On Friday, Searchlight expands "Slumdog" to 2,943 theaters in the wake of the film's Oscar wins. It's the widest release in Searchlight's history.
http://www.variety.com/article/VR1118000636.html?categoryid=13&cs=1 Best picture 'Slumdog Millionaire' expandingBy DAVE MCNARY<http://www.variety.com/index.asp?layout=bio&peopleID=1508> , PAMELA MCCLINTOCK<http://www.variety.com/index.asp?layout=bio&peopleID=1578> Disney will bow 'Jonas Brothers<javascript:zodInfuser.FillDescriptions('Jonas Brothers');>: 3D Concert Experience' Friday, hoping for “Hannah Montana”-style success. [image: 'Street Fighter: The Legend of Chun-Li'] Fox’s 'Street Fighter: The Legend of Chun-Li' is hoping to draw young males. More than one option - (Person) Nick Jonas<http://www.variety.com/profiles/people/main/2203073/Nick%20Jonas.html?dataSet=1> - (Person) Joseph Jonas<http://www.variety.com/profiles/people/main/2203074/Joseph%20Jonas.html?dataSet=1> - (Person) Kevin Jonas II<http://www.variety.com/profiles/people/main/2203075/Kevin%20Jonas%20II.html?dataSet=1> - (Person) Jonas Brothers<http://www.variety.com/profiles/people/main/2203076/Jonas%20Brothers.html?dataSet=1> MORE ARTICLES: 'Australia' sets record Down Under<http://www.variety.com/article/VR1118000644.html?categoryid=13&cs=1>GM ads lead a retreat from Oscars<http://www.variety.com/article/VR1118000640.html?categoryid=13&cs=1>Next 'Narnia' writer tapped<http://www.variety.com/article/VR1118000632.html?categoryid=13&cs=1>Alterman, Aguilar form Dos Tontos<http://www.variety.com/article/VR1118000638.html?categoryid=13&cs=1>Sprout visits 'Underworld'<http://www.variety.com/article/VR1118000635.html?categoryid=13&cs=1>Carrey, Gyllenhaal do 'Yankees'<http://www.variety.com/article/VR1118000631.html?categoryid=13&cs=1> More people are going to the movies despite the bad economy -- or because of it. Domestic theater admissions were up an unheard of 9.3% in January and February, usually one of the slowest times of the year. In North America, revenues are up 13% for the first two months of 2009, clocking in at $1.62 billion through Tuesday, according to Rentrak. Admissions also are on the rise overseas. However, the vagaries of currency exchange, including a stronger dollar, are hurting Hollywood. The six major studios have seen a decline of more than 10% in revenues from foreign markets for the first two months of the year. The value of the euro is off 20% compared with a year ago and the British pound has declined more than 35%. But, overall, international moviegoing remains decent in terms of local admissions and currency compared with a year ago. Back home, admissions are often down even when revenues are up, thanks to increased ticket prices. This year's spike in actual foot traffic bucks that trend. This weekend, observers will be watching to see if Disney's new entry "Jonas Brothers: The 3D Concert Experience" continues the box office boom. That boom has seen several notable films beating expectations and racking up sizeable grosses. Last weekend,Lionsgate<http://www.variety.com/profiles/Company/main/2013882/Lionsgate.html?dataSet=1>'s "Tyler Perry's Madea Goes to Jail" opened to $41 million, the best bow of any Perry pic, as well as any Lionsgate release. Three films -- Warners' "Gran Torino," Sony's "Paul Blart: Mall Cop" and Fox Searchlight's Oscar winner "Slumdog Millionaire"<http://www.variety.com/profiles/Film/main/190486/Slumdog%20Millionaire.html?dataSet=1> -- have all crossed the $100 million mark this year. "Torino's" cume through Tuesday was $135.5 million; "Mall Cop's," $122.2 million; and "Slumdog's," $101.9 million. On Friday, Searchlight expands "Slumdog" to 2,943 theaters in the wake of the film's Oscar wins. It's the widest release in Searchlight's history. It's been a good winter for the Fox family. The big studio's sleeper hit "Taken," <javascript:zodInfuser.FillDescriptions('"Taken."');> with a gross of $96.5 million, should jump the $100 million mark by Sunday. Distribs say they've never seen so many January and February films do this kind of business. There have been casualties, however. Disney's "Confessions of a Shopaholic,"<http://www.variety.com/profiles/Film/main/150853/Confessions%20of%20a%20Shopaholic.html?dataSet=1> produced by Jerry Bruckheimer<http://www.variety.com/profiles/people/main/29063/Jerry%20Bruckheimer.html?dataSet=1>, hasn't caught on. The Isla Fisher<http://www.variety.com/profiles/people/main/55427/Isla%20Fisher.html?dataSet=1>starrer has grossed $28.3 million since its Feb. 13 release, compared with a cume of $71.4 million for New Line/Warner Bros.' "He's Just Not That Into You," which opened one week earlier. Sony's suspense drama "The International,"<javascript:zodInfuser.FillDescriptions('"The International."');> released the same day as "Confessions,"<javascript:zodInfuser.FillDescriptions('"Confessions."');> has done even less business, cuming $17.8 million through Tuesday. Studio said the film could have a strong run overseas. Pic launches this weekend in Russia, South Korea, the U.K. and more than a dozen other markets. It's cumed $5.5 million from a limited launch so far in seven markets, mostly from Germany. Besides "Jonas Brothers," the only other wide release at the domestic B.O. this weekend is Hyde Park's "Street Fighter: The Legend of Chun-Li," which Fox opens today in 1,136 runs. Pic doesn't have much buzz, but it will have an advantage if it can draw young males, since they likely won't be going to see "Jonas Brothers." B.O. observers will be watching to see if "Jonas Brothers" can match last year's $32.1 million opening of Disney's 3-D "Hannah Montana/Miley Cyrus: Best of Both Worlds Concert Tour."<javascript:zodInfuser.FillDescriptions('"Hannah Montana/Miley Cyrus: Best of Both Worlds Concert Tour."');> The forecast for "Jonas Brothers" is all over the map. Advance ticket sales aren't anywhere near the levels of those for "Hannah Montana,"<http://www.variety.com/profiles/TVSeries/main/173918/Hannah%20Montana.html?dataSet=1> although the latter was billed as a one-week run, which boosted pre-sales. Regardless, "Jonas Brothers," opening in 1,271 3-D theaters, will have no trouble winning the weekend. The Disney machine is hoping that "Jonas Brothers" will be a must-see for tween and teen girls. During their recent concert tour, the pop band incited near-mayhem among fans. Some say Cyrus' fanbase is bigger since she's the star of her own Disney show. The Jonas Brothers have appeared on Disney television, but their own show won't begin to air until summer. At the same time, the trio has seen wild success with its music, including being nominated for a Grammy for new artist. Disney Records is simultaneously releasing a soundtrack of the film. *Around the world* Overseas, the top performer of 2009 is Warner Bros. Intl.'s "The Curious Case of Benjamin Button,"<http://www.variety.com/profiles/Film/main/25863/The%20Curious%20Case%20of%20Benjamin%20Button.html?dataSet=1> with a cume of more than $160 million. "Button" has led the international B.O. for three straight sessions and will probably top what's looking like a moderate session this weekend. "Australia" <javascript:zodInfuser.FillDescriptions('"Australia"');> has managed to salvage a disappointing domestic run with $150 million internationally -- three times the domestic total, led by $23 million in Australia and $15 million each in France, Germany and Spain. This weekend, "Australia" goes into Japan, its final major market. "Valkyrie,"<http://www.variety.com/profiles/Film/main/187566/Valkyrie.html?dataSet=1> handled by Fox overseas, has cumed roughly $85 million in foreign markets, outdistancing the domestic run by more than $10 million. It's opening in China this weekend. -- -A http://viewsnmuse.blogspot.com
