The Lion King Roars!

[KeithS]

Here is a turn-up for the books! The Lion King was the top grossing movie in the United States this weekend - beating out a number of new heavily promoted releases!

Yes - the Lion King was re-released with a new 3D presentation (as well as re-released in 2D at cinemas without 3D). Even after 17 years, it was able to draw in almost $30 million in one weekend!

Here is the full story at Box Office Mojo:

http://boxofficemojo.com/news/?id=3274&p=.htm

[ajp]

Now that's impressive!

[KeithS]

Now that's impressive!

It sure is - and I think it has confused quite a few Hollywood pundits (including Disney themselves, who had only scheduled a two weekend run of the movie! They must now be thinking about extending its run "by popular demand...")

What makes this even more impressive is the fact that the Bluray is coming out in just two weeks time - yet still people flocked to the cinema to see this.

[churros]

and none of the IMAXs are showing it here

[ajp]

Sensational piece of market research then isn't it? The punters are voting with their feet and wallets that they want to continue to see traditional and classic animated movies. This one though is right up there as one of the best, so it is hardly surprising.

[churros]

Greater Union George St are having one screening a day on VMax, I assume that's the same as IMax. I hope to go next Friday when my holidays start.

[KeithS]

VMax, I assume that's the same as IMax.

Not quite - it is a large screen but nothing like an Imax. Vmax cinemas have nicer seats than the ordinary cinema seats, but the screen is a normal ratio widescreen (not like an IMAX which is nearly square and much bigger).

Until recently, VMax was called GMax - they renamed it when they introduced digital projection (I guess it sounds better!)

That said - movies are well worth seeing in a VMax cinema - so if they're showing Lion King there, then I say go see it!

[KeithS]

And The Lion King again is number 1 at the US box office this weekend - scoring a further $22.1 million estimated. That's now a total of $61.7 million for the last week and a half in the US alone - not bad for a 17 year old film.

It is now ranked #12 on the US Domestic all-time and #26 on the international all time list.

[KeithS]

Disney have today announced they'll extend the run in US cinemas beyond the original two-week period.

[BrizMarc]

I can just imagine the rush at Disney to get new idears fireing for a hand drawn animation now haha

[KeithS]

I can just imagine the rush at Disney to get new idears fireing for a hand drawn animation now haha

Either that - or rushing to convert as many of its modern classics to 3D like The Little Mermaid and Aladdin - remembering of course that Beauty and the Beast has already been the subject of a low-key 3D release last year.

[KeithS]

Well - we speculated above that Disney would be rubbing their hands with glee at The Lion King's box office numbers and would announce some more 3D re-releases of their classic titles. Today, the following press release came out from Disney with a list of their next four re-releases (keeping in mind that we've already had Beauty and the Beast 3D released here in Australia).

The full press release text:

(October 4, 2011) On the heels of the phenomenal success of The Lion King 3D – which will cross the $80 million mark at the domestic box office today – The Walt Disney Studios has announced limited theatrical engagements for four of its classic films for the first time in 3D. The following titles from Walt Disney and Pixar Animation Studios will be released in 2012 and 2013:

Beauty and the Beast – January 13, 2012
Disney•Pixar’s Finding Nemo – September 14, 2012
Disney•Pixar’s Monsters, Inc. – January 18, 2013 (Monsters University, a prequel to the original film, arrives in theaters in Disney Digital 3D on June 21, 2013)
The Little Mermaid – September 13, 2013

“Great stories and great characters are timeless, and at Disney we’re fortunate to have a treasure trove of both,” said Alan Bergman, President, The Walt Disney Studios. “We’re thrilled to give audiences of all ages the chance to experience these beloved tales in an exciting new way with 3D – and in the case of younger generations, for the first time on the big screen.”

Originally released in 1991, Beauty and the Beast is a classic “tale as old as time” that follows the adventures of Belle, a bright young woman imprisoned in the castle of a mysterious beast and his enchanted staff, who must learn the most important lesson of all – that true beauty comes from within. Beauty and the Beast was the first animated film ever nominated for an Academy Award® for Best Picture, earning an additional five Oscar® nominations and winning two. It has grossed $380.4 million worldwide.

First released in 2003, Disney•Pixar’s Finding Nemo takes audiences into a whole new world in this undersea adventure about family, courage and challenges. When Marlin, an overly cautious clownfish living in the Great Barrier Reef, helplessly watches his son get scooped up by a diver, he must put aside his fears of the ocean and leave the safety of his coral enclave to find Nemo. Buoyed by the companionship of Dory, a forgetful but relentlessly optimistic fish, Marlin finds himself the unlikely hero in a seemingly impossible land-and-sea rescue. Finding Nemo won an Academy Award® for Best Animated Feature and was nominated for three others. With a total of $867.6 million worldwide, it was the second highest-grossing film of 2003.

In 2001, Disney•Pixar released Monsters, Inc. Lovable Sulley and his wisecracking sidekick Mike Wazowski are the top scare team at Monsters, Inc., the scream-processing factory in Monstropolis. But when a little girl named Boo wanders into their world, it’s up to Sulley and Mike to keep her out of sight and get her back home. Monsters, Inc. shattered every DVD-era home entertainment sales record when 11 million DVD/VHS copies were sold during its first week of release. It won an Academy Award® for Best Song and has grossed $526.9 million worldwide.

Released in 1989, The Little Mermaid, stars Ariel, a fun-loving and mischievous mermaid, off on the adventure of a lifetime with her best friend, the adorable Flounder, and the reggae-singing Caribbean crab Sebastian. But it will take all of her courage and determination to make her dreams come true and save her father’s beloved kingdom from the sneaky sea witch Ursula. One of the most celebrated animated films of all time, The Little Mermaid was nominated for three Academy Awards®, winning two. It has grossed $228.9 million worldwide.