The Top Ten 3D Movies Of 2009

Jim here. So what do you think - consensus on everybody's number 1? :-) I think so! Anyway, this list was due and I am sure others will want to voice their opinion as well so feel free to chime in with your top ten list too.

Here is mine in reverse order (Title - Studio | World Box Office | Tomatometer | Format - comment):

10. G-FORCE - Disney | $283m | 24% Fresh | CG / Live Action - A notable conversion effort.
9. THE FINAL DESTINATION - Warners | $153m | 28% Fresh | Live Action - Interesting seeing Death work in three dimensions.
8. DISNEY'S A CHRISTMAS CAROL - Disney | $255m | 55% Fresh | CG MoCap - Visually quite stunning, though character's faces were soulless.
7. MY BLOODY VALENTINE 3D - Lionsgate | $100m | 55% Fresh | Live Action - Very good revisit to the original horror.
6. MONSTERS VS. ALIENS - DWA | $382m | 72% Fresh | Animation - Not Dreamworks best, but far from worst. Expect much more with HTTYD.
5. CLOUDY WITH A CHANCE OF MEATBALLS - Sony | $195m | 85% Fresh | Animation - Excellent first outing in 3D animation for Sony. Impressed. Rivals DWA today.
4. CORALINE - Focus Features | $122m | 89% Fresh | Stop Motion - Henry Selick's vision and attention to details is astounding.
3. ICE AGE: DAWN OF THE DINOSAURS - Fox | $888m | 45% Fresh | Animation - There is no doubting the worldwide popularity. Family Appeal.
2. UP - Pixar | $683m | 98% Fresh | Animation - A masterpiece of storytelling. 3D used well.
1. AVATAR - Fox | $760m, Still In Theaters | 83% Fresh | CG PerfCap / Live Action - Revolutionary Cinema. Nothing short of an event movie for this generation. A must see... twice.

Honorable Mention: TOY STORY 1 & 2 3D Conversions.
Worst of 2009: BATTLE FOR TERRA

There is no doubting AVATAR as the top 3D movie of 2009. It may be the top MOVIE of the past decade. I certainly believe it is. Pixar has a heckuva entry with UP because the story is typical Pixar and so is the visual quality. And ICE AGE: DAWN OF THE DINOSAURS was great family fun AND it raked in the cash.

All in all, a superb year for 3D! I look forward to 2010 and all the surprises in store: ALICE IN WONDERLAND, HOW TO TRAIN YOUR DRAGON, SHREK FOREVER AFTER, TOY STORY 3, MEGAMIND, RAPUNZEL, BEAUTY AND THE BEAST, SAW VII, TRON LEGACY to name a few.

Stay tuned for the 2010 3D Movie Viewing Guide! Now what is your top ten list for 3D in 2009?

ICE AGE: DAWN OF THE DINOSAURS Has Racked Up $600m Overseas Alone! 3D Has Arrived Baby!!

Jim here. An LATimes article caught my eye because I had been watching this movie CLOSELY - I named it as my #5 most anticipated 3D movie of 2009 last year. According to Box Office Mojo, Ice Age 3 has pulled in $601,259,279 internationally and $191,038,252 domestically as of the 17th.

It's got a great voice cast, entertaining story, family appeal and enduring characters but, hey - don't fool yourself! This puppy is in 3D and 40% of the revenues have come from the premium priced experience.

Let me say that again. $240 million from 3D alone overseas! The only movie that comes close to these numbers in many countries is TITANIC - and we all know the director of that little historical piece has another sci-fi coming out (he has done a few sci-fi's before...) in December. Seems almost poetic.

I say the markets are being warmed up perfectly for a phenomenally large box office for AVATAR. I love it when a plan comes together. Ice Age is the stepping stone. We are witnessing history here guys...

The Year Of 3D: A Massive Paradigm Shift Is Happening

Jim here. 2009 was always going to be "The Year Of 3D". Even a financial crisis around the world cannot hold it back and that is saying something. Despite credit drying up and trying economic times, people are flocking to the theater - and in particular 3D theaters.

The real numbers are spectacular. Take the current monster box office hit ICE AGE: DAWN OF THE DINOSAURS - It will hit $152 million in domestic take this weekend.

Variety has a great piece about this - here is an excerpt (emphasis is mine):
"Overseas auds are proving every bit as willing as moviegoers in the U.S. to pay a premium for 3-D films. Of the 11,652 screens that "Dawn of the Dinosaurs" opened on, only 2,126 were 3-D screens, or 18%. Yet the 3-D playdates generated $51 million in ticket sales, or 34% of the total opening gross.

The dazzling overall results underscore the revenue potential of 3-D titles, as well as the value of a family franchises like Ice Age, of which "Dawn of the Dinosaurs" is the third installment.

"Dawn of the Dinosaurs" should ultimately gross more than any summer tentpole besides "Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince." It's already passing Sony's "Angels and Demons" ($334 million to date) and should soon overtake Paramount's "Transformers: Revenge of the Fallen" ($365.1 million to date).

Theater owners also say the return on the investment they made to install 3-D screens has been quicker than expected."

So ICE AGE is doing exceedingly well. Theater owners are finally seeing the polarized light and making more money. What about the other 3D movies?

Here are the leading 3D movies of the year so far:

- ICE AGE: DAWN OF THE DINOSAURS - $152m Domestic / $362m Foreign / $514m World (Still Playing - 19 Days)
- MONSTERS VS. ALIENS - $198m Domestic / 176m Foreign / $374m World (112 Days)
- Pixar's UP - $279m Domestic / $48m Foreign / $327m World (Still Playing - 52 Days)
- CORALINE - $75m Domestic / $39m Foreign / $114m World (147 Days)
- MY BLOODY VALENTINE 3-D - $52m Domestic / $24m Foreign / $76m World (56 Days)

The biggest issue this year has been the lack of 3D screens and having to cut short successful 3D runs for the next release - a prime example was CORALINE being cut short by The Jonas Brothers concert movie which ultimately proved NOT to be another Hannah Montana windfall.

Now with theater owners realizing just how fast the return on investment will be for 3D screens, we are seeing more and more conversions - just in time for the fall and winter seasons.

We all know what happens when AVATAR hits on December 18 - and it will be the icing on the cake for The Year Of 3D. And will it ever taste sweet. The past few years have been full of debunking your standard movie journalist and blogger fodder of '3D is a gimmick or a fad' and finally - FINALLY - most are catching on that 3D is here to stay and is a welcomed improvement to how we view movies.

AVATAR is not the only big 3D movie coming out in the next several months - we also have G-FORCE, THE FINAL DESTINATION, CLOUDY WITH A CHANCE OF MEATBALLS, TOY STORY 1 & 2 and A CHRISTMAS CAROL. All of which will find success.

But when James Cameron's epic 3D adventure AVATAR hits us, it is game over. PARADIGM SHIFT. We will see things that will leave us spellbound - think STAR WARS, THE MATRIX and JURASSIC PARK all wound up into an even greater story and universe. Then add the best stereographic 3D immersion possible from the master himself.

I can't think of a better way to cap off The Year Of 3D than by seeing records fall through AVATAR. Think TRANSFORMERS 2 made some money? Think again - AVATAR will have much better special effects (photo real!), better acting, better directing (Bay is still against shooting in 3D!) and a better story. Did I mention that it will have a better story? I don't think TF2 had a story really, other than Shia swapping out his "no, no, no, no, no" in favor of "go, go, go, go, go". But AVATAR has been in development for over a decade by one of the world's greatest storytellers.

It will be a very good year when all is said and done. The beauty of it is that we are just at the cusp of something truly wonderful. Spielberg and Jackson are coming. So is Ridley and Bruckheimer. So are many, MANY more. It is going to be a heckuva ride and I am ecstatic I have been in it since day one! And like I said, when AVATAR hits us... Shift Happens.

Stats courtesy of BoxOfficeMojo.

ICE AGE 3D And TRANSFORMERS 2 Battle It Out At The Box Office

**UPDATE: July 5 - Both movies are neck and neck at $42.5 million projected for the weekend - Interesting race! Still say 3D wins out (in fewer theaters mind you!)- here are the estimates (Box Office Mojo):

WEEKEND TOP 5 STUDIO ESTIMATES, JULY 3-5, 2009

Movie Title (Distributor) | Weekend Gross | Theaters | Total Gross | Week #

1. Ice Age: Dawn of the Dinosaurs (Fox)
$42.5 million | 4,099 | $67.5 million | 1

1. Transformers: Revenge of the Fallen (Paramount (DreamWorks))
$42.5 million | 4,234 | $293.5 million | 2

3. Public Enemies (Universal)
$26.2 million | 3,334 | $41.0 million | 1

4. The Proposal (Buena Vista)
$12.8 million | 3,099 | $94.2 million | 3

5. The Hangover (Warner Bros.)
$10.4 million | 3,070 | $204.2 million | 5

Jim here. After the 3D animated movie ICE AGE: DAWN OF THE DINOSAURS captured top spot in the box office on this past Wednesday ($13.8m vs $11m), TRANSFORMERS 2 in plain ol' 2D managed to grab back Thursday ($11.5m vs. $11.1m) and Friday's crown ($17.8m vs. $17m) so it is anybody's guess for today's victory as the afternoon matinees light up.

My money is on ICE AGE as the families will be out in full force this weekend. And lets face it - and Michael Bay better be facing it too: If he had done TF2 in 3D, his box office would have been monstrous. And he definitely would have taken the all time 5 day release record from THE DARK KNIGHT.

Bay still claims he is not interested in 3D at the moment but we all know Bay is all about the money. He doesn't hide from it either - it is clear in his interviews: A recent Forbes magazine article has him boldly entitled "Michael Bay, Making movies, enemies AND A LOT OF MONEY". So do I see 3D in Bay's future? Oh yes.

So expect ICE AGE with it's third dimension beat out TF2 today and perhaps tomorrow. The claim for the weekend is completely up in the air though. Lets see!

A World First - How About A Some 3D Gaming Before That 3D Movie!

Jim here. Thanks to Matt in the UK for sending me another great story - this time Register Hardware has the goods on a new 3D Gaming System being set up for use before 3D movies are shown in 20 UK based VUE Entertainment screens (RealD) starting on July 10, 2009.

The game seems fairly rudimentary but of course it is first generation stuff and the idea is to involve the audience with an interactive gaming experience in 3D before 3D movies. Awesome idea that is finally coming of age.

O2's ASTEROID STORM brings the viewers into the mix by using two or more infrared cameras on the theater ceiling to track their hand movements. Sections of the audience simply raise their hands to control whatever it is on the screen that they are responsible for. In this case they must maneuver a damaged space ship in an asteroid field out of harms way. The game's server then takes the audiences various hand movements and plots out the real time motion of the space ship.

Of course asteroids are coming at you in 3D while this is happening! This game will show in front of ICE AGE: DAWN OF THE DINOSAURS and TOY STORY in major UK cities.

Some locations are: Vue Leicester Square, Vue Bristol Cribbs Causeway, Vue Edinburgh Waterside, Vue Finchley road, London, Vue Kirkstall road, Leeds, Vue West End, AMC Manchester, AMC Birmingham, Truro Plaza.

Time to get this over to North America PRONTO. Think of the imaginative games you can come up with! Now, most of the time my immediate neighbors in a theater leave a lot to be desired - blazing light from their phones or incessant talking... Perhaps these games can bring us all closer together! Gain respect from your fellow movie goer and become part of the greater good!!

Ice Age: Dawn of the Dinosaurs Review

Michael here. Ice Age: Dawn of the Dinosaurs is a humongous start for Fox's 3D efforts.

The best of the three Ice Age movies, "Dawn of the Dinosaurs" is not only action-packed and funny, but is a very well-told story. Each character gets his/her own emotional arc. Truths regarding family bonds, parenting, courage, the need for love and companionship, and forging one's own trail form the movie's heart. The movie isn't sappy, though, as it acknowledges potential reasons why "herds" may break apart. Diego and Sid in particular find themselves dealing with loneliness (in Sid's case), or the need to strike out on one's own (Diego).

It also has the most audience-pleasing use of 3D in a CG animated family film to date. The pterodactyl chase and the bubble scene were some of the 3D standouts. There were no gimmicky 'stuff sticking into your face' 3D moments. Instead, the 3D draws you into the prehistoric world that the characters uncover. But I must say that I really felt an inch away from Scrat's funny-looking snout as he sniffed around for that acorn. Speaking of everyone's favorite squirrel/rat hybrid, Scrat has a love interest in the film, forming a storyline that surprises with how well it intersects with with the main plot of the movie.

The action sequences are a lot of fun - tense, well edited, and filled with character moments and humor. The movie itself played great to the crowd of parents and kids which formed the majority of my screening audience. The movie knows how to create excitement and get you cheering for the characters, and is filled with applause worthy moments. It's this great sense of pacing and payoff (both in terms of action and character) which got the audience cheering and elevates this film above the first two Ice Age movies.

Packed with jokes that work on multiple levels for audiences of all ages, the movie is very funny without resorting to pop-culture references. There were constant laughs and running commentary from the kids in the audience. In particular, Simon Pegg's character 'Buck' is an incredibly entertaining addition to the cast. His performance as a borderline crazy Australian hermit swashbuckling weasel leaps off the screen.

This movie will do great business. I'm very interested to see where the story goes next. Will it be the rumored "Ice Age: Th4w" which sees the gang getting frozen and defrosted in a modern-day museum? Or something completely different?

First Ice Age: Dawn of the Dinosaurs Clip!

Michael here.  I saw Ice Age: Dawn of the Dinosaurs tonight, and while my full review will have to wait until July 1, I can probably say that that the movie was exciting and hilarious, and the 3D was utilized wonderfully.  I'd love to go into more detail, but until July 1, saying that it is a winner will have to suffice.

To tide everyone over, here is a clip from the movie that Fox released today:

Fox Announces Next 3D Animated Film "Rio"!

Michael here.  Fox has announced that its next 3D CG animated film from Blue Sky Studios will be called Rio, and will be released on April 8, 2011.

According to Variety, Rio "centers on a nerdy macaw who leaves the comforts of his cage in small-town Minnesota and heads to Rio de Janeiro."

Carlos Saldanha, director of Ice Age: The Meltdown and co-director of the first Ice Age and the upcoming Ice Age: Dawn of the Dinosaurs, will direct.

I'm very curious to see what else Fox has planned 3D-wise.  At ShoWest, Jim Gianopulos said that there would be three 3D releases from Fox in 2010.

It's kind of weird that we now know a Fox 3D film releasing in 2011, but we are still unaware of their plans for 3D movies in 2010.  My hope is that Fox continues leading the industry in terms of pioneering epic live action 3D films in 2010 and beyond.  As much as I love 3D animated films, we really need to see more big-budget 3D live action movies greenlit.

What do you think the 3D movies from Fox in 2010 will be? Voyage of the Dawn Treader? Fantastic Voyage?  The A-Team?

Quick Post: New 3D Poster For ICE AGE: DAWN OF THE DINOSAURS

Jim here. Same poster, but with the 3D treatment! Looks cool. I know of technology that can show much longer motion as you walk by them - Rabbit Hole Media has something similar.

Click here for a link to this poster in action.

It is the obvious way to promote a 3D movie isn't it? 3D posters bring you into the movie just enough to pique interest and almost begs you to read more about it. And at least for now provides a memorable trigger for you to buy a ticket.

MUST WATCH: "Ice Age: Dawn Of The Dinosaurs" Full Trailer

Jim here. This is HILARIOUS! And I hate Ray Romano with a passion - so that is saying something. ICE AGE: DAWN OF THE DINOSAURS looks like a sure winner. It has all the elements we know and love from the originals (except Romano, lol) and delivers it in... THREE DEE.

So take a look! I hope this trailer is showing in 3D in front of MONSTERS VS. ALIENS this weekend...

New Ice Age 3 Trailer "Scrat"ches Its Way Online!

Update (Friday night) -- I just got back from seeing BOLT, which is definitely Disney's best CG feature yet.  It's hilarious and full of action and heart and should definitely be seen in 3-D.  Anyway, I also saw this Ice Age 3 trailer in 3-D in front of Bolt, and it looked amazing--clear, smooth, and immersive.  I really felt an inch away from Scrat's funny-looking snout as he sniffed around for that acorn.  So all indications are that Fox is nailing the 3-D in Ice Age 3!

Hi everyone, Michael here with a brand new Ice Age: Dawn of the Dinosaurs trailer featuring everyone's favorite squirrel/rat hybrid, Scrat! And this time, Scrat may even have a love interest. But who will win Scrat's heart--The Acorn or the girl-squirrel?

Watch the trailer over at Apple for high def!

Ice Age: Dawn of the Dinosaurs stomps into 3-D and regular theaters on July 1.

New Ice Age: Dawn of the Dinosaurs Poster!

Michael here with a new poster for Fox's July 1 third installment in the, in my opinion, greatly entertaining Ice Age franchise. 

I'm very interested to see how Fox's animated 3-D efforts compare to those of Dreamworks and Pixar, both of which also have their first from-the-ground-up 3-D films (Monsters Vs. Aliens and UP, respectively) releasing in 2009.  The 3-D flood is almost upon us! Or was that the last Ice Age movie?

source: eu.movieposter.com

Insider: "Piranha 3-D" Production Start Delayed Until March/April 2009

STYD has an inside source that claims that Alexandre Aja's "Piranha 3-D" will be pushed back from this fall to next spring (March/April).
"There just wasn't enough time for pre-production to get it done in time," says one insider. "It's all about pre-production and trying to make it the best it can be."

So will Aja be able to make his July summer release? Doubtful. Another potential reason for the delay is the sheer number of 3D movies coming out next summer and the less than optimal number of 3D screens available to watch them on. Don't forget that the Fox tentpole Ice Age: Dawn Of The Dinosaurs" opens July 1st and Disney's "G-Force" opens July 24th! It will be hard to wrestle those screens away from those guys believe me.

I wouldn't be surprised if "Piranha 3-D" is pushed to September where there is less 3D action taking place. If it doesn't make September of November, you won't see it until late spring or summer 2010 because of a little nugget coming out called AVATAR.

New "Ice Age 3" And "Monsters vs. Aliens" Poster Boards @ Cinema EXPO

Check out these new images crisp from the 2008 Cinema EXPO being held in Amsterdam. We have seen both images before but this time they are cutouts. Looks like an awesome show over there - next year perhaps! :-)

Source: Film1

First Look: "Ice Age 3: Dawn Of The Dinosaurs" Trailer Now Online!

**UPDATE April 8th - Much better version at the bottom of the post now :-)

Wow! Quite a bit of advance 3D animation viewing here - I am impressed. Gotta love early looks to whet our appetites for what is coming! Take a look at "Planet 51" in the earlier post today...

This time around it is "Ice Age 3: Dawn Of The Dinosaurs" - Take a looksee at this:

Showest Updates: Monsters vs. Aliens Pic! Disney to Release "Up" in 3D!

Keep checking back to this post as I will be updating this throughout ShoWest!

>>UPDATE: (March 12th) - "Monsters vs. Aliens" wows its ShoWest audience as footage brings loud applause! There is no doubt that Katzenberg's "Ultimate 3-D" is very successful in bringing the viewer INTO the movie rather than having objects COME OUT to you. That is the key - that is the 3D ANTI-GIMMICK. For all those who still do not believe me or Katzenberg - please check out "Monsters vs. Aliens" when it finally comes out next spring, because it won't disappoint. Of course there are other 3D release coming out soon - BUT I cannot vouch for their artistry yet.

>>UPDATE: (March 11th) - Awesome new image from Dreamworks Animation for the 2009 3D "Monsters vs. Aliens". Here are the announced actors who will lend their voices:

>Kiefer Sutherland - General W.R. Monger
>Reese Witherspoon - Susan Murphy
>Stephen Colbert - The President
>Seth Rogen - The Jellylike B.O.B.
>Rainn Wilson - The Evil Alien Gallaxhar
>Hugh Laurie - Dr. Cockroach
>Will Arnett - The Half-ape, Half-fish Missing Link

MvsA is directed by Rob Letterman and Conrad Vernon and is based on the horror comicbook "Rex Havoc". It is still set for a March 27th, 2009 release.










>> Disney is going to release "Up" in both 2D and 3D on May 29th, 2009. This now adds to their other 4 movies due for release next year namely: "G-Force" (July 24th); "Toy Story" (Oct 2nd); A Christmas Carol (Nov 6th); and "Frankenweenie". Thanks to Peter over at /Film for the info.

>> Fox's "Ice Age 3" is now known as "Ice Age: Dawn of the Dinosaurs" and is still scheduled for release July 1st, 2009.