SPEARE'S TIPS - The Films of 12/28/11-12/30/11

[transformers2]

Solid holds all around. When I saw Mission Impossible yesterday, I was shocked how many people were there when I left (it got out around 1:30). There were sold-out showings of Sherlock Holmes, Alvin, Girl With The Dragon Tattoo, and The Muppets (which was in a small theater). Looks like the people that stayed how the past 2 weeks are coming out this week in droves.

[Buscemi]

I'm kind of surprised by The Iron Lady doing so well. Reviews weren't as kind to it as they were with Pariah and A Separation.

[numbersix]

But the fact that it's an English biopic and the Oscar buzz for Streep is so huge that a high PTA was inevitable. RT score is far from the only factor in judging a film's PTA success.

[Buscemi]

But reviews are dependent on a film's success in the big cities.

[numbersix]

It's not as simple as that. Other factors can become more important. Just look at the Top PTA earners of all time and cross reference them with reviews and you'll see that's not always the case. Yes, amazing reviews will certainly help a limited release, but star power, awards buzz, etc must also be considered. Hence it was a no-brainer that Iron Lady would take the PTA crown this weekend.

[Shrykespeare]

Wow. Almost every single movie listed actually IMPROVED this weekend over Christmas weekend. (The only ones that dropped hugely were, unsurprisingly, Arthur Christmas, and the other one was In the Land of Blood and Honey.)

Weekend Estimates:

Top 10:
5 points - Mission: Impossible, $31.2M
4 points - Sherlock Holmes, $22.1M
3 points - Alvin & Chipmunks, $18.2M
2 points - War Horse, $16.9M
1 point - Girl with Dragon Tattoo, $16.3M
We Bought a Zoo, $14.3M
Adventures of Tintin, $12.0M
New Year's Eve, $6.7M (not unexpected)
The Darkest Hour, $4.3M
The Descendants, $3.6M

PTA:
5 points - The Iron Lady, $55,450
4 points - A Separation, $22,200
3 points - Tinker Tailor Soldier Spy, $20,368
2 points - Extremely Loud and Incredibly Close, $17,667
1 point - Pariah, $12,425

That gives Tinker Tailor Soldier Spy 17 PTA points, which ties it with The Help for the most of the year. Ironically, NO ONE PICKED IT in either the Ult FY or the Ult HY!!

[Buscemi]

Extremely Loud and Incredibly Close did about $17,000 PTA, pushing Mission: Impossible off the list and giving Pariah just one point (Universal probably shouldn't have opened it on Wednesday, as the Wednesday/Thursday total would have given it three points had its opened on Friday).

The Rotten Tomatoes rating of 98% should allow Pariah to build though.

[Shrykespeare]

Thanks, Boosh. As it turns out, that minute shift in PTA didn't affect the final standings at all (with actuals pending). I have now posted the projected winners (well, most of them!).

[Chienfantome]

SO disappointed by "A Separation" numbers. Come on America !!!

[Buscemi]

US/Iran relations aren't the strongest, Chien.

[Chienfantome]

I can't say I find US/Iran relations relevant in terms of influence concerning what cinephiles go see at the movies. In fact I would rather think the opposite, as I'm sure people are concerned and curious about what happens in such a country as Iran, and to see what filmmakers have to say about the situation in their country. Because films are not the reflection of a government's view, at least not in this case

[numbersix]

I think it's mroe a case that A Separation has been readily available on DVD outside of the US for some time.