 20^th Century Fox studios. Originally released in 1999, The Phantom Menace is widely considered the weakest of the six Star Wars films; however, the movie’s weekend success suggests that 3D has become a legitimate box office draw.

Rounding out the top five this week is teenage superhuman drama Chronicle, which was at the top of the box office last weekend, bringing in just over $12 million in its second week.

With a strong showing this past weekend, Sony looks to continue its box office success next weekend, with Sony Pictures’ Ghost Rider: Spirit of Vengeance releasing on February 17.

The Vow ($41.2 million)
Safe House ($40.1 million)
Journey 2: The Mysterious Island ($27.3 million)
Star Wars: Episode I – The Phantom Menace (in 3D) ($22.4 million)
Chronicle (2012) ($12 million)

Sony Pictures Release New Trailer for “The Amazing Spider-Man”

by Chris Quibol | Feb 9, 2012 | 10 comments

Not to be outdone by the Avengers Super Bowl ads that ran this weekend, Marvel and Sony Pictures released a brand new trailer for The Amazing Spider-Man earlier in the week. The nearly three-minute trailer includes tons of new footage, including a better look at the film’s main villain The Lizard, a look at the relationship between Peter Parker and Gwen Stacy (played by Emma Stone), and more opportunities to see actor Andrew Garfield donning Spiderman’s iconic red and blue costume.

Judging from the trailer, the film looks to take a much darker approach than its predecessors, touching on the disappearance of Peter Parker’s parents and the tension between the police and Spiderman. The trailer does an excellent job at hinting at the film’s thematic elements and huge set-pieces, though it lacks the first-person viewpoint featured in the film’s first trailer.

This trailer also marks the first time we get a clear look at the film’s villain The Lizard, and his alter-ego Dr. Curt Connors, played by Rhys Ifans of Harry Potter. Similar to the building-scaling Spiderman scenes, the large reptilian scientist is also depicted entirely in CGI.

The Amazing-Spider-Man is a reboot of the movie series which began less than a decade ago. The original film, which starred actor Tobey Maguire, also covered the origins of Spiderman and Peter Parker’s humble beginnings. The reboot has been met so far with mixed reactions; however this newest trailer does its best to differentiate itself from the 2002 film in the best ways possible. Check the trailer out for yourself in the video below.

Starring Andrew Garfield, Emma Stone, and Rhys Ifans, The Amazing Spider-Man releases in 3D this summer on July 3rd,2012.