InfoAnda - Dragon poised to slay box-office competition |

Pakistanis angry over detentions in Times Sq. case
Monday, May 24, 2010
ISLAMABAD – Relatives of three men detained by Pakistan for alleged links to the suspect in the attempted Times Square bombing say the men are innocent.
They

Taiwan denies boycotting Australian film festival
Thursday, August 6, 2009

AFP - Thursday, August 6TAIPEI (AFP) - - Taiwan's Beijing-friendly government on Wednesday denied boycotting an Australian film festival amid a row over the e

Merkel's support dips, regional ally resigns International
Thursday, September 3, 2009

By Sarah Marsh and Noah Barkin

BERLIN (Reuters) - Chancellor Angela Merkel suffered a double blow on Thursday as a senior party ally in east German

Minister seeks closure of anti-Berlusconi websites
Wednesday, December 16, 2009
ROME (AFP) - – The Italian government moved Tuesday to close down Internet sites encouraging further violence against Prime Minister Silvio Berlusconi, who

Asian markets mixed after Wall Street rally
Wednesday, March 18, 2009

By ELAINE KURTENBACH,AP Business Writer AP - Wednesday, March 18SHANGHAI - Asia's stock market rally seemed to be running out of steam Wednesday, despite an

Syrian army attacks rebels, Turkey scrambles F16s | | 4 July 2012
Iran warns opposition against staging fresh rallies | 20 February 2011
Japan's SMBC to take stake in Indian lender | 1 July 2010

French online deal firm wants EU probe into Google | | 4 August 2011

Forum Views () Forum Replies ()

Read more with google mobile : Dragon poised to slay box-office competition |

Edition: U.S. Article Save Email Print Reprints Most Popular Most Shared UPDATE 2-Obama dares Republicans to seek healthcare repeal 25 Mar 2010 U.S. looks to export drone technology to allies 25 Mar 2010 Sex virus blamed for rise in head and neck cancers 7:40am EDT Sex toy startup has some big backers 17 Mar 2010 Obama housing plan seeks to reduce mortgage debt 10:42am EDT Sex virus blamed for rise in head and neck cancers 7:40am EDT Obama housing plan seeks to reduce mortgage debt 10:42am EDT UPDATE 2-Obama dares Republicans to seek healthcare repeal 25 Mar 2010 U.S. looks to export drone technology to allies 25 Mar 2010 Sex toy startup has some big backers 17 Mar 2010 "Dragon" poised to slay box-office competition Gregg Kilday Thu Mar 25, 2010 10:25pm EDT Author Cressida Cowell attends the premiere of the film ''How to Train Your Dragon'' in Los Angeles March 21, 2010. Credit: Reuters/Phil McCarten LOS ANGELES (Hollywood Reporter) - Moviegoers who just took off their 3D glasses after seeing "Alice in Wonderland" will put them back on again this weekend as Paramount unleashes DreamWorks Animation's "How to Train Your Dragon." Entertainment | Film At the same time, MGM is hoping that other moviegoers will focus on its time-travel comedy "Hot Tub Time Machine," shifting attention from the embattled studio's financial duress. Based on a popular children's book, the first in a series by British author Cressida Cowell, "Dragon" recounts the PG adventures of a Viking teen who befriends a young dragon. Directed by Dean DeBlois and Chris Sanders -- the team behind the 2D "Lilo & Stretch" -- the movie makes full use of its 3D vistas as it flies on the backs of airborne dragons high above the Scandinavian fjords. Back on Earth, "Dragon" already has had to find its footing within the universe of existing digital 3D theaters. Right now, there are 2,300-2,400 North American locations that can host the new wave of 3D movies; the number is increasing week by week as new sites come online. Some urban locations like New York even have 3D theaters that sit across the street from each other, which means no one film is likely to command all available 3D sites at any one time. ELBOWING 'ALICE' ASIDE The flip side of the question is whether there is enough room for two or even three near-simultaneous 3D releases to co-exist successfully. During the past three weekends, Disney's "Alice" has reigned atop the box office, grossing more than $270 million domestically. Opening in 2,063 3D sites, it commanded the bulk of the available 3D locations as the run of Fox's "Avatar" began to wind down. This weekend, "Dragon," positioned to take over the box office's top spot, will elbow "Alice" off many of the 3D screens. The Paramount release is bowing in 4,055 theaters, and more than half of them -- 2,178 locations -- will offer 3D, including 185 Imax houses. With 3D locations steadily expanding, though, "Alice" will continue to hold forth in 3,384 locations, including about 1,450 3D sites. "I am very pleased by the support that exhibition has put behind installing additional screens before Easter," Disney distribution president Chuck Viane said. By next weekend, when Warner Bros.' "Clash of the Titans," which underwent a late-in-the-game 3D makeover, enters the scene, competition will be even more fierce. If this weekend plays out as expected, it should suggest that the currently installed base of 3D screens can support two big features at a time. But throw a third into the mix and it becomes problematic. During last week's ShoWest exhibitors' convention in Las Vegas, there was grumbling on the floor that Paramount was muscling "Dragon" into theaters by threatening to withhold its upcoming "Iron Man 2" and "Shrek Forever After" from exhibitors who didn't play ball. "We never, never said that," said Jim Tharp, Paramount's president of domestic theatrical distribution, responding to the charge. He pointed to the movie's potential appeal as the key to achieving its theater count. "Once (DreamWorks Animation CEO) Jeffrey (Katzenberg) started screening the movie, a lot of exhibitors showed up, saw it and liked it." What about the additional charge that Paramount insisted a given theater had to put "Dragon" into its 3D auditorium if it also wanted a 2D print? "We always want the best screens in a theater, so certainly if 3D was the premier auditorium in a theater, we took that tactic," Tharp said. INTEREST GROWING As for the movie's prospects, interest in "Dragon" has shown a sharp uptick during the past few days. Earlier this week, handicappers placed its three-day take in the mid-$30 million range. Now, it's looking like it could land anywhere from mid-$30 million to mid-$40 million, with a few outliers predicting even more. It certainly will benefit by replacing "Alice" in 185 Imax theaters, though "Alice" will hang on as a midnight movie in many of those venues. At the Imax sites, which contracted for "Dragon" before "Titans" entered the picture, the toon is guaranteed to play for six weeks and won't need to surrender screens until "Iron Man 2" arrives. Because Imax commands premium ticket prices, that will also pump up "Dragon's" gross. As far as its box-office take goes, another unknown is whether exhibitors across the board will take advantage of the public's fascination with 3D to further increase ticket prices. After surveying 10 theaters, media analyst Richard Greenfield of BTIG predicted that some chains are increasing 3D ticket prices -- which already enjoy an upcharge compared with regular tickets -- by as much as 26 percent, though several circuits queried Thursday would not confirm that strategy. In any event, with "Dragon" flying high, "Alice" and the very different "Hot Tub" should duke it out during the weekend for second and third position. Even if it drops 50 percent during its fourth frame, "Alice" will take home a more-than-respectable $17 million, and it should crest the $300 million mark as it enters next weekend's Easter holiday. The R-rated "Hot Tub," the first movie released by MGM since "Fame" in September, is taking an entirely different tack. Directed by Steve Pink, the raunchy comedy stars John Cusack, Rob Corddry and Craig Robinson as down-on-their-luck pals transported to 1986, where they face the prospect of living their lives over again. Although advance word has some buzzing that its gross-out humor could turn the movie into another "Hangover," it's expected to open more modestly, somewhere in the mid-teens. If it does better than that, it could give "Alice" a run for the No. 2 spot. Entertainment Film More from Reuters Obama, Medvedev seal deal on nuclear arms pact WASHINGTON (Reuters) - President Barack Obama and Russian President Dmitry Medvedev sealed an agreement on Friday on a landmark nuclear arms reduction treaty and will meet to sign it on April 8 in Prague. Obama housing plan seeks to reduce mortgage debt Wall Street rises after Greece deal, consumer sentiment | Video South Korean ship sinking, North attack suspected: report Scandal-plagued Catholic order apologizes to victims | Video Consumer sentiment steady in March » More Top News Keen for a slice of the Big Apple Foreign investors are creeping back into New York's real estate market, but betting on a rise in property value may be risky. Full Article Goodbye to the "McMansions"? Serious mortgage delinquencies jump Treasury committed to mortgage fix Housing Market Global Deals Review: AIG yields gold for Wall Street The crumbling empire of AIG has paved Wall Street with gold as auctions of the bailed-out insurer's assets have generated more than half a billion dollars in fees. Full Article M&A rises 18 percent in first quarter Blackstone leaps up M&A league table UBS jumps ranks in U.S. deals deals © Copyright 2010 Thomson Reuters Editorial Editions: Africa Arabic Argentina Brazil Canada China France Germany India Italy Japan Latin America Mexico Russia Spain United Kingdom United States Reuters Contact Us Advertise With Us Help Journalism Handbook Archive Site Index Video Index Analyst Research Mobile Newsletters RSS Podcasts Widgets Your View Labs Thomson Reuters Copyright Disclaimer Privacy Professional Products Professional Products Support Financial Products About Thomson Reuters Careers Online Products Acquisitions Monthly Buyouts Venture Capital Journal International Financing Review Project Finance International PEhub.com PE Week Thomson Reuters is the world's largest international multimedia news agency, providing investing news, world news, business news, technology news, headline news, small business news, news alerts, personal finance, stock market, and mutual funds information available on Reuters.com, video, mobile, and interactive television platforms. Thomson Reuters journalists are subject to an Editorial Handbook which requires fair presentation and disclosure of relevant interests. NYSE and AMEX quotes delayed by at least 20 minutes. Nasdaq delayed by at least 15 minutes. For a complete list of exchanges and delays, please click here.

Other News on Friday, 26 March 2010
Israel mulls gestures to Palestinians after U.S. trip
Iraq election very close, results due Friday
Germany, France line up Greek-IMF aid deal
YouTube suffers outage
Sarkozy's bitterest enemy launches rival party
Pakistani jets kill nearly 50 in tribal region |
France, Germany strike deal to aid Greece
S.Korea lawmaker challenges election limits on Twitter use
U.N. peacekeeping boss orders probe of Darfur ambush |
UN rights body narrowly passes Islamophobia resolution
Fed not yet ready to wind-down crisis aid
U.N.'s Ban frustrated and disappointed over Myanmar |
EU's Ashton lays out plans for new diplomatic service
EU, US see breakthrough in 'open skies' talks
Parliament groups reject EU diplomatic corps plan |
Merkel insists on IMF rescue ahead of EU summit
Taiwan Semiconductor invests in energy-saving technology
Carla prefers Sarkozy not to run again
UN body rejects trade protection for marine species
Bruni not keen on second term for France's Sarkozy |
Pentagon eases rules on gay ban in US military
Pakistan arrests suspects in British boy kidnapping
IBM develops anti-spam software for Chinese mobile operator
Dubai World gets $9.5 bln injection for debt plan
Key U.S. lawmaker backs FCC's spectrum plan
I'm no hacker, says man who cracked Obama's Twitter
Global pace of deforestation slows: FAO
British parties imitate Obama in e-election
Sweden ranked world's most networked economy
LG aims at 25 percent of global 3D TV market
Netanyahu back home with US-Israeli spat unresolved
Obama launches sales blitz for health reform
Bin Laden warns US not to kill 9/11 mastermind
Economy trumps ecology at UN wildlife meet
LG aims at 25 percent of global 3D TV market |
Fidel says he has nothing against Obama
Myanmar rulers urged to free political prisoners
Key lawmaker backs FCC's spectrum plan |
China bans poet from traveling to US conference
Prince Charles visits Afghanistan
Japan to propose moving half key US base off Okinawa: report
U.S. lead in nanotech eroding, report finds |
China, Afghanistan vow to fight terrorism, drugs
Hacker gets 20 years for U.S. payment card theft |
UN council deplores 'systematic' rights abuses in NKorea
U.N. slams rights abuses in North Korea
Indonesian court upholds anti-pornography law
Pakistan: Airstrikes kill 61 suspected militants
Three weeks to save iconic Hollywood sign: trust
Toyota accelerator lawsuits go to US court
India's Bharti nears deal with Zain on Africa assets
Indonesia seeks $90 bln for infrastructure
It's all over for "The Hills"
Denmark's 'Little Mermaid' heads to China
Lost Booker Prize shortlist announced
Former China magazine editor launches new media business
Indonesian zoo welcomes birth of 25 Komodo dragons
Westerners follow Thai brides to live in hard-up northeast
Pakistan's forex reserves ease to $14.81 bln
S.Lanka minister regrets Akon's cancelled concert
Indonesia closes private radio station
TIMELINE-Taiwan's interest rate changes since 2001
Taiwan govt blasted for backing mainland director's opera
Japan to end cargo-only flights in October
Cubans forget their worries in baseball rapture
PetroChina profit slides 9.7% in 2009
Taiwan cbank says loose policy over, H2 rate rise seen
Indonesian court protects culture from porn law
China's ICBC says 4Q profits jumps 58 percent
Bolivia eradicates coca crops amid local grumblings
Progress, frustration as Liberia rebuilds from scratch
Sarah Palin to star in television series on Alaska |
A Minute With: Holly Hunter on angels and Saving Grace |
Miley, less smiley, grows up and into film career |
Simon Cowell to get international Emmy award |
It's all over for The Hills |
American Idol narrows to top 10, Paige Miles out |
Harry Potter park to open in June in Orlando |
Netanyahu aide sees accord with U.S. on Jerusalem |
EU's economic 'government' lost in translation
Myanmar junta prepares for final salute |
Pakistan troops kill 24 militants after attack |
Key lawmaker backs FCC's spectrum plan
Hacker gets 20 years for U.S. payment card theft
China VP due in Sweden as Volvo takeover nears
Bag With $100,000 Falls Off Armored Truck, Only $13,000 Returned
Hacker Sentenced To 20 Years For Data Theft
US Congress passes 'fixes' to landmark health law
Wall Street Journal to charge 17.99 dollars a month on iPad
Chatham County (N.C.) Courthouse Engulfed In Flames
U.S. Congress approves final healthcare changes
U.S. firms' security concerns grow in Mexico: poll |
Loan Modifications Up From Last Year, But Re-Defaults Are Too
US newspaper ad revenue down 27% in 2009: NAA
Pentagon makes it harder to expel gays in military
Malaysia's Anwar sodomy trial postponed until May |
Fed not yet ready to wind-down crisis aid
U.S. lead in nanotech eroding, report finds
Mexico arrests 'King of Heroin'
EU, U.S. aid groups to pledge about $2.7 billion for Haiti |
Replica of U.S. slave ship sails into Havana |
U.S. Students Only Average In Reading, Nation's Fourth Graders Show No Improvement Over 2007
Aussies on 4th track gold, Hoy saves Brits' blushes
Defense Department Modifies Don't Ask, Don't Tell Policy on Discharging Gays
Global Weather-Celsius
U.S. Markets Finish Mixed As Early Rally Loses Steam
Weather forecast for the Asia-Pacific region
N.Korea vows nuclear attacks to defend its regime
Chaotic Philippine election season in full swing
Endangered French cheeses cry out for help
S. Korean anti-Pyongyang leaflets go digital
'Missing' portrait of Aussie outlaw posts record price
Fox Affiliate Sources Say Conan O’Brien Deal Not Definite
Harry Potter park adds new characters
Rihanna's Rude Boy remains atop Hot 100 |
Bikini-clad wife puts Roddick in the shade |
Pakistan: 5 soldiers, 21 alleged militants killed
5 Pakistani soldiers, 21 militants killed in NW
The Times of London to charge for website
Russia bans Hitler's 'Mein Kampf'
Israel could use tactical nukes on Iran-think-tank
Britain's Times, Sunday Times to charge for websites
News Corp to charge for UK Times online from June
VW to raise 4.2 bln euros at 65 euros per share
U.N. tells Iran to end Eutelsat satellite jamming
North Chile hit by 6.2 quake, no damage reported |
Beware online knights in shining armor, US Army warns
Japan PM admits mistakes, asks voters for patience |
South Korean ship sinking, North attack suspected: report |
Iraq vote results near, Maliki backers urge recount |
Iraq awaits full election results amid tight race
Hamas says it attacked Israeli troops entering Gaza |
Scandal-plagued Catholic order apologizes to victims |
U.N. rights forum condemns Myanmar, extends probe |
Pirates attack Turkish ship off Nigeria, 3 injured |
Rio China trial defendant says treated fairly
New Zealand reaffirms Fiji sanctions
US-TECH Summary
Sentence upheld in China liquor bribery case
Japan PM admits mistakes, asks voters for patience
Fire at Indian army arsenal triggers explosions
Japan finalizing US base relocation proposal
Indonesian provinces plan to ignore anti-porn law
No change in policy on Jerusalem: Israel PM
News Corp to charge for UK Times online from June |
Hamilton quickest in Australian GP practice
Angry Cambodian mob kills motorcycle thieves
NKorea threatens 'nuclear strikes' on SKorea, US
Pakistani rupee eases vs dollar; stocks edge higher
Toyota stopping output in UK, France for 9 days
HK bank workers held in Lehman investments case
Toyota to halt UK, France production for 12 days
S.Korea refiners likely to raise ESPO imports -trade
Nissan, Renault, Daimler eye cross-shareholding: reports
Seoul shares end up on shipping firms, Korea Life
Electric car design to err on conservative side
Ridley Scott's 'Robin Hood' to open Cannes festival
FACTBOX-South Korea's five biggest IPOs
Noel Gallagher rolls back the years at solo gig
Abba may reform for one-off show
China could resume flexible exchange rate: adviser
Museum exposes Elvis, "the threat" to American morals
Indian wine lovers offer tasty target to vineyards
'Heroes' actress visits Japan dolphin hunt town
Could Abba be ready for a one-off reunion? |
Film composer Paul Dunlap dies at 90
Dragon poised to slay box-office competition |
Greece at new risk of being pushed off euro
Bodies of missing Tenn. mom, Jo Ann Bain, and daughter found
Female Breasts Are Bigger Than Ever
AMD Trinity Accelerated Processing Units Now in Volume Production
The Avengers (2012 film), made the second biggest opening- and single-day gross of all-time
AMD to Start Production of piledriver
Ivy Bridge Quad-Core, Four-Thread Desktop CPUs
Islamists Protest Lady Gaga's Concert in Indonesia
Japan Successfully Broadcasts an 8K Signal Over the Air
ECB boosts loans to 1 trillion Euro to stop credit crunch
Egypt : Mohammed Morsi won with 52 percent
What do you call 100,000 Frenchmen with their hands up
AMD Launches AMD Embedded R-Series APU Platform
Fed Should not Ignore Emerging Market Crisis
Fed casts shadow over India, emerging markets
Why are Chinese tourists so rude? A few insights

USD EUR - 1 year graph	VPN on MacOSX	BlogMeter 1.01