SATURDAY PM: Apppropriately enough for Oscars Sunday, it’s another up weekend for the 8th straight week in 2012. Overall moviegoing is at $130M, which is a whopping +30% over last year. Needless to say, Hollywood is ecstatic (though not at the prospect at sitting through

the interminable Academy Awards only to watch Harvey Weinstein gloat). Relativity’s R-rated  Act Of Valor has stayed No. 1 all weekend. It’s the the Bandito Brothers’ independently financed low-budget U.S. Navy fighting force tale using actual SEALs from an original screenplay by Kurt Johnstad (300). (FYI, there was a novelization of that script, “Tom Clancy Presents Act of Valor”, written by Dick Couch and George Galdorsi and released in paperback by Clancy’s publisher. Relativity acquired the rights to the project last June for $13 million and a $30 million in prints and advertising commitment - the biggest money paid for a finished film with an unknown cast at that time. But Relativity didn’t spend $30M on P&A. That may have been the studio’s minimum legal commitment but it spent a lot more. Ryan Kavanaugh et al took out 4 wildely expensive Super Bowl ads. Yes, 4. That cost between $12M-14M alone. Educated guess is that they spent $45M-$50M total to hawk this actioner. Yes, they acquired domestic rights for cheap and aggressively pre-sold foreign. And, yes, the budget was only $12K. Looks like Relativity will recoup. Marketing-wise, Relativity launched an aggressive 400 screening program in over 40 markets as part of a multi-pronged strategy that spoke to gamers, action fans, sports fans, ethnic audiences, country music fans, patriots, military, women, and the faith-based community. It was all about word of mouth thena and now: audiences are complying by giving it an ‘A’ CinemaScore.

Also getting an ‘A’ CinemaScore from audiences was Lionsgate’s uplifting romantic drama  Good Deeds . The result is middling for the Tyler Perry movie — does he clone them? — which was only playing in 2,132 locations. But

then those films where he doesn’t crossdress as Madea (and offend with that stereotype) earn less. But it’s right in line with Lionsgate expectations and, besides, the budget was only $15M. Like them or not, this is yet another of writer, director, producer Perry’s soap operas targeted to his core fans. But is Tyler an interesting enough thesp to carry a movie virtually by himself or a big enough draw to feature only himself on the movie poster? Not really. (And I say this dreading his upcoming portrayal of fictional crimefighter Alex Cross.)

Universal’s alleged comedy  Wanderlust  bombed worse than expected: audiences gave it a mediocre ’B-’ CinemaScore. The combination of Jennifer Aniston and Paul Rudd proved toxic to moviegoers. (FYI: this greenlight was the studio’s payback to Role Models director David Wain and mogul/producer Judd Apatow.) Also tanking is Summit’s not-so-thrilling Gone starring Amanda Seyfried which earned only a ‘C+’ CinemaScore. This is the latest in a row of stinkers for that studio which is now part of Lionsgate. Remember that kids on the East Coast were out of school this weekend so family holdovers Warner Bros’ Journey 2 and Disney’s The Secret Life Of Arrietty held strong — at least until Universal/Illumination’s Dr. Suess toon The Lorax opens next weekend. Sony’s The Vow passed the $100M domestic mark this 3rd weekend out as the first Screen Gems film to ever hit $100M.

Here’s the Top Ten (order determined by weekend grosses):

1. Act Of Valor (Relativity) NEW [3,039 Theaters]

Friday $9, Saturday $9.5, Weekend $24.5M

2. Tyler Perry’s Good Deeds (Lionsgate) NEW [2,132 Theaters]

Friday $5.3M, Saturday $6.8M, Weekend: $16M

3. Journey 2 3D (Warner Bros) Week 3 [3,350 Theaters]

Friday $3.2M, Saturday$6.2M, Weekend $13.1M, Cume $77.2M

4. Safe House (Universal) Week 3 [3,052 Theaters]

Friday $3.1M, Saturday $5M, Weekend $11M, Cume $97.7M

5. The Vow (Screen Gems/Sony) Week 3 [3,038 Theaters]

Friday $3.2M, Saturday $4.5M, Weekend $10M, Est Cume $103M

6. Ghost Rider 2 3D (Sony) Week 2 [3,174 Theaters]

Friday $2.3M, Saturday $4.5M, Weekend $9.3M (-58%), Cume $38.3M

7. This Means War (Fox) Week 2 [3,189 Theaters]

Friday $2.7M, Saturday $4.0M, Weekend $8.7M (-50%), Cume $33.8M

8. Wanderlust (Universal) NEW [2,002 Theaters]

Friday $2.1M, Saturday $3.0M, Weekend $5.8M

9. Gone (Summit) NEW [2,186 Theaters]

Friday $1.6M, Saturday $2.1M, Weekend $5.0M

10. Secret World Of Arrietty (Disney) Week 2 [1,522 Theaters]

Friday $1M, Saturday $2.1M, Weekend $4.6M, Cume $14.7M

Relativity marketing did the best they could with with they were given, amazing what $35 million in media ($46 P&A) can do for Active Duty Navy Seals. Wanderlust and Gone should have been straight to video and by video I mean VHS.

Comment by Bombmaker Bob — Friday February 24, 2012 @ 2:33pm PST   Reply to this post

No what’s amazing is what the SEALs do day in and day out for our country. They can out last our most highly paid athletes and then some. If you’d see the film it might clue you into a sliver of that sacrifice. $35MM in ads, if that’s what they spent, did exactly what it was supposed to do, create intent to see this awesome film.

Comment by Anonymous — Friday February 24, 2012 @ 4:28pm PST   Reply to this post

God, I hope that after this we’ll see the right wingnuts stop it with the anti-Hollywood phony outrage.

And if they want to bitch that nobody in Tinseltown wants to support “patriotic” films then PLEASE tell me where these clowns were at when George Lucas spent 2 decades trying to make Red Tails. Better yet, where were they when Lucas was trying to build awareness for the film.

Comment by JaySmack — Friday February 24, 2012 @ 5:44pm PST   Reply to this post

I dunno. I know some ex-Navy SEALs and while they’re extraordinary people, I wouldn’t want to pay money to see them act. And while they’re pretty tough guys who I wouldn’t want to cross, Act of Valor is a fictional movie. It’s not reality. Further, I’m pretty sure paying to see it isn’t proof of my patriotism or respect for the soldiers. I imagine telling them I’m in awe of their dedication is.

Comment by Kenny — Friday February 24, 2012 @ 10:57pm PST   Reply to this post

My family’s made up of Green Berets. You know, the guys that don’t chopper out as soon as the f**king magazine goes dry.

We got f**kin John Wayne, a**hole.

Comment by Jack — Saturday February 25, 2012 @ 2:34am PST   Reply to this post

Many SEALS recognize that this film is propaganda posing as entertainment for an empire posing as a democracy that’s exporting domination posing as freedom.

They took an oath to defend the constitution, not the interests of multinational bankers who profit from the resources our increasingly privatized Pentagon secures for them with our tax dollars, and young people’s lives, while we collectively fall trillions deeper into the hole and lose more of our rights.

That irrefutable reality makes this sorry fantasy spectacle all the more pathetic.

Comment by Dustintime — Friday February 24, 2012 @ 11:35pm PST   Reply to this post

| Puts on tinfoil hat…

Comment by Jon — Saturday February 25, 2012 @ 2:36am PST   Reply to this post

The Navy Seals salary is meager and their death rate is high.

Why would a Navy Seal risk his life and limb if he thought as you say that he was dong it merely to protect bankers’ profits and to subjugate foreign peoples?

Comment by Art Parker — Saturday February 25, 2012 @ 8:58am PST   Reply to this post

On the other hand, non-specialist forces, that is, non-career soldiers, represent the largest single donating category for the only anti-war candidate in the race. And by anti-war I mean anti-preemptive strike, chickenhawk war.

Comment by moraliste — Saturday February 25, 2012 @ 12:22pm PST  

But movies that depict soldiers as crazed murderers? Totally legit. For every movie like this there are a dozen like ‘Stop Loss’ or ‘In the Valley of Elah’ or ‘Rendition’. God forbid another side of the soldier’s life gets told.

Comment by Gordon Stewart — Saturday February 25, 2012 @ 12:22pm PST   Reply to this post

The trailers for Wanderlust make it look almost like Vince Vaughn’s Couples Retreat. While that film made money ($100m box office on a $60m budget), it sure seemed like a half-assed effort. So does Wanderlust. Guess Aniston and Rudd just decided to work for the paycheck now.

Comment by carthy — Friday February 24, 2012 @ 2:33pm PST   Reply to this post

I’m sure these weren’t huge paydays. Rudd probably wanted to have fun his pal Wain and the rest of the cast. Aniston probably wanted to hang with the “cool kids.”

Comment by Anonymous — Friday February 24, 2012 @ 3:35pm PST   Reply to this post

Does Aniston still demand a hefty paycheck? Does Rudd?

Comment by Rish Outfield — Friday February 24, 2012 @ 5:52pm PST   Reply to this post

Oh, ‘work for the paycheck *now*,’ you say….as if Aniston’s been working for the sheer artistic integrity of her craft before now. Did I miss some deeper profundity in that sperm rom com she did? GTFO.

Comment by Bishop leeze — Friday February 24, 2012 @ 9:20pm PST   Reply to this post

Don’t get me wrong I like Paul Rudd, but have you ever seen him do talk shows when he has a movie coming out? (i.e. the daily show)

The guy could give a s**t.

Him and his friends (you know who they are) don’t care if their movies bomb. They’re insulated from the ripple effects due to the clique they hang out in. They work with the same people over and over, and once in a blue moon someone gets a hit.

This is just one of their many, many strikeouts.

Comment by Jack — Friday February 24, 2012 @ 10:49pm PST   Reply to this post

I don’t think you understand how this works. And by “this,” I mean the acting biz. Once you’re in a film, one does one’s best within the confines of the script, your fellow cast, and the direction. All of which you typically know before you come on board. What is out of your hands is the edit. Ah yes, often times the most unkindest cut of all. Until that time, you really have no idea, often times, what quality of film you’ve ultimately made. But you’ve fulfilled your commitment. Now the best attitude is just to be sanguine, peaceful about it. Old hands know that. I think Paul Rudd is very talented and I wish he’d stretch himself away from these mindless films. I think he tried that with “How Do You Know,” and was mistaken badly. He’ll be back.

Comment by SittingPat — Saturday February 25, 2012 @ 7:53am PST   Reply to this post

What’s happen to THE VOW????? Happy for Act Of Valor and Good Deeds.

Comment by mjrules — Friday February 24, 2012 @ 2:36pm PST   Reply to this post

The Vow cleaned up V-day week/weekend. This is simple, Act of Valor is the Mens turn to pick what movie they want to see… Genius release date by Relativity.

Comment by Bob tweilliger — Friday February 24, 2012 @ 2:49pm PST   Reply to this post

That’s fine BUT I expected THE VOW to still be in Top 5. It seems to have just disappeared????

Comment by mjrules — Friday February 24, 2012 @ 3:13pm PST   Reply to this post

I’m pretty sure The Vow will still be in the top 5, Box Office Mojo expects it as well. These are very early numbers, so The Vow must not be available yet.

Comment by Jose P — Friday February 24, 2012 @ 8:05pm PST   Reply to this post

Agreed. The Vow will be in the top or maybe 6. There is no way gone could pass it.

Comment by Ray — Friday February 24, 2012 @ 8:29pm PST  

Too bad about Wanderlust. It’s almost as funny as Bridesmaids.

Comment by Sheldon W — Friday February 24, 2012 @ 2:37pm PST   Reply to this post

That’s enough Jen, go back to lifetime tv.

Comment by Please — Friday February 24, 2012 @ 7:24pm PST   Reply to this post

Just saw Wanderlust. There were some funny parts… 

But WOW I can honestly say that I’ve never watched a movie with more forced humor. So few of the jokes flowed organically from anything. I was very aware that I was watching a movie, watching Justin theroux recite contrived jokes in front of a rolling camera. All the jokes and gags seemed like they were written with the mindset of “wouldn’t it be funny if…” 

if you’ve watched Your Highness, it’s the same type of humor. it’s not good.

Comment by Blink — Friday February 24, 2012 @ 2:38pm PST   Reply to this post

Malin Akerman is in it. Of course it is going to be forced. She is just lifeless and bubbly at the same time.

Comment by Will — Friday February 24, 2012 @ 3:53pm PST   Reply to this post

I laughed a lot, but I do see your point. There were moments that felt that way. Forced, I mean. A little. Maybe. Like I said, I laughed a lot. I think it’s superior to Your Highness, which was strangely unfunny and airless. Wanderlust is far more lively and genial.

Comment by Magilla — Friday February 24, 2012 @ 11:33pm PST   Reply to this post

I sure hope not. I hope it’s more like Role Models should I rent it on Redbox in a few months. It’s so interesting members of MTV’s The State make it big lately. Loved that show when I was a teen.

Comment by Alex — Saturday February 25, 2012 @ 10:47am PST   Reply to this post

So where is THIS MEANS WAR?

Maybe this bomb will finally force people to take a look at Simon Kinberg’s hackwork. The guy has been dining out on Brad Pitt hooking up with Jolie for years now, and to the tune of millions.

Now he’s angling to becoming a “producer.” What a laugh.

Comment by Just wondering... — Friday February 24, 2012 @ 2:44pm PST   Reply to this post

what a bizare and weird stance to take…studios love simon, people like simon and audiences respond to his work. and hes been a producer at fox for years, they contnue to put him on their biggest and best projects…they dont do this because for the opposite reasons listed above.

Comment by writer — Friday February 24, 2012 @ 5:12pm PST   Reply to this post

AND This Means War is not a bomb. Disappointment, sure. Bomb, not even close

Personally I have never understood Americans’ love of Reese (her movies do drastically worse overseas). Maybe they finally came to their senses.

Comment by jake — Friday February 24, 2012 @ 8:50pm PST   Reply to this post

It seems Tyler Perry is taking after Oprah and begging people on his website to go see Good Deeds:

tylerperry.com/messages/its-been-rough-12-days/

Comment by BRi — Friday February 24, 2012 @ 2:45pm PST   Reply to this post

Wow. Tyler Perry must really be desperate:

“It’s the opening weekend box office numbers that count in Hollywood. That is how they judge you, so if you can make it to the theaters this weekend, please do so”

Best part is:

“A friend of mine, who has always been honest with me, told me that this is my best movie yet”

Tyler Perry: your “friend” is lying to your face

Comment by Will — Friday February 24, 2012 @ 4:00pm PST   Reply to this post

@Will

“Best part is:

“A friend of mine, who has always been honest with me, told me that this is my best movie yet”

Tyler Perry: your “friend” is lying to your face”

This implies that you think Mr. Perry has made films better than Good Deeds.

I think his friend could be being perfectly honest with him, thing is saying “This is Tyler Perry’s best film” is kind of like saying “This is Uwe Boll’s best film”….It doesn’t mean that it’s actually any good.

Comment by blerg — Friday February 24, 2012 @ 4:22pm PST   Reply to this post

NO not desperate just playing the game by double standard rules. Notice his cast didn’t get invited to the morning shows to promote. or the night time shows. They didn’t get blog post talking about who they are dating or when they started. They were not invited to Ellen, the View, Letterman, Kimmel, GMA, Today, or any other show that very seldom spotlights other movies that feature a cast of color. and please if the Help had not been nominated they would have overlooked Viola and Octavia too.

I’m not a fan of Perry’s films for my own reason. But to not recognize that the media overlooks films of people of color is putting your head in the sand. His films make money. And no he didn’t need to Promote the shit out of it and still made 2nd place instead of 5th or below.

He is making films for his audience. Films that don’t get magazine covers for most of it’s stars. So if he tweets or blogs and says go see my movie. That cost a hell of a lot less than what most of the other films of “Alist stars have shelled out”

I had no intention of seeing this film.. but now I think I will.

Comment by dopleganger — Friday February 24, 2012 @ 5:31pm PST   Reply to this post

Your post is a complete FAIL.

There was a concerted effort ON PERRY’S SIDE to promote this film on channels (BET), magazines (ESSENCE), and shows (WENDY WILLIAMS) where his target demo resides. He knows his films lack depth, so he focuses on selling it to ‘people of color’ because they will see it anyway.

Shove your ‘people of color’ rant up yer guilty white arse.

Comment by Jay Markowitz — Friday February 24, 2012 @ 8:05pm PST   Reply to this post

He’s clearly talking about that banal waste of time Anuston’s over saturation by way of her power pr flack. The woman epitomizes ‘lack of depth,’ and yet we get the overwhelming deluge of her fugly mugly and stuttering halting listless interviews promoting her schlock everywhere. So you can take your entitled ‘white arse,” and fck off.

Comment by ShaddupRacistfck — Friday February 24, 2012 @ 9:28pm PST   Reply to this post

Jay,

Why don’t you shove it. Why is it when someone defends an African American some white racist like you accuses them of being “guilty”? They can’t honestly defend someone who’s Black? Or maybe you’re just a malicious bigot who only wants to hear Black people attacked.

Dopleganger is correct. Tyler Perry’s success should grant him access to talk shows and magazine covers other than the one or two you named. Justin Theroux was all over Ellen and Kimmel and Letterman promoting Wanderlust for all the good it did. Perry’s movie smoked him at the boxoffice so whose movies have more appeal? Is a movie that only appeals to white people of a certain sensibility any better than a movie that appeals predominantly to African Americans?

And for all the people who criticize his movies (and none of you have even seen his movies, admit it, so how would you know if they’re awful) white filmmakers make crap every weekend but they don’t get attacked like Perry (Green Lantern, Green Hornet, Sucker Punch, I’d like my money back for all of them).

I’ll give Perry this much credit, at least in his movies he sees Black people as more than just maids and charity cases for white people. Maybe that’s why white people like Jay Markowitz don’t like him.

Comment by jay markowitz sucks — Friday February 24, 2012 @ 11:19pm PST   Reply to this post

Have to give to you your absolutely right on. It’s a shame how much Hollywood just getaway with just simply not so good films made by directors in Hollywood. But for an black director such is Tyler Perry,it just troubling to hear these rude comments wanting defeat of what this director is and able to do. It’s down right disturbing,I’ve never in my time have every saw so much rude comments and criticism in my life. But everything will rise to the top at some point. Totally agree with your comment!!!

Comment by MEKISHA HALE — Saturday February 25, 2012 @ 12:05am PST  

Also Tyler Perry was on The View, The Talk, Fallon & Chelsea Lately; Newton was on The Talk & Fallon & Gabrielle Union was on Fallon

Comment by dopleneedstoread — Friday February 24, 2012 @ 11:23pm PST   Reply to this post

Last time I checked my ass was BLACK.. so you can slow you roll. Don’t have any idea why you assume I was white.

I know that TP was promoting his film on networks and shows that are geared to his target audience. The thing is while Tyler was on the shows mentioned his other actors were not. There was not the mulit million dollar PR push. Not saying he didn’t promote, but stop being silly. and you can call my post a fail if you want. I’m looking at the BO totals for the films that got HUGH promotion and failed. I don’t want to make this about a particular person. But Jennifer Aniston gets loads of press and the facts show this woman can not open a film when she is the headliner. And pushing her relationship with her boyfriend was the PR. So considering it was on EVER show and talked about constantly the failure of that films and the success of Tyler’s film with less known stars who don’t make half the money that Aniston and Rudd make is very telling.

so next time stop being a idiot. my race has nothing to with my opinion. Everyone on this site is voicing their opinion. Based on what they think and feel. MINE is no less because it differs from others.

and yes there is always some unreasonable hate and negative against TP. As I said, I’m not a fan of most of his films. Don’t usually see them. But they make money.

Comment by dopleganger — Saturday February 25, 2012 @ 3:10am PST   Reply to this post

gz doppleganger on today’s most ignorant post

Comment by jake — Friday February 24, 2012 @ 8:53pm PST   Reply to this post

not sure where the hate for TP comes from – his films always have a good, moral message underneath, and it gives a lot of black actors jobs – and people are always complaining about blacks being unemployed and committing crimes – not that these actors would be robbing a 7-11, but he’s a job maker, and america needs that, right? don’t be a racist, at least he didn’t go to the oscars dressed as madea to promote his film, like somebody tall, white, and thin.

Comment by anon — Friday February 24, 2012 @ 8:16pm PST   Reply to this post

Act of Valor will do really well in the bible belt, with all the pro war people and 16 year old boys so I expect it will blow the rest of them out of the water. But making judgements based on noon numbers on opening day? Seriously, isn’t this a little early? What kind of people go to see a movie in the morning?

Comment by Mike — Friday February 24, 2012 @ 2:47pm PST   Reply to this post

I know it seems crazy, but whatever mathematical formulae or algorithms they use to extrapolate weekend box office from early results, they’re remarkably accurate.

These early predictions will probably be borne out

Comment by Hobbled — Friday February 24, 2012 @ 6:08pm PST   Reply to this post

First disappointment Act of Valor didn’t open in Vicksburg Ms. But I have to agree that’s it’s to early to tell for Valor to be judge as hit. Yes,I would got see it.

Comment by chuck — Friday February 24, 2012 @ 2:53pm PST   Reply to this post

There aren’t enough seats for “Act of Valor” in in San Diego. It’s a good old fashioned war film. Acting is pretty bad, but who cares! These guys are the real thing. If they are even half as good on missions as portrayed anyone who is unfortunate to come up against them would be wise to run as fast as they can in the opposite direction. Relativity will do very well with this. Congrats to them.

Comment by Kesem — Friday February 24, 2012 @ 2:56pm PST   Reply to this post

Yeah, who needs acting?! Let’s just show some pumped-up tools blowing s**t up!

Thanks for your comment, Plant, I mean, Kesem…

Comment by Sam — Friday February 24, 2012 @ 10:57pm PST   Reply to this post

I imagine that Act of Valor will over-perform in a Navy town like San Diego. Ticket sales are probably strong in the Norfolk and Pearl City markets as well.

Comment by Adm. Chester Nimwitz — Friday February 24, 2012 @ 11:40pm PST   Reply to this post

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