Cavemen comedy ‘The Croods’ clubbed its rivals over the weekend to claim top spot at the North American box office. 

The Dreamworks animated feature made $44.7m (£29.3m) in its first weekend in US and Canadian cinemas, according to studio 

estimates. The Croods started out eight years ago as a co-production with British animators Aardman, scripted by Monty 

Python's John Cleese. Dreamworks took over the project - originally titled Crood Awakening - when Aardman's five-film deal 

was curtailed after just two productions with the US studio. Featuring the voices of Nicolas Cage and Emma Stone, the 

film tells of a prehistoric family who encounter danger and strange new creatures when they are forced to quit their cave.

LOS ANGELES, March 24 (Xinhua) -- Dreamworks Animation has proved that it could still strike gold at the North America 

box office after parting ways with distributor Paramount Pictures, as Sunday estimates showed that its latest release, 

"The Croods," opened as the top-grossing film over the weekend.

The computer-animated comedy/adventure about a prehistorical family, featuring the voices of Nicolas Cage, Ryan Reynolds 

and Emma Stone, opened with an estimated 44.7 million U.S. dollars in ticket sales, finishing at No. 1. The feat beat 

analysts' pre- release estimated opening of 39 million dollars, and helped bring a bumper weekend to Hollywood.

The PG-rated family comedy, which was made with at least 135 million dollars, nabbed 11.6 million dollars in ticket 

sales when it opened at 4,046 theaters in the United States and Canada on Friday. The good opening was followed by an 

18.9-million-dollar haul on Saturday, putting the piece along the way to the top.

The first DreamWorks Animation computer-animated film to be distributed by Fox, "The Croods" was warmly received by the 

audience, and earned itself an "A" CinemaScore. Seventy-nine percent of the moviegoers liked it, according to reviews 

aggregator Rottentomatoes.com, while merely 51 percent of critics were positive toward it. The upcoming Easter holiday 

and a lack of animated competition in the next few weeks should tide the comedy over during the box office derby!

Sri Siddhartha Gautama, an epic film based on the life story of Prince Siddhartha, from his birth up to his 

enlightenment is the latest project of The Light of Asia Foundation of Sri Lanka. The film will be released on January 

24 at EAP Films island wide

The movie is produced by Navin Guneratne chairman of The Light of Asia Foundation and Mr. Jeff Goonewardena, former 

consul general of Sri Lanka to Los Angeles, Venezuela and Colombia as well as prominent hotelier.The main actors and 

actresses list include Gagan Malik(India), Anchal Singh(India), Ranjan Ramanayake (Sri Lanka),  Anjani Perera(USA), 

Gautam Gulati(India), Roshan Ranawana (Sri Lanka), Saranga Disasekara( Sri Lanka), Dilhani Perera (USA), and Wilson 

Gooneratne (Sri Lanka). The film is directed by Saman Weeraman, while the renowned film maker Chandran Rutnam is acting 

as the main advisor to the entire production. The film is scheduled for release in October 2012.

The film attempts to chronicle the heart wrenching and mind challenging story that lies at the centerpiece of the 

Buddhist faith, through an emotional and humane lense. Given the internationally diverse star studded cast and direction, 

it seems that Sri Lanka, one home of Terravada Buddhism, will be the first in the world to turn this story into a 

production of such magnitude. Utilizing elaborate sets, exquisite locations within Sri Lanka and an authentic script 

approved by the supreme council of the Maha Sangha, this film may lie on the brink of creating history. We are looking 

forward to this pioneering attempt at an accurate and sensitive cinematic portrayal of Prince Siddhartha’s story of love, 

courage and compassion.

This is an extraordinary tale of over 2600 years ago, of a Prince who is endowed with everything he needs and more. 

Luxury, palaces and all heart’s desires, are provided to him by his father, a warrior King of the kingdom of Shakya. The 

story unfolds dramatically with the Prince leaving all his luxuries and possessions as well as his new born son and 

loving wife, caring parents, to an unknown journey of finding the end to human sorrow and suffering.Sri Siddhartha Gautama 

is produced by The Light of Asia Foundation Chairman Navin Guneratne and prominent hotelier and former consul general 

of Sri Lanka to Los Angeles, Venezuela and Colombia Jeff Goonewardena. The team of consultants to the production of the 

film includes Ven. Prof. Bellanwila Wimalaratana Thera, Kalashuri Edwin Ariyadasa, Chandran Rutnam and Prof. 

Nimal de Silva.

The film is directed by Saman Weeraman, while renowned film maker Chandran Rutnam plays the role of main advisor in 

the entire production

International superstar Jackie Chan’s action blockbuster CZ12 has broken the all-time record for an Asian Movie 

(excluding local titles) in Singapore. The movie has collected S$4.67 million in 22 days after it opened on 44 screens 

island-wide.

The amazing result sees CZ12 take the all-time Number 1 spot among all China, Hong Kong & Taiwan movies in Singapore, 

passing Donnie Yen’s IP MAN 2 (in 2nd place) which grossed a total of S$4.66 million in 2010 and Stephen Chow’s action 

comedy KUNGFU HUSTLE (in 3rd place) which grossed S$4.33 million.

CZ12 is also Jackie Chan’s all time best selling movie in Singapore, besting his previous records held by Hollywood 

production KARATE KID which grossed $4.6 million in 2010 and THE STORY OF CIA: FIRST STRIKE which grossed S$3.8million.

With this result, CZ12 is now also one of the Top 10 highest grossing movies released in 2012, beating HUNGER GAMES 

which grossed S$4.6million. This marks the first time since 2006 that there are 2 Asian movies within the Top 10 highest 

grossing movies for that year.

CZ12 took the number one spot at the box office chart in Singapore over the weekend, beating the Hollywood blockbuster 

THE HOBBIT in its 2nd weekend. The spectacular opening weekend result also breaks Jackie Chan’s own previous record as 

the biggest opening weekend for his Chinese movies in Singapore ever.

CZ12 not only topped the local box office in Singapore over the weekend, but also in Malaysia and China. In China, 

the movie broke RMB$100mil over the opening weekend! The movie also stars Korean well-known actor Kwone Sang Woo, 

up-and-coming China actresses Zhang Lanxin and Yao Xingtong. CZ12 is now showing in cinemas islandwide and is 

co-distributed by Clover Films, Golden Village Pictures and Innoform Media.

According to Groove Asia, it was reported that after seven days of release, the film has broke records in Singapore 

and Malaysia. With a total of SGD 2.4 million sales in Singapore and RM 9 million in Malaysia, "CZ12" became the highest 

weekly cumulative box office earner.

When asked about the recent success of "CZ12" in the two countries, Jackie stated, "I am very happy to be able 

to break box office records. Actually when we promoted the film in Singapore and Malaysia, we already sensed the great 

response from the local audience. They were looking forward to watching this film very much

More than a decade has passed since Peter Jackson and company first ventured to Middle Earth with "The Lord of the Rings: 

The Fellowship of the Ring." At this point, audiences pretty much know what to expect from "The Hobbit: An Unexpected 

Journey," despite the title's insistence to the contrary. That's hardly a knock on Jackson's fourth installment in the 

franchise, a prequel that takes place 60 years before the earlier movies' events but basically resurrects the same world 

of limber and furry-footed humanoids, fire-breathing dragons and deadly Orcs. Plot comes secondary to the care involved 

in bringing Middle Earth back to life. While Jackson hasn't delivered a hit on par with his "Lord of the Rings" movies, 

"The Hobbit" proves he can still do justice to the tricky blend of fantasy and action that made the earlier entries such 

enjoyable works of popular entertainment.

It took more than a decade, two directors and a lawsuit before "The Hobbit" made it to the big screen. Hollywood 

executives are crossing their fingers that the culmination of that journey will help smash movie box office records this 

year.The film, which opens on December 14, is expected to contribute to the first annual box office increase in North 

America in three years, a sign that big movie studios have made more films enticing enough to get people into theaters 

and away from their TVs, games and the Internet.

"The Hobbit" follows this year's other big box office successes "The Avengers", which became the industry's third-largest 

film with $623 million in US sales, and "The Dark Knight Rises" and "The Hunger Games" which both passed $400 million.

Hollywood analysts predict the two months of the year that include "The Hobbit" and the finale of the "Twilight" vampire 

series may lift US and Canadian ticket sales above the $10.6 billion record set in 2009.

"Skyfall" falls to No. 2, but cracks the half-billion overseas gross mark to become the biggest Bond ever; "Flight" under 

the radar in one-market foreign opening. 

Opening at 12,845 locations in 62 overseas markets, Twilight Saga: Breaking Dawn Part 2 virtually sucked the box office 

oxygen out of the foreign theatrical circuit with a debut gross of $199.8 million – the biggest offshore opening launch 

of the year. 

The weekend take easily beats the opening of last year’s The Twilight Saga: Breaking Dawn – Part I, which drew an 

estimated $144 million at about 9,950 locations in 54 overseas markets. To get an idea of just how big this weekend’s 

action was, Breaking Dawn 2’s debut tally matches the entire foreign box office of series original, 2008’s Twilight.

Also, The Twilight Saga: Breaking Dawn Part 2 broke franchise records at the international box office at the weekend, grossing 

a massive $340.9 million world wide. Local ticket sales of $12.4 million were fractionally up on Breaking Dawn Part 1's 

$12.1 million opening weekend last November but well down on New Moon, which sucked up a whopping $16.1 million in 2009. 

The fifth and final filmin the vampire franchise performed similarly in the US -- missing New Moon's opening record of 

$142.8 million but topping Part I's $138.1 million. Breaking Dawn Part 2, however, scored exceptionally well in exit polls.

It was the highest rated and recommended of all the Twilight films, according to Deadline.com. It also had the highest 

percentage of male audiences (21 per cent).

The animated film "Rise of the Guardians" was honored with the Hollywood Animation Award at the 16th Annual Hollywood 

Film Awards Gala presented by The Los Angeles Times held at The Beverly Hilton Hotel on October 22, 2012 in Beverly 

Hills, California.

Directed by Peter Ramsey and written by Pulitzer Prize winner David Lindsay-Abaire (“Rabbit Hole”), “Rise of the Guardians” 

is based on the highly acclaimed series of children’s books by William Joyce. Joyce, who won an Oscar last year for his 

animated short “The Fantastic Flying Books of Mr. Morris Lessmore,” was named by Newsweek as “one of the top 100 people 

to watch in the new millennium. “Rise of the Guardians” stars the voice talents of Chris Pine, Alec Baldwin, Hugh Jackman, 

Isla Fisher and Jude Law. Produced by Christina Steinberg and Nancy Bernstein and executive produced by Guillermo del 

Toro, Michael Siegel, and William Joyce, the DreamWorks Animation feature film will be released by Paramount Pictures on 

November 2012. 

Said Bill Damaschke, Chief Creative Officer at DreamWorks Animation, “This award is a testament to the vision and 

dedication of our director Peter Ramsey and our producers Christina Steinberg and Nancy Bernstein, who saw in William 

Joyce’s beautifully written books a truly magical world that he was able to bring to life with the help of David Lindsay-

Abaire’s wonderful screenplay and, of course, the outstanding work by his entire filmmaking team. We could not be more 

proud of the movie, or this recognition, and we thank Carlos and the Hollywood Film Awards for this great honor.”

The signing of the Agreement of "Sri Siddhartha Gauthama” Film which was produced by Light of Asia Foundation held on 06th November 2012 at Gangarama Temple, Hunupitiya, Colombo. 

The Directors of EAP Films & Theatres ( Pvt ) Ltd Mr. Asanka Edirisinghe & Mrs. Deepa Edirisinghe participated to this occasion, and Mr. Naveen Gunarathne also participated on behalf of Light of Asia Foudation. 

Ven. Galaboda Ganissara Thero and Veteran Edwin Ariyadasa have participated as Chief Guest along with Mr. Thushan Meemanage , Director / CEO of EAP Films & Theaters ( Pvt ) Ltd. 

Siddhartha Gauthama Film has scheduled to screen  from 24th of January 2013 at 60 Cinema Halls including EAP Circuit to the Sri Lankans.    

The latest instalment of the Step Up franchise brings us a completely different storyline to the previous three films, with new characters and a new setting. The characters may be different, but they hope, dreams, and dance skills are similar to the characters we’ve already seen. The provide the basis for every part of the series though, so you expect nothing less.

Recently heralded as showcasing the world’s biggest flash mob in the opening sequence of a movie, Step Up 4: Miami Heat is quintessentially 2012: dub-step, iPads, and a rebellious mob spirit. It also makes the hairs stand up on the back of your neck, as ferocious choreography binds with bouncing low-riders and optically illusive street art to create an intoxicating mix. The opening sequence is an a clear pace-setter for the movie, which impressively manages to keep up that pace and then some for the duration. 

Sunday’s box office estimates had Step Up Revolution, the PG-13 rated dance movie from Summit/Lionsgate, taking $5.3 million. The film actually grossed $5.9 million. The $600,000 difference was enough to propel it ahead of Universal’s 

R-rated comedy. 

as it turned out, did better at the box office than expected — $5.6 million rather than $5.5 million. But Step Up Revolution still beat it. Studio estimates, as frequently is the case, were generally pretty spot-on. Box office champ the Dark Knight Rises remained the No. 1 movie  at the box office, with $35.73 million, rather than the $36.4 million that Warner Bros. had estimated on Sunday. But the estimate is awfully close.

No one expected, not even the makers, that  Raaz3 would embark on such a solid opening that it would actually end up finding itself in a ‘record zone’. Movie has actually created quite a few records within first three days of its release with collections in the vicinity of RS. 35.39 crores nett.

 For starters, it is the first ever film in the recent times with an ‘adults only’ certificate to find such huge patronage from the audience. Secondly, it is the only horror film to have found such mass acceptance across the length and breadth of the country. Thirdly, it is only 3D film made in India to find such heavy footfalls. Fourthly, and very importantly, this is now the biggest opener ever for Emraan Hashmi, Bipasha Basu, Vikram Bhatt and of course Mahesh Bhatt and Mukesh Bhatt.

  The prediction of Rs. 25-30 crore nett weekend (expected) have been crushed by a huge margin. It is  interesting to see now how far would the film go. While it is now almost certain the magical mark of Rs. 50 crore would be crossed in one week flat, ‘Raaz 3‘ is now aiming at a total in the range of Rs. 65-70 crores ett. But Raaz3 would have a tough completion with  Barfi! and the performance of Ranbir Kapoor in it

Bollywood movie Cocktail has concluded the first week with wonderful collection at the Indian Box Office. 

Saif Ali Khan and Deepika Padukone starrer has raked in Rs 54 crores nett in seven days. It is a record collection 

and it has set a new deadline for upcoming romantic comedy releasing in future. 

Cocktail opened to an earth-shattering response on last Friday. The movie registered 90% to 100% occupancy with its 

collection crossing Rs 11 crores nett on the first day of the release in the country. The business of the movie grew up, 

but not to the expected level. It grossed Rs 36 crores nett in the first weekend. The breakup of its three days was 

Rs 11 cr on Fri, Rs 12 cr on Sat and Rs 13 cr on Sun. 

Its collection drastically dropped by nearly 60% on the weekdays. Yet Cocktail did a good business, when compared 

to the business of other films on week days. The movie collected Rs 5.75 cr on Mon, Rs 4.80 cr on Tue. With this, it 

added a total of Rs 18 crores nett to its first week total Rs 54 crores nett. 

Cocktail? was released in maximum number of multiplexes, while it hit limited number of single screens. 

The movie registered an earth shattering opening with its occupancy ranging between 90% and 100% at multiplexes. 

It also received good response at single screens. It collected Rs 11 crores plus nett at the domestic Box Office 

on Friday. Major portion of its collection has come from multiplexes as it had limited release in single screens.

However, trade analyst Taran Adarsh says, "Cocktail fared exceptionally well in its opening weekend and maintained 

steady business at urban centres on weekdays. In particular, the film has amassed big figures from Mumbai, Pune, Delhi, 

Gurgaon, Kolkata and Bangalore. Its business in the mass belt, dominated by screen screens, ranged from average to dull. 

However, the revenue generated from plexes has helped the film put up a big, fat total."