Fast Furious to a Billion

"When you're dead, you got it made"

-Jimi Hendrix

That eerily (and tragically) prescient emark may now apply to the cast and producers of  Universal's “Furious 7″ which in the wake of the death od beloved star Paul Walker last year, crossed $1 billion at the worldwide box office Friday, becoming the studio’s first film to reach that milestone.

“Furious 7″ has grossed $735.2 million overseas in 17 days and $273.7 million in North America after 15 days — making it the fastest movie to reach $1 billion. “The Avengers,” “Avatar” and “Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows: Part 2″ had all crossed $1 billion in 19 days. Universal said the seven films in the franchise have totaled $3.392 billion in worldwide grosses.

“Furious 7″ is directed by James Wan and stars Vin Diesel, Dwayne Johnson, Paul Walker, Michelle Rodriguez, Jordana Brewster, Tyrese Gibson, Jason Statham and Ludacris.It is the 20th film to take in $1 billion, with “Avatar” leading the list at $2.79 billion, followed by “Titanic” at $2.19 billion. Paramount’s “Transformers: Age of Extinction” had been most recent addition to the list last year with a $1.09 billion worldwide gross, which leaves it in 10th place.

“We’re incredibly proud to watch ‘Fast & Furious’ take its place as the only original live-action franchise to reach these kinds of results at the box office,” said Nick Carpou, U’s head of domestic distribution. “Our cast, filmmakers and all of our Universal and ‘Fast’ family deserve credit for working so hard to make ‘Furious 7′ a huge success, and we look forward to continuing to watch the film grow over the next few weeks.”

“What started as a small film about the street racing sub-culture of East Los Angeles has become a global phenomenon, with ‘Furious 7′ shattering records in so many territories around the globe,” said Duncan Clark, president of international distribution.

Universal said “Furious 7″ chalked up the record for second-biggest worldwide opening weekend at $397.2 million behind only “Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows: Part 2.” It was the studio’s highest-grossing domestic launch at $147.2 million and international opening at $250 million.

“Furious 7″ also set records as the highest opening weekend in 29 territories and has become Universal’s highest-grossing film in 26 territories. Its $63.5 million opening day in China set a record, demolishing the previous record of $36 million for “Transformers 4.”

Ron Meyer, vice chairman of studio parent NBCUniversal, sent out a congratulatory note to the staff.

“At Universal we have had franchises with strong results at the box office, including ‘Jurassic Park,’ ‘Despicable Me’ and the ‘Bourne’ series, and although we take great pride in these accomplishments, what distinguishes ‘Fast and Furious’ is that it is an original live action concept with an entirely diverse cast,” Meyer noted. “It is the only franchise of its kind to reach a total of more than $3.39 billion and counting.”

Meyer also noted the unique circumstances created by star Paul Walker’s death in late 2013.

“When our friend and colleague Paul Walker tragically passed away in the middle of production, our team, led by Jeff Shell and Donna Langley, and the filmmakers, along with the cast and crew, did what they do best: They focused on family first; then talked to the fans; then got to work on making a great film that we can all be proud of,” he said. “We were all saddened and honored to be a part of Paul’s final career performance and to celebrate his defining role in our live

Diminishing Returns: "Horrible Bosses"

Take two proven comedic talents (the Jasons, Bateman and Sudeikis), add a couple of proven box-office draws with mixed recent results (Jamie Foxx, Jennifer Aniston), one acclaimed vet who'll take on just about any role (and do it well), throw them together and let them essentially say and do as they please, and why do you get?

In this mostly aimless rehash of the 80s classic, "9 to 5" you get far less than you may be expecting. In what has proven in one sense to be Hollywood's "summer of raunch" comedies seem to be trying to outdoing each other with crudity and vulgarity. While director Seth Gordon manages to keep the gratuitous sex and flesh almost to a minimum (save a few cheesy partial nudity romps from Aniston), no scatological reference, sexual or otherwise, is left unused. One particularly tiresome sequence has co-lead Charlie Day - playing a dental assistant - promising to do all kinds of unmentionables to his boss (Aniston) whilst a passenger in a acr being driven by his buddies, who themselves are desperatelybtrying to evade a marauding Spacey, one-third of the title's horrible triumvirate.

For those who would think me a prude, it's not so much the language. Of the film that's got me worked up, it's more that it's used in the service of.....nothing really. The aforesaid rehash is delivered with none of the madcap sense of fun or the zany style of it's predecessor (maybe the fact that the three protagonists in 9 to 5 were all women); the guest stars,apart from Spacey, who is marvelously malevolent and stylish, tend to fall flat, and the action scenes seem to be mere filler, as if huge gaps in the script demanded a car chase or a violent confrontation.

Of course, the movie opened a strong #2 to Transformers (mindless rubbish of another kind), but for moviegoers with less frivolous leanings, this one just isn't productive.

Which Summer Movie Will Be the Biggest Blockbuster?

Fast Five will be the year's highest-grossing movie by the end of next weekend, but it has plenty of competition in the weeks to come, since this summer-movie season is jam-packed with sequels and expensive would-be blockbusters. So we put it to you: When all is said and done, which 2011 summer movie will be the biggest box-office hit? Pirates of the Caribbean and Transformersboth have an amazing track record, but can their latest movies come out on top in such a crowded summer? And then there's the last Harry Potter film, which is poised to score big even if last year's Potter installment was only the fifth biggest film of the year, coming in well over $100 million behind summer champ Toy Story 3 (a precedent that might bode well for Pixar's 2011 sequel, Cars 2). Give us your prediction, and don't forget about all the potential dark horses!

Nothing to do but wait for the summer (2011)

The above line is from a Leif Garrett song (remember him?), but slogging through this Christmas, and taking note of the gigantic slate of sequels and other massive movies due next year, it could sum up the Hollywood mood right now

Among the expected box-office heavy hitters for 2K11 are:

Pirates of the Caribbean 4: On stranger Tides;
The Hangover 2;
Kung Fu Panda 2
Thor

X-Men: First Class;
Cars 2
Green Lantern

Transformers 3;
Harry Potter & The Deathly Hallows Part II (series finale ?)
Captain America

looks to be an epic summer