Looking Back: The Top 10 Highest Grossing Movies from 2010!« FirstShowing.net

The year mayjustbe ending, but today's earnings won't make or breakTHR's tallyof theTop 10 highest grossing films from 2010. No matter how many times we cry about wanting original stories, less sequels and more bold motion pictures, the films that earn the most money at the box office seem to indicateotherdesires from audiences worldwide. Nearly every movie included in the ten biggest earners of 2010 is either asequelin an establishedfranchiseor anadaptationof a book or series of books, and oneremake. Onlytwooriginal films cracked the Top 10, and you probably already know one. See the fullTop 10 listbelow!

10.Clash of the Titans- $163 Million Domestic / $493 Million Worldwide
9.How to Train Your Dragon- $218 Million Domestic / $495 Million Worldwide
8.Despicable Me- $251 Million Domestic / $540 Million Worldwide
7.Iron Man 2- $312 Million Domestic / $622 Million Worldwide
6.The Twilight Saga: Eclipse- $301 Million Domestic / $694 Million Worldwide
5.Shrek Forever After- $238 Million Domestic / $740 Million Worldwide
4.Inception- $293 Million Domestic / $825 Million Worldwide
3.Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows: Part 1- $278 Million Domestic / $865 Million Worldwide
2.Alice in Wonderland- $334 Million Domestic / $1.02 Billion Worldwide
1.Toy Story 3- $415 Million Domestic / $1.06 Billion Worldwide

It's no surprise that aPixarfilm, especially the heart-breaking end to the story that started the animation studio's success all the way back in '95, is thebiggest successof the year. But box office is just another conquest for Pixar as they have their sights set onwinning the Oscar for Best Picture. The presence of other sequels inIron Man 2,Shrek Forever After,Twilight: EclipseandHarry Potter and the Deathly Hallows: Part Iis to be expected, and it's not surprising that most of the list is composed of films that are intended to be viewed by the whole family (and withHow to Train Your Dragon, I couldn't be happier with its success).

The two glaring exceptions in this year's box office hits are Universal's surprise animated hitDespicable Meand the mind-bending original dreamweaverInception. Leave it to Christopher Nolan, a director who became a household name after helming two movies in one of the most successful blockbuster franchises currently running, to deliver an original film that rakes in a shitload of money without the inflated cost of a 3D ticket - impressive. Of course, when these two original movies are surrounded by all these sequels and adaptations, it's hard to make the case for moreoriginalstories. Hollywood will remake nearlyanymovie, no matter how classic or beloved, but if the money flow ain't broke, you know they won't even try to fix it.

But for me the most interesting note on box office comes from the siteScreened, who has includedJames Cameron'sAvatar, a film initially released on December 18th, 2009, as an honorable mention on their biggest box officer earners chart.Why?Well apparently the film made$466 millionof its $760 million box office take in 2010, which trumpsToy Story 3's 2010 box office take of$415 millionwith plenty of room to spare. That's pretty impressive for a 3D remake ofDances with Wolves, eh? Sorry about that, but we had to throw it in, its been a year!So what'syourtake on the highest grossing films of 2010?

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Rumor: Tim Burton Developing 'Nightmare Before Christmas' Sequel« FirstShowing.net

Though it's a little late, here's a big holiday themed rumor for you to take with a grain of salt (maybe around the ring of a margarita you're having to celebrate New Year's Eve tomorrow). Whilst promoting his new Broadway version of"The Pee-Wee Herman Show,"actorPaul Reubensrevealed nonchalantly thatTim Burtonmight be developing asequelto Christmas/Halloween stop-motion animated favoriteThe Nightmare Before Christmas.Dread Centralasked Reubens if he'd like to collaborate with Burton again in the future. His response was the director's busy slate was preventing that opportunity, and then he dropped the bomb.

Though he mentioned it more as a fleeting idea without any solid information rather than a revelation, it's not entirely out of the question for Reubens to be privy to information like that. In addition to working with Burton onPee-Wee's Big Adventure, few people seem to be remember that Reubens was the voice behind the character Lock inThe Nightmare Before Christmas, one of the mischievous trick-or-treaters employed by Oogie Boogie. Of course, Burton's development is likely in the very early stages since the director has plenty of other projects likeDark ShadowsandMonsterpocalypsein his future.

Assuming that the news is true, I can't say that I'm all that interested in a sequel to a near-perfect modern holiday classic. Would Tim Burton direct this time around (sinceCoralinedirector Henry Selick actually helmed the first film)? Would Jack Skellington wreak havoc on another holiday world? Or could Sandy Claws get kidnapped forcing Jack to put on the red suit to save Christmas and the big man himself? All of these ideas sounds like straight-to-DVD sequels rather than a quality follow-up to the original. As of nowThe Playlistreports Derek Frey, producer and executive at Tim Burton Productions, has already debunked the rumor, so who knows what Reubens was talking about. We'll leave it up to you.Do you want aNightmare Before Christmassequel?

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Gemma Arterton& Andrew Garfield Joining Michael Mann's 'Capa'« FirstShowing.net

Over a year ago we heard that directorMichael Mann(Public Enemies,Collateral) wasdeveloping a biopicof renownedwar photographerRobert Capa, with a focus on his two-year romance with fellow photographerGerda Taroduring the Spanish Civil War. Simply calledCapa, the story begins in Paris in 1935, where Capa, a refugee from Hungary, met Taro, a Jewish refugee from Nazi Germany. Now it sounds like Mann has found his two leads in some promising young talent asTotal Filmcaught up withGemma Arterton(Prince of Persia,Clash of the Titans) who revealed that she andAndrew Garfield(The Social Network) are set to star in the biopic.

Garfield, who is currently in the midst of shooting Marc Webb's newSpider-Man, will play the titular photographer while Arterton (who, despite her beauty, has sort of tried my patience as an actress) will play Taro. Based on theSusana Fortes novelWaiting for Robert Capa, this is not your typical romance as the two lovers begin as exiled Jewish Communists Gerta Phorylle and Endre Friedmann who change their names to Gerda Taro and Robert Capa in order to sell their photographic work more easily and document the Spanish Civil War. However, tragedy looms for their romance just around the corner.

While I've yet to seeThe Disappearance of Alice Creed, I've heard Arterton's talents are much better than her work in the aforementioned epic blockbusters, so maybe she can really prove her talents with Michael Mann. As for Garfield, he was phenomenal inThe Social Network, and I've heard nothing but good things about his work inNever Let Me Go. And if he's good enough to snag the role of your Friendly Neighborhood Spider-Man then he's definitely doing something right. We're not sure when this project will take off, but count me interested.How about you?

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Miramax& Weinstein Co Partner for Bad Santa, Rounders Sequels« FirstShowing.net

ThenewMiramaxalready wants to make a name for itself. We knew it was coming, with the World Series of Poker still as popular as ever, an (unnecessary) sequel toRounderswould eventually rear its ugly head. Miramax and The Weinstein Company (TWC) today announced an agreement to create sequels to some of Miramax's best-known movies. The first films to be produced under the agreement will be sequels toBad Santa,RoundersandShakespeare in Love. Other potential"sequels& TV projects":Bridget Jones’s Diary, Copland, From Dusk Till Dawn, Swingers, Clerks, Shall We DanceandAmityville Horror. Whoa!

This is actually great news, because they're planning to do more than just producing sequels. They've"also agreed to develop new,special edition materialsfor Blu-ray releases, such as roundtables featuring cast and directors."Earlier this year,Disney sold off Miramaxto Ron Tutor's Filmyard Holdings LLC, and they put everything on hold until the deal went through and the company could get its staff in place. Looks like it's now heating up and they're getting in bed with the guys that started the company."We are very close to these films and the new management of Miramax also feels that we are in the best position to create sequels that are at onceworthyandcompellingin their own right,"commented TWC's Harvey& Bob Weinstein.

"This is the perfect addition to our ongoing slate, giving us the ability to work on already existing franchises that have had suchlucrative successat the box office, as well as a great starting ground to our newfound relationship,"added TWC COO David Glasser. This sounds like a hefty partnership, one that will result in many good projects. And yes, despite my complaints aboutRounders, it's going to happen whether I like it or not. Though I'm intrigued by the mention ofFrom Dusk Till DawnandSwingers- more sequels or just TV projects from both of those? As always, we'll definitely keep you updated on the upcoming Miramax sequels likeRounders,Bad Santa(which was just in the news) andShakespeare in Love- so stick around.

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James Mangold to Direct Contemporary Western 'The Gunslinger'« FirstShowing.net

After fairly unsuccessful trying his hand at action-comedy withKnight and Day(although it is Fox's highest grossing movie of the year), directorJames Mangoldmay be getting back to westerns. Heat Vision reports that Mangold, director of films likeKate& Leopold,Identity,Walk the Line, the western3:10 to YumaandKnight and Day, is attached to direct a contemporary western calledThe Gunslinger. The project was just picked up byNew Regencyin turnaround from Warner Bros (read: they weren't happy with it). The script is from newcomerJohn Hlavinand is being produced by Andrew Lazar and Mangold's wife Cathy Konrad.

John Hlavin's scriptThe Gunslingeris a revenge thriller, described as a contemporary western, that centers on an ex-Texas Rangerwho sets out to punish the men who killed his brother. It's an intriguing concept bouncing off of Matt Damon's fantastic performance as a boastful Texas Ranger in the Coen Brothers'True Grit, also a revenge thriller. This one seems a bit different, with the contemporary setting, so I'm curious to see how it'll turn out. New Regency wants to move fast withGunslingerand is aiming for aspring start. I prefer seeing Mangold work in the western/action genre without any comedy. We'll keep an eye out for this.

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Disney Making Nixed 'Museum of the Weird' Attraction into Movie« FirstShowing.net

Disney has already taken attractions likePirates of the Caribbeanand anew takeonThe Haunted Mansionwith Guillermo del Toro, but now the House of Mouse is looking at taking an attraction that never made it to the park into theaters instead.24 Framesreports that the canceled 1960's attractionThe Museum of the Weirdis heading into development as a motion picture. The studio is currently talking withAhmet Zappa(thenwriter/actor sonof musician Frank Zappa) to script the adaptation. The attraction itself was supposed to feature"a parade of ghostly organists, magic carts, talking chairs and other surreal exhibits."I smell adventure!

Apparently the museum was thought of an adjunct to The Haunted Mansion, but it was never actually realized. However, there are plenty of creations from theme-park creators Rolly Crump and Clause Coats which are ripe for being retooled for a feature film. While the idea itself obviously needs to be fleshed out more (that's what writers are for after all), plenty of people weren't sure aPirates of the Caribbeanmovie would work and we're on our way to the fourth movie in the franchise already. Disney seems to be loving its theme park for film ideas, especially with Jon Favreau leaving behindIron Manforsome time withThe Magic Kingdom. For now this just sounds like an intriguing concept, but we could be looking at the start of a new franchise, so look outNight at the Museum, because Disney is on the march.Interested?

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