'Charlotte' (left), 'Carrie', 'Miranda', and 'Samantha'
Dave McNary and Pamela McClintock of Variety:
In an unusual reversal of box office politics, women will be driving weekend traffic as New Line and Warner Bros. open the bigscreen adaptation of former HBO series "Sex and the City" in 3,285 theaters today.
Particularly in the summer months, female-skewing films are used as a counterprogramming tool against the testosterone-driven tentpoles, not as event pics unto themselves.
In this case, the R-rated "Sex and the City" is the most buzzed-about movie of the weekend, while Universal will counterprogram with Rogue horror title "The Strangers," which opens in 2,467 runs. They are the only two new wide releases.
"Sex and the City" has already shown decent foreign traction with $7.3 million at 2,264 in its opening day in France, Germany and the U.K. The high-profile comedy's also launching this weekend in Austria, Italy, Singapore and South Africa.
Domestically and internationally, the weekend winner is likely to be Paramount holdover "Indiana Jones and the Kingdom of the Crystal Skull." Pic could do as much as $50 million in business at the domestic B.O. and easily jump the $200 million mark in only its second weekend in release. Domestic cume through Wednesday was $165.6 million, according to Rentrak.
"Sex and the City" provides the first fresh glimpse of characters Carrie, Miranda, Charlotte and Samantha since the skein went off the air four years ago. Women, particularly in big cities, are responding by buying tickets in advance, leading to numerous sold-out Friday and Saturday night shows.
Film, written and directed by Michael Patrick King and reuniting the original cast, has clear advantages, and disadvantages, in terms of box office allure.
On the plus side, the film has a built-in fanbase. On the other hand, the pic is rated R, making it tougher for teen girls to see it, and it may not play as well in smaller markets.
Warner Bros., which is distributing the movie for the pared-down New Line, said the film doesn't need men to work.
...Universal said it's in a good position with the R-rated "Strangers," directed by Bryan Bertino and starring Liv Tyler, considering how much "Sex and the City" is weighted toward females.
Joshua Rich of EW:
Expect to see a ''Devil Wears Prada''-size debut for ''Sex and the City,'' but ''Indy 4'' will stay No. 1
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While I realize there's a fan base for SATC-Personally-I don't see what all the fuss is about... I know enough about it though to stay away..
Next Week: It's Kung Fu Panda with its star packed cast VS. Adam Sandler in You Don't Mess With The Zohan.
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