At the end of 2005, DreamWorks was sold to Paramount for approximately $1.6 billion. But it seems like Spielberg wasn’t happy with the deal. He now wants to reinvent the company and raise $1 billion in third-party financing to be able to create his own movies again.

Since the beginning of May, his contract allows him to discuss options with competitors. Since then, he has been in talks with Universal, Disney and Fox to distribute the future movies of the company. And while Spielberg is under contract until 2010, he has an escape clauses to terminate the contract if he wants to get out early. As has his right hand Stacey Snider. “Stacey is the next generation, and Steven is very committed to her,” one source said.

Steven Spielberg’s latest film, ‘Indiana Jones 4,’ could be an early sign of his parting with Paramount. The company only did the distribution for the movie, with mixed reviews. Some say the movie should’ve reached a domestic gross of $300 million by now, while it currently stands at a little over $250 mill. And while $580 worldwide seems like a good number, Spielberg might have expected a little more after the +$700 million ‘Transformers’ made last year. A movie he and DreamWorks produced together.

It’s the ultimate box office battle. The special effects male type driven ‘Indiana Jones 4′ against the pink chick flick ‘Sex and the City.’ Last weekend ‘Sex’ won, but this weekend Indy managed to beat ‘Sex and the City’ in the US. Internationally? Not so much. As in the US this weekend, it was a close call. ‘Sex’ grossed an estimated $38.1 million, while ‘Indiana Jones’ couldn’t get past $36 mill. But remember, ‘Sex and the City’ has yet to launch in some territories. Sex’ box office result came from 25 territories, while Indy’s came from 60.

‘Sex and the City’ now stand at $91.3 million overseas and will likely pass $200 million worldwide this Monday. It is turning out to be one of the most successful female driven movies of all time. Meanwhile, ‘Indiana Jones 4′ has an overseas total of $326 million, making a worldwide total of $580 million. It has now passed ‘Iron Man’ as the most successful movie of 2008 worldwide.

Continue reading ‘Indiana Jones 4′ can’t beat ‘Sex’ overseas

The weekend ended as expected. $60 mill for ‘Kung Fu Panda’ and $40 for ‘You Don’t Mess with the Zohan,’ the studios reported earlier today. Both DreamWorks Animation and Adam Sandler can be pleased. DreamWorks only opened higher with ‘Shrek 2′ and ‘Shrek the Third’ and Sandler had his usual $40 million opening. Nothing to be ashamed of, I’d say.

We noted how ‘Indiana Jones 4′ and ‘Sex and the City’ swapped places yesterday, and they didn’t swap back this Sunday. Indy did $6.7 million on Sunday, while ‘Sex’ grossed another $6 mill. Their totals were respectively $22.8 million and $21.3 million. A close call and I expected a higher second weekend for ‘Sex and the City,’ after it held up so well during the weekdays. Monday and Tuesday will show its definite staying power. I personally expect it to hop to the third place again, maybe even passing ‘Zohan.’

‘The Strangers’ came in last, but not least. Considering the $9 million budget, it had an amazing second weekend. It topped its budget with $9.3 million and now stands at a total of $37.5 million. This must give Liv Tyler a lot of credit at the box office.

Next week is another big one. Will ‘The Incredible Hulk’ smash into the box office? And does ‘The Happening’ even stand a chance?