beat ben @ the box office (4 posts)

Paramount Pictures

Indy's back, and the timing couldn't be better. Look for Indiana Jones and the Kingdom of the Crystal Skull to set the all-time, five-day box-office record.

Indy is iconic. Older audiences who never felt much for Pirates of the Caribbean's Captain Jack Sparrow, or even Spider-Man's Peter Parker, connect with Indy. And younger audiences have rediscovered the franchise on HD-DVDs and flat-screen TVs, just as my generation did on dusty videotapes and, god forbid, LaserDiscs.

Also, there's the Shia Factor. Dude could read the phone book, and young America would line up and buy a ticket.

Coming off two slower than expected weekends for family films (Speed Racer stunk, and nobody cared much about Chronicles of Narnia), the stage has been set for a massive Indy opening.

Think I'm too gassed on one of film's last living franchises? Think Shia won't get the kids to show up? You're bugging! Put your numbers up....

Glen Wilson/Universal Pictures

Yes, yes. You've all heard it by now. Superproducer Judd Apatow is the current king of comedy. Last year he had big hits with Knocked Up and Superbad, and he has a long list of films on the horizon, as writer or producer (You Don't Mess with the Zohan, Pineapple Express, Step Brothers—and that's just this summer).

Don't let the funny face fool you. Judd needs a hit. His last two projects, Walk Hard: The Dewey Cox Story and Drillbit Taylor, were flops. (I do love that Dewey Cox, though. Give it a try on DVD).

Luckily, he has Forgetting Sarah Marshall opening this weekend. Written by its star and longtime Apatow regular Jason Segel, it's a heartfelt romantic comedy that will appeal to both male and female audiences.

Look for Sarah Marshall to open at $26.7 million. That's great for a film featuring a bunch of actors best known for their TV work.

What do you think? Is Judd back on top? Sound off in the comments.

Berkela Films

Usually in Beat Ben, the game that's driving the Internet nuts, we break down the biggest movie of the weekend, which is more often than not, not the best movie. Well this week, I want to switch it up.

Bra Boys is the biggest non-IMAX documentary in the history of Australia. Produced by Daily 10's own Sal Masekela and his partner in Berkela Films, Jason Bergh, it's the story of a surfing gang from Down Under. It's incredibly powerful and extremely well done. It opens here in the states this weekend and is narrated by Oscar winner Russell Crowe.

Keep Reading

Films directed by George Clooney have never been huge hits at the box office (Good Night, and Good Luck), but they are always hits with critics. Now Clooney may have the best of both worlds when Leatherheads hits theaters this weekend. The Old Hollywood-style football comedy is opening on more than 2,500 screens, with not only Clooney and fellow Oscar-winner Renée Zellweger leading, but also The Office star and friend of the Lyons Den Jon Krasinski.

Look for Clooney and crew to take in $15 million this weekend. It won't be No. 1 (family adventure Nim's Island will most likely take the top spot), but it will be one the highest opening weekends for a Clooney movie not featuring Brad Pitt or Batman.

What do you think? Sound off in the comments.