Christmas Weekend Box Office: 'War Horse' Strong, 'Mission: Impossible - Ghost Protocol' Stronger

It turns out things at the domestic box office weren't as disappointing as they initially seemed on Christmas morning. Weekend winner 'Mission: Impossible - Ghost Protocol' grabbed $46.2 million over the four-day holiday, an estimate that is nearly $20 million larger than the $26.5 million that was reported for the three-day frame. The fourth installment of the Tom Cruise franchise might wind up being the most lucrative yet -- proof that perhaps audiences have forgotten/forgiven Cruise for all that couch-jumping hysteria that clouded the box office of 'Mission: Impossible III.' Elsewhere, 'War Horse' opened on Christmas Day to strong receipts. The Steven Spielberg-directed Oscar contender pulled in an estimated $15 million between Christmas and Dec. 26 thanks to an older crowd, 31 percent of whom were over 50. Spielberg's 'The Adventures of Tintin' didn't fare as well; the motion-capture adventure earned $16.1 million over the four-day weekend, with ticket sales only reaching $24.1 million since release on Dec. 21 -- or just $4 million more than weekend two of 'Alvin and the Chipmunks: Chipwrecked' grabbed over Christmas. As for the other new releases: 'The Girl With the Dragon Tattoo' earned just over $19 million during the four-day holiday, while 'We Bought a Zoo' grabbed just over $15 million. Both are being looked at as disappointments, but with a long holiday week and no new releases next weekend -- plus excellent word-of-mouth -- both films could have long legs. That won't be the case of the unscreened-for-critics 'Darkest Hour'; the alien invasion film was D.O.A on Christmas Day, earning just $5.5 million. EARLER: 'Mission: Impossible' Takes Christmas Crown [via LAT/Company Town] [Photo: DreamWorks] Follow Moviefone on Twitter Like Moviefone on Facebook

New Salmon Fishing Trailer Arrives

Ewan McGregor heads up the YemenPaul Torday's novel was published back in 2006, but it's been caught and reeled in by Lasse Hallstrom and Ewan McGregor, and now a new Salmon Fishing In The Yemen trailer has just gone live at Yahoo.If you've not read the book, you'll need to know that this is the story of a Yemeni sheik (Amr Waked) who has the visionary plan to introduce - you guessed it - salmon fishing in the Yemen. Ewan McGregor is Fred Jones, a lowly fisheries scientist in the British government, who thinks the scheme is ludicrous, but has it forced upon him by the Prime Minister's super-keen press secretary Bridget Maxwell (Kristin Scott-Thomas).On one level it's a satire of spin-centric, media-savvy politics, and on another it's a thoughtful measuring of different belief systems. The emphasis of this trailer, however, seems very much to be on the burgeoning lurrve between McGregor's dull bureaucrat and Emily Blunt's Harriet Chetwode-Talbot, who's acting as the sheikh's consultant on the project. The novel's written in epistolary form - as a collection of emails and diary entries and documents - but there's no sign of any attempt to replicate that here. Which is probably just as well, since it would probably involve voice-over, and voice-over is almost always rubbish.Salmon Fishing In The Yemen is produced by Paul Webster (The Motorcycle Diaries, Atonement) with a screenplay by Simon Beaufoy (Slumdog Millionaire). It was filmed in Scotland and Morocco, and it's out in the UK on March 9.

Mexico's Canana pacts with Netflix

MEXICO CITY -- Mexican indie Canana has inked its first deal with Netflix to use cases of its effective original series "Soy tu fan" (I'm Your Fan), presently on its second season on pubcaster Once TV Mexico. The romantic comedy, starring Ana Claudia Talancon ("The Crime of Father Amaro"), is Canana's initial work with the smallscreen, scoring an average 5 point rating with 7.5 points participate the second season that started in October. Episodes within the first season will probably be designed for both Netflix Latin America and Netflix inside the U.S. and Canada, the first time U.S. audiences may have this program. Canana has produced a standing becoming an innovator in distribution, becoming the first to provide VOD around the major cabler in Mexico, and delivering this year's "Revolucion" omnibus project in theaters, on DVD and free-to-air at the same time. Canana, founded by producer Pablo Crus with thesps Diego Luna and Gael Garcia Bernal, features its own religious-designed "Nino santo" TV project inside the pipeline, additionally to 2 other projects under systems. By running on Once TV, "Soy tu fan" directly competes in the TV duopoly of Televisa and tv Azteca, which remedies for 90% of Mexico's business. In the statement, Cruz recognized the Netflix deal, saying it absolutely was meeting the desires "in the consumer, not the programmer." It comes down lower each week after Netflix clients in Mexico and Latin America received ease of access service via Apple TV and iPad/apple apple iphone. Contact the number newsroom at news@variety.com

Kasdan's 'Companion' to open Santa Barbara fest

'Darling Companion'Lawrence Kasdan's "Darling Companion" will open the 27th Santa Barbara International Film Festival on Jan. 26 at the Arlington Theater. Sony Pictures Classics release stars Diane Keaton, Kevin Kline, Dianne Wiest, Richard Jenkins, Sam Shepard, Elizabeth Moss and Mark Duplass. "We are privileged to have the world premier of a Lawrence Kasdan film. Marking his return to directing after eight years, Darling Companion is a great choice to kick off the festival," said the fest's exec director Roger Durling. Fest, which runs through Feb. 5, will also feature a Lawrence Kasdan retrospective including "Body Heat" "The Big Chill" and "Grand Canyon" and a Q&A with the filmmaker. Contact Variety Staff at news@variety.com

Ryan Murphy Talks Golden Globes: 'American Horror Story' Nomination 'Feels Particularly Sweet'

Peter Iovino/The Weinstein Co. When the Hollywood Foreign Press introduced nominees for your 69th annual Golden Globes on Thursday, 12 ,. 15, The Artist introduced film groups with six nominations, including best film, comedy or musical.our editor recommends'The Artist' Tops Golden Globe Nominations Golden Globe Honours Nominations: The Whole ListGolden Globe Honours Nominations: The Nominees' ReactionsSAG Honours Nominations: The Whole List The black and white-colored, quiet film directed by Michel Hazanavicius and starring Jean Dujardin and Bérénice Bejo, has proven itself a effective honours race contender with three nominations for your SAG Honours introduced on Tuesday. The film only agreed to be beat in SAG Honours nods with the Help, which clicked up four. For that Golden Globes noms, the two films switched positions, while using Artist leading with six, then your Assistance as well as the Descendants with five. PHOTOS: Golden Globe Honours: The Nominees Director Michel Hazanavicius, who lives in Paris, is at a café when he learned The Artist acquired most likely probably the most Globes nominations connected having a film "Among my producers, who was simply watching the nominations being introduced on television, referred to as and mentioned that individuals had four nominations. Then he referred to as me back and mentioned it absolutely was really six. Everybody am excited, including me clearly,Inch Hazanavicius told THR. Berenice Bejo, Haanavicus' wife, showed up a nomination inside the best supporting actress category on her behalf role inside the Artist (she's presently in La). STORY: 'The Artist' Tops Golden Globe Nominations "She was with me at night immediately from the, known as the very first who needed me seriously," he recalls. "I appear just like a have a very large, stupid smile in my face. I selected to create this movie from desire, and never expected this type of response. Everyone loves the film, which i suppose there's something relating to this for people within the united states . States, as it is relating to your movie history." Hazanavicius mentioned it absolutely was thrilling to produce a quiet film. "It's a wonderful format. It's challenging just like a director, and very works diversely round the audience. It enables you utilize fantasy. And black and white-colored might be the actor's nearest friend, because it gives you some mystery," mentioned Hazanavicius. COMPLETE LIST: 2012 SAG Honours TV and Film Nominees Jean Dujardin, who clicked up a jerk for top actor in the drama for his role as quiet celebrity George Valentin, told THR that producing a basic film will be a "liberating, instinctive experience. Your body does the task.In . "I used to be proud and thrilled. It's this type of recognition being nominated alongside such great stars. I appear just like a spoiled child," Dujardin mentioned. He added the Artist, the Weinstein Co. is disseminating inside the U.S., can be a "love letter to Hollywood. It's a visual, emotional experience." Berenice Bejo released a disagreement regarding her best supporting actress, film jerk. "A Golden Globe nomination is unbelievable! I am so happy, and am very grateful for the Hollywood Foreign Press Association, also to audiences across America, for support in the Artist," she mentioned. PHOTO GALLERY: View Gallery Your building of 'The Artist' Golden Globes The Artist Golden Globes 2012

USA Network upfront breaks b'cast obstacles

USA will tout numerous new original programming, including drama Common Law, at its upfront event skedded for May 17. USAs Chris McCumber, left, and Rob Wachtel, second from right, join Virginia Williams, NBCs Bonnie Hammer and Sarah Shahi at its upfront this year. It expects to keep next years event throughout bcasters upfront week.USA Network expects to crash the broadcast nets' upfront party next spring. USA mentioned Monday it'll host an upfront presentation round the evening of May 17 at Alice Tully Hall in Lincoln subsequently subsequently Center to tout its hot prospects, including dramedy "Common Law" and numerous new projects in development. USA's move aims to bolster to Madison Avenue the NBCUniversal cabler's growing heft with original programming and underline USA's push for parity in advertising rates while using Large Four broadcast nets. To get right into a couple of days when NBC, ABC, CBS, Fox and CW hold their upfront fetes in marathon Monday-Thursday fashion, USA is carrying out a lead of Turner, which was the initial cabler to produce a large stand throughout broadcasters' upfront week in 2008. USA Network, which has ranked No. 1 among fundamental cablers in the last few years, has typically held its upfront event a few days just before the broadcast nets, which typically sked their occasions for your third week of May, just right before the conclusion in the TV season. USA's event this year happened May 2 at Lincoln subsequently subsequently Center. Next season, USA's event will cap typically the most popular week of year for media customers and tv journos. "This really is really the best factor for your growth and development of the funnel," USA co-leader Chris McCumber told Variety. "After speaking with ad customers and coordinators, we made a decision to select a larger presentation." Added co-leader Rob Wachtel: "It feels as if the optimum time for people. We'll be capable of achieve increasing numbers of people than before, and that we are searching toward being the grand finale." While many of the ad community relies in Gotham, USA may also be depending on receiving additional PR from out-of-town journalists, who certainly have been in Manhattan that week. That will give USA additional exposure around the customer and business side, reaching more potential viewer eyeballs than previously. As the web may possibly not have the identity of fellow NBCUniversal internet NBC among clients, USA is a lot more from the profit center for your Peacock which is top shows might be competitive with broadcast nets. Understanding that, Wachtel and McCumber plan to push for CPM gains throughout next year's upfront advertising selling craze. The strong scatter market in recent several days remains ideal for USA Network, as well as the internet hopes to help keep its momentum getting a larger-profile upfront event. "This could clearly not only boost the picture of who we are and that which you do, but additionally helps the overall costs,Inch mentioned McCumber. Furthermore to providing the stats on its slate of current hits -- "Suits," "Necessary Roughness," "Royal Pains" and "White-colored Collar," incorporated within this -- USA will tubthumping its approaching skeins to potential entrepreneurs. Cabler is towards the top of dramedy series "Common Law," about some cops who enter into therapy to assist them maintain their professional partnership. Skein was skedded to bow Jan. 26, but professionals made a decision it may be appropriate with a summer season bow. Also coming is Nathan Lane comedy "Local Talent," as USA looks to produce a major push with laffers and reality shows in 2012. And also on the syndie front, cabler acquired "Modern Family" and may be easily notifying the ad community that primetime's finest-rated comedy will cable. Contact Stuart Levine at stuart.levine@variety.com

Constraint Order Granted Against Terrence Howard

First Launched: December 6, 2011 11:37 PM EST Credit: Getty Images La, Calif. -- Caption Terrence Howard attends a screening of Precious in New you are able to city, November. 5, 2009Terrence Howard was bought Tuesday to stay 100 yards (90 meters) from his estranged wife after she mentioned the Oscar-nominated actor frequently threatened striking her in their marriage. The star declines the accusations. Superior Court Judge Scott Gordon granted the stay-away order looked for by Michelle Howard after she filed a extended declaration alleging abuse began in the week in the couples The month of the month of january 2010 marriage. Michelle Howard declared divorce yearly later. The constraint order remains basically until a Jan. 17 court. In the text the other day, she claims Howard, 42, has frequently hit her and threatened her. She pointed out in the sworn declaration they is at constant concern with Howard and contains chronic health issues triggered with the stars treatment. Howard within the own sworn declaration written he has not threatened his wife which she's frequently vowed to ruin his status and release private particulars. Home is constant concern with Michelles endeavors to ruin my status even delivering this declaration might lead to my being uncovered with a paparazzi blitz which would not be ideal for my career, Howard written. Michelle Howard written that Howardhas hit her several occasions and threatened to throw her in the hotel balcony in Nigeria a year ago. She incorporated a text she mentioned he shipped to her on Thursday through which he begged her not to pursue the divorce and threaten his career, ending the missive, I cant promise the way in which i'll respond. Howard written within the filing he immediately supported this content with another text stating he wasnt threatening her. Despite my efforts to eliminate myself physically from (Howards) existence, his periodic mood changes from anger, risks and violence to claims of love and demands for reconciliation continue and haven't gone away, she written. Howard came out inside the first Iron Guy film and received an Oscar nomination in 2005 for his role in Hustle and Flow. His attorney Christian Markey III did not immediately return an e-mail message seeking comment. Copyright 2011 with the Connected Press. All rights reserved. These elements is probably not launched, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.

9 Milestones in the Evolution of Gerard Butler

This weekend, Gerard Butler revisits the very Shakespeare play that launched his acting career: Coriolanus. This time around, Butler plays Tullus Aufidius, the rival of the title character in Ralph Fiennes’s big screen adaptation. So just how did a Scottish actor who started with Shakespeare boomerang back to the very same play a decade later after achieving Hollywood stardom? You can always trace a direct line through a few important roles to illustrate what led to an actor’s current success. As such, let’s look at nine pivotal performances that track the evolution of Gerard Butler. Mrs. Brown (1997) Shortly after finishing college, a 23-year-old Butler moved to Los Angeles for a short period during which he found work as an extra in 1992’s The Bodyguard. Ultimately, after a detour in law school, Butler moved to London to launch his acting career with performances in stage adaptations of Coriolanus and Trainspotting before making his big-screen debut in the British drama Mrs. Brown opposite Billy Connolly and Judi Dench. As folklore goes (on the film’s IMDB trivia page), Butler suffered hypothermia after running naked into the freezing ocean for one scene. Dracula 2000 (2000) After a don’t-blink-or-you’ll-miss-it role in Tomorrow Never Dies (as Leading Seaman of the HMS Devonshire) and his first horror project (Tale of the Mummy), Butler scored his first leading man role as Count Dracula in the campy, Wes Craven-produced cult classic Dracula 2000. Although the film was not received well by critics (who maybe just didn’t get the humor of a permed Count Dracula or vampires being beheaded with garden shears — both are acquired tastes), it proved that Butler could support a just-profitable film that spawned two direct-to-video sequels. Take that, Tom Cruise! Lara Croft Tomb Raider - The Cradle of Life (2003) Following a starring role in the well-watched (but ultimately forgettable) television miniseries Attila, Butler scored his first blockbuster love interest opportunity opposite Angelina Jolie in the Lara Craft Tomb Raider sequel The Cradle of Life. Here, Butler proved himself capable of the kinds of action stunts that would help him in his breakthrough box office project four years later. Although critics could not claim that the film was anything more than entertaining, Cradle of Life was a serviceable final Lara Croft film chapter for fans. The Phantom of the Opera (2004) After starring in Richard Donner’s sci-fi film Timeline, Butler was summoned by Joel Schumacher to audition for the role of the Phantom in his adaptation of Andrew Lloyd Webber’s 1986 musical. (Schumacher had been impressed by the Scot’s performance in Dracula 2000, just like you undoubtedly were after seeing the above clip.) After only four voice lessons, Butler sang “The Music of the Night” for Lloyd Webber and secured the first musical role of his career. Critics gave the screen adaptation mixed reviews and saved their praise for Butler’s co-star Emmy Rossum. The film ultimately went on to earn over $150 million worldwide at the box office.