Well, this news isn’t good. I just read in Variety that DreamWorks Animation’s net income fell 45% last quarter to $52 million, from $94 million the year before.
Even though sales of “Kung Fu Panda” DVDs generated $102 million during the quarter, revenue still fell 31% to about $200 million, down from $290 million.
Hmmm, this is a little different report than I posted earlier this month. I don’t know about you, but I’ll be one sad puppy if this company, which helmed films like “Madagascar: Escape 2 Africa,” “Over the Hedge,” and “Flushed Away” takes a dive.
CEO Jeffrey Katzenberg said in …read more

Movie: Madagascar: Escape 2 Africa * Official Site
In Theaters: Nov. 7, 2008; On DVD: Feb. 6, 2009

Runtime: 89 minutes
Directed by: Eric Darnell

MPAA Rating: PG for some mild crude humor
Gecko Rating:

“Madagascar: Escape 2 Africa” is Too.Much.Fun! I love that they didn’t make us wait for the “Move it, Move It” song, and jumped right into it at the beginning. My kids and I loved everything about it from beginning to end. We all agreed that it’s even better than the first movie. And a third movie is on the way for 2011, so we’ve got that to look forward …read more

There are a few things that seem to be recession-proof, and CG-animated family movies are in that category, says DreamWorks Animation CEO Jeff Katzenberg.
He recently talked up his company’s resilience to the global recession and outlined its film slate through 2012, including new installments to the "Madagascar" and "Kung Fu Panda" franchises. "Kung Fu Panda 2" is scheduled for a June 2011 release, and "Madagascar 3" for summer 2012.
It’s somehow comforting to think that family movies might not be swayed by a spiraling economy. You have to wonder why. Maybe it’s because family movies are usually a good …read more

While “The Day the Earth Stood Still” isn’t the best movie in theaters right now, apparently movie-goers are liking Keanu Reeves as the humanoid alien. Here are the weekend numbers from Box Office Mojo:

The Day the Earth Stood Still, $30.48M
Four Christmases, $13.07M
Twilight, $7.95M
Bolt, $7.46M
Australia, $4.16M
Quantum of Solace, $3.71M
Nothing Like the Holidays, $3.53M
Madagascar: Escape 2 Africa, $3.18M
Milk, $2.59M
Transporter 3, $2.35M

Image: The Day the Earth Stood Still, 20th Century-Fox Film Corp., 2008

“Four Christmases” rules again at the box office! And I haven’t seen it yet! But I’ve heard from several sources that it’s not as good as they hoped. I’ll see it in the next day or so and post a review. Other than that, yeah, “Twilight” comes in second. No surprise there. Here are the numbers from Box Office Mojo:

Four Christmases, $16.75M
Twilight, $13.04M
Bolt, $9.79M
Australia, $7.05M
Quantum of Solace, $6.75M
Madagascar: Escape 2 Africa, $5.07M
Transporter 3, $4.66M
Punisher: War Zone, $4.27M
Cadillac Records, $3.44M
Role Models, $2.57M

Image: Four Christmases, Warner Bros., 2008

“Four Christmases” was the big winner at the box office this weekend, with little “Bolt” coming in second and “Twilight” hanging in there at third. I took my 11-year-old daughter to see “Twilight” this weekend, and she loved it. “Australia” and “Milk” didn’t do as well as I thought they would, though. Here’s how it all shakes out from Box Office Mojo:

Four Christmases, $31.06M
Bolt, $26.58M
Twilight, $26.34M
Quantum of Solace, $18.83M
Australia, $14.80M
Madagascar: Escape 2 Africa, $14.20M
Transporter 3, $12.06M
Role Models, $5.28M
The Boy in the Striped Pajamas, $1.69M
Milk, $1.45M

Image: Four Christmases, Warner Bros., 2008

No big shocker that “Twilight” grabbed the top slot at the box office last weekend, followed by “Quantum of Solace” and “Bolt.” Here are the numbers from Box Office Mojo:

Twilight, $69.63M
Quantum of Solace, $26.70M
Bolt, $26.22M
Madagascar: Escape 2 Africa, $15.66
Role Models, $7.32M
Changeling, $2.69M
High School Musical 3: Senior Year, $2.04M
The Boy in the Striped Pajamas, $1.64M
Zack and Miri Make a Porno, $1.60M
The Secret Life of Bees, $1.26M

Image: Twilight, Summit Entertainment, 2008

That crazy quartet of animals scored high at the box office this weekend in “Madagascar: Escape 2 Africa.” The cruder — but still sweet — “Role Models” came in second, and “Eagle Eye” is still hanging in there at the bottom! I imagine it’ll be pushed out by “Quantum of Solace” pretty soon. Here’s the rundown from Box Office Mojo:

Madagascar: Escape 2 Africa, $63.10M
Role Models, $19.16M
High School Musical 3: Senior Year, $9.15M
Changeling, $7.25M
Zack and Miri Make a Porno, $6.27:
Soul Men, $5.40M
Saw V, $4.06M
The Haunting of Molly Hartley, $3.31M
The Secret Life of Bees, $3.08M
Eagle Eye, $2.54M

Image: Madagascar: Escape 2 …read more

Movie: Madagascar: Escape 2 Africa * Official Site
In Theaters: Nov. 7, 2008

Runtime: 89 minutes
Directed by: Eric Darnell

MPAA Rating: PG for some mild crude humor
Gecko Rating:

“Madagascar: Escape 2 Africa” is Too.Much.Fun! I love that they didn’t make us wait for the “Move it, Move It” song, and jumped right into it at the beginning. My kids and I loved everything about it from beginning to end. We all agreed that it’s even better than the first movie. And a third movie is on the way for 2011, so we’ve got that to look forward to.
All the originals are …read more

Thought I’d spice things up a little and find out what YOU will be seeing this weekend. Be sure to vote in the poll at the end of this post!
Madagascar: Escape 2 Africa. The gang is back, and this time, they’re lost in Africa. So they hatch a wild and wooly plan to resurrect an old plane and fly it back to NYC. Rated PG. [Gecko Links and Trailers] [Official Site]
Role Models. After trashing a company truck on an energy drink-fueled bender, two guys are forced to do community service mentoring kids. Rated R. [Gecko Preview & Trailer] …read more