News for
Mr. Magorium's Wonder Emporium (2007)

photos

board

trailer

details

5 articles from 2007

27 November 2007 | From Studio Briefing | See recent Studio Briefing news

A traditional Disney movie that some critics said seemed to have been guided by the spirit of Walt himself became a big hit at the domestic box office over the Thanksgiving holiday, according to final figures released Monday. Enchanted earned $34.4 million over the weekend and $49 million over the five-day holiday period, box office trackers Media By Numbers said. In second place was Sony/Screen Gems's This Christmas, which raked in $17.96 million over the weekend and $26.34 million over the holiday. In fact the movie earned more on a per-theater basis than Enchanted, averaging $9,665 per theater versus $9,233 for the Disney film. Also scoring strongly was the critically praised No Country for Old Men, playing in only 830 theaters. It earned $7.78 million and averaged $9,043 per theater. Last weekend's top film, Beowulf dropped 40 percent to third place with $16.53 million ($23.6 million for the holiday), but saw only a 15-percent drop-off in business at 3-D IMAX houses. The top ten films over the weekend, according to final figures compiled by Media by Numbers (figures in parentheses represent total gross to date): 1 Enchanted, Disney, $34,440,317, 1 Wk. ($49,060,281 -- From Wednesday); 2. This Christmas, Sony, $17,958,183, 1 Wk. ($26,341,492 -- From Wednesday); 3. Beowulf, Paramount, $16,538,666, 2 Wks. ($56,633,821); 4. Hitman, 20th Century Fox, $13,180,769, 1 Wk. ($21,094,148 -- From Wednesday); 5. Bee Movie, Paramount, $11,813,502, 4 Wks. ($111,860,810); 6. Fred Claus, Warner Bros., $10,575,400, 3 Wks. ($52,869,835); 7. August Rush, Warner Bros., $9,421,369, 1 Wk. ($13,243,069 -- From Wednesday); 8. American Gangster, Universal, $9,013,925, 4 Wks. ($115,550,290); 9. The Mist, MGM, $8,931,973, 1 Wk. ($12,861,800 -- From Wednesday); 10. Mr. Magorium's Wonder Emporium, 20th Century Fox, $7,936,035, 2 Wks. ($22,179,439).

Permalink | Report a problem

20 November 2007 | From Studio Briefing | See recent Studio Briefing news

It might have been a dismal weekend at the box office had it not been for 3-D. Although 3-D theaters accounted for just 20 percent of the nearly 3200 theaters that screened the No. 1 film, Beowulf, they accounted for more than 40 percent of the film's gross of $27.5 million. "It just shows the potential of what 3D can be in the future," Paramount distribution chief Don Harris told The Hollywood Reporter. Other films made only so-so showings. The No. 2 film was the Jerry Seinfeld animated cartoon Bee Movie, which earned $14 million in its third week. Another family film, Mr. Magorium's Wonder Emporium, opened with a less-than-wondrous $9.6 million. The only other newcomer, Love in the Time of Cholera was DOA with just $1.9 million. There were a couple of bright spots on the list, however. The critically praised No Country for Old Men from the Coen Bros. earned $3.1 million despite widening its release to only 148 theaters. It placed seventh on the box-office list. And Universal's American Gangster became the first film of the fall to cross the $100-million mark in gross ticket sales. The top ten films over the weekend, according to final figures compiled by Media by Numbers (figures in parentheses represent total gross to date): 1. Beowulf, Paramount, $27,515,871, (New); 2. Bee Movie, Paramount, $14,008,444, 3 Wks. ($93,570,695); 3. American Gangster, Universal, $12,875,250, 3 Wks. ($100,650,615); 4. Fred Claus, Warner Bros., $11,914,323, 2 Wks. ($35,712,980); 5. Mr. Magorium's Wonder Emporium, 20th Century Fox, $9,630,085, (New); 6. Dan in Real Life, Disney, $4,343,185, 4 Wks. ($36,931,806); 7. No Country for Old Men, Miramax, $3,075,722, (New); 8. Lions for Lambs, MGM, $2,896,594, 2 Wks. ($11,584,339); 9. Saw IV, Lions Gate, $2,248,805, 4 Wks. ($61,766,718); 10. Love in the Time of Cholera, New Line, $1,924,860, (New).

Permalink | Report a problem

19 November 2007 | From Studio Briefing | See recent Studio Briefing news

The majority of moviegoers who saw Beowulf over the weekend sought out 3-D theaters to see it in, Paramount indicated Sunday. Although the film played in just 740 theaters equipped with digital 3-D projectors, the film earned twice as much in those theaters than in all the rest combined. In all, the film grossed $28.1 million -- a figure that came in at the low end of analysts' expectations. Nevertheless, Paramount marketing and distribution chief Rob Moore told today's (Monday) Los Angeles Times: "This will do great work in terms of convincing exhibitors that they should be investing in 3-D technology." In second place was Jerry Seinfeld's animated Bee Movie, with $14.3 million. Another family flick, Mr. Magorium's Wonder Emporium, opened in fifth place with $10 million. But the film that impressed the most was Oscar-touted No Country for Old Men, which came in in seventh place with $3.1 million despite the fact that it had expanded into only 148 theaters. According to estimates, the Coen Bros. film averaged $20,932 per theater; by contrast, the No. 1 film, Beowulf, opened with $8,912 per theater. The top ten shows of the week according to Nielsen Research: 1. Beowulf, $28.1 million; 2. Bee Movie, $14.3 million; 3. American Gangster, $13.2 million; 4. Fred Claus, $12 million; 5. Mr. Magorium's Wonder Emporium, $10 million; 6. Dan In Real Life, $4.5 million; 7. No Country for Old Men, $3 million; 8. Lions for Lambs, $3 million; 9. Saw IV, $2.3 million; 10. Love in the Time of Cholera, $1.9 million.

Permalink | Report a problem

16 November 2007 | From Studio Briefing | See recent Studio Briefing news

Critics find much to be delighted about in Mr. Magorium's Wonder Emporium, mostly in the performance of Dustin Hoffman as the 243-year-old Mr. Magorium -- and the emporium, a magical toy store, itself. But there is an undercurrent of reservations running throughout their reviews. Summing up, Roger Ebert in the Chicago Sun-Times writes, "This isn't quite the over-the-top fantasy you'd like it to be, but it's a charming enough little movie, and probably the younger you are, the more charming." Lou Lumenick's reaction in the New York Post is identical: "There isn't anything terribly exciting or original on offer ... but there's nothing offensive either, and even toddlers shouldn't have a hard time following the very simple story, rendered utterly without hip or ironic asides for parents." Kevin Crust's take in the Los Angeles Times is also similar: "While endearingly heartfelt and G-rated to boot, its storytelling suffers from a lack of locomotive force and characters that feel disappointingly two-dimensional."

Permalink | Report a problem

3 September 2007 | From Studio Briefing | See recent Studio Briefing news

A "scratch and sniff" ad for the upcoming movie Mr. Magorium's Wonder Emporium that will appear in next Sunday's Los Angeles Times will feature the aroma of frosted cake embedded into ink used in the ad, the New York Times reported today (Monday). Fox Walden, which produced the movie, says it spent $110,000 for the ad, about double what an ordinary full-page ad in the Times would cost. "This was interesting because it ties in so perfectly with what the movie is about, a toy store where toys come alive," Fox Walden marketing chief Jeffrey Godsick told the Times. "It will increase the time people spend with the ad and the pass-around factor."

Permalink | Report a problem

5 articles from 2007