Marquee History
Week 45 - 2015
By Max Braden
November 9, 2015
Welcome to Marquee History, the weekly column that takes you back to a time when you - or your parents - were younger. Prepare to become nostalgic (and shocked) at how much time has passed when you recall what was new in theaters 10, 15, 20, 25, and 30 years ago.
This week's highlights are the 25th anniversary of Dances With Wolves plus some early accolades for Keira Knightley and Laura Linney.
Here are the movies that premiered on theater marquees this week...
10 years ago - November 11, 2005
Zathura
If I were to make a mental list of unexpected transitions in Hollywood history, I think Jon Favreau’s seemingly effortless rise to blockbuster director would be near the top. From the early and mid 1990s Favreau was typically found in supporting roles. Yet, in just over five years, he went from a $5 million budget for his own project Made in 2001, to Elf with Will Ferrell, to this $65 million project, to helming Iron Man. Bravo, Jon. Zathura is a sci-fi adventure based on the book by Chris Van Allsburg with Josh Hutcherson, Jonah Bobo, and Kristen Stewart (a few years before they would breakout in Hollywood) as siblings who get sucked into a battle against aliens after playing a board game they find in their basement, much like the adaptation of Jumanji. Reviews were good but releasing Zathura between Chicken Little and and the next Harry Potter sequel hurt its box office chances. Zathura opened at #2 behind Chicken Little with $13.4 million at 3,223 theaters, and only earned $29.2 million during its run.
Derailed
Clive Owen and Jennifer Aniston star professionals who have a chance encounter and then begin an affair, in this thriller based on the novel by James Siegel. Owen’s star was rising after receiving an Oscar nomination for Closer, and Aniston had been in the hit comedy Along Came Polly, both released the year before, which might explain audience interest in a moody movie that was panned by critics. Derailed opened at #3 with $12.2 million at 2,443 theaters and went on to gross $36 million in the U.S.
Get Rich or Die Tryin’
Queens rapper 50 Cent seemingly came out of nowhere to dominate the rap charts in early 2003 with his album Get Rich or Die Tryin’, featuring the single In da Club. The press around his success noted that he had survived nine gunshots in an attack only a few years earlier. It’s the kind of background that makes for a great story, so like 8 Mile (for which 50 Cent had contributed four tracks), Curtis Jackson got his own biopic. Reviews were mixed and the movie was not as successful as 8 Mile. Get Rich or Die Tryin’ opened at #4 with $12 million from 1,652 theaters, eventually earning $30.9 million overall.
Pride and Prejudice
Keira Knightley Matthew Macfadyen star as Elizabeth Bennet and Mr. Darcy in the adaptation of Jane Austen’s period novel. Despite opening at only 215 theaters this weekend, Pride and Prejudice still managed to earn enough for a top ten spot with $2.8 million. It expanded to wide release for the Thanksgiving weekend and had earned $38 million by the Academy Awards ceremony. The film earned Keira Knightley her first Oscar nomination, along with nominations for Art Direction, Costume Design, and Original Score. Wright won a BAFTA award for Most Promising Newcomer and followed that up with Atonement in 2007, again starring Knightley.
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