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Welcome to another edition of 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.

Like romances, the weekend after Valentine’s Day experiences a break up at the box office, with new films struggling to compete.  Among them is the overlooked gem Starter for 10, plus the 40th anniversary of Slap Shot.

Here are the movies that premiered on theater marquees this week…

10 YEARS AGO

The Number 23 - February 23, 2007
Like many comedians, Jim Carrey had ventured into drama with movies like The Truman Show, Man on the Moon and The Majestic, but this project was an especially unfunny thriller.  Carrey plays a regular guy who becomes obsessed with connections surrounding the number 23, leading him into a plot involving murder and suicide.  Critics rejected the film but the trailers intrigued audiences enough to make it #2 behind Ghost Rider with $14.6 million from 2,759 theaters. The end result was a $35.1 million domestic gross for something that cost twice as much.

Reno 911!: Miami - February 23, 2007
Comedy Central’s cop series was in its fourth season when this film was released.  Thomas Lennon, Robert Ben Garant, and Kerri Kenney-Silver portray the Reno Sheriff’s Department members as they travel to Miami Beach for a police convention but find themselves the only ones available to police the city as the convention is on lockdown.  Patton Oswalt plays the city Mayor and main antagonist.  Reno 911!: Miami opened at #4 behind Bridge to Terabithia with $10.2 million and eventually earned $20.3 million.

The Astronaut Farmer - February 23, 2007
Billy Bob Thornton plays Charles Farmer, a ranch owner and former USAF pilot who fulfills his dream of becoming an astronaut by building a rocket in his own barn.  The film debuted at #9 with $4.4 million and earned $11 million.

Amazing Grace - February 23, 2007
Ioan Gruffudd portrays William Wilberforce, the English Member of Parliament who led the anti-slavery movement from 1787 to the abolishment of the slave trade in 1807.  The title comes from his association with John Newton, played by Albert Finney here, who wrote the words to the famous hymn.  Benedict Cumberbatch (this and Starter for 10 were his first first notable appearances in theatrical releases), Michael Gambon, Toby Jones, and Ciaran Hinds co-star.  Amazing Grace opened at #10 with $4 million from just 791 theaters and earned $21.2 million as well as a solid reception among critics.

The Abandoned - February 23, 2007
Perhaps the only reason this horror flick is notable is for its terrible box office performance: opening at 1,000 theaters, it earned less than a million dollars this weekend.  Contrasting its per-theater average of $782 with the $5000+ averages for the box office leaders, The Abandoned fell into the top 25 of the worst opening averages over the past two decades.

Starter for 10 - February 23, 2007
Showing on only 20 screens this weekend, this film was missed by many and didn’t make a dent at the box office. Still, it’s worth a look as a rental, both for the romantic comedy and for the early appearance of actors we know more prominently in 2017:  James McAvoy plays a university student in London who falls for his classmate, played by Alice Eve, while overlooking the girl right in front of him, played by Rebecca Hall.  Benedict Cumberbatch plays the captain of the university’s quiz team, and James Corden, Dominic Cooper, and Charles Dance have supporting roles.  At the time of release I compared Starter for 10 to Real Genius in tone.  It’s one of my favorite overlooked films in the past ten years - go rent it!

Also in limited release this weekend, Gray Matters starred Heather Graham, Bridget Moynahan, and Thomas Cavanagh.

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