Opening Day: `Up' flies to $21.4 million, `Hell' digs in for $6.4 million

"Up," the latest from Disney/Pixar, sailed to $21.4 million at the box office on Friday. That's just under the $23.2 million that the last Pixar flick -- "Wall-E" -- took in on its opening day last year en route to a $63 million first weekend.

The strong Friday means "Up" will definitely finish its first weekend looking more like "Wall-E" than Pixar's "Ratatouille," which opened at $47 million. There were projections that "Up" could hit as high as $65 million this weekend, but those might be a tad too optimistic. A safer bet would be between $57 million to $60 million. Hardly numbers to sneeze at, however.

The other major movie opening of the weekend, director Sam Raimi's finance-themed horror film "Drag Me to Hell" posted $6.4 million on Friday, which puts it on pace for a respectable $17.5 million, but below industry estimates that pegged it generating $20 million. Last year's horror picture "The Strangers" opened at $21 million.

-- Joe Flint

The only question for Disney/Pixar's "Up" is how far its opening weekend gross will fly. The bar is pretty high, given that "Wall-E" opened at $63.1 million last summer on its way to taking in $224 million in domestic box office.

Rival studios are anticipating that "Up" could hit $65 million. Tracking figures are playing it safer, projecting that "Up" will open somewhere between Pixar's "Ratatouille" ($47 million) and "Wall-E." That's like saying the Lakers will score between 80 and 100 points in their next game. 

With a storyline about an old man on the verge of losing his home who responds by filling his house with balloons and flying away, there have been questions about whether young children will embrace the film. But any impact from that will probably be felt after the opening weekend.

The other big opening this weekend -- Sam Raimi's horror film "Drag Me to Hell" -- isn't expected to be a threat to "Up," but should be a solid performer in its own right. The movie, which is distributed by Universal, is targeting an adult audience. Raimi has a strong following and if history is any guide, the movie should open north of $20 million. Last summer's horror flick "The Strangers" opened at $21 million. 

The other big question for the weekend is how "Terminator Salvation" will hold up. The Warner Bros. movie opened to a disappointing $51.9 million over Memorial Day weekend. Star Christian Bale proved capable of being the Dark Knight, but that franchise seems immune to who graces the costume. Apparently that's not the case with "Terminator."

-- Joe Flint

Photo credits: "Up," Disney/Pixar. "Drag Me to Hell," Universal Pictures.

Cue the pixie dust.

Walt Disney Animation is taking direct aim at little girls with a business initiative called Disney Fairies whose long-awaited star is finally ready for her small screen debut.

John Lasseter, chief creative officer of Walt Disney and Pixar Animation Studios, announced the much delayed "Tinker Bell" DVD on Friday, the first original title in a series of company-wide animation initiatives meant to capitalize on the fairy and princess craze among little girls.

"Tinker Bell," the first character to take wing from the Disney Fairy canon, is scheduled for direct-to-DVD release in late October, after being pushed back a year due to reported production complications. In this particular 2008 incarnation, Tink actually has a voice (actress Mae Whitman, although at one point Disney announced that Brittany Murphy would play Tink), and a lovely pair of iridescent wings:

Word has it that Tinker Bell's wings cost a pretty penny, too. At least $50 million, in addition to a key executive's job, two dozen versions of the script and a dozen different directors, according to Variety.

The female character's success should be an interesting test for Lasseter, whose Pixar animated films over the past decade have largely catered to boys. Consider the upcoming robot tale "Wall-E" (June 27), and earlier blockbusters "Cars," "Bugs," and "Monsters, Inc." Somehow Pixar and parent company Disney have managed to largely overlook a marketplace filled with little girls fixated on princesses and fairies.

Disney Animation hasn't introduced any new animated girl-centric titles and characters -- such as "The Little Mermaid" (1989), Princess Jasmine in "Aladdin" (1992), "Pocahontas" (1995) and "Mulan" (1998) -- in close to a decade. (Even "Enchanted," which was live action, was released just last year.)

But Disney's animated princess hiatus is about to change, both with the so-called Disney Fairies initiative and when Disney Feature Animation releases theatrically "The Princess and the Frog" (Christmas 2009) and "Rapunzel" (Christmas 2010).

Until then, it will be hard for parents to avoid the Disney Fairies juggernaut, which the Walt Disney Company promises to incorporate across its many divisions, including Disney Consumer Products, Disney Publishing, Disney Interactive Studios, Disney on Ice, Disney Parks and Resorts, and Disney Online.

And with that, Disney's finally going full-bore with faith, trust and pixie dust.

-- Sheigh Crabtree

Movie Projector: 'Up' to soar past $60 million; 'Drag Me to Hell' to open solidly

The only question for Disney/Pixar's "Up" is how far its opening weekend gross will fly. The bar is pretty high, given that "Wall-E" opened at $63.1 million last summer on its way to taking in $224 million in domestic box office.

Rival studios are anticipating that "Up" could hit $65 million. Tracking figures are playing it safer, projecting that "Up" will open somewhere between Pixar's "Ratatouille" ($47 million) and "Wall-E." That's like saying the Lakers will score between 80 and 100 points in their next game. 

With a storyline about an old man on the verge of losing his home who responds by filling his house with balloons and flying away, there have been questions about whether young children will embrace the film. But any impact from that will probably be felt after the opening weekend.

The other big opening this weekend -- Sam Raimi's horror film "Drag Me to Hell" -- isn't expected to be a threat to "Up," but should be a solid performer in its own right. The movie, which is distributed by Universal, is targeting an adult audience. Raimi has a strong following and if history is any guide, the movie should open north of $20 million. Last summer's horror flick "The Strangers" opened at $21 million. 

The other big question for the weekend is how "Terminator Salvation" will hold up. The Warner Bros. movie opened to a disappointing $51.9 million over Memorial Day weekend. Star Christian Bale proved capable of being the Dark Knight, but that franchise seems immune to who graces the costume. Apparently that's not the case with "Terminator."

-- Joe Flint

Photo credits: "Up," Disney/Pixar. "Drag Me to Hell," Universal Pictures.

Cue the pixie dust.

Walt Disney Animation is taking direct aim at little girls with a business initiative called Disney Fairies whose long-awaited star is finally ready for her small screen debut.

John Lasseter, chief creative officer of Walt Disney and Pixar Animation Studios, announced the much delayed "Tinker Bell" DVD on Friday, the first original title in a series of company-wide animation initiatives meant to capitalize on the fairy and princess craze among little girls.

"Tinker Bell," the first character to take wing from the Disney Fairy canon, is scheduled for direct-to-DVD release in late October, after being pushed back a year due to reported production complications. In this particular 2008 incarnation, Tink actually has a voice (actress Mae Whitman, although at one point Disney announced that Brittany Murphy would play Tink), and a lovely pair of iridescent wings:

Word has it that Tinker Bell's wings cost a pretty penny, too. At least $50 million, in addition to a key executive's job, two dozen versions of the script and a dozen different directors, according to Variety.

The female character's success should be an interesting test for Lasseter, whose Pixar animated films over the past decade have largely catered to boys. Consider the upcoming robot tale "Wall-E" (June 27), and earlier blockbusters "Cars," "Bugs," and "Monsters, Inc." Somehow Pixar and parent company Disney have managed to largely overlook a marketplace filled with little girls fixated on princesses and fairies.

Disney Animation hasn't introduced any new animated girl-centric titles and characters -- such as "The Little Mermaid" (1989), Princess Jasmine in "Aladdin" (1992), "Pocahontas" (1995) and "Mulan" (1998) -- in close to a decade. (Even "Enchanted," which was live action, was released just last year.)

But Disney's animated princess hiatus is about to change, both with the so-called Disney Fairies initiative and when Disney Feature Animation releases theatrically "The Princess and the Frog" (Christmas 2009) and "Rapunzel" (Christmas 2010).

Until then, it will be hard for parents to avoid the Disney Fairies juggernaut, which the Walt Disney Company promises to incorporate across its many divisions, including Disney Consumer Products, Disney Publishing, Disney Interactive Studios, Disney on Ice, Disney Parks and Resorts, and Disney Online.

And with that, Disney's finally going full-bore with faith, trust and pixie dust.

-- Sheigh Crabtree

Pixar's John Lasseter unveils 'Tinker Bell,' costly star of new Disney Fairies initiative

Cue the pixie dust.

Walt Disney Animation is taking direct aim at little girls with a business initiative called Disney Fairies whose long-awaited star is finally ready for her small screen debut.

John Lasseter, chief creative officer of Walt Disney and Pixar Animation Studios, announced the much delayed "Tinker Bell" DVD on Friday, the first original title in a series of company-wide animation initiatives meant to capitalize on the fairy and princess craze among little girls.

"Tinker Bell," the first character to take wing from the Disney Fairy canon, is scheduled for direct-to-DVD release in late October, after being pushed back a year due to reported production complications. In this particular 2008 incarnation, Tink actually has a voice (actress Mae Whitman, although at one point Disney announced that Brittany Murphy would play Tink), and a lovely pair of iridescent wings:

Word has it that Tinker Bell's wings cost a pretty penny, too. At least $50 million, in addition to a key executive's job, two dozen versions of the script and a dozen different directors, according to Variety.

The female character's success should be an interesting test for Lasseter, whose Pixar animated films over the past decade have largely catered to boys. Consider the upcoming robot tale "Wall-E" (June 27), and earlier blockbusters "Cars," "Bugs," and "Monsters, Inc." Somehow Pixar and parent company Disney have managed to largely overlook a marketplace filled with little girls fixated on princesses and fairies.

Disney Animation hasn't introduced any new animated girl-centric titles and characters -- such as "The Little Mermaid" (1989), Princess Jasmine in "Aladdin" (1992), "Pocahontas" (1995) and "Mulan" (1998) -- in close to a decade. (Even "Enchanted," which was live action, was released just last year.)

But Disney's animated princess hiatus is about to change, both with the so-called Disney Fairies initiative and when Disney Feature Animation releases theatrically "The Princess and the Frog" (Christmas 2009) and "Rapunzel" (Christmas 2010).

Until then, it will be hard for parents to avoid the Disney Fairies juggernaut, which the Walt Disney Company promises to incorporate across its many divisions, including Disney Consumer Products, Disney Publishing, Disney Interactive Studios, Disney on Ice, Disney Parks and Resorts, and Disney Online.

And with that, Disney's finally going full-bore with faith, trust and pixie dust.

-- Sheigh Crabtree