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"Fred Claus" on track to sleigh box office
2007-11-09
Hostesses pose for a photograph while dressed as Santa Claus at the after-party for the premiere of "Fred Claus" in Los Angeles November 3, 2007. The movie opens in the U.S. on November 9. |
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It's never too early to celebrate Christmas in Hollywood, which is why the new Vince Vaughn comedy "Fred Claus" will likely take the box office crown this weekend. The Warner Bros. release, starring Vaughn as the ne'er-do-well older brother of Santa (Paul Giamatti), seems safe to do more than $20 million, But it's worth noting that Vaughn has starred in a few films opening above $30 million, most recently the 2006 comedy "The Break Up," which started with $39 million. Meanwhile, reigning champ "American Gangster," which opened at No. 1 last weekend with $43 million, could have a shot at repeating if it loses less than 50 percent of its audience. As a family film, "Bee Movie" should enjoy a good hold, after opening last weekend to $38 million. Also opening is "Lions for Lambs," a modestly-budgeted Middle Eastern yarn in which director Robert Redford stars alongside Tom Cruise and Meryl Streep. MGM is hoping for an opening approaching $10 million and sustained market traction into awards season. Alas, moviegoers have shown little appetite for war-related movies, with such pictures as "The Kingdom," "Rendition" and "In the Valley of Elah" falling by the wayside. Reuters/Hollywood Reporter
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