Sony may have thought it was in B.O. hell this year, but "Charlie's Angels," which many doubted would work, has proven to be a blessing, and it looks like the studio is on the right track.
Most of the change, however, will come from an infusion of pics from Roth's Revolution Studios, which has committed to provide Sony with a minimum of six pics a year over the next five years.
In the coming year, Columbia Pictures will make some 16-18 pics. Under the new cost-containing leadership of Peter Schlessel (who assumed the title of president of production), follow-ups to "Men in Black," "Stuart Little," "Jumanji," "Blue Streak" and "Anaconda" signal the studio's shift to safer fare.
"We are moving more into a direction of mainstream movies than a year ago," studio chairman Amy Pascal said. "What we've learned this (past) year is: Don't make any movies that are too expensive that kids don't want to see. If you have to make movies that need to be perfect to make, make sure they don't cost too much money."
But Sony is not turning its back altogether on smarter pics; it's just financing them differently. Up next are two tough pics, "Adaptation," from director Spike Jonze, and the costly "Ali," from Michael Mann, both of which are co-productions.
|
|
| Film |
Release date
|
2000 gross*
|
| Blue Streak |
1999
|
0.5
|
| Adventures of Elmo in Grouchland |
1999
|
0.03
|
| Crazy in Alabama |
1999
|
0.05
|
| The Messenger: The Story of Joan of Arc |
1999
|
0.1
|
| The End of the Affair |
1999
|
9.2
|
| Stuart Little |
1999
|
60.6
|
| Girl, Interrupted |
1999
|
28.5
|
| Hanging Up |
Feb. 18
|
36.1
|
| What Planet Are You From? |
March 3
|
6.3
|
| Whatever It Takes |
March 24
|
8.7
|
| Black and White |
April 5
|
5.3
|
| 28 Days |
April 14
|
37.2
|
| Timecode |
April 28
|
1.1
|
| I Dreamed of Africa |
May 5
|
6.7
|
| Center Stage |
May 12
|
17.2
|
| Running Free |
June 2
|
0.1
|
| The Patriot |
June 28
|
113.3
|
| Loser |
July 21
|
15.3
|
| Hollow Man |
Aug. 4
|
73.2
|
| Godzilla 2000 |
Aug. 18
|
10.0
|
| Anatomie (Anatomy) |
Sept. 8
|
0.01
|
| Circus |
Sept. 15
|
0.02
|
| Urban Legends: Final Cut |
Sept. 22
|
21.5
|
| Girlfight |
Sept. 29
|
1.5
|
| Charlie's Angels |
Nov. 3
|
122.8
|
| The 6th Day |
Nov. 17
|
34.3
|
| Snatch |
Dec. 6
|
0.04
|
| Vertical Limit |
Dec. 8
|
51.9
|
| Finding Forrester |
Dec. 19
|
5.3
|
| Total |
|
666.8
|
** reissue
* - figures in millions |
|
2001 slate
|
Film |
Release date
|
| The Wedding Planner |
Jan. 26
|
| Saving Silverman |
Feb. 16
|
| The Adventures of Joe Dirt |
March 9
|
| Brothers |
March 23
|
| Tailor of Panama |
March 30
|
| Glass House |
April 20
|
| Forsaken |
April 27
|
| The New Guy |
May 4
|
| A Knights Tale |
June 1
|
| Animal |
June 22
|
| Baby Boy |
June 29
|
| America's Sweethearts |
July 4
|
| Final Fantasy |
July 13
|
| The One |
Aug. 3
|
| Tomcats |
Aug. 10
|
| Ghost of Mars |
Aug. 24
|
| Panic Room |
fall
|
| Kick Him to the Curb |
TBA
|
| Lone Star State of Mind |
TBA
|
| Adaptation |
TBA
|
| National Security |
TBA
|
| Riding in Cars With Boys |
TBA
|
| Black Hawk Down |
TBA
|
| Whitey and Davey |
TBA
|
| Ali |
TBA
|
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