Could Happy Feet, an animated fable about singing penguins, kick off the two-week champ Borat from the American box office pedestal? Or will the honour go to the newest James Bond caper Casino Royale that many critics believe is the strongest in the series?
The Bond movie has already started its mighty march earning on Thursday across the United Kingdom more than any other film in the spy franchise, distributor Columbia Pictures/Sony announced. The film that marks the debut of Daniel Craig as the indomitable British secret agent grabbed $3.2 million on its opening day in the UK. And it surely will open with big numbers worldwide.
But in North America, it could face stiff competition from Happy Feet. For one thing, though the Bond movies are popular in America, they are not huge as they are across the world. A James Bond movie is considered a hit in North America if it grosses $150 million while it is sure to double that number worldwide. The last James Bond adventure, Die Another Day, took about $161 million in North America four years ago. It made about $350 million in international markets. But then, it had Pierce Brosnan who was an automatic draw, and the sexy Halle Berry.
Even as the two films are aiming at different demographics, the competition for the top position will be tough. Casino will be embraced by 25-plus, mostly males, while Feet would attract teenagers and women. The influential trade publication Variety notes that Casino should post big numbers on Friday, while Feet should benefit from strong matinee runs on Saturday, putting the movie in contention heading into Sunday.
The fact that 98-minute long Feet is considerably shorter than 144-minute long Casino means theatres will be able to hold an extra show during the weekend helping the film to have a bigger opening, argues Gitesh Pandya of Boxofficeguru.com. He expects Feet to sing to the tune of $40 million over the weekend followed by a $38 million jackpot for Casino.
Borat, the irreverent and frenzied comedy, which has received some of the best reviews of the season, is expected to take its total to $95 million by its third weekend. The film was made for $18 million.
Meanwhile, Happy Feet, from Australian director George Miller whose Babe is one of the most endearing family films ever made, has been getting a lot of positive buzz. Set in a colony of singing Emperor Penguins in Antarctica, Happy Feet has Elijah Wood voicing the clumsy Mumble, the only penguin in the colony that can't sing. Instead, Mumble can dance, which attracts his childhood friend Gloria (Brittany Murphy), who happens to be a smash singer. But Mumble's parents -- Nicole Kidman and Hugh Jackson -- have trouble with him.
When Noah the Elder (Hugo Weaving), the stern leader, casts Mumble out of the community because of his inability to sing, Mumble meets the un-Emperor-like penguins -- the Adelie Amigos. The Adelies instantly embrace Mumble, as they are impressed by his dancing moves.
Now, Mumble seeks the counsel of Lovelace the Guru (Robin Williams), who will answer any of life's questions for the price of a pebble. Together with Lovelace and the Amigos, Mumble sets out across landscapes and travels.
Trade publication Hollywood Reporter thinks that the wise and witty Happy Feet will appeal to the older moviegoers too. 'The many musical numbers are brilliantly choreographed and orchestrated through some of the best motion capture ever employed in a cartoon,' the review declared. 'And the film often astonishes you with the three-dimensionality of its frozen landscapes. With smart marketing, Warner Bros Pictures has a solid entertainment that should sweep across many demographics. Nor does it hurt that last year's March of the Penguins educated so many moviegoers to the extraordinary world of empire penguins. The documentary March of the Penguins stunned the industry by grossing nearly $78 million in North America.
While Sony is opening Casino Royale with about 3,100 prints in 27 markets outside North America, led by about 1,000 in the UK, 630 in Russia and 500 in India, Warner Bros will bow Happy Feet only in a few territories outside America, waiting to give it a big release next month.
And that means even if the penguins humble Bond in America, worldwide the super spy could lead the box-office.
