Monster movies made a comeback this weekend as Cloverfield stormed into theaters. Raking in a sizable $41 million, it took top honors as the highest all-time January opening. Normally that wouldn't be such an impressive record, seeing as how January is generally a dumping ground for sleepy movies that aren't expected to make much cash. However, the movie it beat for the record was the special edition of Star Wars released eleven years ago. That's a noteworthy feat.
With a simple $25 million budget that is almost unimaginable by today's Hollywood standards, the movie didn't just turn a sizable profit. It spawned an opportunity for producer J. J. Abrams and director Matt Reeves to begin threatening us with a sequel.
As someone who hates the idea of sequels on principle, I'm tempted to rant on the topic. However, I'll let you judge for yourself on whether or not that would be a good idea or Hollywood yet again raping one successful idea of all its artistic integrity until it stops turning a profit. Check out the details here.
Of course, The Blair Witch Project was another low budget horror flick that made a ton of money and when they decided to make a sequel it turned out to be one of the worst movies of 2000. Dang it, I said I wasn't going to rant, didn't I?
While Cloverfield was busy making history, 27 Dresses was busy coming in a distant second place. With $22 million it didn't do too bad for a romantic comedy, but it certainly could have done worse. Kind of like Mad Money.
The Queen Latifah and Diane Keaton crime comedy debacle came in at seventh place with only $7.7 million, not even topping last weekend crime comedy entry Mad Money.
There Will Be Blood expanded to nearly 400 theaters and almost managed to sneak into the top ten, missing the mark and coming in right behind Atonement. With no future plans to expand any further, there will be blood, but there won't be much money.
January 18 - 20, 2008
THTRS = Number of Screens
* Denotes new release.
Click on title to read CB Review
| Cloverfield * | $41,000,000 - Total: $41,000,000 | LW: N WR: 1 THTRS: 3411 |
| 27 Dresses * | $22,427,000 - Total: $22,427,000 | LW: N WR: 1 THTRS: 3057 |
| The Bucket List | $15,150,000 - Total: $42,709,000 | LW: 1 WR: 4 THTRS: 2915 |
| Juno | $10,250,000 - Total: $85,377,000 | LW: 3 WR: 7 THTRS: 2534 |
| National Treasure: Book of Secrets | $8,148,000 - Total: $198,030,000 | LW: 4 WR: 5 THTRS: 2963 |
| First Sunday | $7,800,000 - Total: $28,466,000 | LW: 2 WR: 2 THTRS: 2213 |
| Mad Money * | $7,700,000 - Total: $7,700,000 | LW: N WR: 1 THTRS: 2470 |
| Alvin and the Chipmunks | $7,000,000 - Total: $196,380,000 | LW: 5 WR: 6 THTRS: 2962 |
| I Am Legend | $5,105,000 - Total: $247,682,000 | LW: 6 WR: 6 THTRS: 2525 |
| Atonement | $4,759,000 - Total: $31,884,000 | LW: 10 WR: 7 THTRS: 1291 |
