Vince Vaughn and Reese Witherspoon spend Four Christmases (reviews) together; Hugh Jackman and Nicole Kidman visit the land down under of yesteryear in Baz Luhrmann's Australia (reviews); Jason Statham takes to the road as Frank Martin again in Transporter 3 (reviews)...
Pamela McClintock of Variety:
Openers will face tough competition from holdover Twilight.
...Opening nationwide are 20th Century Fox's Nicole Kidman-Hugh Jackman epic "Australia," New Line/Warner Bros.' Reese Witherspoon-Vince Vaughn holiday comedy "Four Christmases" and Lionsgate's Jason Statham actioner "Transporter 3."
Trio of new entries could face some tough competition from Summit Entertainment holdover "Twilight," which debuted to a boffo $69.6 million over the weekend on the strength of girls and women. Tween and teenage girls are generally repeat viewers, giving "Twilight" ongoing strength.
Disney 3-D family toon "Bolt," which debuted over the weekend to $26.2 million, and Sony/MGM's "Quantum of Solace" also should see good Thanksgiving biz. "Quantum's" gross through Sunday -- its 10th day in release -- was $108.8 million.
Despite the economic crisis, the box office has been up substantially the past two weeks. Hollywood hopes that trend continues through the holidays. None of the Thanksgiving bows are expected to score mega-openings, as "Twilight" and "Quantum" did, but rather do solid business.
"Australia," directed by Baz Luhrmann, is appealing primarily to older women, according to tracking. Sweeping epic could put Fox back in the awards game.
Both "Australia" and Paramount's "The Curious Case of Benjamin Button," which opens Christmas Day, are big studio pics with Oscar aspirations. In recent years, it's generally specialty pics that hog the kudos limelight."Australia" isn't expected to score a big opening. For the five days, box office observers expect "Australia" to gross in the mid to high teens.
Fox insiders say Luhrmann's films have strong legs. "Romeo and Juliet" opened to $11.1 million on its way to grossing $46.4 million. "Moulin Rouge," which began as a limited release, grossed $57.4 million at the domestic box office.
"Australia" cost $130 million to produce, but the studio says its investment is $78 million after tax rebates offered by Oz, where the pic lensed.
In terms of the Thanksgiving releases, "Four Christmases" is the broadest offering and should lead the pack. Directed by Seth Gordon, film was made at New Line before the company became a label within the Warner fold.
"Four Christmases" is appealing to both younger and older women, according to tracking.
Last November, Vaughn holiday starrer "Fred Claus" debuted to $18.5 million when it debuted over the Nov. 5-7 weekend.
"Four Christmases" marks Witherspoon's return to romantic comedy for the first time since "Just Like Heaven," which opened to $16.4 million in September 2005.
"Transporter 3" has an advantage as the only new title appealing directly to men, and it is tracking strongly among that demo.
Franchise has been a lucrative one for Lionsgate. "Transporter" debuted to $9.1 million on its way to grossing $25.3 million; "Transporter 2" opened to $16.5 million on its way to $43 million domestically...
Joshua Rich of EW:
Three new wide releases serve up a challenge to reigning champ
Based strictly on reviews for the new trio--Twilight should repeat as the topper for Turkey Day weekend.
The biopic Milk begins a limited run opening wider next week--along with Punisher: War Zone and Frost/Nixon
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