OSCAR Who?

Even though the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences had their back, that meant nothing to movie-goers, who were more interested in having a good laugh with their
popcorn instead.

Kal Penn and Darrell Hammond spoof Pirates 2 in Epic Movie

Brandon Gray of Box Office Mojo:

Opening well, 'Epic Movie' [in 1st place with $19.5 million] and Smokin' Aces [in 2nd with $14.2 million] overshadowed the Oscar nominees...

There's more Mojo. to be had...

Ian Mohr of Variety writes today:

"Epic Movie," Fox's slapsticky spoof of popular pics, handily topped the box office over the weekend. But there was also an epic battle further down the charts as high-end features tried to spin their Academy Awards nominations into added biz.

Some Oscar-nominated pics saw spikes in B.O., but others made more marginal plays despite their pedigrees.

Fox has had a run with comedy in recent months, with standouts including "Night at the Museum" and "Borat." Broad parody "Epic," made with Regency Enterprises, bowed at No. 1 with $19.5 million and was the frame's widest new release, in more than 2,800 locations.

Its take bested that of the studio's similarly silly "Date Movie," which rolled out around the same time last year to just more than $19 million.

Trailing at No. 2 was Universal's shoot-'em-up "Smokin' Aces." Helmer Joe Carnahan's actioner, released in 2,218 locations, lit up $14.26 million in its bow. Project was an acquisition -- backed by the Relativity and StudioCanal labels -- and its per-theater average of $6,430 almost caught that of "Epic," though its cume fell short.

In other wide studio rollouts, Sony's Jennifer Garner starrer "Catch and Release" bowed in the No. 4 slot, taking in $8 million off 1,622.

Per-location average was healthy, at $4,932, and aud was 75% female. But "Release" wasn't able to catch "Museum," which took third place with $9.45 million, lifting cume to $216.7 million.

MGM and Lakeshore's werewolf pic "Blood and Chocolate" didn't have much bite, taking in just $2.1 million from 1,200 theaters and failing to make the top 10...

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In his weekend wrap-up for Entertainment Weekly Joshua Rich says:

A low budget spoof tops the box office; meanwhile, Oscar contenders bring in disappointing numbers