Posted on 11/04/2006 8:57:52 AM PST by meg88
UPDATED Saturday AM: (Keep refreshing screen for latest #s) All the box office guru predictions for this weekend went wrong.
I'm told that Fox's Borat, though playing in just 837 theaters, shocked the experts and became the No. 1 movie in the U.S. Friday.
Funnyman Sacha Baron Cohen's spoof took in a staggering $8.9 million for what should be an opening weekend of as much as $25 million.
Based on the anecdotal evidence pouring in to me about long lines at the box office, sold-out screenings, and fans driving more than an hour to find a theater showing the pic, I believe Borat was standing room only inside those screenings.
(I think the moviegoers weren't just rolling in the aisles, they were sitting in the aisles, for the film to make this much money.)
I'm still waiting on a per screen average. By contrast, the movie all the experts thought was going to finish first came in 2nd: Disney's Santa Clause 3, starring Tim Allen and opening in 3,458 theaters.
But it earned $5.2 million Friday for what should be a $20 mil weekend debut.
Since date night these days means a horor flick for young adults, Lionsgate holdover Saw III playing in 3,167 theaters took in $5.1 mil Friday (down 64%) to be the No. 3 pic.
It'll probably see a $13 mil weekend added for a new cume of $67.6 mil.
Newcomer Paramount / Dreamworks' animated Flushed Away opened in just 4th place Friday. Playing in 3,707 theaters, it earned $4.6 mil -- but, after the expected Saturday kiddie bounce, it should finish the weekend as No. 3 with $17.5 mil.
(So no "down the drain" jokes necessary there.) MORE
he has some funny moments but I get the sense there is a lot of repetition to his shtick.
When it's on DVD I'll watch it. Can't stand being stuffed into a theater.
Ditto that.
Debbie Schussel says this movie does nothing but make fun of America, conservatives, Christians, etc. She was interviewed by O'Reilly.
I do not plan to see it. But .. I can understand why the media thinks it's the greatest thing since sliced bread.
You ever see this one when he goes to acting school? The end part at the audition had me crying, "I am Locust..Pow pow pow pow"
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_Aif3wl3RTs
Guy over at National Review disagrees
http://article.nationalreview.com/?q=YzQwM2RlMzZiNmRiMDFhOGRhZTI0Yjk3NzYzNzlhMTE=
How could that be true? If Fox had opened Borat in 3,000 theaters, the weekend gross might be 3+ times as big.
The guy at Fox who decided to cut back to less than 1,000 theaters should be fired. It was obvious to me weeks ago, that Borat's numbers would be huge.
Well .. if "satarizing tolerance" is the goal - what is the left most intolerant about - conservatives, Christians, etc.
I don't necessarily agree that this method puts a sword to multiculterism.
I actually thought Suderman's insight, especially in the last paragraph, was dead on accurate.
I never thought that Borat was all about "taking a sword" to multiculturalism, but we are talking about it again (differently), and that's a good thing imo
The goal is to create a "Want to See" feeling in people.
Think of it like a band that does a small club tour right after a record release. The people there are the real fans. Then a year later you do a larger tour and hit Arenas.
It creates buzz
Nice to read a review by somebody who understands.
"...It creates buzz"
It sounds more like trying to put a good spin on a stupid move.
During the first week, studios take home the large part of the ticket price. In subsequent weeks, the theater gets most of the money, so a strategy that defers viewers from the first week is an economic disaster for studios.
I thought the movie was very funny. I saw it in an almost empty theater (an early matinée yesterday). It probably would have been funnier with more people there, but is was still the funniest thing I have seen this year.
He might have skewered more in the red states than the blue, but the cases he chose were funny in each case. If you see humor in the follies of your enemies and don't recognize it in your own house, its not really humor, only meanness.
Okay, I just watched it. My favorite part was the reaction shown on the faces of the folks judging his audition. That was hilarious.
The people on here getting all offended about the movie poking fun about religion and conservatives must have missed the part with the "womens group" and the gay parade.
That was the best I will see it again and buy the dvd. He really sticks it to liberals in alot of his old Ali G shows also.
Yes. The Ali G character goes after liberals a bit more than the Borat one. It will be interesting to see what Bruno does! The Dr Koop/Andy Rooney videos are hillarious.
Nothing is off the table to this guy and thats what makes him so funny. This movie is not about politics it is a comedy. This isnt going away there will be sequels to follow.
Here's a few dozen of his older ALI G clips (many are in the UK but are funny nonetheless). There's a gingrich interview mixed in.
http://www.indextube.com/Ali_G
He's laughing at you, xenophobe
(By a Chris Knight). This on what might be a slightly to the right newspaper- The National Post.
I did some Wikipedia work. Seems that Sacha Baron Cohen is English born. Staines, Middlesex 1971. I do stand corrected but..... if he has not yet (laughs) did anything satirical on Islam in THAT country, then he is a coward and a hypocrite. Or wise. Hallo Salmon Rushdie.
We are all called to order here. Example- think he is funny or else. Well go and fly a kite, says I.
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