More BO reports

The Last Samurai had another impressive weekend of $17.7m from 5,155 screens in 55 territories, including 10 opening markets highlighted by Russia and Turkey. Its total improved to $272.8m with $300m now certain. Its new total helped The Last Samurai climb to No. 7 on Warner Brothers’ list of all time highest grossing films, unseating Ocean’s Eleven. It also passed Gladiator to become the industry’s sixth highest grossing R-rated feature ever.

In Japan the Tom Cruise starrer became the highest grossing R-rated movie ever in Japan surpassing Warner Brother’s own The Matrix Reloaded, which grossed ¥11bn. It continued to shine grossing an estimated $2.668m (¥291.6m) from 357 screens over the weekend for a $105.242m (¥11.5bn) total. The film also now places at No. 12 on Japan’s all time highest grossing movies list.

In Europe its total climbed to $121.6m after an $11.5m weekend. It was impressive in its No. 1 debut in Russia where it grossed $888,000 (Rouble 25.4m) from 105 screens. In Turkey it was more outstanding grossing $926,000 from 158 screens for a second place finish. In its debut in Denmark it also ranked second, but grossed $525,600 from 50 screens.

More information on the DVD

Title: The Last Samurai

Released: 4th May 2004

SRP: $29.95

Further Details

Warner Home Video have just announced the region one release of The Last Samurai which stars Tom Cruise, Hiroyuki Sanada and Timothy Spall. This two disc special edition release will be available to own in seperate anamorphic widescreen and fullscreen editions from the 4th May this year. Each release should set you back around $29.95 a pop. We’ve attached the full disc specs for the widescreen edition below, along with an exclusive first look at the region one artwork. We’ll bring you menu shots soon

Anamorphic Widescreen Presentation

English Dolby Digital 5.1 Track

French Dolby Digital 5.1 Track

English Dolby Surround Stereo Track

Audio Commentary by Director Edward Zwick

History vs. Hollywood: The Last Samurai Documentary

Tom Cruise: A Warrior’s Journey Featurette

Edward Zwick: Director’s Video Journal

Production Design with Lilly Kilvert Feature

Costume Design with Ngila Dickson Feature

From Soldier to Samurai: The Weapons Feature

Deleted Scenes: The Beheading & Algren and Katsumoto

Making an Epic: A Conversation with Edward Zwick

Japan Premieres {Tokyo & Kyoto Red Carpet

DVD ROM Features: Weblink Etc

English, French, Spanish Subtitles

Click on the two images below to view the Region 1 DVD covers

“The Last Samurai” is slated for release May 4 as a two-DVD set that includes an audio commentary and video journal by director Edward Zwick, a featurette on Tom, a History Channel documentary, a making-of featurette, deleted scenes and several other production and design featurettes. Warner Home Video will release it with a rental price for VHS and a lower sell-through price of $29.95 for DVD, like they did with “The Matrix Revolutions” before. Stories by Yahoo and Variety.

The Hollywood reporter reports that Tom has agreed to be honorary chair of the 2004 IFP Independent Spirit Awards, scheduled for Feb. 28 in Santa Monica. More details you find on the story by zap2it; the exec producer said they are very pleased to “honour Tom and his ongoing commitment to independent film”.

Found some huge HQ pics from the Globes, they are here

From John Travolta’s birthday Party are here

Not much news… I’ve saved the following these days.
I found the Film production chart of “Collateral” but that’s not spectaculair.
Also we heard Tom toasted Oprah with her birthday but there are no video clips of it on the internet to find, neither of Tom’s appearance in the short film on empowerment, involvement and voting which was shown during the Super Bowl’s halftime musical extravaganza, as reported by Reuters.

Worth mentioning is that we all can vote for Tom & Penélope as Most romantic couple here and vote for the Cinema Confidential Readers’ Choice Award; Tom is nominated as Best Actor, The Last Samurai as Best Picture and Tom and Ken as Best On screen duo. The voting starts soon they say here but it’s not clear where to vote exactly. On the site they say “While the nomination process was limited to those on our message boards, voting for the final awards will be open to the entire CC audience. Ballots will be online soon so keep an eye out for them” so I guess they will add a link soon!
And I hope for more interesting and fun things to post!

In an unusually strong frame for local films, “The Last Samurai” took line honors.

The champ for the fourth consecutive weekend overseas, “The Last Samurai” captured an estimated $17.7 million from debuts in 10 markets and holdovers in 45 territories, propelling cume to $272.8 million.

It overtakes “Ocean’s Eleven” to become WB Intl.’s seventh-biggest film. Tom Cruise (news) starrer conquered Russia, racking up $888,000 on 105 screens, but had to settle for second place in Turkey ($926,000 on 158) and Denmark ($526,000 on 50).

Warrior saga retained the ascendancy in its 10th stanza in Japan, commanding $2.6 million, spurring the market cume to $105.2 million — the highest grossing R-rated release locally, beating “The Matrix Reloaded.”

Tom Cruise was at John Travolta’s 50th birthday bash this weekend. Watch the video here, and click on the picture below to view all pictures from the birthday bash

This weekend, The Last Samurai grossed an estimated $23.3m (just a 25.6% drop from the prior weekend) for an international cume of $243.5m, way ahead of the domestic $107.5m total, and a worldwide cume gross to date of $351m.

The picture debuted in six territories and remained in theaters in 39 holdovers for a combined total of 5,925 screens. In Europe the film already crossed the century mark in grossed with a total gross of $105.8m making The Last Samurai Warner Brother’s eight biggest grossing film of all time there. The film opened in Finland and four small Eastern European and Middle Eastern markets, ranking No. 1 everywhere with an estimated take of $923,000. In holdovers all markets had fantastic holds except Italy where all films fell 40% as The Return of the King remained champ in its second weekend.

Italy’s total is $21.4m (4th weekend), with a drop of 39%

Spain’s total is $17.9m (4th), with a 29% drop

The U.K.’s total if $17.4m (4th), with a weekend drop of 31%

Germany’s total is $15.3m (4th), with a weekend drop of 32%

France’s total is $11.7m (3rd weekend), with a weekend drop of 38%

In Japan the film continued its phenomenal run, increasing by 21.8%! over the previous weekend for a total gross of $98.7m.

In the rest of Asia The Last Samurai’s grosses totaled $17.2m.

Latin America’s cume hit $13.8m with a 26% drop. The Tom Cruise starrer debuted in Venezuela taking in a solid $274,000 (Bolivar 435m) from 40 screens.

Australia and New Zealand’s total grew to $8m, with Australia dropping only 30%”.

Here is the cover for ARENA magazine. The interview with Kevin Smith was posted last week. Definetely worth a read! Look back in previous news items.

CW’s billion dollar track record

Happy Birthday to me!! 😀

Have you voted already? The url is http://www.moviefone.com/features/standAlone.adp?page=ama2003_vote_finalist. Go vote if you havent yet!!

Watanabe on his Oscar nomination ?— I could not have done this film, this performance without Tom. I have never seen such a passionate man

Cruise has also taped a segment for the Superbowl this Sunday. During halftime there’ll be a 12 1/2 minute show titled ‘Freedom of Choice’ which highlits the importance of personal responsibility and the right to vote.