'Transformers' sets new Fourth of July record

By Sarah Sluis

Although Transformers: Dark of the Moon started out the holiday weekend well behind the prior sequel, the toy-inspired film franchise ended up debuting just 6% lower than the second film. It tallied up $116.4 million over the weekend, for a cumulative total of $181 million. Director Michael Bay went through a special effort to encourage exhibitors to show the 3D film using the proper bulb strength, and audiences may have noticed. 60% of the box office came from 3D screens. With a performance like this, a fourth film is more likely than not.

Light, recession-themed romantic comedy Larry Crowne sputtered, earning a middling $13.1 million ($15.7 million including Monday). An extremely old-skewing audience, at least by movie theatre standards, turned out for the film: 93% of viewers were over 25, and 71% of viewers were over 50, which some observers cited as the oldest demographic they've seen in a long time. If the audience is older, however, that means the movie will likely have long legs, since older viewers tend to be less intent on seeing a movie the second it comes out.

Tween pic Monte Carlo drew even fewer viewers, likely because it only appealed to the female half of the equation. The friendship and travel-themed movie grabbed $7.4 million, $8.7 million including Monday. I'm sure this picture will be the staple of sleepovers months from now, but it appears getting the audience to the movie theatre was more difficult.

Elsewhere in the top ten, Cars 2 fell a surprising 51% to $32 million, unusual for an animated film. Super 8 finally leveled its fall, dipping just 20% to $9.5 million, and crossing the $100 million mark. Midnight in Paris squeezed into the top ten, rising 3.5% to take in another $4.3 million.

This Friday, it's comedies for all ages. PG-rated Zookeeper will open, headed by Kevin James, and R-rated ensemble comedy Horrible Bosses will attempt to capture adult audiences.

With a head start, 'Transformers: Dark of the Moon' set to dominate

By Sarah Sluis

The autobots and decepticons battle for the third time in Transformers: Dark of the Moon (4,011 theatres). While the new film is getting better reviews than the much-maligned second, it appears audiences are tiring of the toy-based series. The Wednesday opening earned $37.3 million, the highest opening that day this year, but that puts the sequel far behind the $62 million Transformers: Revenge of the Fallen made last year. We hear the flattening of Chicago is terrific, but the franchise as a whole hews to "juvenile standards" and remains a "merchandise-driven series," according to critic Maitland McDonagh.

Adult viewers may appreciate seeing Tom Hanks and Julia Roberts paired up in Larry Crowne (2,972 theatres), but they shouldn't set their sights too high. Critic Kevin Lally deems the recession-themed tale a "well-intentioned but low-energy comedy" that's way too "conventional." Hanks and Roberts' "warm regard for each other still shines through," but audiences may find themselves sighing as they cross the finish line of the movie, which counts a scooter as one of its greatest comic assets.

When critic David Noh channeled his inner tween, he pronounced Monte Carlo (2,472 theaters) "cotton candy." The "none-too-fresh plot" borrows from Billy Wilder-scripted Midnight and the plot of The Prince and the Pauper, but it's probably all new to the twelve-and-under set. Starring Disney workhorse Selena Gomez, "Gossip Girl's" Leighton Meester, and Hollywood royalty Katie Cassidy, the movie is sure to "delight" girls with its European travel fantasy.

Not much is releasing on the specialty circuit, but high school bullying dark comedy Terri has earned 81% positive accolades from Rotten Tomatoes critics. Noh was not one of them, calling the movie offensively quirky without anything "remotely funny or emotionally true." Ouch.

On Tuesday, we'll count the winners and losers of the four-day weekend. Make sure your viewings this weekend include some good old-fashioned fireworks.