Tag: up (Page 2 of 3)

Pixar’s UP has reached a milestone that not many films reach; it has surpassed the $250 million mark in domestic ticket sales. This past weekend’s $13,061,737 helped bring UP’s total to $250,234,554. Add to that $35,364,786 from foreign ticket sales, and UP’s current worldwide total is a whopping $285,599,340. I should note, however, that UP has not been released in all foreign territories. In fact, between now and December, it will slowly release in various countries, ending with Japan in mid-December.

Also, UP is now 2009’s highest grossing domestic film, surpassing Star Trek’s current $246 million total. Unfortunately, UP’s position in the #1 spot will be taken away eventually by Transformers 2, which managed to pull in $200 million in only five days!

Early on in development, Carl (the old man from Up) was shown carrying a giant egg throughout the film. This subplot was eventually removed from the final film, however. But why was Carl, at one point, carrying this mysterious egg? Pixar’s Pete Docter, director of Up, has revealed the details to MTV Movies Blog.

“That was early on. We had the bird give birth to this egg, and Carl then felt like he needed to take this baby — it needed tending to, and needed to get home, get away from these awful dogs and things. [The egg] had a larger picture involved with Muntz. Muntz wanted the egg because it was this youth potion that made you grow young.[Muntz] was after the bird and all that; it was really interesting, but it kind of got more bizarre… it was an element that we dropped out from the story.”

Update: The Hangover managed to sneak by Up to take the number one spot. Final numbers reported this morning put The Hangover’s total at $45 million, while Up brought in $44.3 million.

Previously reported: Pixar’s “Up” managed to pull in $44.2 million this weekend, enough to remain in the number one spot for the second weekend in a row. Up was the first summer movie of 2009 to accomplish that feat. In only ten days, Up has raked in $137.3 million, assuring itself an eventual $225+ million domestic haul.

Full Top 10 list after the break.

Continue reading

As expected, Pixar’s latest Up debuted at No. 1 over the weekend, pulling in a whopping $68.2 million; continuing Pixar’s perfect streak of hits. This was #10 — for anyone that’s keeping count. This makes Up the third-best opening for Pixar, behind the $70 million openings of Finding Nemo and The Incredibles.

Congrats to everyone at Pixar. As always, the victory is well deserved.

In theaters: May 29, 2009

Check out the rest over at /Film.

Check out these awesome storyboards for Pixar’s upcoming film, UP. It will be released May 29, 2009.

Via Character Design (a site worth bookmarking!)

As usual, the “experts” are predicting that Pixar’s upcoming masterpiece Up will not be a big merchandising hit due to the film’s protagonists: a chubby boy scout and a 78-year-old cranky man. According to Richard Greenfield of Pali Research, “We doubt younger boys will be that excited by the main character,” while also complaining about the lack of a female lead.

Thankfully, Robert A. Iger, Disney’s chief executive, came to the aid of his company’s product. “We seek to make great films first. If a great film gives birth to a franchise, we are the first company to leverage such success. A check-the-boxes approach to creativity is more likely to result in blandness and failure.”

This feeling is mutual among Pixar’s Pete Docter, director of Up and Monsters Inc., who has been quoted as saying: “We make these films for ourselves,” he said. “We’re kind of selfish that way.”

The quality of the film is so impressive that it will have the incredible honor of opening the the Cannes Film Festival this year.

Unfortunately all the early praise and Pixar’s prestige aren’t enough to convince retailers and toy manufacturers to support Up. According to reports, Target and Wal-Mart will stock little Up merchandise because there was not much interest from manufacturers; mainly Thinkway Toys, Pixar supporter since Toy Story, which will not produce any Up products.

Fortunately for all those money hungry execs who want tie-in merchandise, Pixar will deliver Toy Story 3 in 2010 and Cars 2 in 2011 — both of which will provide thousands of product opportunities ranging from childrens’ toys to shampoo. So relax, Wall Street.

Via NY Times