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SUNDAY, NOVEMBER 22, 2009
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NEWS ABOUT: Universal Pictures

Universal Pictures stories: 11 news summaries

 Hollywood Heads Roll 
 as DVD Sales Plunge 

New studio heads place bets on 'branded entertainment'

Oct 8, 09 8:44 AM CDT
(Newser) - In previous downturns, the corporate owners of America's movie studios would cut Hollywood some slack. Not anymore: these days, the corporate suites of LA look like the aftermath of a slasher flick, with old hands kicked out at Disney, Universal, MGM, and Paramount. With DVD sales down 25% and... More »

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entertainment • Hollywood • Disney • recession • Universal Pictures • Paramount • MGM • movie industry • firing

(Newser) - Dr Suess' green-themed story The Lorax is becoming the first of his works to get the 3D treatment, Variety reports. Universal Pictures and Illumination Entertainment plan to release the animated picture in 2012, on what would have been the author's 108th birthday. His 1971 book told the story of a... More »

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Dr. Seuss • Universal Pictures • children's books • movie deal • animated movie • 3-D • The Lorax

Mummy Sequel Misses Top Spot at Box Office

Dark Knight still rules, banking $43M in third weekend win

Aug 3, 08 5:28 PM CDT
(Newser) - Even the undead can't stop Batman: The Dark Knight defeated The Mummy: Tomb of the Dragon Emperor in its third weekend win, grossing an unexpected $43.8 million and hitting nearly $400 million. The Mummy sequel took second with $42.4 million, while Kevin Costner's Swing Vote, the only other... More »

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Universal Studios • Universal Pictures • Batman • The Dark Knight • Warner Brothers • Kevin Costner • The Mummy: Tomb of the Dragon Emperor • Swing Vote

 Wall-E Sees
 Box Office Stars 

Jolie's Wanted surprises in 2nd at weekend box office

Jun 29, 08 5:30 PM CDT
(Newser) - Wall-E charmed filmgoers and Angelina Jolie's Wanted beat out expectations in a strong box office weekend, Variety reports. The Pixar-Disney animation flick banked $62.5 million while Wanted raked in $51.1 million. Get Smart held at third with $20 million and Kung Fu Panda kicked up $11.7 million... More »

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Angelina Jolie • Pixar • Disney • box office • Universal Pictures • Wall-E • Wanted

 Get Smart
 Gets Rich
 at Box Office 

Mike Myers' 'Love Guru' fails to impress

Jun 22, 08 3:36 PM CDT
(Newser) - Mike Myers' Love Guru failed to work its mojo at the box office this weekend, caving to Get Smart, which raked in $39.1 million. It wasn't a close race: Myers' live-action comedy grossed $14 million, coming in at No. 4. The Incredible Hulk and Kung Fu Panda—in their... More »

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box office • Universal Pictures • Michael Myers • Warner Brothers • Paramount • The Incredible Hulk • The Love Guru • Kung Fu Panda • Get Smart

Baby Mama Tickles Box Office Rally

Chick flick laffer
helps spark 17%
ticket surge

Apr 27, 08 7:02 PM CDT
(Newser) - Comedy sparked a box office comeback this weekend as Baby Mama banked $18.3 million from mostly female film-goers, Variety reports. Also fueling the 17.2% hike over last year's frame were stoner sequel Harold & Kumar Escape from Guantanamo Bay with $14.6 million in second, and Jackie Chan's... More »

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film • comedy • Tina Fey • box office • Universal Pictures • Jackie Chan • Amy Poehler • movies • Baby Mama • Sarah Marshall

Board Games Set for Turn
on Big Screen

Monopoly, Candy Land to follow in steps of Transformers, Toy Story

Feb 21, 08 10:07 AM CST
(Newser) - Paramount has the rights to any Transformers sequels, but a new deal with toymaker Hasbro guarantees Universal Pictures sole access to nearly all the company's iconic brands, including board games. The studio is said to be developing a Monopoly film, and a new live-action version of the game Clue may... More »

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Hasbro • Paramount Pictures • Universal Pictures • Monopoly • Candy Land • Clue • Ouija Board • Magic: The Gathering • Mr. Potato Head • movies

Vudu to Match DVD HD Releases

Service will offer HD downloads same day DVDs hit stores

Dec 10, 07 10:37 PM CST
(Newser) - The Bourne Ultimatum, the Matt Damon action movie, will be available online Tuesday - the same day as the DVD reaches video stores. AP reports it's the first of many high-definition movies to be released by Vudu, the on-demand video service. Vudu, which sells its set-top box for $399, will... More »

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Paramount Pictures • Universal Pictures • The Bourne Ultimatum • Vudu • The Bourne Identity • The Bourne Supremacy • Lionsgate • movies

Fans to Reach Nirvana at
the Movies

Courtney Love will produce Universal bio-pic on Kurt Cobain

Oct 19, 07 3:11 AM CDT
(Newser) - The story of Nirvana frontman Kurt Cobain will soon come to life on the big screen, Variety reports. Universal Pictures has commissioned a screenplay about the troubled life of the grunge rocker, which will be based on the Cobain biography “Heavier than Heaven.” Courtney Love, the rocker’... More »

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Courtney Love • Kurt Cobain • Nirvana • Universal Pictures • Heavier than Heaven • Smells Like Teen Spirit

Ang Lee's 'Lust' Too Hot for Hollywood

Ratings group slaps 'Brokeback' director's new flick with NC-17

Aug 25, 07 1:45 PM CDT
(Newser) - Focus Features says it will stand by Ang Lee and his racy new war flick “Lust, Caution,” even though a movie trade group branded the film NC-17. The film industry's Scarlet Letter could cost the pic audiences, ad dollars, and theater distribution, but Focus CEO James Schamus said... More »

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Hollywood • film • MPAA • movie review • World War II • Universal Pictures • adult films • Ang Lee • Focus Features • Chinese • Brokeback Mountain • Lust, Caution • movie industry • movies

'Bourne'
Bests
Bond

Damon's spy thriller earns more in debut than any 007 film

Aug 5, 07 6:13 PM CDT
(Newser) - Hollywood’s top spy has a new name: Bourne, Jason Bourne. The Bourne Ultimatum shattered box office records this weekend by racking up the largest August opening ever, Variety reports. Domestically, the Matt Damon vehicle grossed $70.2 million, more than the two previous “Bourne” flicks or any James... More »

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Hollywood • film • box office • Matt Damon • James Bond • Universal Pictures • The Bourne Ultimatum • movies

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