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Kim Hollis: I actually had been thinking it would do Wedding Crashers-type money on opening, so I wasn't completely blown out of the water by its debut. I am pretty stunned that it's holding up every bit as well as that earlier film, though. It's one of those comedies that is pleasing to a wide variety of people, and it also is a movie that feels like it has grown-up humor. I'm convinced that this is an under-served genre.

David Mumpower: Keep in mind that part of this is season-related, but Taken needed 29 days to reach $100 million. Paul Blart: Mall Cop also needed 29 days to reach $100 million. Wedding Crashers, the film most often compared to this one, needed 15 days to reach $100 million. The Hangover has made it in ten days, the same amount of time needed by Night at the Museum: Battle for the Smithsonian and Monsters vs. Aliens, the current (but soon to be passed by Up) #2 film of the year. Even those of us who aren't surprised that it has done well have to be shocked by how quickly it has reached these levels of success.

We are down with Up.

Kim Hollis: Up finished in second place this weekend, with a third consecutive performance in excess of $30 million. Its 17 day total of $187.2 million is Pixar's second-best, and eerily similar to Finding Nemo's $191.5 million in the same number of days. Why do you think Up is striking a chord at the box office to a larger degree than any of their last four films?





Josh Spiegel: I'm not so sure we should be pushing The Incredibles and Cars aside; they certainly didn't make as much as Finding Nemo, but the former film is currently the number-two Pixar movie (though Up will likely be taking that mantle when all is said and done) and the latter is one of the most successful films in terms of merchandising and kiddie appeal. Still, what Up brings to the table, and what Finding Nemo did as well, is a relatability. No, none of us may have thought of lifting our houses up with balloons and flying to South America, but the themes of regret, lost love, unfinished lives are all very familiar to us. Up just did a great job of making the story relate to everyone in the audience. Like all Pixar movies, it's not just for kids; still, I wonder if kids are more interested in this film than in Ratatouille or WALL-E. Either way, Up's performance is just as amazing as The Hangover's, if not as surprising.

Scott Lumley: It doesn't hurt that the film is unbelievably good. Cream rises to the top and all that.

Sean Collier: I'd say that combining hilarious, lovable animals with a heart-wrenching grownup story is a brilliant way to legitimately cross demographics.

Max Braden: New Hollywood rule: always work with animals and children.

Eric Hughes: ...and lots and lots of helium.

Also, let's not forget about Up being in 3D. Did any other Pixar titles do the same? One of the major reasons I saw this one in theaters (and not just waiting for DVD) was the 3D factor.

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