"Transformers" Dominates Box Office

Movie Did Well But Still Has Long Way To Go To Catch Other Successes

(CBS/AP)  It was a big weekend at the box office with "Transformers" bringing in over $67 million. The animated Pixar movie "Ratatouille" earned $29 million and Bruce Willis returned with his action sequel "Live Free or Die Hard," which pulled in more than $17 million.

"Transformers" still has a way to go to catch up with other box office smashes. This summer has truly been a summer of the blockbuster, and even though they didn't get great reviews, the movies such as "Spider-Man 3," "Shrek the Third" and "Pirates of the Caribbean: At World's End" have made $300 million or more.

The Early Show entertainment contributor and People magazine Assistant Managing Editor Jess Cagle said "Pirates" and "Shrek" may go over $400 million.

"The other ones will not do as well," Cagle said. "They have not boosted the box office like Hollywood thought they were going to. You know, they thought that these movies would drive people to the theaters over and over and over again. That has not happened."

But Cagle said the boost from "Transformers" was amazing and showed that the generation that grew up with the toys has a real connection to them. People were also hungry for something other than sequels and many were eager to see the computer generated graphics.

"Ratatouille" didn't open well Cagle said. It is behind other Pixar movies, but it is getting good reviews, as is "Live Free or Die Hard."

"Very smart," he said. "They waited 12 years since the last 'Die Hard' and waited for a good script."

Cagle said "A Mighty Heart" starring Angelina Jolie as the widow of Wall Street Journal reporter Daniel Pearl, isn't doing that well at the box office but isn't a complete loser.

"I think that it's not a commercial movie," he said. "She could get an Oscar nomination."

Michael Moore's documentary, "Sicko," is being shown in only 700 theaters. Cagle said it will not make as much money as Moore's "Fahrenheit 9/11" but will outpace his "Bowling for Columbine."

This past weekend has also shown that the penguins theme could have run its course.

"'Surf's Up,' it was a cute movie, big surprise, did not really do well. I think that maybe penguins are not hot anymore," Cagle said.

Here is the estimated ticket sales for Friday through Sunday at U.S. and Canadian theaters, according to Media By Numbers LLC.

1. "Transformers," $67.6 million.

2. "Ratatouille," $29 million.

3. "Live Free or Die Hard," $17.4 million.

4. "License to Wed," $10.4 million.

5. "Evan Almighty," $8.1 million.

6. "1408," $7.1 million.

7. "Knocked Up," $5.2 million.

8. "Fantastic Four: Rise of the Silver Surfer," $4.15 million.

9. "Sicko," $3.65 million.

10. "Ocean's Thirteen," $3.5 million

[hypnotoad72]

I grew up with and loved transformers. So how come I think the live-action remake is so pretentious and lacking creativity?

If I want Transformers, I'll buy the sets on DVD.

And given the piracy toward Sicko, who else isn't surprised it brought in so little?

As for the latest Die Hard, it's another sequel. As with Rocky and Rambo and Indiana Jones, does this movie series relic of the 80s need to be dug up too? Still, maybe it is good. I'll wait for the rental and put the big bucks on something original.

Which means "Underdog" is out, of that there is no doubt.