Laughing and Winning: Riding a wave of positive buzz (and taking advantage of being the only new wide release), 21 Jump Street easily topped the box office charts, grossed an estimated $35 million over the weekend. It’s the second-highest opening ever for an R-rated comedy in the non-summer months. Both John Carter and Project X had substantial declines (more than 50%), while The Lorax is holding up nicely after three weeks. Will Ferrell’s Spanish-language comedy Casa De Mi Padre earned $2.2 million, despite playing at only 382 theaters, which is probably bastante bien ("good enough"). [Box Office Mojo]
SXSW Audience Awards: After esteemed jury members awarded prizes earlier in the week, along with the overall audience award winners, more audience awards were announced on Saturday, the final day of SXSW 2012. Seven categories were covered:
DOCUMENTARY SPOTLIGHT
Winner: Brooklyn Castle
Director: Katie Dellamaggiore
NARRATIVE SPOTLIGHT
Winner: Fat Kid Rules the World
Director: Matthew Lillard
EMERGING VISIONS
Winner: LOW & CLEAR
Directors: Kahlil Hudson & Tyler Hughen
MIDNIGHTERS
Winner: CITADEL
Director: Ciarán Foy
24 BEATS PER SECOND
Winner: Under African Skies
Director: Joe Berlinger
SXGLOBAL
Winner: Her Master’s Voice
Director: Nina Conti
FESTIVAL FAVORITES
Winner: Chasing Ice
Director: Jeff Orlowski
Comedy Director Gets Serious: The man who has made breezy comedies about cheerleading (Fired Up!), high school (Easy A), and relationships (Friends With Benefits) will soon tackle a more serious subject. Will Gluck is in negotiations to direct How to Disappear Completely, a remake of a Swiss drama entitled Vitus, which centered around a prodigy who suffers an accident and “reverts back to ‘normal’ intelligence.” The project is still in its early stages; if the deal goes through, Gluck would develop the script further. [The Hollywood Reporter]