Scorsese thriller scares up $40.2 million

By ANDREW STEWART for VARIETY - February 20, 2010

Paramount rolled out its Martin Scorsese thriller "Shutter Island" this weekend with solid results, scaring up an estimated $40.2 million at 2,991 playdates -- the biggest opening for both Scorsese and star Leonardo DiCaprio.

As the only wide release, "Shutter Island" had no trouble overpowering the frame's holdover crop, led by Warner Bros.' "Valentine's Day," which fell to the No. 2 spot in its soph sesh, earning $17.2 million.

Meanwhile, 20th Century Fox's holdover giant "Avatar" maintained a strong grip on the box office, grossing an estimated $16.1 million in its 10th frame for a domestic cume of $687.8 million, while the studio's family-friendly offering "Percy Jackson and the Olympians: The Lightning Thief" followed with $15.3 million, down 51% in its soph sesh for a cume of $58.5 million.

Universal's "The Wolfman" lost a considerable amount of steam after a successful launch last weekend, dropping 69% with an estimated gross of $9.8 million. "Wolfman" opened to $35.6 million and has a cume of $50.3 million.

Scorsese thriller opens with $14 million

By KELLEY L. CARTER for VARIETY - February 20, 2010

Martin Scorsese and Leonardo DiCaprio's fourth collaboration, psychological thriller "Shutter Island," has brought in an estimated $14 million at 2,991 theaters on Friday, a major coup amid all the dustup surrounding the release's date shuffle.

Pic is on track to be the duo's highest grossing debut altogether, besting 2006's "The Departed," which collected an opening weekend total of $26.8 million.

Coming in second is Warner Bros. "Valentine's Day," which brought in an estimated $5.6 million at 3,665 screens, a 61% drop from last week.

Fox pics "Percy Jackson and the Olympians" and "Avatar" will likely flip-flop before the end of the weekend for the No. 3 spot.

"Percy" brought in an estimated $4 million in 3,396 theaters on Friday, while "Avatar" took in $3.9 with 2,581.

Coming in at No. 5 is Universal's "Wolfman," which brought in an estimated $2.9 million in 3,223 on Friday, down about 70%.

Relativity/Sony's "Dear John" dropped an estimated 43% from last Friday, bringing in about $2.350 million in 3,062 theaters.

Coming in as Friday's No. 7 film is Fox's "Tooth Fairy," which brought in an estimated $1.1 million in 2,523.

Rounding out the bottom three, are Fox Searchlight's "Crazy Heart," which took in an estimate of $765,000 (down only 12%) from 1,089 theaters, Liongate's "From Paris With Love," at an estimated $716,000 in 2,311 and Alcon/Warner Bros.' "Edge of Darkness" with $614,000.

Lionsgate 'Expecting' feature adaptation

Lionsgate 'Expecting' feature adaptation

Studio acquires rights to bestseller from Phoenix Pictures

By DAVE MCNARY for VARIETY - January 14, 2010

BERLIN -- The Berlin Film Festival continues to show its support for beleaguered helmer Roman Polanski.

Lionsgate is coming on board "What To Expect When You're Expecting," acquiring feature rights to Heidi Murkoff's bestseller from Phoenix Pictures and signing Heather Hach to adapt it as a romantic comedy.

Hach, who's credits include "Freaky Friday" and "Legally Blonde: The Musical," is nine months pregnant. She's currently writing the screenplay based on her novel "Freaky Monday" for CBS Films.

Phoenix's David Thwaites will produce alongside the company's Mike Medavoy and Arnie Messer. Phoenix's Doug McKay will co-produce and Heidi and Erik Murkoff will exec produce alongside Murkoff's literary rep Alan Nevins of Renaissance Management, who brokered the deal with Phoenix.