News for
Smokin' Aces (2006)

photos

board

trailer

details

11 articles from 2007

16 October 2007 | From Studio Briefing | See recent Studio Briefing news

Writer-director Joe Carnahan (Smokin' Aces) has indirectly revealed that actor Chris Pine has landed the role of Captain James Kirk in the next Star Trek movie. It had been reported earlier that Pine was weighing whether to co-star with George Clooney in Carnahan's next movie, White Jazz, or take the Kirk role. But on his blog Monday, Carnahan wrote that Pine "has opted to 'go where no man has gone before' and thus had to bow out of White Jazz. I've been talking to him this past week and knew how tough the decision had to be for him. I don't envy ever being in that spot, but I gave him my full support, even if it meant he didn't do Jazz. I get it. You don't get opportunities like that often."

Permalink | Report a problem

28 May 2007 | From wenn.com | See recent WENN news

Filmmaker Joe Carnahan is amazed his box-office flop Smokin' Aces became so successful as a rental DVD movie bosses now want to shoot a prequel. Crime drama Smokin' Aces slipped in and out of cinemas almost unnoticed upon its release last year - despite a cast including Ben Affleck and Andy Garcia - but became a hugely popular rental. However, although he will be involved with the film, Carnahan won't be directing the follow-up. He writes on his website: "Universal wants to move ahead with a direct-to-video prequel of Smokin' and asked me if I wanted to Godfather the thing and make sure we did a really cool story. "The DVD numbers Smokin' Aces has done are astounding and they want to strike while the iron is hot. Whatever reluctance I have is alleviated by the fact that we can really do this balls out, hardcore prequel and not be constrained by ratings or any other puritanical MPAA bulls**t. That I love. "I won't be directing. I will probably help break story - something lean and mean and nasty."

Permalink | Report a problem

6 April 2007 | From wenn.com | See recent WENN news

Narc director Joe Carnahan feared he would never work again after quitting Tom Cruise action epic Mission: Impossible III. The filmmaker spent 15 months working on the sequel before leaving over creative differences with studio bosses - and even filmed the moment to document what he thought was the end of his Hollywood career. However, despite going on to direct Smokin' Aces, he can't watch the footage of him quitting as it still hurts too much. He explains, "I actually videotaped myself when I quit because I was so thoroughly flipped out and I saw my camera right by my bed and I turned it on. I've looked at it one time since then. It freaks me out. I'm recording what I think is the death of my career." The film was finally released last year and was directed by JJ Abrams.

Permalink | Report a problem

13 February 2007 | From Studio Briefing | See recent Studio Briefing news

Norbit, starring Eddie Murphy in three roles, including a fat lady, displayed more heft at the box office than originally estimated, raking in $34.2 million, according to final figures released by Media by Numbers Monday. By the same token, Hannibal Rising took in less than the studio's estimate, winding up with just $13.1 million. Overall, the box office continued to show strain, falling 7 percent below the comparable weekend a year ago. The top ten films over the weekend, according to final figures compiled by Media by Numbers (figures in parentheses represent total gross to date): 1. Norbit, Paramount, $34,195,434, (New); 2. Hannibal Rising, MGM, $13,051,650, (New); 3. Because I Said So, Universal, $9,221,130, 2 Wks. ($25,805,720); 4. The Messengers, Screen Gems, $7,218,187, 2 Wks. ($24,742,205); 5. Night at the Museum, 20th Century Fox, $5,754,359, 7 Wks. ($232,150,355); 6. Epic Movie, 20th Century Fox, $4,570,090, 3 Wks. ($35,594,259); 7. Smokin' Aces, Universal, $4,113,020, 3 Wks. ($31,174,140); 8. Pan's Labyrinth, Picture House, $3,577,283, 7 Wks. ($26,619,057); 9. Dreamgirls, Paramount, $2,980,967, 8 Wks. ($97,006,872); 10. The Queen, Miramax, $2,373,121, 19 Wks. ($48,897,648).

Permalink | Report a problem

12 February 2007 | From Studio Briefing | See recent Studio Briefing news

Norbit, starring Eddie Murphy in three separate roles (including a grossly overweight woman), earned a big, fat $33.7 million at the box office over the weekend, well ahead of analysts' forecasts. MGM's latest addition to the Hannibal Lecter franchise, Hannibal Rising, placed second with $13.4 million, considerably below expectations. Both films had received mostly negative reviews. Third place went to Universal's Because I Said So, which earned $9 million in its second weekend. Nevertheless, despite the strong showing for Norbit, the overall box office was down 7 percent from the comparable weekend a year ago. It was the fourth consecutive weekend that the box office showed minus results. The top ten films for the weekend, according to studio estimates compiled by Media by Numbers: 1. Norbit, $33.7 million; 2. Hannibal Rising, $13.35 million; 3. Because I Said So, $9 million; 4. The Messengers, $7.2 million; 5. Night at the Museum, $5.75 million; 6. Epic Movie, $4.45 million; 7. Smokin' Aces, $3.8 million; 8. Pan's Labyrinth, $3.55 million; 9. Dreamgirls, $3.1 million; 10. The Queen, $2.5 million.

Permalink | Report a problem

6 February 2007 | From Studio Briefing | See recent Studio Briefing news

The victory of Sony/Screen Gems's The Messengers at the box office last weekend marked the seventh consecutive Super Bowl weekend that a Sony Pictures film had nabbed the lead, the Los Angeles Times observed today (Tuesday). Like this year, three other years starting in 2001 were led by horror flicks, including last year's When a Stranger Calls. "Super Bowl weekend is kind of a party weekend, and these kinds of films get the party started," Sony distribution chief Rory Bruer told the newspaper. As usual for horror films, slightly more than half the audience was under 21 and female. The film took in $14.7 million. In second place was another female-skewing film, Because I Said So, starring Diane Keaton. Its audience turned out to be 82 percent female and 61 percent over the age of 30. It took in $13.1 million.

The top ten films over the weekend, according to final figures compiled by Media by Numbers (figures in parentheses represent total gross to date): 1. The Messengers, Sony/Screen Gems, $14,713,321, (New); 2. Because I Said So, Universal, $13,122,865, (New); 3. Epic Movie, 20th Century Fox, $8,411,993, 2 Wks. ($29,555,556); 4. Night at the Museum, 20th Century Fox, $6,385,843, 6 Wks. ($225,001,335); 5. Smokin' Aces, Universal, $6,113,345, 2 Wks. ($24,744,300); 6. Stomp the Yard, Screen Gems, $4,055,791, 4 Wks. ($55,857,184); 7. Dreamgirls, Paramount, $4,000,521, 7 Wks. ($92,748,249); 8. Pan's Labyrinth, Picture House, $3,682,699, 6 Wks. ($21,715,849); 9. The Pursuit of Happyness, Sony, $2,966,454, 7 Wks. ($157,217,102); 10. The Queen, Miramax, $2,650,134, 18 Wks. ($45,461,958).

Permalink | Report a problem

5 February 2007 | From Studio Briefing | See recent Studio Briefing news

The box office had much in common with the Chicago Bears over the weekend as both suffered brutal losses. While much of the country prepared for Super Bowl parties on Friday and Saturday and stayed home to watch the game on Sunday, movie theaters remained nearly empty, even by past Super Bowl weekend comparisons. The No. 1 film was the horror flick The Messengers, which took in an estimated $14.5 million, down 31 percent from the $21 million raked in by last year's When a Stranger Calls during the comparable weekend. The Diane Keaton starrer Because I Said So came in second with $13 million. Last week's top film, Epic Movie, slid to third place with $8.2 million.

The top ten films for the weekend, according to studio estimates compiled by Media by Numbers: 1. The Messengers, $14.5 million; 2. Because I Said So, $13 million; 3. Epic Movie, $8.2 million; 4. Night at the Museum, $6.75 million; 5. Smokin' Aces, $6.3 million; 6. Stomp the Yard, $4.2 million; 7. Dreamgirls, $4 million; 8. Pan's Labyrinth, $3.7 million; 9. The Pursuit of Happyness, $3.1 million; 10. The Queen, $2.7 million.

Permalink | Report a problem

2 February 2007 | From Studio Briefing | See recent Studio Briefing news

The competition at the box office this weekend will not only occur between movies but also between movies and the Super Bowl. With that in mind two studios have decided to debut a chick flick and a horror flick, the only types of films that have shown a chance of luring moviegoers away from their TV sets. Universal is opening the Diane Keaton starrer Because I Said So, while Sony is debuting The Messengers (the latter without the benefit -- or distraction -- of a screening for critics). On the other hand, last week's top films, Epic Movie and Smokin' Aces, are expected to be thrown for a mighty big loss in their second week. In limited release, the Weinstein Co.'s controversial Factory Girl, about Andy Warhol clan member Edie Sedgwick, starring Sienna Miller in the title role, is scheduled to open in three theaters.

Permalink | Report a problem

30 January 2007 | From Studio Briefing | See recent Studio Briefing news

Films that landed Oscar nominations last week received wider releases over the weekend and, for the most part, saw a significant rise in ticket sales, but they failed to make a major impact on overall box-office earnings, which were down 8 percent from the comparable weekend a year ago. Of all the high-brow movies nominated for best picture, only Miramax's The Queen landed in the top ten (with $4 million). Warner Bros.' The Departed took in $3.4 million to place 12th, while Paramount Vantage's Babel earned $2.6 million to place 14th and Warner Bros.' Letters From Iwo Jima took in $1.9 million to place 17th. Little Miss Sunshine is already out on DVD. By contrast the low-brow Epic Movie spoof from Fox raked in $18.6 million (lower than the weekend estimate), while Universal's Smokin' Aces debuted with $14.6 million.

The top ten films over the weekend, according to final figures compiled by Media by Numbers (figures in parentheses represent total gross to date): 1. Epic Movie, 20th Century Fox, $18,612,544, (New); 2. Smokin' Aces, Universal, $14,638,755, (New); 3. Night at the Museum, 20th Century Fox, $9,557,664, 6 Wks. ($216,845,623); 4. Stomp the Yard, Screen Gems, $7,685,565, 3 Wks. ($50,538,842); 5. Catch and Release, Sony, $7,658,898, (New); 6. Dreamgirls, Paramount, $6,741,985, 7 Wks. ($86,775,468); 7. The Pursuit of Happyness, Sony, $4,983,325, 8 Wks. ($152,929,867); 8. Pan's Labyrinth, Picture House, $4,774,578, 5 Wks. ($16,523,021); 9. The Queen, Miramax, $4,013,052, 18 Wks. ($41,254,080); 10. The Hitcher, Focus Features, $3,632,975, 2 Wks. ($13,433,020).

Permalink | Report a problem

29 January 2007 | From Studio Briefing | See recent Studio Briefing news

Critics weren't given a chance to see it before it opened this weekend, but Epic Movie managed to beat out a slew of Oscar nominees and leggy holdovers to lead the box office with an estimated $19.5 million in ticket sales. "The marketing department made great [TV and Internet] spots and the young people came," Bert Livingston, senior vice president of distribution at Fox, told today's (Monday) Los Angeles Times. But the weekend reviews were as awful as the studio had evidently expected. Jason Anderson in the Toronto Globe and Mail suggested that Epic Movie might be "part of a diabolical, Manchurian Candidate-like plot to stunt the intellectual development of American adolescents so that they're sure to vote for Arnold Schwarzenegger in the 2016 presidential election. (For Canadians, it'll be Howie Mandel.)" And despite the fact that it also took a beating from many critics, Smokin' Aces debuted in second place with a solid $14.26 million. "It's a very edgy, R-rated, hip and cool movie. It doesn't surprise me," Media By Numbers President Paul Dergarabedian told the Associated Press. A third newcomer, the chick flick Catch and Release caught $8 million in its release, while a fourth freshman, Blood and Chocolate, bled (or melted) to death with just $2.1 million and failed even to make the top ten. Meanwhile, Fox's Night at the Museum remained a strong contender in its sixth week as it nabbed $9.6 million to up its total to $216.7 million. Overall, the box office was down about 8 percent from the comparable weekend a year ago.

The top ten films for the weekend, according to studio estimates compiled by Media by Numbers: 1. Epic Movie, $19.2 million; 2. Smokin' Aces, $14.3 million; 3. Night at the Museum, $9.5 million; 4. Catch and Release, $8 million; 5. Stomp the Yard, $7.8 million; 6. Dreamgirls, $6.6 million; 7. The Pursuit of Happyness, $5 million; 8. Pan's Labyrinth, $4.5 million; 9. The Queen, $4 million; 10. The Hitcher, $3.6 million.

Permalink | Report a problem

26 January 2007 | From Studio Briefing | See recent Studio Briefing news

Universal might have saved its money on critics' screenings of Smokin' Aces, starring Ben Affleck, Jeremy Piven, Ray Liotta and Andy Garcia, for all the good the reviews will do the film. Jan Stuart in Newsday calls the movie "an exercise in excess gone over the top. It's so punch-drunk with antisocial behavior you don't know whether to laugh or write to the MPAA." Eleanor Ringel Gillespie in the Atlanta Journal-Constitution writes that it's "an awkward pelvic thrust of a movie that wishes it knew more cool moves than it actually does." Then there's A.O. Scott's review in the New York Times which describes the movie as "a Viagra suppository for compulsive action fetishists and a movie that may not only be dumb in itself, but also the cause of dumbness in others." On the other hand, there's Bill Zwecker's review in the Chicago Sun-Times, who concludes: "This nonstop, brutal thriller, with a nice twist at the end, is a winner all the way." And Stephen Hunter in the Washington Post wraps up his review this way: "All in all, another thoroughly enjoyable step on the road to damnation."

Permalink | Report a problem

11 articles from 2007