WEEKEND FIRST: Weekly Movie Comings And Goings
By Tony Rutherford
Huntingtonnews.net Entertainment Editor
Huntington, WV (HNN) – "Avatar" may have given up the #1 Weekend Box office Crown, but the James Cameron directed 3-D innovative masterpiece continues to carve it’s way forward at the megaplex. For instance, “Dear John” took the weekend, but on Monday through Thursday, “Avatar” narrowly topped “Dear John.” Similarly, the pic feel from second to fourth in the Valentine’s weekend/Presidents' Day weekend derby, but it had a take that placed it within striking distance of #2 and #3 finishers, “Percy Jackson” and “The Wolfman.” Finally, in its ninth week, “Avatar had a weekend per screen average of $11,173 which is with a couple a hundred bucks of “Percy’s” $11,546 and “The Wolfman’s” $11,325.
Amazingly, instead of dropping the film attendance went up about 30% (while last week’s champ “Dear John” dropped 38%).
Why the analysis? Friday, Feb. 12 had three new films off and running. “Valentine’s Day”(see review elsewhere) stunned predictions with its nearly $67 million dollar surge; however, despite women attendees muttering “it’s awesome” as the credits roll, the overall critical mass will be tested Feb. 19 i.e. what’s the word of mouth?
Only one NEW pic opens on Feb. 19, “Shutter Island,” so that means that depending on the second weekend pull backs, “Avatar” still prominently contends for another shot at the top of the weekend chart. For that matter, “Cop Out” (Bruce Willis) and “Crazies” could be unspectacular Feb. 26. Translation: “Avatar” does have an opportunity (or two ) to shoot back up the chart, especially with an Oscar bump. The latter, however, is crouched with the debut of Tim Burton’s 3D “Alice in Wonderland,” which should also pull wind out of the science fiction world of Pandora.
“Avatar” has taken in the most bucks at the boxoffice (including the 3D surcharge), but the production has been measured in dollars taken in, not number of customers. A USA Today/ Box Office Mojo tabulation converting past movie grosses to “today’s dollars,” puts Clark Gable and Vivian Leigh’s “Gone With the Wind” at $1.5 billion. (unadjusted it’s just less than $200 million). “Titanic” would have an adjusted gross of nearly $1 billion too nearly tying “Ten Commandments” and “Jaws.”
Films adjusted to the Billion Dollar Club are: “Star Wars” ($1.35 billion); “Sound of Music” ($1.083 billion); and “E.T., the Extra- Terrestrial” ($1.079 billion). Others in the flashback adjustment circle, “Jaws”( $975 million dollars); “Dr Zhivago ($945 million dollars); “The Exorcist” ($841.5 million); and “101 Dalmatians”($829.5 million).
Using that measure, "Avatar" still has a way to go before it will crack the top 10 movies of all time. Adjusted in today’s dollars, movies such "The Graduate" ($638 million), "The Sting" ($665 million) and "101 Dalmatians" ($745.6 million) have made more, according to Box Office Mojo. Other films with adjusted grosses over “Avatar,” include: “The Empire Strikes Back,” “Ben Hur,” “Return of the Jedi,” “The Sting,” and Raiders of the Lost Ark.” (“Jurassic Park,” “The Graduate,” “Phantom Menace,” “Fantasia,” The Godfather,” “Forrest Gump,” “Mary Poppins,” “Lion King,” “Grease” and Thunderball.”
When compared with 1997’s "Titanic" ($957.5 million), Cameron still has work to do if he wants to sink his own ship: "Titanic" sold about 128 million tickets domestically. "Avatar" has sold about 76 million, per Mojo and USA Today.
Studio executives disfavor such conversions as apples and oranges comparisons. For instance, Chris Aronson of 20th Century Fox which released Avatar told USA Today, “Back in 1939 entertainment options were somewhat limited, when the only things competing with movies might be radio (drama) theater.”
MAINSTREAM: Shutter Island
EXCLUSIVE: A Single Man (Cinema); Crazy Hearts (Marquee Pullman); Young Victoria (Cinema);
FLASHBACK MONDAY: Feb. 22, 2001: A Space Odyssey; March 1, E.T.; March 8, Breakfast at Tiffany’s ; March 15, Lost Boys; March 22, Good Bad & Ugly; March 29, Breakfast club; April 4-5, Gone With the Wind; April 12, Godfather; April 19, Citizen Kane; April 26, The Shining.
SPECIAL EVENTS: Wednesday Feb. 17/Thursday Feb. 18, Celine Through the Eyes of the World, digital concert, Marquee Pullman and Marquee Southridge, 7 p.m. ($16); Feb 25 & 28, Don Quixote, Minkus, Marinsky Theatre, 7 p.m. at select Marquee Cinemas locations;
ADVANCE MIDNIGHT SCREENINGS: None
HEADS UP, ENDS SOON WARNINGS*: Eli, Tooth Fairy, An Education, When in Rome, and Young Victoria will be bidding farewell to the big screen. As for “Blind Side,” the best pic nomination along with Bullock’s nomination for Best Actress means that pic will be at a theatre somewhere until after the awards ceremony. (*Predicted by HNN Editor)
BUZZ BUZZ BUZZ…. Leonardo (“Titanic”) DiCaprio joins with Emily Mortimer and Mark Ruffalo star “Shutter Island,” a thriller about a female psychotic killer escaping the asylum. It has been testing off the roof. (Opens Feb. 19)….. then, on Feb. 26, still another horror re-make, “The Crazies.” The sweetheart month wraps with Bruce Willis/Tracy Morgan in “Cop Out,” and, March opens with a 3D Tim Burton inventive version of “Alice in Wonderland.” Except for the Oscar ceremony, the studios (and multiplexes) are officially moving past the record-breaking Christmas 2009 period
MORE BUZZZZZZZZZ: What’s the inaccuracy in “Valentine’s Day” concerning showing films in the cemetery? (ANSWER: It happens only in the summer, not on V-Day.)
Starting Feb 19 – Feb 25
HUNTINGTON, WV
MARQUEE PULLMAN: (Now ALL digital projection): Shutter Island, 12:10-3:20-6:30-9:35; CONTINUING: Crazy Hearts, 1:45-4:25-7:05-9:40; Percy Jackson & The Olympians: Lightning Thief, 12:30-1:00-3:20-3:50-6:15-6:40-9:00-9:30 ; Valentine’s Day, 12:20-12:50-3:20-3:50-6:20-6:50-9:15-9:45; The Wolfman, 12:00-12:30-3:20-3:50-4:40-5:10-7:00-7:30-9:25-9:55; SPECIAL EVENT WED FEB 17/THURS FEB 18: “Celine: Through the Eyes of the World,” @ 7:30 p.m. ; Starts Fri. Feb. 19, Shutter Island; CONTINUNG: Dear John 11:20-1:55-4:30-7:10-9:55; From Paris with Love, 12:00-2:30-5:00-7:25-9:45; SPECIAL EVENT OPERA IN CINEMA: Feb 14, Othello, Verdi, Salzburg Festival, 7 p.m. at select Marquee Cinemas locations; TIME CHANGES: Blind Side, 6:40-9:40 only; Avatar 3D (one print) 11:20-2:40-6:10-9:30; Alvin, 11:50-2:00-4:15; ENDS THURSDAY: Legion; Lovely Bones; For Full Schedule, click: http://www.marqueecinemas.com/location.asp?location=9219
DISCOUNT CINEMA 4: Admission: $3. After 6 p.m., $2 before 6 p.m. and all day Tuesday: It’s Complicated, 4:20-7:05-9:35, S/S/T/Wed Mat. 1:20; Princess & Frog, 5:00, S/S/T/W Mat. 1:00-3:00; Twilight New Moon, 7:00, Sat/Sun/Tues 1:30; CINEMA EXCLUSIVE ART/INDEPENDENT SERIES ($6), A Single Man, 5:10-7:20-9:25, Sat/Sun/Tues Mat. 1:05-3:10; Up in the Air, 7:10-9:30 DAILY; The Young Victoria, 4:30-9:35; FLASHBACK MONDAY: Feb. 22, 2001: A Space Odyssey; March 1, E.T.; March 8, Breakfast at Tiffany’s; ENDS THURSDAY: An Education; For full schedule click and select date: http://www.ourshowtimes.com/cinema/index.html
ASHLAND, KY
CINEMARK CINEMA 10: Shutter Island, 3:30-6:40-9:45, F/S/Sun Mat. 12:20; CONTINUING: Percy Jackson Lightning Thief, 3:30-6:30-9:30, F/S/S Mat. 12:30; The Wolfman, 5:00-7:35-10:05, F/S/S Mat. 11:50-2:25; Valentine’s Day, 4:00-7:00-9:45, F/S/S Mat. 1:00; TIME CHANGES: NONE; ENDS THURSDAY: To Save Life, Legion; For full times, http://www.cinemark.com/metropolitan_opera.asp
PHOENIX 10 KYOVA MALL: Starts Feb 19, Shutter Island, Times TBA; TIME CHANGES: TBA; ENDS THURSDAY: TBA; Full schedule: http://www.movietickets.com/house_detail.asp?house_id=10480
BARBOURSVILLE, WV
CINEMARK HUNTINGTON MALL 12: PShutter Island, 12:25-3:30-6:35-9:40; CONTINUING : Percy Jackson & The Olympians: Lightning Thief , 12:45-3:30-6:20-9:15; Valentine’s Day, 12:35-3:25-6:35-9:25; The Wolfman, 12:15-1:30-2:45-4:00-5:15-6:30-7:45-9:00-10:15; TIME CHANGES: TBA; ENDS THURSDAY: TBA; For full schedule, check: http://www.cinemark.com/theater_showtimes.asp?theater_id=1046
BECKLEY, WV
GALLERIA CINEMAS: (Now All Digital Projection!): Shutter Island, 1:00-4:00-6:30-9:30; CONTINUING: Percy Jackson & The Olympians: Lightning Thief, 12:45-3:30-6:30-9:20; Valentine’s Day, 11:45-12:45-3:30-4:00-6:30-7:00-9:20-9:50; The Wolfman, 11:30-12:30-2:00-2:45-4:20-5:00-6:45-7:20-9:10-9:40; SPECIAL EVENT STARTS WED FEB 17/THURS FEB 18: “Celine: Through the Eyes of the World,” @ 7:30 p.m. ($16); SPECIAL EVENT: OPERA IN CINEMA; Feb. 14, Othello, Verdi, Salzburg Festival, 7 p.m.; TIME CHANGES: Blind Side, 6:45-9:40; Alvin, 12:00-2:15-4:30 only; Avatar (ONE print) 3D, 11:00-2:30-6:00-9:30; ENDS THURSDAY: Book of Eli, Lovely Bones; For full schedule: http://www.marqueecinemas.com/location.asp?location=10115
BLUEFIELD, WV
MERCER MALL: Features/Times To Be Announced; For full schedule, click: http://www.carmike.com/showtimesdetails.aspx?theatrenumber=075503
COMMONS 8 (Marquee Cinemas, Wytheville, Va.): (Now all digital projection!): Shutter Island, 3:30-6:30-9:30, Sat/Sun Mat. 12:30; CONTINUING: Percy Jackson & The Olympians: Lightning Thief, 4:00-6:45-6:30, Sat/Sun Mat. 1:00; Valentine’s Day, 4:10-7:00-9:50, S/Sun Mat. 1:10; The Wolfman, 5:00-7:20-9:40, S/Sun Mat. 12:30-2:45; TIME CHANGES: Edge of Darkness, 7:10-9:50 only; Tooth Fairy, 4:45, S/S Mat. 11:50-2:15; ENDS THURSDAY: Alvin, Tooth Fairy ; (**NO Weekday Matinees); For full schedule: http://www.marqueecinemas.com/location.asp?location=9196
CHARLESTON, WV
MARQUEE SOUTHRIDGE: (Now All Digital Projection!): Shutter Island, 12:30-3:40-6:45-9:50; Crazy Heart, 11:10-2:00-4:30-7:15-10:00; To Save a Life, 12:40-3:30-6:30-9:20; CONTINUING: Percy Jackson & The Olympians: The Lightning Thief, 1:00-1:30-3:45-4:15-6:30-7:00-9:15-9:45; Valentine’s Day, 12:55-1:25-3:50-4:20-6:45-7:15-9:35-10:00; The Wolfman, 12:20-2:40-5:00-7:45-10:05; SPECIAL EVENT WED. FEB 17/THURS FEB 18: “Celine: Through the Eyes of the World,” @ 7:30 p.m. ($16); TIME CHANGES: Avatar (ONE print) 3D, 11:00-2:30-6:00-9:30; ENDS THURSDAY: Alvin, From Paris With Love; When in Rome; For full schedule click: http://www.marqueecinemas.com/location.asp?location=6021
PARK PLACE STADIUM CINEMAS: Shutter Island, 1:15-4:10-7:00-9:45; CONTINUING: Percy Jackson & The Olympians: Lightning Thief, 1:10-4:00-7:10-9:40 ; Valentine’s Day, 1:05-3:45-7:00-9:35; The Wolfman, 12:35-2:50-5:20-7:35-9:50; TIME CHANGES: NONE; ENDS THURSDAY: Up in the Air, Lovely Bones; For full listing: http://www.ourshowtimes.com/parkplace/index.html
HINTON, WV
RITZ THEATRE: Open Fri/Sat/Sun; For full schedule, click: http://www.ritzwv.com
HURRICANE, WV
TEAYS VALLEY CINEMA 10: ALL AUDITORIUMS EQUIPPED WITH SONY 4K DIGITAL: Shutter Island, 10:50*-1:30-4:10-7:00-9:50 ; CONTINUING: Percy Jackson & The Olympians: Lightning Thief, 11:30*-2:00-5:00-7:15-9:45 ; Valentine’s Day, 11:45*-2:15-5:05-7:30-9:55; The Wolfman, 11:00*-1:05-3:15-5:15-7:45-10:00; TIME CHANGES: Edge of Darkness, 1:10- 5:10-7:25-9:40 only ; Alvin , 11:00*-3:25 only; When in Rome , 1:05-5:20-9:40 only ; Book of Eli , 3:15-7:35 only; It’s Complicated, 11:15*-5:25-9:40 only; From Paris with Love, 11:15-3:30- 7:25 only; ENDS THURSDAY: Lovely Bones; (*Early Shows Fri/Sat ONLY resume Jan. 1/2 ); For full schedule click: http://boxoffice.printtixusa.com/allstar/movies?v=2756
LEWISBURG, WV
SENACA SHOWPLACE: Percy Jackson : Lightning Thief, 12:40**-3:40-6:40-9:30*, Mon-Thursday, 4:50-7:40 ; Valentine’s Day, 12:30**-3:30-6:30-9:30*, Mon-Thursday, 4:40-7:30; ENDS THURSDAY: NONE; No weekday matinees beginning Jan 4; (*No Mon Eve Showing; **No Friday Afternoon Showings); For advance tickets, http://www.marqueecinemas.com/location.asp?location=4500
LOGAN, W.VA.
FOUNTAIN PLACE CINEMA 8: Shutter Island, 4:10-7:10-9:55, S/Sun Mat. 12:50 ; CONTINUING: Percy Jackson & The Olympians: Lightning Thief, 4:15-7:15-9:40, S/S Mat. 12:55 ; Valentine’s Day, 4:00-7:05-9:45, S/S Mat. 1:00; The Wolfman, 4:45-7:25-9:50, S/S Mat. 12:25-2:40; TIME CHANGES: Edge of Darkness , 4:35, Sat/Sun Mat. 12:00-2:15; From Paris with Love 7:20-9:50; ENDS THURSDAY: NONE; For full schedule click: http://www.ourshowtimes.com/fountainplace/index.html
NITRO, WV
Great Escape Nitro 12: http://greatescapetheatres.com or 769-0405
SUMMERSVILLE, WV
NICHOLS SHOWPLACE: Percy Jackson & Lightning Thief, 1:00**-4:00-6:45-9:30*, Mon-Thursday, 5:00-7:50 only; Valentine’s Day, 1:15**-4:10-7:00-9:50*, Mon-Thursday, 5:00-7:50; The Wolfman, 12:30**-2:45**-5:00-7:20-9:40*, Mon-Thursday, 5:20-7:40; Dear John, 1:00**-4:30-7:10-9:45*, Mon-Thursday, 5:10-7:45; ENDS THURSDAY: NONE; No Weekday Matinees Beginning January 4; For advance tickets: http://www.marqueecinemas.com/location.asp?location=4499
WELCH, WV
MCDOWELL 3: Percy Jackson : Lightning Thief, 1:30**-4:10-7:00-9:45*, Mon-Thursday, 5:05-7:40; Valentine’s Day, 1:00**-4:00-6:50-9:40*, Mon-Thursday, 5:00-7:50; The Wolfman, 12:00**-2:20**-4:40-7:10-9:30*, Mon-Thursday, 5:10-7:30; ENDS THURSDAY: None; (*No Late Show Sunday; **No Matinee Friday); No weekday matinees; For Advance Tickets, http://www.marqueecinemas.com/location.asp?location=9609
WHEELING, WV
Marquee Highlands 14: (All Digital DLP Projection): Starts Friday Feb 12, Shutter Island, 12:15-3:15-6:30-9:30 ; CONTINUING: Percy Jackson & The Olympians: Lightning Thief, 12:00-12:30-3:00-3:30-6:30-7:00-9:15-9:45 ; Valentine’s Day, 12:40-3:40-6:40-9:40; The Wolfman, 12:15-2:30-4:50-7:10-9:30; TIME CHANGES: Alvin, 11:45-2:00-4:15 only; Avatar, 1:00-4:30-8:00; ENDS THURSDAY: Legion; For full schedule click: http://www.marqueecinemas.com/location.asp?location=11469
UPCOMING RELEASES (Dates Subject to Change; not all films in all areas)
February 26: Taken, Couple of Dicks
March 5: Alice in Wonderland, Brooklyn’s Finest
March 12: Green Zone, Our Family Wedding, Remember Me, She’s Out of My League
March 19: Bounty Hunter, Hot Tub Time Machine, Season of the Witch
March 26: Clash of the Titans, How to Train Your Dragon, I Love You Phillip Morris
April 2: Diary of a Wimpy Kid, Furry Vengeance, Last Song, Repo Man, Tyler Perry’s Why Did I get Married Too
April 9: Date Night, The Losers
April 16: Back Up Plan, Death at a Funeral, Kick Ass
April 23: MacGruber, Oceans, Wall Street II
April 30: A Nightmare on Elm Street
May 7: Iron Man II
May 14: Letters to Juliet, Robin Hood, Takers
May 21: Shrek Forever After
May 28: Prince of Persia Sands of Time, Sex and the City II
· Release dates subject to change; not all films will play in every market and/or every theatre.