Summer's Film Fare: Prequels

List of new releases that face criticism

(NEWSER) - Movie fans are fuming for one reason or another about most of the blockbusters out this month, the New York Times reports—and studios find it difficult to discern potent protests from the all-too-common casual boycott. A look at which films, and why:

• Terminator Salvation upset fans because of its tame PG-13 rating.
• Trekkies are petitioning Paramount to donate part of Star Trek revenue for exploration of outer space.

(NEWSER) - Wolverine tore the box office apart this weekend, clawing in $87 million, USA Today reports. Though that’s less than the debuts of last summer’s opener (Iron Man, $98.6 million) and the top-grossing X-Men film (The Last Stand, $102 million), it still bodes well for a blockbuster season. Romcom Ghost of Girlfriends Past opened with a weak $15.3 million, while Obsessed ($12.2 million), 17 Again ($6.4 million), and Monsters vs. Aliens ($5.8 million) rounded out the top five. More»

(NEWSER) - Hollywood is in the middle of an illuminating summer. The season started strong, with Star Trek, The Hangover, and Up, before things seriously cooled off, reports the Los Angeles Times. Some big releases await, but here are some of the lessons learned so far:

• Playability has eclipsed marketability: Films with good word of mouth, like The Hangover, have done well, while Terminator and Wolverine fell flat in their second weekends.

(NEWSER) - Pixar’s Up floated to the top of the box office this weekend with $68.2 million, USA Today reports. Night at the Museum: Battle of the Smithsonian came in second with $25.5 million. Though critics loved it, Drag Me to Hell debuted to just $16.8 million, while Terminator Salvation ($16.1 million) and Star Trek ($12.8 million) rounded out the top five. More»

(NEWSER) - Even the Terminator couldn’t beat Ben Stiller's Night at the Museum: Battle of the Smithsonian, which banked $53.5 million this weekend, Reuters reports. Terminator Salvation finished second with $43.0 million—but did haul in a $56.4 million 4-day total after opening Thursday. Star Trek ($22 million), Angels & Demons ($21.4 million), and Dance Flick ($11 million) rounded out the top five. More»