It’s a Wrap – Chuck Norris Watches The Watchmen

It's a Wrap - featuring Watchmen’s opening weekend, talk of a Missing in Action remake, and worrying times for Blockbuster.


The long awaited movie adaptation of Watchmen hit screens on Friday, opening in the top spot in the U.S. with $55.5m over the three-day weekend. Despite this being the largest opening so far in 2009, analysts had expected Watchmen to surpass director Zack Snyder’s previous effort 300, which grossed $70.9 million on the same weekend in 2007.

This might be seen as a disappointment but Watchmen has a longer running time than 300 and positive reviews and repeat business should see the film turn a healthy profit during it’s theatrical run.

In other box-office news, Best Picture winner Slumdog Millionaire continues to attract a strong audience and has now pulled in over $220m world-wide. Meanwhile director Danny Boyle has moved to squash rumours that he will helm the 23rd instalment in the Bond franchise, announcing through a spokesperson that while he is a fan of the films he has no intention of ever directing one.

Check back tomorrow for the latest U.K. Box Office Top Ten here at FlickeringMyth.com.

WWE Studios, the feature film arm of Vince McMahon’s sports entertainment empire, has announced it will produce a remake of Chuck Norris 80’s actioner Missing in Action, updating the film to a modern, middle-east setting. No word yet on who'll be donning the beard as Colonel James Braddock.

WWE Studios have released three movies headlined by their in-house wrestlers - See No Evil, The Marine, and The Condemned - and their fourth effort, the John Cena-starring 12 Rounds, arrives later this month. I personally found The Marine to be an atrocity but The Condemned had it’s moments and WWE should have the potential to carve a strong share of the direct-to-DVD action market, considering their flash production values and existing audience.

However, with an upcoming slate consisting of The Marine 2 and the newly announced Chuck Norris remake, I wonder if the creative talent at WWE Studios is already Missing in Action (sorry). Oh, and remember what happened the last time WWE employees crossed Chuck:



Finally, there’s been talk this week that rental giant Blockbuster is exploring the possibility of bankruptcy. The migration of customers towards online downloads and mailed rentals is said to have left Blockbuster falling behind, and surely it would mark the death-knell for the video rental store if the chain were to fold.

I for one hope that the company can turn itself around, or where would I get my steady supply of ex-rentals??