'Talladega Nights' Goes Fast to No. 1
by Brandon Gray
August 6, 2006
Answering the need for speed and humor, Talladega Nights: The Ballad of Ricky Bobby stocked an estimated $47 million on around 5,200 screens at 3,803 venues, finishing its opening lap at No. 1. A bullish Barnyard weighed in at a distant second, while fellow openers The Descent and The Night Listener had little impact.
Talladega Nights, Sony's $73 million NASCAR send-up, out-paced Scary Movie 4 as the top comedy debut of the year, and it marked a personal best start for lead actor Will Ferrell, whose box office had been stuck in neutral since his Elf breakout in 2003.
Sony's president of distribution, Rory Bruer, said that the studio originally hoped Talladega Nights would open to $30 million, comparable to Ferrell's Anchorman: The Legend of Ron Burgundy. "We really got everyone, young and old, red states and blue states," Bruer noted. Sony's exit polling indicated that the audience was 53 percent male and 52 percent under 25 years old.
The third computer-animated movie in three weeks, Paramount's Barnyard, milked an estimated $16 million from around 3,600 screens at 3,311 sites. It avoided the fate of The Ant Bully, which flopped with $8.4 million last weekend, but trailed Monster House's $22.2 million debut two weeks ago. The format, which has suffered from over-saturation this year, has an average opening weekend of $36 million.
"We're thrilled, because, most [industry trackers] didn't have Barnyard doing more than $11 million and some had us doing Ant Bully business," said Don Harris, Paramount's executive vice president and general sales manager. "This is the least expensive of all the animated movies out, with a budget of a little more than $50 million."
Gag-driven Barnyard, which incorrectly presented cows as male, had the Nickelodeon brand and marketing muscle behind it—the cable network routinely finds an audience for its animated features, including past hits Jimmy Neutron: Boy Genius and the Rugrats and SpongeBob SquarePants movies. Paramount's research suggested that 75 percent of Barnyard's audience was family with an even split between genders.
Also opening, British horror The Descent excavated an estimated $8.8 million at 2,095 locations, more than last summer's similar The Cave but far from another genre triumph for distributor Lionsgate. Miramax's The Night Listener, a low profile thriller featuring Robin Williams, drew a paltry estimated $3.6 million at 1,367 theaters.
Among holdover, summer's blockbuster Pirates of the Caribbean: Dead Man's Chest slid 47 percent but has racked up $379.7 million in 31 days. Last weekend's top gun, Miami Vice, plunged 62 percent, and the $135 million cop drama has grossed $45.7 million in 10 days. Director Michael Mann's previous dark action picture, Collateral, eased 35 percent from an opening comparable to Vice.
Overall weekend business charged over 20 percent past the comparable frame last year when The Dukes of Hazzard, courting the same audience as Talladega Nights, claimed first place with $30.7 million.
I hated Old School, Dodgeball, and Anchorman. I also hated ELF, for that matter, although that was more because the title reminded me of eventlog. Don't ask.
Saw it and enjoyed it. Not OMG BEST OF SUMMER but I laughed so it was worth the price. Anchorman was better though.
I hated Old School, Dodgeball, and Anchorman. I also hated ELF, for that matter, although that was more because the title reminded me of eventlog. Don't ask.
Was he in The Wedding Crashers? 'cuz I hated that too..
The gags are predictable goofball shit that grew stale right about the time Chevy Chase had his career assfucked by real comedy.
They didnt use the red head chick as much as they should have though. I expected to see tits and ass, she was crazy in Wedding Crashers (please baby jesus in your diamond incrusted gold diapers send this girl to my house so that i might love her for one night)Different girls.
BrandNew, don't mention any of those films in the same breath as Clerks II. Thanks.
Don't mention it anyway. Will Ferrel claptrap sours Clerks II's name >:(BrandNew, don't mention any of those films in the same breath as Clerks II. Thanks.
Uh, I said it was better than all of them asshat.
Different girls.
Amy Adams was in Talladega Nights:
(http://images.starpulse.com/Photos/pv/Amy%20Adams-11.jpg)
Isla Fisher was in Wedding Crashers:
(http://www.askmen.com/women/models_250/pictures_250/isla_fisher/isla_fisher_150c.jpg)
he has yet to make a Ghostbusters or Blues Brothers.Blues Brothers is one of the greatest comedy films of all time. I felt like I must say that.
I am now going to watch Freddy Got Fingered and thus see Rip Torn masturbate an elephant to climax.Now you see, I appreciate a film like that because it knew exactly who it was targeting. Shit like Wedding Crashers changing tones and becoming a romantic drama halway through is what really pisses me off.
Hey, I like Tom Green too.
I'll trade you for the time I spent watching Anchorman!Meh, I didn't like Anchorman much either but Steve Carrel's character was at least a bit humorous. The last funny film Will Ferrel made was Jay & Silent Bob Strike Back, and that film still sucked ::)
I don't think Will Ferrell made that movie. Don't try and weasel Kevin Smith's name out of that flick!I meant that he was in... >:(