U.S. Box Office: With today’s receipts still to be counted,
Mission: Impossible - Ghost Protocol is so far ahead that it will certainly be declared the weekend’s champion, raking in $31.3 million for a total to date of $134.1 million.
Sherlock Holmes: A Game of Shadows also enjoyed a healthy weekend, earned an estimated $22.1 million, followed by
Alvin and the Chipmunks: Chipwrecked ($18.3 million),
War Horse ($16.94 million), and
The Girl With the Dragon Tattoo ($16.8 million). (
Box Office Mojo)
Indie Box Office:
Woody Allen returned in a big way this year, as his film
Midnight in Paris finished as the top-earning independent film of 2011, grossing $56.3 million. Next came
The Descendants, reaping a reward of $35.2 million. After those two, it’s a steep drop to
The Tree of Life ($13.1 million),
The Conspirator ($11.5 million), and
Jane Eyre ($11.2 million). (
Indiewire)
Academy Mulls Mall Options: The Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences is keeping open its option to
move the Oscar awards show from the Kodak Theatre, which is located in the Hollywood and Highland Center (AKA “an outdoor mall”). The Academy is committed to the Kodak, where the awards have been held since 2002, through next year’s show. (
The Hollywood Reporter)
Maybe Michael Moore Can Help: With the
State of Michigan facing considerable financial challenges, Gov. Rick Snyder proposed early in 2011 that the formerly-uncapped
film incentives program be capped at $25 million annually, the legislation was passed in June, and guidelines were outlined in December. The local film industry is uncertain about its future prospects. (
Detroit Free Press)