Benjamin Button does great job at the box office
December 27, 2008 by Sherry
The Curious Case of Benjamin Button is pulling a great showing on the box office results so far! On just Christmas day, it made over $11 million and they’re estimating that it could hit over $45 million by the end of the weekend. It came in second place on its opening day, just behind Marley & Me.
I spend a fair amount of time on Twitter (I’m here if you’d like to follow me – it’s mostly my own stuff but I sometimes mention when I’ve posted something big here on PittWatch), and a lot of the people that I follow over there went to see Benjamin Button on either the 25th or the 26th and they all said that it was incredible. One person, my head honcho boss actually, said that he puts it in his top three favorite movies. Reviews all over the Internet have been glowing and positive. I’m sure that somewhere there must be someone who didn’t like it because there’s no movie in the world that is loved by every single person, but in the past three days I have not once seen a negative review.
I think that Brad Pitt’s movie will continue to do well, and in particular if there is any Oscar buzz, it will get another surge of popularity in January and February. I haven’t seen it yet but I plan to see it very soon.
Thank you to all the PittWatch folks who have been so kind as to leave reviews on the previous post – if you see it in the next few days, please feel free to leave your thoughts over there as well. And thank you as well for not posting any major spoilers in your reviews, that’s very appreciated for those of us who have not seen it yet!
I hope you all had a very happy holiday time. My living room looks like a toy store exploded in it and we all had a great two days of celebrating. Thanks for your patience here – I’ll head over and push through the moderated comments right now!
(source)
Image used with permission: Newscom
hi sherry there is a new Brad Pitt interview on L.A Times check it out.
On age versus youth:
“Once you hit 40, you start reexamining the math of it all… I’ll trade wisdom for youth any day.”
On finding real love:
“It’s a tragedy in the sense that any love involves loss, and that’s the risk you take. And the greater the love, the greater the loss. I certainly feel that now with the woman I’m with, and the children that I have. But whatever the course may be, this time together is extraordinary.”
On how being with Angelina Jolie changed his life:
“I had a whole other life and I got to experience a lot. And I probably got away with more than I should. And it kind of ran its course, you know, it kind of hit a dead end. [Fatherhood is] the direction I always thought I would go in. But not until, with Angie and it felt like a natural evolution, a natural direction.”
On his work as an actor:
“I don’t have to grope as much for the character… I can get there quicker, so it’s not as much trial and error. Also, as I get older, more experiences, I’m more fine-tuned in what I’m after, what I think speaks in the piece. And lastly I want to hurry and get home to my kids.”
http://www.meetthefamous.com/photos-videos/details.php?story=4059
http://www.boxofficemojo.com/daily/chart/
Brad Pitt has a new interview with L.A Times, also Jen’s movie Marley and Me movie is kinda doing better then Brads movie CCOBB at the box office
wow. i’m so glad that the movie is doing great, 2nd at the box office, great reviews and tons of nominations. the Button movie probably would’ve done more good in the box office if it was shown worlwide on xmas day. i have a lot friends from different parts of the world who wanted to watch it but it wasn’t played on their countries yet.
and also about M&M doing more better than Button movie, well, it’s pretty obvious that it will be #1, i mean it’s a family movie, i’m sure kids would love to see the dog. but as what i’ve mentioned earlier, not bad for the Button movie for all the positive reviews, nominations and for being 2nd at the box office.
Great points Angela.
Also LOLA, Button is in less (500) screens than Marley and 700 less than Bedtime Stories.
Considering all the experts said it would only pull in $20-26m due to being a drama and length, these numbers are good news and should be applauded.
Jen’s movie is family and is NOT in competition with Button. It’s competition is Bedtime Stories.
BUT having said that am also happy for her that it is doing well. Hopefully she will take comfort in that and let go.
Hello, you know here where I live the opening of BB will be on April ‘09 . I’m eager to see that and I’ve already asked my husband to accompany me. Oh…. and you know last week I saw Changelling with my son… She was so amazing on that movie. As a fan I’m so excited especially this coming Oscar nominations…God bless Jolie- Pitts!!
Dear Sherry,
How come my comment is in awaiting moderation? This is my first time so please show it. Thank you.
Good point, Angela! I think that most people, if they choose to see a movie on Christmas day, would prefer to do so as a family, and thus it makes sense most people would pick a family movie (since CCOBB is rated PG-13, it’s not exactly the type of movie most people would bring kids who are, for example, around the same ages as the J-P kids).
Oh, and it sounds like Marley and Me wasn’t the big flop some people were expecting it to be (since a lot of JA’s other movies have flopped).
Sorry about the triple-post, but I also sincerely hope that if Brad is nominated for an Oscar, JA isn’t, and vice versa. I can already see the media going crazy if that happened, and the tabs writing headlines such as, “Jen’s Upset over Brad’s Oscar Nod” or “Jen Feels that Brad shouldn’t Have gotten the Oscar Nod”.
I also hope that, if they are nominated for best actor and best actress respectfully, they either both win, or both DON’T win. I can see the tabs pouncing all over that, too!
Hi Sherry,
I read on the Wall Street Journal, that some of the people who saw Marley & Me were disappointed because they are expecting to see a “family” movie. Note also that M & M was shown in more venues that CCOBB. Actually, if CCOBB was shown in the same number of theaters, it is probably a tie. Christmas Day, at the theater where I saw it, it was showing twice in the afternoon, while Marley movie was showing 3-5 times already. I am just wondering why the schedule is this way. Paramount is a big company even if the movie is 2 1/2 hours long. Why can’t they get a contract for more showing? I noticed this too when “Changeling” was showing. Most critics said, the ads for M & M were misleading saying it is a family movie because of the dog. It has a sad ending. Actually the family movie for Christmas Day is “Bedtime Stories.”
joliepittfanatic
I dont think we have to be worried about both being nominated, because Jen will not be. If tHE Oscars were like People’s Choice, or based on BO, probably then. In which case Angie would have to be nominated too, seeing she is the “billion dollar babe” for 2008.
Dear Sherry,
Testing..
I’m glad that TCCOBB has done so well in the States. Little surprised to read that M & M is number 1. Personally not gonna go and watch M & M. Can’t wait TCCOBB to open here in Finland soon!
I am so angry on these reports that Jen beated Brad on boxoffice and how Angie this and that and it is not fair, why some peole can not leave them alone!
Yeah I also wish the studio pushed more for Changeling and Button, it probably would’ve done better with more trailers, theatres/showings.
joliepittfanatic, I highly doubt that JA will get an Oscar nod, as the only movie she has out this year is Marley and Me, and that hardly sounds like an Oscar performance/movie.
can you please address the pathetic comments JA is making in GQ etc. I know you have avoided getting into this quagmire but it is so pathetic and such an outrage that I almost wish BP and AJ would address it- but they always take the high road and ignore her immaturity. She just seems so immature and pathetic to be making derogatory comments about them, their choices to sell pics and her pathetic attempts to make jokes about hanging out with them and even mentioning their kids by name. Anyway this is not really meant for the comments section but I didn’t know how to email you. You do a great job with this site and always handle it with such professionalism and dignity. Just hoping somehow you can address this in a way to provide an outlet for those of us so frustrated with JA! Thanks.
Its sort of annoying to see people push for one movie over the other because of who’s in it. And speak negatively about the other because they happen to be doing better in a *movie*. Do you even realize that the $10 bucks you’re spending towards either of these people makes them much richer and one less child can afford college? At the end of the day, they’re not and will never be the ones suffering from a recession no matter how much they provide to charities. I guess high school just doesn’t leave some people.
I feel so disappointed that I didn’t make it this weekend as we had planned. Been real sick and coughing alot and didn’t want to annoy other movie goers. There was a shooting in Philadelphia, PA at a TCCBB showing. A family was being nosy and another family in back were upset, asked them to be quiet and I guess they didn’t, and then the father real lost it and shot the other father in the arm. Question, why was this guy carrying a gun?
Glad to hear Sherry that your Christmas was good.
Mary Ann, that was awful. Why on earth would someone bring a GUN into a movie theater? I know I get irate when someone won’t shut up during a movie but that’s when you go get an usher, not a firearm for heaven’s sake!
Lucy, ack, I had to edit your comment to take out the M&M spoiler. I actually want to see the movie myself (and I even have the book on its way via Amazon) so I wish I didn’t know those spoilers. I just removed the spoiler stuff for anyone else who wants to see it.
I think that regardless of first and second and third, BB is doing extremely well and is a definite success.
Chopinasi, moderation is just something that happens from time to time, and isn’t necessarily because you’ve done something wrong. I usually get to moderated comments quickly but with the holidays I’ve been slower with it.
I’m around a bit today but won’t be back in full force until tomorrow. We spent yesterday just relaxing and putting toys together for the kids, but today we have another holiday outing, this time to go see family that I haven’t seen in literally ten years. I’m very excited about it! My apologies in advance for anyone who gets moderated while I’m gone.
Hello, thank you Sherry …best wishes to you and your family. To the fans, there’s nothing to be worried about for the first BO results, aren’t we happy that it has got the most nominations so far ? Let us wait and see bec. it has not shown overseas yet. Greetings to all JOLIE-PITT’S fans!!!
cb, If you can find an Interview of Brad at LA Times he finally broke his silence defending his Angie from the X. Was really a good one even though he didn’t mention her name. Maybe someone can post the transcript of his interview.
I am happy that CCBB is a success at the Box Office & will continue to do so. I heard M & M movie didn’t do justice to the book. It was advertise as a family movie because of the dog they even uses the dog picture without the actor’s pictures in it. I really do hope both Brad & Angie wins, that will be a riot for us fans if they do. let’s all cross our fingers. God bless the Jolie-Pitt’s.
http://www.dailymail.co.uk/tvshowbiz/article-1093074/Meet-parents-Angelina-silences-rumours-tension-laws-cuddles-Brads-parents.html
Awww, Angelina and Jane Pitt seem to be chummy:) this certain squashes all the romours of tension between the two!
TCCOBB opened second andvery well with 39 mill. in four days and everybody loved it and it is at the moment very high at IMBD on 123. spot.
Is there any info where the family is?
well TCCOBB is doing great and well ahead of its competition, tom’s movie Valkyrie. Like many have said Family movies do better during the christmas holidays.
I havent seen the movie yet but my sisters and i are planning on seeing next week, probably on tuesday since im poor.
If this is true then it is just too cute!
Angelina and Brad TIED THE KNOT!!!! Well, for Mad anyway since he was the priest conducting the ceremony
That is if you believe FemaleFirst’s story.
http://www.femalefirst.co.uk/celebrity/Angelina+Jolie-24166.html
Now that I have seen all the movies over the Holiday weekend, in this order of course (ccobb, bedtimes stories, marley & me & valkyrie) I can honestly say ccobb was the most compelling movie I’ve seen in a long time. I haven’t been to the theaters in a very long time were everyone was so quite at the end of the movie and then you start to hear quite conversions on how they view life in general. Its make you think. Life is a big marvelous circle, full of happiness, love and sorrow. It shows you that people and events in your life open another life path for you, you never know whats waiting for you around the corner. Some critics were comparing it to Forrest Gump? I never saw or felt they were anything alike.
Marley & me is a cute chic movie not a family one, but this & bedtime stories is more a dvd movie as youv’e seen them already. And Valkyrie too, it is just too depression, but then most wartime movies are for me. I feel out of the top 5, ccobb is very much worth seeing. I never once heard a person talking or even get up for any reason. You definitely become involved. The movie is long, but it does not feel so.
My biggest disappoint was Twilight! I feel this movie was made just to make money. I had such high hopes too, bummer! All the other movies I mention were predicable with the exception of CCOBB. This movie for me made up for all the movies that were ho-hum to me. What a great way to end the year and begin a new one. The entire cast was wonderful. 2 thumps up!!
For people who worry about marley & me, don’t. The making and the artisty involved in creating a great movie and the way it compels its audience to feel and become involved in the lifes of the characters is worth so much more than the amount the movie makes. So called blockbusters (marley & me NOT!) do not make for a Oscar nods. Thanks for the thread.
Sorry I just had to throw in twilight, it was just so boring!! Talk about a build up and false advertising! boya! But then no one quite does vampire like Brad Pitt!! HUMMM!!
This movie is beautiful and amazing. I loved it.
http://www.anorak.co.uk/celebrities/198828.html
PR guru Howard Bragman writes in his new book, Where’s My Fifteen Minutes?: Get Your Company, Your Cause, or Yourself the Recognition You Deserve ,” that
“a reporter asked her [Angelina Jolie] a question she hadn’t gotten before, and instead of answering it immediately, she put her head down so low it was out of the shot. The cameraman had nothing to shoot. Angelina collected her thoughts, and only then got up and gave a great answer.”
Happy Holidays to everyone, I haven’t seen the ccobb movie but probably I’ll see it around the first week of January. It’s good that M&M did well, this way JA is not going to be in a foul mood, although let’s face it, the dog is why the kids came to see it with the parents of course. Let’s wait till Tuesday and see how all the movies did. Again, everyone, have a nice, happy and safe New Year.
Lena, I love those pictures! I don’t, however, like the way the article was written. I don’t want to start another big discussion about the whole “triangle” business here, so all I’ll say is that:
1. The Daily Mail doesn’t seem to want to admit that, more than likely, there NEVER has been any tension between Angie and Jane.
2. If they were thinking, DM would realize that it probably isn’t awkward for Angie that Brad’s parents are still close to JA (if in fact that is still the case. It’s been awhile since I’ve heard of them spending any time together). For some reason, the tabs and tab websites (which DM is), tend to forget the fact that Angie herself is still friendly with her exes. Therefore, I doubt she has a problem with Brad’s parents being close with his ex.
3. Newsflash to DM: Just because Angie and Brad fell in love during the filming of MMS doesn’t mean they started dating then (nevermind that the comment of Angie’s they were referencing was actually referring to the kids getting to see Angie and Brad’s CHARACTERS falling in love in the movie, rather than Angie and Brad’s personal relationship)! So now falling in love automatically means you start dating right away? I think DM needs to take some reality check pills!
4. Why do so many people seem to think Angie and Brad HAVE to get married (DM mentioned that Jane, who’s Baptist, supposedly wants Angie and Brad to get married and doesn’t like the fact that they had six kids out of wedlock. To me, that sounds like DM’s not-so-subtle way of saying THEY think Brad and Angie should be married)?
I mean, so many Hollywood marriages fail these days, anyway! If you look at Hollywood Couples, most of the ones that have been together the longest are the ones who aren’t married (e.g. Goldie Hawn and Kurt Russell, Johnny Depp and Vanessa Paradis, Susan Sarandon and her partner-I can’t remember his name at the moment!-etc.).
For the kids’ sake, I hope that Angie and Brad either DON’T get married, or that, if they do, they beat the Hollywood marriage odds and stay together!
Oh, and cb, I recommend that you read Sherry’s post about JA’s “Uncool” comment in Vogue. She did, in my opinion, an excellent job of explaining why she doesn’t normally address stuff regarding JA and the “triangle” business. Just go back a few pages and you’ll find it.
I also want to add that I don’t think JA’s comment where she mentioned Z and Knox was pathetic. Do I think she should have said it? Absolutly not! However, I honestly think she was just trying to make a joke, and unfourtnately it didn’t come across very well. I don’t think she was saying the comment to be delibertly hurtful to Brad and Angie.
If, however, she did indeed say she doesn’t think the JPs should have sold Shiloh, Pax, and the twins’ first photos (which cb seemed to indicate), I think that’s really out of line. First of all, it sounds like it was pretty much a neccesity for the J-Ps (if I had paps trying to drill a hole through the ceiling of my hospital room and breaking into my property to try to get photos of my new babies, I would definitely sell the first photos to a reputable magazine like PEOPLE, too!).
Second, if JA ever has a baby, she’ll probably do the exact same thing!
UNDER MOD- Angelina, Jane Pitt, and my thoughts on JA’s GQ comments.
I can’t believe I forgot to mention Brad’s LA Times interview in my last post! Anyway, I just KNEW that H8ters, tabloid blogs, and tabloids would pounce all over those comments!
Personally, I don’t think Brad said anything wrong, and I don’t blame him a bit for finally speaking out. If those JA reads that interview and Brad’s comments hurt her, then they hurt her. It’s been nearly FOUR YEARS already, and Brad has a right to speak about his relationship with Angie without censoring himself.
He also has every right to defend Angie, which I think is exactly what he was doing in the LA Times interview. All of that said, I think Brad’s comment about wanting pursue fatherhood but basically not feeling like it was the right time until he met Angie is very interesting.
Although I am by no means a fan of JA, I have never liked how people have always dumped it all on her when it comes to the fact that she and Brad never had children. It sounds like, although Brad was desperate for a family, he ultimately didn’t feel right about having kids with JA, which is very telling to me.
That right there tells me that, like I said earlier, they were one of those couples who just didn’t “fit” together and just weren’t meant to be. He and Angie, on the other hand, I believe WERE meant to be, and I even believe they were meant to meet when they did.
I know not everyone here is religious, but for me, I feel that God brought Brad and Angie together for a reason.
Jhoey27, I’m not a kid, and I must confess that, if I do go see Marley and Me, it will be mostly because of the dog! I’m a HUGE dog lover!
Have seen TCCOBB, superly directed, performed, screenplayed from a short story, enjoyed it thoroughly. Best point about it is it lingers with emotion, and makes you reflect. Great film, exceptional plot. Should be Best Film of the Year
People, I am so happy you loved TCCOBB and I hope at least Brad will get nominated for an Oscar.TCCOBB opened first in Aurtralia in only limited 274 sreening and made 2.6 mill.
I just wish we could see the familly.
I also think that if TCCOBB opened on some other wikend it would be first but probably would open with smaller numbers, so with 39 mil. it is great!!!
Brad Pitt’s performance was absolutely superb, especially his protrayal of a child and balancing it with the necessary old man’s voice and ’shell’. The wide-eyed, curious looks, the mischievousness, the simple honest expression of sadness, etc. all came through beautifully without compromising the demeanor of an old person. He played every age of the character spot on, but the child’s one was flawless.
The movie is profound. It makes you reflect on the manner you have lived your life and think of the people and the opportunities in it. It’s not simply a love story. I came away thinking how I would like be when I wake up the next morning.
It’s probably the best movie to inpsire new year resolutions. Unfortunately, it is possible that more people are drawn to simpler, fluffier feel-good flicks for holiday fun.
nadia, I would love to see the J-P family as well, but I’m glad that they seem to finally be enjoying some privacy! I know Angie starts filming Salt in February. Does anyone know where that shoot will be taking place (or at least the first part of it). If it’s somewhere in the states other than LA, I think it will be then that we will see the J-P family again (with the possible exception of some blurry photos of them getting onto or off of planes). I also think it will be then that we will see the first candid photos of the twins (not counting the very blurry ones of them at the airport in their carseats), especially since Angie hinted that they might go to set with her at least some of the time (when she mentioned initally being worried about going back to work, but then Brad assured her that the twins would be old enough by then and they could make it work).
If that’s the case, I think we might see some pictures of the twins (and possibly the other kids if they visit Angie on set as well) even if the shoot is in LA.
Oh, and LicaPP, I take everything reported by FemaleFirst with not one, but TWO, entire salt shakers! If the wedding DID happen, it almost certainly wasn’t legally binding as I doubt a seven-year-old would be allowed to perform a legal marriage ceremony. In anycase, at least FF is spreading a POSITIVE rumor about the J-Ps for once! They mostly seem to rip them apart. From what I’ve heard, the ladies at FF are big JA fans (NOT saying that everyone who is a JA fan hates Brad and Angie, or vice versa!).
Oh, and does anyone know if Brad’s still shooting Inglorious Bastards, and if so, if it will wrap before Salt begins shooting? If it DOESN’T wrap before Salt starts shooting, I wonder how Brad and Angie will juggle that, since they seem to try their hardest to keep the family together.
Hi. I saw the movie ccbb and it was Great, I hope he gets the Oscar, and Angelina gets the Oscar for CHangleling wouldnt that be something?2 Oscars sitting on the mantel. Have a HAPPY NEW YEAR.
deborah,
I actually thought twilight was good compared to the book (I had to force myself to finish the series. It got really pathetic). Yes it was over-hyped with most theaters over-packed with screaming preteens. *rolls eyes*
I like many have my fingers crossed for two oscars going to the jolie-pitts. Brad and Angelina gave fantastic performances this year. =]
Benjamin Button was very Fincher-esque… almost as good as his other stuff if not for some nagging plot holes
I am going to see BB tomorrow. From what I have read…..it is a must see. As a Jolie-Pitt fan I can hardly wait. I don’t know if any of you have seen them in person or not…..but I have. I happened to be in CA when they were having the premier of Ocean’s 13. They are both ” beautiful..I got Brad’s autograph. What a thrill it was for me to see them. Out of the two… I love Angelina the most. When Brad was signing my autograph book I asked where’s Angelina…he replied she’s coming….but I was squeezed out by someone and couldn’t get her to sign. I got some good pictures of them though. Also on my trip I saw Brad, George Clooney and Matt Damon getting their footprints and handprints done in front of the Chinese theater. Also at the premier were Bernie Mack, Al Pacino and the others that were in Oceans 13.
Mr. Brad Pitt— I just got back home after seeing your latest movie on Mr. Button. I have not been moved ,by a movie since I was a kid and that movie was Rebel Without A Cause.You’re acting and the presentation of the movie is something I will never forget. Thank you and the the person who wrote the story.I never wrote to one of these columns before and yoy may never read this , but God bless to you and your family—Bob Burica