Blockbuster Season is Upon Us

Although Memorial Day weekend traditionally kicks off the start of summer here in the states, blockbuster season is already well under way - with movies that opened in late March and early April.

Here are the official spring/summer 2010 blockbuster hits so far.

CLASH OF THE TITANS

Warner Brothers remake of 1981 classic based on the Greek myth of Perseus and the set of tasks he must perform to topple the tyrannical power of the Gods over men. This has done surprising box office business for WB and Legendary Pictures. In the 56 days since Titans' release it has taken in $475.3 million worldwide and counting.

By contrast, the other big mythologically themed movie out this year, PERCY JACKSON & THE OLYMPIANS (based on the children's book and released February 12), has a worldwide box office cume to date of less than half Titans' at $221,048 million. My 14 year old nephew, who is a big fan of the book, believes this is because the movie didn't follow the original narrative or meet fan expectations.



HOW TO TRAIN YOUR DRAGON

The spring release of DreamWorks 3-D CG animated film (about a young boy in n.d. magic kingdom who accidentally discovers that dragons aren't the horrible creatures they're made out to be) is still holding it's own and, thanks to a record breaking opening in South Korea last weekend, has already amassed an astounding $446,500 million worldwide.



IRON MAN 2

The much anticipated sequel featuring the billionaire playboy/creator of the supersuit meets his match in the Russian villain Whiplash. The film is about to enter its fifth weekend worldwide with a box office cume, to date, of $522 million.




ROBIN HOOD

The prequel version of the classic hero of Sherwood Forest shows how Robin Hood's father was murdered and he grew up to lead a band of a "lawless" out for revenge. Robin and his merry men have grabbed $200 million at the worldwide box office so far.



SHREK FOREVER AFTER

The fourth film of the DreamWorks 3-D CG animated franchise took the top spot last weekend even though analysts claim it "collapsed" at the box office. Shrek took in $71 million but that's way down from projections - due in part to $20 3D tickets. Exhibitors dropped pricing to $17 in response but it may mean audiences won't pay that much for a movie experience they've already had. In this, the final chapter, the ogre hero comes out of domesticated retirement to save the kingdom again.



ALICE IN WONDERLAND

The spring release of the Tim Burton/Linda Woolverton "adult" sequel to the Lewis Carroll classic stars the ever popular Johnny Depp in wildly colorful 3D live-action animation. This one has been a box office phenomenon - pulling in close to a billion in box office worldwide to date.




SEX IN THE CITY 2 opens today in the U.S.

Two years after the first film, marriage and motherhood are wearing a little thin so the girls take a trip to exotic Abu Dhabi where the unexpected happens yet again. Looks like enough fun, fashion and romance to last us for another couple of years.



PRINCE OF PERSIA

The Disney summer tentpole opens tomorrow for Memorial Day weekend. The story started out as a video game by creator Jordan Mechner, morphed into a graphic novel and then became the Jerry Bruckheimer time-bending actioner. Lots of kick-ass ninja style street-fighting and state-of-the-art FX.




Movie-goers, however, may be in for a surprise because the average price of a ticket has risen 26% this weekend. Time will tell if audiences will pay it.