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Brandon Scott: I think new ideas are being explored but in the long run, the Super Bowl will always remain the chief attraction on the weekend, so I don't see counter-programming going by the wayside anytime soon. The fact that Liam Neeson is an older and respected actor made this opening work as opposed to putting Vin Diesel in the slot or someone younger (i.e. - a little more in tune with the SB demographic).

Jason Lee: Between the grosses for Taken and Hannah Montana 3-D, I think that the industry has finally woken up to the fact that there's money to be made on this weekend. No more "Sony wins the weekend by default with some schlocky picture," I honestly believe that Super Bowl weekend will be competitive over the next couple of years.

David Mumpower: I agree with Brandon that the Super Bowl is always going to be a factor. The last two years have had the highest number of viewers ever and when 95 million people are taken out of the equation, Sunday box office is automatically destroyed. That said, Friday and Sunday are still two strong days that should not be ceded, making this an intriguing landing spot for films studios know will be of the "one and done" variety.

Look, another horror movie

Kim Hollis: The Uninvited, the latest disposable horror project, managed only $10.3 million. What should Paramount take from this result?

Max Braden: They should take the result and be happy with it. I'm not sure they would have gotten more if Taken wasn't opening at the same time.

Joel Corcoran: I think Max put it best. The only thing I can add is: What the hell is David Strathairn doing in this movie? I wouldn't expect an actor with such a long and distinguished collection of great roles to be in such a throw-away movie. Someone like Gerard Butler, maybe, but not David Strathairn.





Brandon Scott: Was that a cheap shot at Gerard Butler? This is Sparta, Joel! He might get his Wild Bunch (RockNRolla) after you for such a statement. I was actually surprised to see Strathairn in there as well. I mean, he is John Sayles' muse after all. I think maybe this is a bit of horror burnout in recent weeks to be honest. I wouldn't mind inviting Elizabeth Banks to my house, for what it's worth.

Joel Corcoran: It wasn't intended as a cheap shot at all. I think Gerard Butler is a fine actor, but the length of his acting resume and breadth of the roles he's played is...well, to be polite, it's not as extensive as many other actors.

Scott Lumley: I'm not even sure The Uninvited even qualifies as a horror film. Shouldn't the commercials for a horror film be at least moderately scary?

Sean Collier: Not to deliver my 321st rant about how PG-13 horror is a fool's errand, but let's compare the results for My Bloody Valentine 3-D with these. Valentine didn't exactly knock it out of the park, but managed a much more respectable take, partially on gimmick and partially on its appeal as sort of a slasher throwback. Horror needs two things: some freakin' adult content and a gimmick. The Uninvited had neither, and thus floundered.

Jason Lee: Granted, I don't watch a lot of TV but I didn't see a single commercial for this film.

David Mumpower: Forget David Strathairn (whom I love) for a moment. What is Elizabeth Banks doing in this? She's been in six wide release movies in the last 12 months. I think it's time for her (or her agent) to learn how to say no to people. The Meet Daves and the The Uninviteds counteract all of the goodwill a Role Models creates.

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