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Max Braden: I think I made this comment last year - I see Perry as a contemporary John Hughes. I wonder if black audiences went to Hughes' less overt comedies, but they were popular because they covered a typical range of emotions without being too silly or too austere. I think Perry's films do the same for his audience. What other current writer/director is in Perry's genre - comedy/drama isn't all slapstick or too weighty?

David Mumpower: While an argument can be made for his performances being up and down as a director (low point of $11.2 million for Daddy's Little Girls, high point of $41.0 million), these releases average a debut of $23.5 million or so. This title has opened to...$23.4 million. He's hit the mark yet again and in the interim of all of these play adaptations, he's managed to procure not one but two television deals for 100 guaranteed episodes. Whether you have seen his films or not (and I have seen all of them but only enjoyed Daddy's Little Girls), you have to have a great deal of respect for his work ethic and drive. Most people enjoy the good life when they reach a certain level of success. It seems to have only pushed him more. Don't you wish more creators were this prolific while consistently satisfying their target audience?

Kim Hollis: I think you also have to keep in mind that all of his movies are making money almost immediately. They're low, low budget flicks. It's not like he has to have a $40 million or even a $20 million opener in order for a film to be a success in the long run.

It looked an awful lot like LittleBigPlanet: The Movie

Kim Hollis: 9, the world's first stitchpunk release, opened to $10.7 million and a per location average of $6,466. Should Focus Features be pleased with this result?

Josh Spiegel: Considering the potential confusion in the name (9 is not the first movie of 2009 to have that number in its title, but having District 9 at most theatres could have thrown some people off), the unique nature of the animation, and not having any box-office stars as the leads, this result is pretty solid. The five-day cume is a bit more impressive, but that per-location average is pretty close to amazing. It'll be curious to see if this movie has any solid legs; though its rating means fewer kids may see it, having a 3-D cartoon come out next week may cause a bit of a drop-off.

Reagen Sulewski: The potential title confusion is one thing, but I would have to consider this a tremendous waste of an opportunity. They had one of the more visually arresting films of the year, filled with action sequences and an easily sold premise, and it basically became an afterthought, a throw away. Now, I know Focus isn't a big player in the distribution world, but you don't become one by burying your potential blockbusters.

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