‘Bucket List’ Edges ‘First Sunday’

Published by Jeff Leins on January 13, 2008

The Bucket List was the number one movie this weekend with an estimated $19.5 million thanks to its big name stars Jack Nicholson and Morgan Freeman. The film is its third week, but expanded wide this weekend to become the biggest opening for director Rob Reiner.

Freeman was in four movies in 2007 and this was not his best work. He’s in four more this year too. Let me guess, he plays a wise old man?

The B-List bucket movie with A-list actors barely edged First Sunday, which finished above expectations with $19 million.

After leading all week, Juno returned to third place for the weekend with $14 million. The indie film’s total is $71.3 million. Not bad for a movie that cost $2.5 million to make. This makes it bigger than Little Miss Sunshine and will pass Sideways this week to become the largest Searchlight movie in its history.

Another specialty project, Atonement remained in the top 10 ($4.3 million) despite losing free publicity from Golden Globe hype. It was nominated for the most globes and should take home a few awards tonight during the 65th Annual Golden Globe Press Conference.

Alvin and the Chipmunks will just not die, adding another $9.1 million to its $187 million total. The trio is a surprise hit which means one thing: sequel. There are already rumors floating around about incorporating the chipettes. Just what we need, CGI chipmunk lovin.’

Though I Am Legend continues to roll, it looks like it will finish out of the top 5 for highest grossing films of 2007. It made another $8.1 million this weekend though.

The Veggie Tales movie The Pirates Who Don’t Do Anything made $4.4 million. It’s a kids movie about vegetables who dress like pirates… I don’t get it.

The Uwe Boll Dungeon Siege movie tanked so hardcore that it ended somewhere around 14th place with only $3.3 million. It supposedly cost them $60 million to make. Someone please stop giving this hack more money to make movies.

Well, make way for Cloverfield next weekend.  It’s going to be a monster hit.

Here’s your bucket list for this weekend:
1. The Bucket List $19.5 million
2. First Sunday $19 million
3. Juno $14 million
4. National Treasure: Book of Secrets $11.5 million
5. Alvin and the Chipmunks $9.1 million
6. I Am Legend $8.1 million
7. One Missed Call $6.1 million
8. P.S. I Love You $5 million
9. The Pirates Who Don’t Do Anything $4.4 million
10. Atonement $4.3 million