Cage Nets $45M "Treasure" While Apatow Comedy Bombs

AP:

Nicolas Cage followed his secret treasure map to another fortune at movie theaters. Cage's "National Treasure: Book of Secrets," the Disney sequel to its 2004 hit, opened as the weekend's No. 1 movie with $45.5 million as Hollywood continued a holiday spree at the box office, according to studio estimates Sunday.

With Cage reprising his role as a history buff on the hunt for a vanished fortune, the "National Treasure" sequel outdid the original, which debuted with $35.1 million on its way to a $173 million total.

The previous weekend's top flick, Will Smith's "I Am Legend," slipped to second place with $34.2 million, the Warner Bros. hit raising its 10-day total to $137.5 million.

Read the whole story: AP

Comments

[TheWesternBreed]

05:03 PM on 12/26/2007

We needed an innocuous, mildly interesting Christmas Day movie for a group ranging in age from 5 to 82--National Treasure II was a fairly obvious choice, and it was a good one.

It was great to see Dame Helen Mirren as an American university professor, throwing herself gamely into the fun of an Indiana-Jonesish popcorn-movie adventure complete with tumbling rocks and cascading underground rivers, and a subterranean ancient temple, speaking lines like: "This will change everything we know!" So much getting to play against type, so much money for her acting fee (I'm sure)--we were all happy for her.

At one point during the movie, when Cage's character says, more or less, "I've got to kidnap the President of the United States," someone in our row loudly exclaimed: "KEEP HIM!" and two rows of moviegoers shared a ripple of laughter and cheers. This is the bluest part of one of the bluest states, afte all.

[johnnycanuck]

01:20 AM on 12/26/2007

When is George Bush's War coming out? Who will play George Bush?

[OS2Guy]

02:56 PM on 12/25/2007

The worst movie this year, so far, is the old remake of "The Omea Man" (starred Heston) released this year as "I Am Legend" ( I mean how ego-centric can you get?) with Will Smith. First, Will Smith can't act himself out of a paper bag (much akin to Tom Cruz) and the movie itself is just stupid. 28 Days Later is a much better picture and runs on the same premise. I'm taken aback when I see the kind of money films like "I Am Legend" and the numbers of people who go to such such crap. I know the studios know how to manipulate and time a movie release and they did a great job conning the public on this one.

[devilyousay]

11:27 AM on 12/25/2007

I saw National Treasure last night. I'm sorry to say, I loved it. There's a lot of humor in it this time around and I laughed alot. The one liners, with Cage's droll delivery, make it different from the first, regardless of what the reviews say.

I went wanting to have some fun, not looking for Oscar caliber performances or something too heavy, and I got it.

I think that sometimes, we rate every movie on the same high scale and they aren't the same type of movies with the same intent.

Regarding Walk Hard; great point about the poster not having a cultural referrence for Apatow's regular demographic. I hadn't thought of that.

Personally, I think it's a good thing it doesn't do well. While I think APatow is talented, I don't want every comedy out there to be an attempt to mimic his success. If he doesn't stumble somewhere, then frat boy humor will be all we'll get. I like a little more diversity in my viewing, thank you.

[rpence]

08:54 AM on 12/25/2007

Walk Hard would probably have done better in a summer release than as a Christmas time film. Plus, as great as Reilly is--our finest character actor--he isn't a star and can't open a film.

Personally, I'd rather see a bad Reilly film than a great Cage film. And "National Treasure" sure as hell can't be great. It's the kind of movie that people can safely go to at the mall as a respite from shopping. At least it has the scrumptious Helen Mirren.

I did expect Sweeney Todd to be at the top, however.

[RaisingAwareness]

03:02 AM on 12/25/2007

I was just joking in my post. I'm actually a HUGE fan of Hanks, Hoffman and Roberts and don't think they are box-office poison at all. I think nearly every film is a bit of a risk and today, films regarding tough realities such as war are absolutely vital but at the same time, obviously tough for many to face. Just look at how "Rendition", "In the Valley of Elah", "Redacted", "Lions for Lambs" and now "Charlie Wilson's War" have done in ticket sales. Nearly all of these films had huge movie stars but all have surprisingly under-performed. I think it's awful because right here and now, we all need to conjure up the strength to confront this reality. Film can help us do this. Film has a way of putting things in perspective and can communicate important ideas which can really inspire people. I think we as a people need to conjure up the courage to watch these types of films because most likely, we will all be much better off as a result. Despite what someone like Bill O'Reilly says.

[factotem]

01:52 PM on 12/24/2007

Trust me... noone is rushing to see a movie whose poster features John C. Reilley shirtless. The original image it mocks isn't even known to this generation.

They also lost any chance of capitalizing that it was by Judd Apatow (ca$h!!!) by burying the association. I didn't know it was by him until last night. I have little interest in seeing biopics let alone spoofs of them.

[Libsrule]

01:29 PM on 12/24/2007

Walk Hard was hilarious. I was surprised to be honest. I went to a screening and thought it might be sort of a weak movie but the humor was great and not the usual nonsense crap the idiots like Will Ferrel and Jim Carey put out.

But then again, Walk Hard WAS up against a pretty heavy hitter with Nic Cage and National Treasure along with a couple of good Christmassy movies.

Nonetheless go see Walk Hard, it really is pretty good. I'm going to see it again and pay for it this time. Just not later this week.

[ibsteve2u]

11:18 AM on 12/24/2007

"Charlie Wilson's War" may pick up...it is an interesting story about how a Democrat enabled the defeat of the Soviets in Afghanistan, which in turn lead to the collapse of the Soviet Union - which the Republicans took credit for. Of course.

It is a cautionary tale, too - for those wise enough to see it. One little piece of technology - the Stinger man-portable missile - pushed the massive military of the Soviet Union over the edge.

Truly a good thing to remember, as we in the United States confidently throw our weight around at the same time as we are offshoring our technological knowledge and even our technology production to potential enemies...

[LoRiseAntlers]

05:59 AM on 12/24/2007

"Walk Hard" should have been titled "Watch Hard" because it's really hard to watch.

To say it sucks would be a disservice to black holes and vacuums everywhere.

[lanrameau]

02:16 AM on 12/24/2007

Apparently only good movies make huge box office. Certainly explains "Alvin and the Chipmunks".

[RaisingAwareness]

01:52 AM on 12/24/2007

Charlie Wilson's War earned dissapointing $9.62 million at the boxoffice. I guess we can all agree that Tom Hanks, Seymor Hoffman and Julia Roberts are box-office poison.