Posted on 07/04/2005 5:15:22 PM PDT by Asphalt
War of the Worlds, the leading man's latest release, opened Wednesday to record-setting box-office numbers for Paramount.
The alien-versus-human saga took in $36.6 million from 3,908 theaters worldwide--$21.3 million in domestic tickets sales and $13.5 million in international sales--making it the seventh biggest opening for a Wednesday to date.
(As a point of reference, Star Wars: Episode III--The Revenge of the Sith holds the record for the biggest opening day ever, with $50 million in domestic ticket sales. So far, the prequel has earned $360.1 million.)
War, directed by Steven Spielberg and costarring Dakota Fanning and Tim Robbins, reportedly cost $135 million to make--an amount it will quickly recoup, should ticket sales continue at their current breakneck speed.
Adapted from H.G. Wells' 1868 novel, the sci-fi thriller tells the tale of an alien invasion of Earth and humankind's struggle to fight back. Divorced dad Ray Ferrier (Cruise) must rescue his family from an extraterrestrial army the likes of which has never been seen before.
Though the creatures Cruise flees in the film may be the product of special effects, the actor apparently hasn't ruled out the possibility of such an encounter occurring in real life.
Earlier this week, Cruise told the German newspaper Bild that "of course" he believes in aliens.
"Are you really so arrogant as to believe we are alone in this universe?" Cruise asked his interviewer. "Millions of stars, and we're supposed to be the only living creatures? No, there are many things out there. We just don't know."
The remarks are just the latest in a series of eyebrow-raising statements made by the actor of late.
After Cruise bashed psychiatry in an interview with Today show host Matt Lauer last week, calling it a "pseudoscience," the American Psychiatric Association issued a statement criticizing the Top Gun star.
"It is irresponsible for Mr. Cruise to use his movie publicity tour to promote his own ideological views and deter people with mental illness from getting the care they need," APA President Dr. Steven S. Sharfstein said.
Cruise has also taken Brooke Shields to task in recent weeks, calling the actress' use of Paxil to treat postpartum depression "dangerous" and claiming that Shields "doesn't understand the history of psychiatry" the way that he does.
Then there's Cruise's extremely public adoration of fiancee Katie "Kate" Holmes, to whom he proposed after knowing her for a mere two months.
The duo's sudden coupling set skeptics buzzing about a publicity stunt, seeing as both actors had major summer releases opening. (Holmes' Batman Begins has made $130 million since its June 15 opening.)
Both Cruise and Holmes have repeatedly shrugged off suggestions that their romance is staged, insisting that their love is the real deal. Holmes has even embraced Scientology, Cruise's religion of choice, which Cruise has said makes the couple even more compatible.
The twosome appeared on The View, along with the rest of the War of the Worlds cast, for a special hourlong interview airing Friday.
Cruise, Holmes, Fanning and Robbins revisited Cruise's infamous Oprah appearance by hopping on top of the View couches.
We're just happy Star Jones didn't join in the shenanigans.
I saw this movie earlier tonight. Family begged me to come along. Don't make the same mistake I did! :)
what did you think?
All in all, just a very, very good movie and true to the spirit of the original.
I wasn't planning on watching it. Last of the Summurai was good, but I don't like Cruise
HA! there is no competition, that's all! can't believe the selections for a holiday weekend...what a fraud...
Im going to go see it on rittialn and zoloft after my next shrink appointment
"Im going to go see it on rittialn and zoloft after my next shrink appointment"
Now you're talkin'!!!!
My husband went to see it. I refused. He returned to tell me it was pretty boring.
The top 12 movies took in $160.1 million, off 25 percent from that 2004 record weekend.
It was the 19th straight weekend that domestic revenues were down compared with last year's, extending the longest slump since analysts began tracking detailed box-office figures. The worst downturn previously recorded was 17 weekends in 1985.
For the year, revenues are down about 7 percent, while factoring in higher ticket prices, admissions are off 10 percent. The longer the slump drags on, the harder it gets for Hollywood to dig itself out of that revenue hole, said Paul Dergarabedian, president of box-office tracker Exhibitor Relations.
http://apnews.myway.com/article/20050704/D8B4NGN80.html
I live in a city of 400,000+ folks. There were only 17 people in the theater (including my family members). I knew half the people there. The film must already be losing steam. I think I'm going to stick with Bergman from now on.
The star's antics didn't hurt sales at all.
Maybe not, but eventually they will hurt HIM.
Hadn't planned on seeing "War Of The Worlds", jdm.
"Batman Begins" is still number 1 out of the top 5 films at IMDb this week. It may be number 1 tomorrow, after the numbers are crunched, but Cruise ain't gonna save Hollywood from their near five month Death Spiral.
I have seen "Sin City" and "Batman Begins" at the theater. Both are excellent adaptations of comic books to film.
Jack.
Nah. It's all part of the act.
I saw the movie last night and liked it. The only real boring part I thought was when he was trapped in the house with that crazy guy, but the beginning up to that point was awesome. I liked this movie better than most alien movies actually, it's a nice change from all the high tech flying saucer crap like on Independence Day.
I also liked it, though I must admit it had logic holes you could throw a horse through! (Which I can't discuss here without giving away plot, but if you see it, you'll find the holes for yourself. One plot hole involves the unexpected reappearance of a certain cast member who I was sure was a goner ... and logically, should have been.) On the plus side, I thought the pacing was masterfull. Spielburg really knows what he is doing there ... the tension built and built until I was holding onto my husband's hand waaaaaaaaaaay too tightly! LOL! The special effects were very believable, which was kind of amazing considering how spectacular they are. The acting was also quite good, which you certainly couldn't say for Revenge of the Sith. If you want something to think about later, go see a documentary, but if you're just looking for a fun, exciting summer vacation movie, this one is great. (BTW, I wouldn't take young kids to this. Some things go on that I think would be pretty disturbing to a youngster.)
I give it one thumbs up (not both).
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