There's a storm brewing over Hollywood and it has nothing to do with Mother Nature.
 
There's such a glut of films that distributors were going out of their minds on Monday and Tuesday as they scrambled to keep screens. Imagine the cajoling distribs had to do when talking to theater owners (then again, it's the fault of studios, not exhibs) And it's only January, for God's sakes. It's not supposed to be like this.

One studio distribution topper said he can't remember such a bad couple of days. "It's disasterous," he explained. "Good movies are being knocked off of screens."

I guess that's what happens when you don't count on so many films clicking with moviegoers, as nearly all of the Christmases releases did, plus last weekend's successful wide openers, "Gran Torino," "Bride Wars" and "The Unborn."

On Friday, there's three new wide entries; horror pic "My Bloody Valentine 3-D," Notorious B.I.G. biopic "Nortorios" and family comedy "Hotel For Dogs."
 
Jan. 23 sees SIX nationwide releases, including family adventure "Inkheart," "Underworld 3" and comedy "Paul Blart Mall Cop." Three specialty films that have been playing in limited runs expand nationwide; "Frost/Nixon," "Revolutionary Road" and "Slumdog Millionaire."

If you're a distributor, break out the Tylenol--or the booze.