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Sony To Increase Movie Releases in UMD Format in Japan
13 July 2005 (StudioBriefing)
With PlayStation Portable devices still selling briskly, Sony said today (Wednesday) that it will launch a pilot rental program in Japan that will initially offer 17 titles in PSP's Universal Media Disc (UMD) format. The titles will be available only at the GEO video rental chain and will not be sold, Sony said. The movies include: Anacondas: The Hunt for the Blood Orchid; Charlie's Angels; Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon; Hellboy; Kung-Fu Hustle; Lock, Stock, and Two Smoking Barrels; Once Upon a Time in Mexico; Resident Evil: Apocalypse; Spider-Man 2; SWAT; The Punisher; Thirteen Ghosts; and You Got Served.

'Open Range' Makes Auspicious DVD Debut
4 February 2004 (StudioBriefing)
Kevin Costner's Open Range , an unexceptional performer at the box office last summer (it made $58 million domestically), has made a strong debut at video rental stores. The film topped the VHS rental charts with $1.8 million and came in second on the DVD charts with 4.7 million. Once Upon a Time in Mexico led the DVD charts with $5.8 million in rentals but came in third among VHS users with $1.5 million.

Sony Changes Release Plans for Depp Movie
22 January 2004 (StudioBriefing)
Sony has decided to move up the release of the thriller Secret Window, starring Johnny Depp, from April 23 to March 12 and promote it with an ad airing during the Super Bowl on Feb. 1. Reporting on the studio's decision, today's (Thursday) Hollywood Reporter described it as "a move that could help the film take advantage of the heat surrounding the actor." It's generally believed that Depp, who is a contender for a Golden Globe on Sunday for his performance in Pirates of the Caribbean: The Curse of the Black Pearl, is also likely to receive an Oscar nomination. He has garnered nominations from the Screen Actors Guild and Britain's BAFTA. Depp also received much critical praise last year for his performance in Once Upon a Time in Mexico.

Depp Is the Sexiest Man Alive
21 November 2003 (WENN)
Pirates of the Caribbean: The Curse of the Black Pearl and Once Upon a Time in Mexico star Johnny Depp has topped People magazine's coveted Sexiest Man Alive list. The title was claimed by Ben Affleck a year ago. Others in the new People hot hunks list include Nelly, LL Cool J, Justin Timberlake, Brad Pitt, Colin Farrell, Russell Crowe, George Clooney, Nick Lachey and tennis ace Andy Roddick.

'School of Rock' Gets Great Grades
7 October 2003 (StudioBriefing)
Paramount's School of Rock received good grades from the critics when it opened, and, according to trade reports, it received even better grades from moviegoers who participated in exit polls. Nevertheless, the film earned $19.6 million, some $600,000 less than the studio had estimated on Sunday, suggesting that the film was not being talked up the way the studio had hoped. In fact, however, several films were significantly off studio estimates. In particular, second-place finisher, MGM's Out of Time, which the studio had forecast would bring in $17 million, wound up with $15.2 million. The total box office was off about 18 percent from the comparable week a year ago.

The top ten films over the weekend, according to final figures compiled by Exhibitor Relations (figures in parentheses represent total gross to date): 1. School of Rock, Paramount, $19,622,714, (New); 2. Out of Time, MGM, $16,185,316, (New); 3. The Rundown, Universal, $9,682,780, 2 Wks. ($32,646,055); 4. Under the Tuscan Sun, Disney, $7,682,053, 2 Wks. ($20,740,822); 5. Secondhand Lions, New Line, $5,183,674, 3 Wks. ($30,624,785); 6. Underworld, Sony, $5,068,277, 3 Wks. ($44,808,894); 7. Lost in Translation, Focus Features, $4,163,333, 4 Wks. ($14,017,704); 8. The Fighting Temptations, Paramount, $3,386,543, 3 Wks. ($24,576,247); 9. Once Upon a Time in Mexico, Sony, $2,626,304, 4 Wks. ($53,068,097); 10. Cold Creek Manor, Disney, $2,511,141, 3 Wks. ($1,834,020).

'Rock' Rocks The Rock
6 October 2003 (StudioBriefing)
Rock conquered The Rock over the weekend as Jack Black's School of Rock moved to the head of the class with a $20.2-million debut. Last week's winner, The Rundown, starring The Rock, tumbled 47 percent to third place with $9.8 million. Between the two films was the new Denzel Washington starrer Out of Time, which took in $17 million. Meanwhile, two films that opened in limited release also performed well. The Station Agent, a winner of the audience award at this year's Sundance Film Festival, took in $55,500 in three theaters. Wonderland, starring Val Kilmer as fallen porn star John Holmes, opened with $90,000 in five theaters. The top 12 movies grossed $82.2 million, down 18 percent from the comparable weekend a year ago. Meanwhile, Focus Features' Lost in Translation, starring Bill Murray, added 376 more theaters and landed in seventh place with $4.3 million.

The top ten films for the weekend, according to studio estimates compiled by Exhibitor Relations: 1. School of Rock, $20.2 million; 2. Out of Time, $17 million; 3. The Rundown, $9.8 million; 4. Under the Tuscan Sun, $7.9 million; 5. Secondhand Lions, $5.4 million; 6. Underworld, $4.8 million; 7. Lost in Translation, $4.3 million; 8. The Fighting Temptations, $3.3 million; 9. Once Upon a Time in Mexico, $2.55 million; 10. Cold Creek Manor, $2.5 million.

Rock Runs Down Rivals
30 September 2003 (StudioBriefing)
The Rock was solid over the weekend as his action comedy The Rundown debuted with $18.5 million. But the performance of the No. 2 film may have been more impressive. Disney's Under the Tuscan Sun earned $9.8 million even though it played in 1,225 theaters compared with The Rundown's 3,152. It also produced the best per-theater average of any film in release, $7,954 versus $5,880 for The Rundown. Also performing strongly was Focus Features' Lost in Translation, which played in only 488 theaters and earned $3.7 million, or an average of $7,558 per theater.

The top ten films over the weekend, according to final figures compiled by Exhibitor Relations (figures in parentheses represent total gross to date): 1. The Rundown, Universal, $18,533,765, (New); 2. Under the Tuscan Sun, Disney, $9,751,425, (New); 3. Underworld, Sony, $9,418,606, 2 Wks. ($37,025,501); 4. Secondhand Lions, New Line, $8,258,330, 2 Wks. ($23,464,037); 5. The Fighting Temptations, Paramount, $6388472, 2 Wks. ($20,116,473); 6. Once Upon a Time in Mexico, Sony, $5,004,233, 3 Wks. ($48,967,404); 7. Duplex, Miramax, $4,617,128, (New); 8. Cold Creek Manor, Disney, $4,405,084, 2 Wks. ($14,642,749); 9. Matchstick Men, Warner Bros., $4,354,363, 3 Wks. ($30,703,127); 10. Lost in Translation, Focus Features, $3,688,538, 3 Wks. ($8,640,267).

No Dwindle-Down This September
30 September 2003 (StudioBriefing)
The box office has set a record for September -- nearly $500 million, up almost 9 percent from last year, the Hollywood Reporter reported today (Tuesday). Actual admissions rose 4 percent. Helping to stimulate ticket sales were two horror films, MGM's Jeepers Creepers 2 and Sony's Underworld. The top film of the month was Sony's Once Upon a Time in Mexico. In second place was the holdover film Pirates of the Caribbean: The Curse of the Black Pearl from Disney. The film fell out of the top ten for the first time last week, its 12th in release. It has now earned $296 million.

'Rundown' More Like Hit and Run
29 September 2003 (StudioBriefing)
The betting rundown on Universal's The Rundown, starring former wrestler Dwayne "The Rock" Johnson, was that it would probably earn about what The Scorpion King, his previous starring vehicle, did in April of last year -- some $36.1 million. Instead it took in about half that amount, $18.5 million. "Our expectations were in check," Universal distribution chief Niki Rocco told today's (Monday) Los Angeles Times. "This is not The Scorpion King or The Mummy." A particular disappointment, however, was Miramax's Duplex, starring Ben Stiller and Drew Barrymore, which tanked with only $4.5 million. At the same time Disney's Under the Tuscan Sun performed far better than analysts had forecast, earning $9.4 million on just 1,226 screens to finish in second place. Focus Features also received good news when its critically acclaimed Lost in Translation, starring Bill Murray and directed by Sofia Coppola, took in $3.5 million in just 488 theaters.

he top ten films for the weekend, according to studio estimates compiled by Exhibitor Relations: 1. The Rundown, $18.5 million; 2. Under the Tuscan Sun, $9.41 million; 3. Underworld, $9.4 million; 4. Secondhand Lions, $8.25 million; 5. The Fighting Temptations, $6.5 million; 6. Once Upon a Time in Mexico, $5.1 million; 7. Duplex, $4.6 million; 8. Cold Creek Manor, $4.3 million; 9. Matchstick Men, $4.29 million; 10. Lost in Translation, $3.5 million.

Vampires Bite Back
23 September 2003 (StudioBriefing)
The vampire flick Underworld took a big bite out of the weekend box office, taking in a greater-than-expected $21.8 million in its debut. Another new film, Secondhand Lions, took second place with $12.1 million. Yet another new film, The Fighting Temptations, premiered in third place with $11.8 million. A fourth newcomer, Cold Creek Manor, nabbed fifth place with $8.2 million. However, a fifth new contender, the Woody Allen movie Anything Else, didn't even make the top-ten list. It came in at No. 11 with just $1.7 million, the worst opening ever for an Allen film.

The top ten films over the weekend, according to final figures compiled by Exhibitor Relations (figures in parentheses represent total gross to date): 1. Underworld, Sony, $21,753,759, (New); 2. Secondhand Lions, New Line, $12,139,832, (New); 3. The Fighting Temptations, Paramount, $11,758,372, (New); 4. Once Upon a Time in Mexico, Sony, $11,007,367, 2 Wks. ($40,951,922); 5. Cold Creek Manor, Disney, $8,190,574, (New); 6. Matchstick Men, Warner Bros., $7,552,427, 2 Wks. ($24,233,745); 7. Dickie Roberts: Former Child Star, Paramount, $3,783,655, 3 Wks. ($17,302,664); 8. Cabin Fever, Lions Gate, $3,609,896, 2 Wks. ($14,722,225); 9. Pirates of the Caribbean: The Curse of the Black Pearl, Disney, $,3480,968, 11 Wks. ($292,495,912); 10. Lost in Translation, Focus Features, $2,622,737, 2 Wks. ($3,957,340).

Damn the Critics! Horror Films Rule!
22 September 2003 (StudioBriefing)
For the third time in the past month, moviegoers displayed their voracious appetite for horror films as they made the poorly reviewed Underworld the top film at the weekend box office as they snatched up an estimated $22 million in tickets. (Freddy vs. Jason and Jeepers Creepers 2 also took the top spot in their openings. The Baltimore Sun's Chris Kaltenbach even took a shot at the horror film audience in his review last Friday, remarking that the movie is "all sturm und drang, relentless firepower in pursuit of nothing other than an audience that thinks to itself, 'Wow, ain't that cool.') No other film came close. The second-place film, The Fighting Temptations, a romantic musical, opened with $13.2 million. Secondhand Lions, another newcomer, placed third with about $12.9 million. In fourth place was last week's winner, Once Upon a Time in Mexico, which earned $11.5 million. A fourth new film, Cold Creek Manor, debuted in fifth place with $8.3 million. But Woody Allen's latest film failed even to make it into the top ten. Despite efforts by DreamWorks to avoid any mention of Allen in promoting and marketing Anything Else, the movie earned only $1.7 million, the worst opening ever for an Allen film.

The top ten films for the weekend, according to studio estimates compiled by Exhibitor Relations: 1. Underworld, $22 million; 2. The Fighting Temptations, $13.2 million; 3. Secondhand Lions, $12.9 million; 4. Once Upon a Time in Mexico, $11.5 million; 5. Cold Creek Manor, $8.3 million; 6. Matchstick Men, $7.8 million; 7. Cabin Fever, $3.9 million; 8. Dickie Roberts: Former Child Star, $3.8 million; 9. Pirates of the Caribbean: The Curse of the Black Pearl, $3.5 million; 10. Lost in Translation, $2.8 million.

Hayek Becomes New Face of Coca Cola
22 September 2003 (WENN)
Frida star Salma Hayek has signed up as the newest face of popular soft drink Coca Cola. Taking over the reigns from Simon Cowell and Missy Elliott, in a new TV ad the Mexican stunner is seen munching food and guzzling the soda in the kitchen of a posh restaurant before rushing out to join her table of pals. Once a waiter brings her a plate with an extremely small portion of food, she quips, "Oh no thanks, I'm watching my figure." The commercial debuts in America on Monday. Hayek is currently on screens in Once Upon a Time in Mexico opposite Antonio Banderas and Johnny Depp.

Johnny Depp Signs for 'Fear and Loathing' Follow-Up
18 September 2003 (WENN)
Movie hunk Johnny Depp has signed to star in a follow-up to hit film Fear And Loathing In Las Vegas. Depp will join Fear and Loathing co-star Benicio Del Toro, Josh Hartnett and Nick Nolte in The Rum Diary - based on another of cult writer Hunter S. Thompson's hit novels. The film, which will reunite Johnny and Benicio on screen for the first time since the 1997 comedy, will also be directed by Puerto Rican-born Del Toro. Depp currently has two box office hits in release, Pirates of the Caribbean and Once Upon a Time in Mexico.

Depp Stars in Two Hits at Once
16 September 2003 (StudioBriefing)
Johnny Depp, who reportedly spent only eight days working on Once Upon a Time in Mexico, is being credited for the striking success of the film at the box office over the weekend. The film, costing just $29 million to make, took in $24 million in its first weekend. Depp, whose comical performance as a swashbuckler in Pirates of the Caribbean helped make that film one of the biggest hits of the summer, has suddenly become a big draw at age 40 after a career appearing in low-budget films playing eccentric and/or androgynous characters. Pirates also continued to perform well at the box office in its 10th week, coming in at No. 5 with $4.6 million to bring its domestic total to $288 million assuring it of becoming the second film of the year to cross the $300-million mark during its run. (The other was Finding Nemo.)

The top ten films over the weekend, according to final figures compiled by Exhibitor Relations (figures in parentheses represent total gross to date): 1. Once Upon a Time in Mexico, Sony, $23,424,118, (New); 2. Matchstick Men, Warner Bros., $13,087,307, (New); 3. Cabin Fever, Lions Gate, $8,633,585, (New); 4. Dickie Roberts: Former Child Star, Paramount, $5,042,028, 2 Wks. ($12,871,357); 5. Pirates of the Caribbean: the Curse of the Black Pearl, Disney, $4,506,400, 10 Wks. ($287,884,372); 6. Freaky Friday, Disney, $4,061,689, 6 Wks. ($101,971,030); 7. Jeepers Creepers 2, MGM, $3,019,860, 3 Wks. ($31,865,481); 8. Seabiscuit, Universal, $2,754,615, 8 Wks. ($113,606,750); 9. S.W.A.T., Sony, $2,708,563, 6 Wks. ($112,791,312); 10. Open Range, Disney, $2,706,853, 5 Wks. ($53,482,017).

At 40, Depp Becomes a Big Star
15 September 2003 (StudioBriefing)
In what appeared to be nothing short of a spectacular rise in audience interest for a theatrical film series, Robert Rodriguez's R-rated Once Upon a Time in Mexico opened with an estimated $24-million box office over the weekend, besting the original El Mariachi, which debuted with $313,000 in 1993, and the first sequel, Desperado, which bowed with $7.9 million in 1995. Sony, the studio that produced it, said that the result was beyond its expectations. (Some analysts credited the success of the film to star Johnny Depp's new-found status as a box-office draw following his appearance in Pirates of the Caribbean, one of the biggest hits of the summer.) Second place was claimed by Warner Bros.' Matchstick Men, which took in about $13.3 million. Another new film, Lions Gate's Cabin Fever, claimed third place with around $8.5 million. In limited release, Sofia Coppola's Lost in Translation, starring Bill Murray and Scarlett Johansson, took in an impressive $901,143 in 23 theaters, or an average of $39,180 per theater.

The top ten films for the weekend, according to studio estimates compiled by Exhibitor Relations: 1. Once Upon a Time in Mexico, $24 million; 2. Matchstick Men, $13.3 million; 3. Cabin Fever, $8.5 million; 4. Dickie Roberts: Former Child Star, $5 million; 5. Pirates of the Caribbean: The Curse of the Black Pearl, $4.6 million; 6. Freaky Friday, $4.1 million; 7. Jeepers Creepers 2, $3 million; 8. Open Range, $2.809 million; 9. S.W.A.T., $2.800 million; 10. Seabiscuit, $2.7 million.

Two Johnny Depps for the Price of One
15 September 2003 (WENN)
Johnny Depp loved working on the set of his new movie Once Upon A Time In Mexico so much, he begged director Robert Rodriguez for another part. Depp wrapped up his part in the film in just eight days, thanks to movie-maker Rodriguez's famous speedy approach to movies, and he simply didn't want to go home to France. Rodriguez says, "He'd never shot a full movie in eight days and at the end of that he was like, 'Is there anything else I can do, man?' He said, 'Who's playing the priest?' and I said I hadn't cast it yet. He said, 'How about I do a Marlon Brando voice and dress up as someone else? Can I do the priest before I leave?' So there's a confessional scene which wasn't supposed to feature Johnny Depp."

Movie Reviews: 'Once Upon a Time in Mexico'
12 September 2003 (StudioBriefing)
Robert Rodriguez's Once Upon a Time in Mexico derives its title from Sergio Leone's classic Once Upon a Time in the West and is said to have been suggested by Quentin Tarantino, who saw similarities in the careers of the two directors. It is directed, edited, shot, written, and scored by Rodriguez. The filmmaker himself is receiving high marks from critics for all of his efforts except those as a writer. "The only thing missing is a coherent story -- or even, for that matter, an interesting idea for one," writes A.O. Scott in the New York Times. Wesley Morris in the Boston Globe comments: "The plot practically demands that you board a tour bus to navigate it." Roger Ebert in the Chicago Sun-Times also comments that Rodriguez still hasn't learned to structure a story, but he adds: "You know what? I didn't mind. I understood the general outlines of the story, I like the bold strokes he uses to create the characters, and I was amused by the camera work, which includes a lot of shots that are about themselves." The actors, who comprise an all-star cast that includes Antonio Banderas, Salma Hayek, Johnny Depp, Willem Dafoe and Mickey Rourke, receive much praise from critics -- particularly Depp, who is having an auspicious year with this film and Pirates of the Caribbean. Ann Hornaday in the Washington Post comments that Depp "is quickly proving to be the most larcenous man in show business by stealing every movie he's in." Similarly, Michael Wilmington in the Chicago Tribune observes that with this film, Depp pulls off "more movie piracy." John Anderson in Newsday remarks that Depp proves "that he has a great sense of comedic timing, as well as a great sense of swagger." And Geoff Pevere in the Toronto Star, who attempted to sink Pirates of the Caribbean with his review, concludes: "For the second time this year, the actor transforms a moribund movie into a watchable one merely by being there."

More Than Just a Cameo for Depp
2 September 2003 (WENN)
Heart-throb actor Johnny Depp was shocked when he saw his new film Once Upon A Time In Mexico - because he didn't expect to be in it so much. Depp stars as a corrupt CIA agent in the third installment of the El Mariachi saga, about a mythic guitar-slinging hero, played by Antonio Banderas, who fights to save the Mexican people. But Johnny says his own role was actually a lot bigger than he first thought: He says, "I thought it was like a cameo. You know - a bit, a small little in and out thing. Suddenly, it was my agent or my sister, someone saw the movie and said 'Man, you're through the whole thing'. "I had no idea - especially after nine days of shooting."

Depp Boycotting 'Entertainment Tonight'
21 August 2003 (StudioBriefing)
Johnny Depp reportedly is so furious at Entertainment Tonight over a recent report that he will refuse to be interviewed by the show's reporters during a press junket this weekend at which he will be promoting his upcoming movie, Once Upon a Time in Mexico, MSNBC.com reported today (Thursday). "He's boycotting them," an insider told the website, noting that Depp was angered by the way the show reported on an item that originally appear in GQ magazine in which the actor described how he would handle his children's curiosity about marijuana when they grow older. A spokesman for Depp was quoted as saying, "They sort of took half a quote. They ran it out of context, and it wasn't what the story was saying. He wasn't happy with them."

Mexico Hails Big Rise In U.S. Film Production On Its Soil
9 August 2001 (StudioBriefing)
Mexico's Film Commission is expecting that about 40 U.S. films will shoot in the country this year, up from just six films five years ago, the London Financial Times reported today (Thursday). Among the productions are, Frida, starring Salma Hayek, Once Upon a Time in Mexico, starring Antonio Banderas, Vampires: Los Muertos, starring Jon Bon Jovi and a Tom Cruise production of Stephen King's Dolan's Cadillac.The boost in production is being credited to favorable tax laws, reduced red tape, revamped union rules, and favorable exchange rates -- all of which can cut production costs between 25 percent and 30 percent, the FT observed.