Topic: Paul Dergarabedian

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'Harry Potter' breaks records: three trends behind the success

At the box office this weekend, ‘Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows: Part 2’ trumped everything from the massive ‘Transformers’ to the gentle inhabitants of the Hundred Acre Wood in ‘Winnie the Pooh.’
Top five movie trends and surprises of 2010

True stories hit it big at the box office in 2010, while big sequels and 3D features largely fizzled.

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Big-screen blockbuster: Chinese conglomerate gobbles up AMC chain

In what some are calling a $2.6 billion prestige play, China's big fish Wanda is swallowing AMC to create the world's largest theater chain despite the steady decline in the US industry.
Superheroes arrive to rescue ... Hollywood?

Box office analysts say 'The Avengers' is only the beginning of potential blockbusters for the summer season.
'The Avengers' sets weekend record. Is there a message for the industry?

Hollywood is welcoming the success of 'The Avengers' – a formula blockbuster with a simple good-vs.-evil story line – but industry analysts aren't ready to draw too many conclusions.
'Hunger Games' leads Hollywood's dramatic turnaround

'The Hunger Games' posted the third-best opening in US history, adding to Hollywood's surge after a poor 2011, which saw the worst ticket sales in 16 years.
'John Carter' trumped by $39.1M weekend for 'The Lorax'

Studio estimates Sunday put Universal Pictures' "The Lorax" at No. 1 for the second-straight weekend as the animated adventure based on the children's book took in $39.1 million.
'The Vow' leads strong pre-Valentine's weekend at box office

'The Vow,' starring Rachel McAdams and Channing Tatum, took in $41.7 million at U.S. and Canadian theaters from Friday through Sunday in the biggest domestic opening so far this year, according to studio estimates compiled by Reuters on Sunday.
'The Devil Inside' scares up a monstrous $34.5 million opening weekend

The surprise hit from Paramount Pictures debuted well above industry expectations as horror fans crowded theaters for the low-budget tale about exorcists trying to free a woman possessed by evil spirits.
Mission Impossible leads box office at end of weak year

The year's final weekend saw top movies add to ticket sales from the Christmas holiday one week earlier but no change in the top three chart positions. The "Sherlock Holmes" and "Alvin and the Chipmunks" franchise films took the No. 2 and 3 positions behind Tom Cruise's 'Mission Impossible: Ghost Protocol.'
'Lion King' success: Should Hollywood fall back in love with 3D?

Two big weekends for 'The Lion King 3D' and suddenly Hollywood is abuzz with talk of 3D conversions. But is the format the reason for the success of the returning modern classic?
'Bridesmaids,' 'The Help' draw women audiences – and big box-office numbers

The surprise success of both 'Bridesmaids' and 'The Help' has shown that when the film is right, women can deliver some powerful box-office clout.
'Harry Potter' breaks records: three trends behind the success

At the box office this weekend, ‘Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows: Part 2’ trumped everything from the massive ‘Transformers’ to the gentle inhabitants of the Hundred Acre Wood in ‘Winnie the Pooh.’
'Horrible Bosses,' 'Bad Teacher': Why we love 'bad' – and bad – movies

Adults behaving badly in 'The Hangover' led to the runaway hit of 2009, and studios paid attention, bringing the Summer of Bad to a multiplex near you. 'Horrible Bosses' opens Friday.
'Transformers' vs. 'Larry Crowne': Machines trump movie stars at the metroplex

Blockbuster CGI movie 'Transformers: Dark of the Moon' has already taken in more money than new romantic comedy 'Larry Crowne' is likely to, as they battle for Fourth of July weekend moviegoers.
'Footloose,' 'Ghostbusters,' and more: Risk-averse Hollywood remakes '80s films

'Footloose' is one of some 30 upcoming movies retreaded from a popular 1980s film. Hollywood hopes the blend of nostalgia and freshness will add up to box office gold.
'Green Lantern' is opening. Does it appeal only to white American males?

As movies bring classic comic books to the screen, some critics say they are mining the genre's early period, which featured less diversity than it does now. 'Green Lantern' is a case in point.
Forget the pirates and newbie X-men: This summer is all about the small films

Though the summer movie slate includes a record 27 prequels, sequels, and spinoffs, it it still shaping up to be a great year for smaller, specialty films, say experts.
Hollywood's foreign booty: New 'Pirates' film earned over $250 million abroad

Foreign audiences paid a quarter-billion dollars to see 'Pirates of the Caribbean: On Stranger Tides' on opening weekend, but the American box office didn't reach $100 million. How Hollywood is changing to appeal to international filmgoers.
Blockbuster 'Fast Five' gets summer movie season off to early start

‘Fast Five,’ the latest sequel in the cars ’n’ stars franchise, earned $83 million at the weekend box office. Hollywood has been trying to lengthen the season for blockbuster movies and attendance.
Bad times at the box office: Is it competition, the economy, or bad films?

Box office revenues are down 20 percent for the first quarter of 2011. While it is fair to blame the bad economy and abundance of alternatives, some good movies could turn things around.
New 'Green Hornet' has no buzz. Are minor league superheroes striking out?

What do the weak reviews for Columbia's new Seth Rogan vehicle, 'The Green Hornet,' mean for the league of second-tier superheroes set to swoop into theaters this summer?
Top five movie trends and surprises of 2010

True stories hit it big at the box office in 2010, while big sequels and 3D features largely fizzled.
In 'Tron: Legacy,' Jeff Bridges gets top billing. But is he the movie's star?

'Tron: Legacy' is further evidence that Hollywood is catering to a new generation of moviegoers whose appetite for video games and reality TV has changed the very nature of stardom.
How 'Tangled' topped 'Harry Potter' at box office

Disney's Rapunzel tale, 'Tangled,' was the No. 1 movie in the US last week, surprisingly beating 'Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows, Part 1' by mixing the studio's old-school princess formula with a dash of action appeal for boys.
3D or no 3D? 'Harry Potter, Part 2' aims for it, but is that a mistake?

Work to convert 'Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows, Part 1' to 3D was abandoned, but the studio is hoping to pull it off for 'Part 2.' Not everyone is sure a costly 3D conversion is the way to go.
Warner Bros. says it is vigorously investigating a Harry Potter leak and will prosecute those involved

Warner Bros. studio said it is aware of a 36-minute long Harry Potter leak and is doing everything they can to remove copies currently being shared on the Internet.