Well, the Cyrus clan has done it again. Both father and daughter have taken something that should annoy and frustrate—Billy Ray’s cloying country ballad “Achy Breaky Heart” and Miley Cyrus’s saccharine, yet sassy songstress on Hannah Montana—and spun pop culture gold. (This is the sports equivalent of two brothers winning back-to-back Super Bowls. Oh, wait!) But don’t think this country star’s charm is limited to the flyover states—city gals have lapped it up, too, from Brearley to Bronx Science. It’s Hannah Manhattan!
The 3-D concert movie, Hanna Montana/Miley Cyrus: the Best of Both Worlds (no. 1), has become the highest grossing movie to share a weekend with the Super Bowl. In the city, the movie practically doubled the take of its nearest competitor, There Will Blood (no. 2), which appealed to a decidedly different demo. It averaged roughly $75,000 on four screens. Disney—the Disney Channel is the TV show’s regular home— plans to extend its original week-long engagement. Duh!
The Eye (no. 3), with femme fatale Jessica Alba, also managed decent numbers despite the Sunday distraction, outgrossing Juno (no. 4), but with a slightly poorer average. It certainly fared better than Over Her Dead Body, which didn’t crack either the national or local top ten. Maybe it could have something to do with the fact that Paul Rudd and Eva Longoria (or Lake Bell, for that matter) look as good together as Flava Flav and Bridgette Neilson. And it’s not for a lack of interest in rom coms: 27 Dresses (no. 5), in its third week, eeked out Cloverfield (no. 6), which continued its drastic slide.
And like Cloverfield—and hundreds of movies with good hooks, but no payoffs—Rambo (no. 8) slid six spots, dipping below the $10,000 watermark and sealing its fate. It’s rapid decline, while predictable, still makes one feel a little bit better about our fair city.
List of theaters: Paris, Zeigfeld, Oprheum, East 85th St., 86th St. East, 84th St., Lincoln Plaza, 62nd and Broadway, Lincoln Square, Magic Johnson, 72nd St East, Cinemas 1, 2 &3rd Ave, 64th and 2nd , Imaginasian, Manhattan Twin, First and 62nd St., Angelika Film Center, Quad, IFC Center, Film Forum, Village East, Village Seven, Cinema Village, Union Square, Essex, Battery Park 11, Sunshine, 34th Street, Empire, E-Walk, Chelsea, 19th Street East, and Kips Bay.
Manhattan Weekend Box Office: How moviegoers in the multiplexes of middle America choose to spend their ten-spot is probably a big deal in Hollywood. But here in Manhattan, the hottest movies aren't always the ones making the big bucks nationwide. Using Nielsen numbers for Manhattan theaters alone and comparing them to the performance of the national weekend box office can tell you a lot about our Blue State sensibilities. Or nothing at all! Each Monday afternoon, we will bring you the results.