Chapter 382: Summer

After the opening of 27 Dresses, its North American box office reached $25 million in the first weekend, which was quite good for a romantic comedy with a budget of less than $30 million.

In Capet Pictures' office on Greenwich Street, Manhattan, Charles was sitting in his chair, paying attention to the summer releases of various companies.

Capet Pictures' Thor had a North American box office of over $100 million and a global box office of over $200 million. Although it couldn't compete with Iron Man, its reception was quite good, and it was sufficient to warrant a sequel.

Meanwhile, Warner Bros.'s blockbuster Speed Racer grossed $43 million in North America and $93 million worldwide, a total flop.

Released in mid-May, Disney's blockbuster The Chronicles of Narnia: Prince Caspian now had a North American box office of over $100 million but found it difficult to break $150 million.

The most impressive was Paramount's release of Indiana Jones and the Kingdom of the Crystal Skull. Directed by Steven Spielberg, this reboot sequel was released in late May with an opening performance of $100 million in North America. In less than a month, it grossed over $200 million in North America and more than $400 million worldwide!

On the last day of May, Warner Bros.'s movie version of Sex and the City opened with a North American box office of $57 million. Half a month after its release, its North American box office surpassed $100 million, and the overseas market also exceeded $200 million. Warner Bros. had made a significant comeback.

Last week, DreamWorks Animation's Kung Fu Panda had an opening North American box office of $60 million. In ten days, its North American box office reached over $100 million, with overseas earnings also exceeding $200 million!

Released concurrently with 27 Dresses, 20th Century Fox's disaster film The Happening had a North American opening weekend box office of $30 million.

Indian-American director M. Night Shyamalan, who rose to fame with supernatural horrors like The Sixth Sense, Signs, and The Village, was among Hollywood's favorite directors.

Unfortunately, his 2006 film Lady in the Water, which cost $70 million to make, was a box office disaster. This year's sci-fi disaster film The Happening had a budget of less than $50 million!

The North American box office market in May was extremely hot, with successful low-budget comedy films like What Happens in Vegas from 20th Century Fox, which earned $80 million in North America and $150 million globally with a budget of just $35 million.

The box office appeal of the sexy actress Cameron Diaz could still withstand the test!

"Indeed, during an economic crisis, the movie market tends to thrive," Charles sighed. There was nothing they could do about it. Watching movies was a low-cost consumption for developed countries.

"Boss, but we had a hundred-day screenwriters' strike earlier this year. It will definitely impact the films in the fourth quarter and the first half of next year," Phyllis Jones reminded him from the side.

"This Friday, Warner Bros. is releasing a remake of an early TV show, Get Smart, starring Anne Hathaway and Steve Carell.

Next Friday, two films are coming out: the action blockbuster Wanted, starring Angelina Jolie, and Pixar's 3D animated feature WALL-E.

This summer is going to be awesome!"

Charles nodded and then looked at the films to be released in July. Sony Columbia's Hancock would be released on July 2nd, and Hellboy II: The Golden Army on July 11th.

Warner Bros.'s The Dark Knight and Capet Pictures' Mamma Mia! were both set for release on July 18th.

On July 25th, 20th Century Fox's The X-Files: I Want to Believe would hit theaters!

On August 1st, Universal would release The Mummy: Tomb of the Dragon Emperor.

...

Soon after, the new project The Proposal was confirmed to star Ryan Reynolds and Sandra Bullock.

Currently, Ryan Reynolds' wife was the Canadian singer Alanis Morissette, not Scarlett Johansson as in the parallel world!

"Todd Phillips' new project looks pretty good," Charles handed a script from the table to Phyllis Jones.

"The Hangover!" Phyllis Jones read it.

The story was about three groomsmen and the groom, about to have a wedding, who had a wild bachelor party. The next day, they awoke to find that the groom was missing. So, they had to recall what happened the night before to find the groom and ensure the wedding went smoothly.

Todd Phillips had directed comedy films like Road Trip and Starsky & Hutch and had co-written the hit 2006 comedy Borat.

"This plot: a wild bachelor party on the eve of the wedding, waking up hungover with no memories and the groom missing. They have to solve the mystery to save their lives! " Phyllis Jones was familiar with such plots. Capet Pictures had produced many raunchy comedies, from Wedding Crashers to 27 Dresses, all about marriage and love.

"Original scripts are rare now," Charles was now focusing on comic book adaptations as the company's flagship items!

"This TV show idea is great, too. Modern Family, a mockumentary-style comedy about family life, which we can recommend to major networks," Charles was invested in TV production as well. The profits from hit TV shows were enormous, and this year, Capet Pictures had only produced one new show, Breaking Bad.

Next year, they would have two new shows, The Walking Dead and Modern Family.

Charles couldn't forget the rights to the novel A Song of Ice and Fire, but he couldn't convince George R.R. Martin, due to his high demands for the adaptation.

First, the script had to satisfy him, and then the investment in the series!

No wonder HBO took five or six years to launch the Game of Thrones series in the past. The author George R.R. Martin was indeed difficult.

"How are the negotiations with DreamWorks and Paramount going?" Charles asked. After all, it was a film company managed by Steven Spielberg.

"Negotiations are going well because the distribution contract between DreamWorks Animation and Paramount lasts until 2012. DreamWorks leaving Paramount won't affect them much," Phyllis Jones explained.

"Steven Spielberg seems to be discussing a distribution deal with Disney, as the terms offered by Universal or 20th Century Fox aren't as good as Disney's!" Phyllis Jones knew this information.

Charles took a sip of coffee and remarked, "He knows Jeffrey Katzenberg and Disney are like oil and water, yet he still turns to Disney?"

"Indeed, business is business!"

DreamWorks teaming up with Disney suggested a complete split from DreamWorks Animation.

*****

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