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CNN Live Today
On the Big Screen
Aired May 05, 2003 - 10:57 ET
THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
LEON HARRIS, CNN ANCHOR: So, over the past three days, "X2" raked in more than $155 million, not too bad. In fact, that is more than half of what the original film earned in its entire run.
Not too bad, Russ Leatherman, Mr. Moviefone, joining us to talk about the summer season as it's getting off to a big start so far. What do you think?
RUSS LEATHERMAN, MR. MOVIEFONE: That is a lot of mutant money, is it not? I mean, it's crazy. It looks like the summer is getting off to a great start. Let's take a look at the weekend box office so we can talk about what happened at this beginning of summer. "X-Men" took in $85 million. That's more than people thought it would do, and that's really a kickstart to the summer. The "Lizzie McGuire" movie took in 17 million. "Identity," the horror thriller, was at 9, "Anger Management" was at $8 million. That's the Adam Sandler movie -- $115 total for that. I think that will pay for a lot of therapy. And "Holes" was at number five with 6.7 million.
So really this is a big, big start. "X-Men" top 5 opener, weekend openers of all time now. So, it looks great at the movies.
HARRIS: So that's what happens when the sequel is even better than the original, which hardly ever happens.
LEATHERMAN: That is what happened here. And this is the summer of sequels, sequels all over the place. This movie was better than first. Director Brian Singer took care with the characters, made sure it was a good story. The effects were terrific, and really people came out, who you wouldn't think would see these type of movies, not only the sci-fi buffs came out, but other people that were interested in it also, and who may not be so into this fantasy kind of fare. So really everybody went to see it, and it's just the beginning. We've got a long way to go.
HARRIS: Exactly. And talking about sequels, the one I really want to see, and the one I think a lot of people are really lining up for next is going to "The Matrix."
LEATHERMAN: Well, every week from here on out, we're going to have something big happening. We asked people at Moviefone which movie they were most excited to see this summer. Fifty percent of them said "The Matrix" is the movie they have to see, big, overwhelming.
HARRIS: You think it will outdo "X-Men?" LEATHERMAN: Well, then came "X-Men," then came "Charlie Angels, and then "Terminator: Rise of the Machines," -- people are looking forward to that one -- and then "The Hulk," so really sequel after sequel after sequel, these are franchises that have been successful in the past, will cash in big bucks this summer. So, so far, it looks all good, could be a record-breaking summer.
HARRIS: Russ Leatherman, thanks as always. Good to see you again.
TO ORDER A VIDEO OF THIS TRANSCRIPT, PLEASE CALL 800-CNN-NEWS OR USE OUR SECURE ONLINE ORDER FORM LOCATED AT www.fdch.com
Aired May 5, 2003 - 10:57 ET
THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
LEON HARRIS, CNN ANCHOR: So, over the past three days, "X2" raked in more than $155 million, not too bad. In fact, that is more than half of what the original film earned in its entire run.
Not too bad, Russ Leatherman, Mr. Moviefone, joining us to talk about the summer season as it's getting off to a big start so far. What do you think?
RUSS LEATHERMAN, MR. MOVIEFONE: That is a lot of mutant money, is it not? I mean, it's crazy. It looks like the summer is getting off to a great start. Let's take a look at the weekend box office so we can talk about what happened at this beginning of summer. "X-Men" took in $85 million. That's more than people thought it would do, and that's really a kickstart to the summer. The "Lizzie McGuire" movie took in 17 million. "Identity," the horror thriller, was at 9, "Anger Management" was at $8 million. That's the Adam Sandler movie -- $115 total for that. I think that will pay for a lot of therapy. And "Holes" was at number five with 6.7 million.
So really this is a big, big start. "X-Men" top 5 opener, weekend openers of all time now. So, it looks great at the movies.
HARRIS: So that's what happens when the sequel is even better than the original, which hardly ever happens.
LEATHERMAN: That is what happened here. And this is the summer of sequels, sequels all over the place. This movie was better than first. Director Brian Singer took care with the characters, made sure it was a good story. The effects were terrific, and really people came out, who you wouldn't think would see these type of movies, not only the sci-fi buffs came out, but other people that were interested in it also, and who may not be so into this fantasy kind of fare. So really everybody went to see it, and it's just the beginning. We've got a long way to go.
HARRIS: Exactly. And talking about sequels, the one I really want to see, and the one I think a lot of people are really lining up for next is going to "The Matrix."
LEATHERMAN: Well, every week from here on out, we're going to have something big happening. We asked people at Moviefone which movie they were most excited to see this summer. Fifty percent of them said "The Matrix" is the movie they have to see, big, overwhelming.
HARRIS: You think it will outdo "X-Men?" LEATHERMAN: Well, then came "X-Men," then came "Charlie Angels, and then "Terminator: Rise of the Machines," -- people are looking forward to that one -- and then "The Hulk," so really sequel after sequel after sequel, these are franchises that have been successful in the past, will cash in big bucks this summer. So, so far, it looks all good, could be a record-breaking summer.
HARRIS: Russ Leatherman, thanks as always. Good to see you again.
TO ORDER A VIDEO OF THIS TRANSCRIPT, PLEASE CALL 800-CNN-NEWS OR USE OUR SECURE ONLINE ORDER FORM LOCATED AT www.fdch.com
