Hedge Fund Places Large Wager On Netflix

Hedge fund manager John Thaler seems to think about Netflix remains beaten up enough. He recently elevated his stake close to 4M shares, or 7.6% of Netflix’s total, according to an SEC filing today from his JAT Capital Management. Within the finish of June he'd 467,812 Netflix shares. Ever since then the business’s market cost has fallen nearly 57%shares closed today at $113.16, lower three cents. Thaler is experienced in tech and media possibilities. His other major holdings on tv include Cablevision and IMAX.

Is Faith-Based Courageous Shaping Up to Be the Sleeper Hit of the Fall?

Here we go again: Almost three years to the day after Sherwood Pictures — the filmmaking enterprise of Sherwood Baptist Church in Albany, Ga. — uncorked its self-funded Christian drama Fireproof to a shocking $6.8 million opening weekend, along comes the church’s faith-based follow-up Courageous. And while no one should necessarily be surprised to hear that the film’s early box-office estimates are strong, its potential hardly ceases to amaze. A report from Fandango yesterday had Courageous carrying 22 percent of the site’s advance weekend ticket sales — a majority over mainstream Hollywood offerings like the new releases 50/50, What’s Your Number?, Dream House and even muscular holdovers like The Lion King 3D and Moneyball. Despite the ticket retailer’s notoriously self-serving data set, the brisk business across that platform and others are significant (and significantly quantifiable) enough for Sherwood and its distribution partner TriStar Pictures to issue a press release this afternoon claiming $2 million in advance ticket sales. This for a $1 million picture about cops struggling with fatherhood — one with the bulk of its marketing limited to grassroots Christian constituencies. Well, and this trailer: “Pre-sales numbers for Courageous more than double that of Sherwood Pictures’ most recent film, Fireproof, which opened at $6.8 million and went on to gross more than $33.4 million at the box office,” says the release, to which executive producer Michael Catt added: “Such great advance momentum reaffirms that the topic of fathers is universal and that Courageous touches a nerve. […] Present or absent, fathers shape lives and we’re excited to use drama, adventure, humor… to inspire men to the high adventure of full-on parenting.” Meanwhile, Sherwood associate pastor-turned-actor/filmmaker Alex Kendrick opened up a bit to Big Hollywood’s Christian Toto about the church’s biggest screen gamble to date: Kendrick can point to his own family history to show how faith can break patterns which might otherwise linger for generations. His grandfather’s alcoholism could have shaken his father’s ability to raise a family. “When my dad was college age he made up his mind … this junk wasn’t going to go to his kids,” he says. “My two brothers and I didn’t grow up in a family with all that junk there. We saw a conviction in him to guard himself and his family. My dad broke the chain.” Today’s young, fatherless men don’t even have pop culture examples to follow. “There are very few shows now where the dad is an honorable man,” says Kendrick, who pines for a modern version of The Cosby Show. […] “We’re the first to admit we’re a South Georgia church in a fairly rural area,” he says. Church volunteers still help flesh out the cast and crew. “We didn’t go to school for this, We’re learning by trial and error. We want to continue improving the craft of filmmaking.” Courageous debuts Friday on roughly 1,100 screens; stay tuned for more about the film’s projected opening in today’s Weekend Forecast.

This Type Of Friday Brawl! Moneyball Wins #1, Lion King 3d #2, Dolphin Tale #3, Abduction #4, Killer Elite #5

FRIDAY11 PM, 2NDUPDATE: Finally, I have some clarityfollowing Rentrak hiccups throughout your entire day and early evening. Not to mentionevery studio’s confusion inside the ordering in the 5 top because of fierce fights happening within the U . s . States box office throughout today. And, geez,I’m stated to become on vacation: 1. My sources the new the new sony’s newcomerMoneyball remains rising since the evening continues for maybe the most effective baseball-designed opening ever. It’s definitelyNo. 1 Friday with roughly $6.8M from 2,993 theaters. (Just like a The brand new the new sony professional described, “$6 000 0000 might be great. $7 million amazing. $8 million is a triumph.”) Getting a proper adult bump tomorrow, it’s searching inside a $20M weekend. That solid number helps to keep Kaira Pitt’s star wattage shining and also the honours chances climbing because ofthis well-examined male-centric sports movie.Audiences really loved this pic: it received all A’s — male, female, youthful, old — from CinemaScore. 2. Even Disney is surprised that it's Lion King 3d is at second place tonight from 2,330 theaters which offered mostly greater listed tickets.But rival art galleries tell me itgot a good start today while it is raining backEast for just about any $6.1M Friday, oran excellent holding -31% in the opening yesterday.While using normal kiddie matinee bump, that’s a $20M weekend too.This re-release’s projectedis $60M by Monday. Here’s my question: so why do in many the marketing hype I’ve been sent with the studio relevant for this pic, nobody at Disney says because of Jeffrey Katzenberg for micro-manipulating the initial? C’mon, Mouse House, give credit where credit arrives. Even if Jeffrey can be a large discomfort ineveryone’s ass. 3. Some distance behind is Alcon Entertainment’s Dolphin Tale in 3,507 theaters.Distributor Warner Brossaid it opened up track of $5M today but rival art galleries think the Friday number iscloser to $5.5M.Alcon thinks that,unlessitsmaimed mammal handles to get rid of to Moneyball by more than a mil today, the heartstrings-yanking pic should jump 60% on Saturday because of your family film bump striking $24M and win the weekend.Hmm. Remember,it’s also playing inside the most theaters.And, for the days, it wastracking strong. In line with the CinemaScores, parents and kidsin everyone else are creating a b+. 4.Lionsgate’s Abduction in 3,118 theaters may finish uparound $4.2M Friday and what's mid-teens but furthermore just $11M for your weekend for that way front-loaded it may be. (That’s what went lower to Zac Efron in Charlie St Cloud.)However, I’velearned that Rachelle Lefervre’s $36M-budget action thriller was outspent 4-to-one out of marketing dollars by both new the new sony and Warner Bros just before a couple of days ago. Shame on Lionsgate’s Jon Feltheimer for tying everyone’s hands despite powerless Alli Shearmur pleaded.So anyone who mentioned this Twilight kid couldn’t open an envelope is wrong: you will discover major stars who still might be thrilled with this particular outcome, specifically in as rotten a examined movie as that certain. Audiences didn’t think it absolutely was badly as experts, creating a B- CinemaScore.Bad Lionsgate can’t appear to produce a decent movie or market one any more. 5.Remains to look if Abduction can edge out Killer Elite whichmay be $10M for your weekend from 2,986 theaters. Open Road Films is expressingoptimism that itspic will most likely go upon Saturday after its $3.5M debut today. Here’s the comfort in the Top (Full analysis coming) 6. Contagion (Participant/Warner Bros) Week 3 [3,136 Theaters] Friday $2.8M, Thought Weekend $9M, Thought Cume $57.5M 7. Drive (FilmDistrict) Week 2 [2,904 Theaters] Friday $2M (-50%), Thought Weekend $6M, Thought Cume $21.6M 8. The Help (Participant/DreamWorks/Disney] Week 7 [2,695 Theaters] Friday $1.3M, Thought Weekend $4.5M, Thought cume $154.5M 9. I Don’t Know How She'll It (Weinstein Co) Week 2 [2,490 Theaters] Friday $700K (-55%), Thought weekend $2M,Thought Cume $8M 10. Hay Dogs (The brand new the new sony) Week 2 [2,408 Theaters] Friday $600K (-62%), Thought Weekend $1.8M, Thought Cume $8.5M FRIDAY 4 PM: On vacation. So box office is introduced for you personally in the sunny climate where the palms sway with time for the dancing trade winds… But home there’s a fierce fight happening. They're very early grosses, and my sources say Rentrak remains dealing with problems today — this provides Hollywood a lot more Maalox moments than usual. The brand new the new sony’s Moneyball starring Kaira Pitt will not be any. 1 with roughly $8M Friday and possibly mid-$20sM for your weekend. That solid number helps Kaira Pitt’s honours chances in this well-received male-centric sports movie. At this time around Alcon Entertainment/Warner Bros’ Dolphin Tale and Lionsgate’s Abduction are fighting for No. 2 with around $6M today and what's high teens for your weekend. Interesting, because the heartstrings-yanking pic was monitoring much better. However, Rachelle Lefervre’s action thriller is playing in 389 less theaters. So anyone who mentioned this Twilight kid couldn’t open an envelope is wrong, wrong, wrong: you will discover major stars who be thrilled with this particular outcome, specifically in as rotten a examined movie as that certain. Open Road’s Killer Elite looks a notch lower – maybe $5M today, and low teens for your weekend. Frequent updates coming with full analysis.

Rankings: X Factor Holds Steady Angels and Person of great interest Start Decently

The X Factor The X Factor's debut might possibly not have been Idol-like, however the show's Thursday evening airing held steady, leading Fox to win the evening.Fall Preview: Get scoop in your favorite coming back showsSimon Cowell's latest singing competition was virtually flat versus the prior evening, calculating 12.a million audiences over its two hrs and sinking only slightly within the grown ups-18-to-49 demo.Meanwhile, many newcomer network dramas first showed decently. CBS' Person of great interest came 13.two million audiences at 9/8c, but placed 4th within the demo behind X Factor, the very first hour of Grey's Anatomy (10.a million audiences) and NBC's combo from the Office (7.six million audiences) and new comedy Whitney (6.3 million audiences).ABC's Charlie's Angels and NBC's Prime Suspect also unsuccessful to create huge impacts using their premieres. At 8/7c, Angels came 8.8 million audiences and placed third within the demo while Suspect drawn only six million audiences coming to last devote the demo at 10/9c.Work: Did the best person obtain the manager job?CBS required second place overall for that evening, because of a large one-hour premiere from the Large Bang Theory. The 2 episodes averaged 14.4 million audiences, also it was the night's greatest-ranked hour. At 10/9c, The Mentalist's return enhanced slightly on its Person of great interest lead-in, generating 13.4 million audiences.With X Factor taken care of, Grey's Anatomy's second hour enhanced to 10.5 million audiences, winning the demo for prime time's final hour and lifting ABC to 3rd place overall for that evening.NBC required 4th put on the evening, since it's non-Office comedies set up pretty harsh amounts. Community came 3.9 million audiences while 4.a million updated set for Parks and Entertainment.Around the CW, The Vampire Journals and also the Secret Circle were both lower considerably using their premieres the other day, drawing 2.4 million audiences and a pair of.a million audiences, correspondingly.

J Brand to create City Year fundraiser event

Using DreamWorks partner and Boss Stacey Snider and CAA, jeans manufacturer J Brand is beginning a fundraising event initiative to learn the non-profit org City Year. J Brand has created three exclusive edition colors due to its femme skinny jeans which will be offered on its website beginning March. 18. All of the proceeds would go to City Year, which will help public school students susceptible to losing out.CAA and Snider aided introduce J Brand Boss Rob Rudes to City Year, which sparked the initiative."After winding up in Stacey about her support and contribution to City Year ... i had been so moved that individuals created a collaboration with CAA and Stacey to enhance cash with this outstanding organization," Rudes mentioned.Snider is going to be feted Friday by Variety on her behalf support of City Year incorporated in the annual Energy of girls celebration. Contact Variety Staff at news@variety.com

Journey to plexes

Jason Statham stars in Killer Elite, the initial Open Road release. Bizzers were wary when AMC Theaters and Regal Entertainment with each other founded distribber Open Road Films taken, seeing it a type of retaliation to diminishing theatrical home home windows -- or at least, an chance for your companies to see faves among themselves.But Open Road launches inaugural release "Killer Elite" Friday at plenty of venues outdoors AMC and Regal multiplexes, lending credence to start Road's pointed out mission of filling gaps in the marketplace. The breakdown in the film's roughly 2,750 locations looks as with every similar midsized release.Open Road distribution prexy Elliot Slutzky mentioned it absolutely was essentialtial the film play as broadly as you can for the other major theater chains, including Rave Cinemas, Carmike and Cinemark. Rave expects to screen "Killer Elite" whatsoever from the circuit's 61 U.S. multiplexes."In my opinion when (participants) learned that people might be allocating equally, these cooperated," Slutzky told Variety. "It absolutely was very important for people being fair and select the best theaters."Rave V . p . of promoting Jeremy Devine mentioned "the fact Open Road is possessed by Regal and AMC never became a member of the equation."Though AMC and Regal are Open Road's parents, the companies maintain separate revenue streams. The exhibs won't make money from Open Road's releases beyond their usual share in the box office."I had been searching their way after we would almost every other distributor," mentioned Devine, who added that exhibs need fresh game game titles through the slow early fall B.O. period. "It is necessary that might be there's steady method to obtain product all year round.InchAMC and Regal revealed Open Road in March just like a distrib that focuses on photos with midsized budgets and commercial prospects, joining an progressively crowded space including newer distribs FilmDistrict, Relativity and CBS Films additionally to Lionsgate and Summit. At Open Road's helm is former Lionsgate and Weinstein Co. professional Tom Ortenberg, who as Boss triggered board Slutzky, additionally to Jason Cassidy as marketing chief and Liz Biber, professional veep of publicity. "We are very searching toward the opening of Open Road's first movie," mentioned Ortenberg, who expressed his gratitude to Omnilab Media, director Gary McKendry as well as the cast and crew of "Killer Elite."Company caught some flak from studio professionals, who suggested that Open Road game game titles could receive preferential treatment from exhibs, not just AMC or Regal. But Regal Boss Amy Miles demands that won't happen."Regarding showtimes and playdates, we'd be ready to treat Open Road after we would almost every other independent distributor," Miles mentioned. "Becoming an equity owner we maintain both risk and reward of possession, but we don't take any extra cut." Contact Andrew Stewart at andrew.stewart@variety.com

The CW Moves Ahead with Sex and the City Prequel

The Carrie Diaries The CW is moving forward with the Sex and the City prequel, according to The Hollywood Reporter. Based on the book series by Candace Bushnell, The Carrie Diaries follows Carrie Bradshaw as a high school senior in the 1980s. Both of the books have been best-sellers and Bushnell recently signed on to pen two more. Sex and the City prequel could get Gossip Girl treatment at The CW Gossip Girl producers Josh Schwartz and Stephanie Savage are attached to the project with Amy B. Harris set to adapt and serve as showrunner. Len Goldstein (Hart of Dixie) will executive-produce. Last month, Sex and the City showrunner Michael Patrick King said he would not be involved in a prequel. "My Carrie Bradshaw started at 33 and I took her to 43 - I don't even want to know who Carrie Bradshaw's parents are," he said at the Television Critics Association. "The idea of going backward, making her less evolved, is something that I can't even imagine doing." Are you excited for The Carrie Diaries?

Watch Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows The Movie

Crime Scene loads 'Gun' with Wechsler

ParisWechsler Crime Scene Pictures partners Adam Ripp and Take advantage of Paris are joining with Nick Wechsler to create action thriller "Guy Having a Gun," with different script by Robert Hewitt Wolfe.Wechsler, producer of "Underneath the Skin" and approaching Steven Soderbergh male stripper pic "Miracle Mike," will produce together with Crime Scene, that will also finance the pic.The contempo Western is all about a guy seeking redemption: Eisenhower "Ove" Bell is on the pursuit to infiltrate the gangs of drug warlords inside a U.S. border town that's gradually being suffocated with a drug war it has suffered for decades.Rizal Risjad and Philip Elway will professional produce and Lizzy Bradford will co-produce. Paris and Ripp have been in Toronto talking about the project with company directors, and also the duo intend to package the film when preparing for that Berlin Film Festival in Feburary."The benefit of this project is within its weaving from the classic styles of revenge and redemption being performed in a modern day setting, by having an legendary hero along with a truly cool cast of figures," Ripp and Paris stated inside a statement.CAA and ICM will co-repetition domestic theatrical privileges.Captured, Crime Scene's Colin Firth-Cameron Diaz starrer "Gambit" was among the greatest retailers in the Berlinale, where it had been being looked by Glen Basner's FilmNation. Contact Diana Lodderhose at diana.lodderhose@variety.com

High cliff Robertson, Uncle Ben in 'Spider-Guy,' Dies at 88

Relaxation in peace, High cliff Robertson. He won a Best Actor Oscar for his role within the 1968 tearjerker 'Charly,' but is most likely most widely known to contemporary moviegoers as Tobey Maguire's Uncle Ben within the first 'Spider-Man' film, the daddy figure who informs him by using great energy, comes great responsibility. The actor died Saturday, September 10, of natural causes, only one next day of his 88th birthday. Click for clips from his most memorable movie roles, including 'Three Times of the Condor' and 'Picnic.' Robertson made his debut within the 1955 film 'Picnic,' starring William Holden and Kim Novak. He performed a guy out for revenge in Mike Fuller's crime drama 'Underworld USA' (1961). He was hands-selected by John F. Kennedy in 1962 to star in 'PT 109,' in line with the President's exploits in The Second World War. A scene from his Oscar-winning role in 'Charly,' in line with the book 'Flowers for Algernon.' Charly's Frustration Charly at MOVIECLIPS.com Because the theif within the thriller 'Three Times of the Condor,' opposite Robert Redford. We Play Games 72 Hours from the Condor - MOVIECLIPS.com As Peter Parker's beloved Uncle Ben in 'Spider-Man' (2002). [via Variety] image thanks to AP

Hugh Jackman and Russell Crowe Will Open 'Les Miserables' in Crowded December 2012

December 2012 certainly did not need another much talked about release, but here you decide to go: Deadline reviews that Universal has scheduled 'Les Miserables' for 12 ,. 7, 2012, with lengthy-rumored stars Hugh Jackman and Russell Crowe attached as Jean Valjean and Javert, correspondingly. The Tom Hooper-directed film joins 'The Hobbit: An Unpredicted Journey,' the Meryl Streep/Steve Carell dramedy 'Great Hope Springs,' Kaira Pitt's 'World War Z,' Ang Lee's adaptation of 'Life of Pi' and Quentin Tarantino's 'Django Unchained' about the December 2012 calendar. When arrived at for comment, November expressed sadness over being overlooked. [Deadline]

JoAnna Garcia Checks Into Royal Pains As the New Doc in Town

Joanna Garcia JoAnna Garcia is checking into Royal Pains for multiple episodes this season, TVLine reports. The actress, 32, will play Dr. Nina Greene, an intelligent nephrologist (aka kidney doctor) who may possibly also be a former child star. Garcia will enter the scene as a doctor treating Jack O'Malley, played by returning guest star Tom Cavanaugh. Watch full episodes of Royal Pains Garcia broke the news about her casting late Tuesday, tweeting: "Tomorrow I have the honor of starting my work on @RoyalPains_USA! I'm a huge fan of the show and excited they asked me to hang out with them for a bit!" She is best known for her roles on Reba and Privileged, and most recently starred on Better With You. Royal Pains returns for the second half of Season 3 in early 2012. Are you excited to see Garcia play doctor on Royal Pains?

Watch Movies

Randy Orton The Evolution of a Predator

Randy Orton is one of the most popular superstars in the WWE, this release takes an in-depth look at WWE's Apex Predator from Elimination Chamber through the road to WrestleMania and Orton's brutal bout with CM Punk. Along the way, fans learn about the Viper in and out of the ring as he reflects on his career to date. Family and opponents contribute never-before-seen interviews about Orton's past, present, and future. In addition the set is packed with some of Orton's most memorable matches and moments from his career.

Mysterious Island

A group of attractive young strangers joined a "survival game" led by a TV host and a photographer on a remote desert island. Among them were Peng Fei (by Chen Xiaochun) and Yi Lin (by Yang Mi). Each person had his or her own agenda, but was chasing after a common goal: one million dollars prize! Greed drove them to plot against each other tit for tat the moment they boarded the boat, yet lust was still brewing among the youngsters under the blue sky on the vast sea. No one sensed the danger crawling near.