Time To Wonder

This weekend at the box office Tim Burton's much anticipated version of Alice in Wonderland (reviews) is here staring Mia Wasikowska and Johnny Depp; Director Antoine Fuqua is back on the police beat with Ethan Hawke in Brooklyn's Finest (reviews)





Andrew Stewart of Variety:

Disney is set for a very important date this weekend at the domestic box office with much-anticipated 3D film "Alice in Wonderland" launching at 3,728 locations.

Pic's total domestic 3D count stands at 2,063 locations plus 180 Imax 3D engagements, making it the largest 3D bow ever.

Also opening is Overture's second wide release in two weeks, cop actioner "Brooklyn's Finest," starring Don Cheadle, Ethan Hawke and Richard Gere, at 1,936....

The Mouse House said tracking for "Alice," starring Johnny Depp as the Mad Hatter, is strong across all quadrants and should pique the curiosity of both families and young adults given the film's 3D component. Studio said the 3D aspect is an integral part of the film and expects 3D revenue to boost "Alice's" overall B.O. performance.

Previous record-holder for an opening at the most 3D engagements was "Avatar" at 2,023 3D locations, accounting for 59% of the film's total domestic count of 3,452.

Exhibs and 3D suppliers are grappling with not enough 3D screens for the bonanza of upcoming 3D releases. "Alice" begins the barrage, followed by Paramount's launch of "How to Train Your Dragon" on March 26 and Warner Bros.' "Clash of the Titans," bowing on April 2.

The frame's other wide release, "Brooklyn's Finest," hopes to gain traction from filmgoers looking for something harder-edged this weekend. The R-rated pic is directed by Antoine Fuqua, and revolves around three corrupt NYPD police officers who wind up at the same deadly event. Pic's exec producer John Langley created the reality series "Cops." Fuqua's "Training Day," also co-starring Hawke, opened to $22.6 million at 2,712 locations in 2001.

Warner's Kevin Smith buddy-comedy "Cop Out" debuted last weekend behind Paramount's holdover "Shutter Island." "Cop Out," starring Bruce Willis and Tracy Morgan, debuted with $18.2 million for a cume of $22.1 million, while "Shutter" earned $22.7 million in its soph sesh with a gross of $80.9 million as of March 3.

Overture's "The Crazies" enters its soph sesh after last weekend's launch of $16.1 million. Horror-thriller remake, about small-town residents who go insane after being contaminated by a toxic water supply, has cumed $19.5 million...

Nicole Sperling of EW:

There's no doubt Tim Burton's 3-D movie will dominate; Bets on a record-setting March opening...