Insidious: adjective, proceeding in a gradual, subtle way, but with harmful effects.

That just about sums up this film if you ask me. You see, I can’t help but form opinions about films even if I haven’t seen them (I’m sure you’ve noticed). I have no intention of seeing Insidious Chapter 2. It looks dreadful. That may be partly because I’m not exactly into horror films. But there have been a few here and there that I have liked. The Sixth Sense for instance is considered a horror film. But these days I think Horror films have morphed into something else. And generally, there’s a…

Given the distinct lack of competition, this is hardly surprising. Still, Riddick wasn’t a terrible film so it’s not entirely undeserved either. Some of these other films on this list though… let’s just say that the pickings are a bit slim.

#1 — Riddick

​Budget: $38 Million
Totals: $18.6 M, Weekend and Current Domestic / $7.4 M, Foreign / $26 M, Worldwide
Weekend 1

In terms of story and filmmaking skill, this is easily the best film in the series. It’s well paced, has a good story, really makes us care for Riddick, and doesn’t get mired down with either the horror genre, or the…

I am silently weeping for humanity… well actually, not so silently. If you are somewhere in the state of Tennessee you can probably hear the wailing. It’s quite loud. You may ask why my sensibilities have been offended so. Well, I think it is related the the “direction” the box office has taken.

Seriously, the entire box office right now looks abysmal.

#1 — One Direction: This Is Us

Budget: $10 M
Totals: $17 M, Weekend and Domestic / $14 M, Foreign / $31.5 M, Worldwide
Weekend: 1

Hey, a teen heartthrob pop boy band, I always wanted to know more about them… NOT! I believe this…

I don’t know that we can say there are any clear box office winners this past weekend. When your highest grossing film only makes $17 Million, I would call the box office a bit anemic myself. However, it is clear that, overall, general audiences consider The Butler to be the best choice of film in theaters. But the phenomenon of the lackluster overall box office is somewhat intriguing and I have no idea what is causing it for sure. It may just be that we as audiences are more and more better informed about what is in theaters, and instead of just heading out to the local cinemaplex to catch…

Given that I have no desire to see The Butler in large part because Oprah Winfrey is in it, and otherwise because it looks terrible, sappy, cheesy and more, I have not seen it yet. but it’s what is winning the day at the Box Office so maybe I should make time for it.

#1 — Lee Daniels’ The Butler

Budget: $30 M
Totals: $25 M Weekend Gross  and Current Total
Weekend 1

My general rule of thumb is, if Oprah Winfrey is involved I want nothing to do with it. Fair or not, that’s my feeling on the matter. General movie goers seem to disagree however, because this, her latest film, seemed to…

The future is here, at the box office anyway, and it doesn’t look great. It looks a little like a third world country in fact. Back here in the present however, a stripper, a small time drug deal, and two teenagers are going to rake in a little bit of cash from the onscreen drug deal. And then of course, Dusty Crophopper isn’t really going to get off the ground.

#1 — Elysium

Budget: $115 M
Totals: $30.4 M, Weekend / $10.9 M, Foreign / $41.3 M, Worldwide
Weekend 1

Looking at the disparity between the budget, and what this film brought in this weekend, I have a bad feeling about this. The…

The gun slinging DEA agent and navy man may be up at the top this weekend, but I wouldn’t exactly call it a win by any stretch of the imagination. They’re still far below budget.

BUT, The Wolverine did come out swinging, fairing better than the little blue elves (or whatever those Smurfs are).

#1 - 2 Guns

Budget: $61 Million
Totals: $27.3 Mil Weekend Gross and Current Total
Weekend 1

I didn’t hate this film. In fact it was a satisfying plot in some ways. Some semblance of justice is served, the two guys, one white, one black, one military special ops, one DEA, both with very different…

The Wolverine sharpened his claws and dug right in this past weekend, and clawed his way right to the top. But not far behind him is the world’s greatest super-villain turned nice guy, Gru. Sandwiched in there is one I just don’t get, but I’m not a fan of horror so maybe I’m the wrong person to ask about The Conjuring.

#1 — The Wolverine

Budget: $120 Million
Totals: $55 Million Weekend Gross / $86 Million Foreign / $141.1 Million Worldwide
Week Number: 1

Perhaps a slightly week domestic opening compared to the budget, and compared to the first Wolverine film. But with the foreign total,…

Well, well, I was hoping to avoid writing about The Conjuring because I simply have no interest in this film whatsoever. But it’s my duty now to at least let you know that it has topped the box office charts over the weekend. I don’t know, it just doesn’t look at all good to me. But the people have spoken, and apparently they were willing to throw their money behind it this weekend.

#1 — The Conjuring

Budget: $20 Million (Can’t fault them for overspending I guess)
Totals: $41.5 Million Weekend Gross / $3.4 Million Foreign Total / $44.9 Million Worldwide Total
Week Number: 1

Look,…