Rueben's Ramblings

For many years now, it was always my goal to see as many movies as possible throughout each calendar year; usually averaging out to about 40 or more movies a year. But as the years have gone by, the cost of seeing a movie has steadily increased, putting up with inconsiderate movie goers who simply cannot turn off their phones or stop talking, it’s almost not worth going to the movies anymore.

That being said – for the first time in years – I have only gone to the movies about a dozen times this year; and sadly, most of the movies I saw were less than pleasurable. But at least there were a few good films this year, including The Lucky One, The Avengers and The Amazing Spider-Man.

But while I was more than disappointed with the selection at the box office, movie goers did not agree with me especially when you look at the top 25 films according to tickets sales (through approximately December 15) which are as follows:

1. Marvel’s The Avengers – 623 million
2. The Dark Knight Rises – 448 million
3. The Hunger Games – 408 million
4. The Twilight Saga: Breaking Dawn, Part 2 – 280 million
5. Skyfall – 276 million
6. The Amazing Spider-Man – 262 million
7. Brave – 237 million
8. Ted – 219 million
9. Madagascar 3: Europe’s Most Wanted – 216 million
10. Dr. Seuss’ The Lorax – 214 million
11. Men In Black 3 – 179 million
12. Wreck-It-Ralph – 170 million
13. Ice Age: Continental Drift – 161 million
14. Snow White and the Huntsman – 155 million
15. Hotel Transylvania – 144 million
16. 21 Jump Street – 138.4 million
17. Taken 2 – 138.3 million
18. Prometheus – 126.5 million
19. Safe House – 126.2 million
20. The Vow – 125 million
21. The Hobbit: An Unexpected Journey – 123 million
22. Magic Mike – 114 million
23. The Bourne Legacy – 113 million
24. Lincoln – 112.5 million
25. Argo – 106 million

NOTE: There are a few late-December releases that will not be fully referenced in the above list as the box office results for the last two weekends of the year could not be collected before this report needed to be posted.

It should also be noted that the big sleeper hit of the year is a little movie that would normally have been overlooked. Which movie is that, you ask: The Best Exotic Marigold Hotel. The movie starred a multitude of legendary British actors and actresses, earning $134 million worldwide and capturing the hearts of moviegoers all across the world. There are also plans for a sequel and that should make the countless fans of this great little flick very happy.

This was also the year for animated films to perform very well with Brave, Paranorman, Hotel Transylvania, Ice Age: Continental Drift, Dr. Seuss’ The Lorax, Rise of the Guardians, Frankenweenie, Madagascar 3: Europe’s Most Wanted and Wreck-It Ralph all doing really well at the box office and attracting a very divergent audience.

Meanwhile, I compiled a list of the movies that were either a disappointment at the box office or simply had horrible-looking trailers (in alphabetical order):

A Cabin in the Woods
A Thousand Words
American Reunion
Casa de mi Padre
Dark Shadows
For A Good Time, Call…
Hit & Run
Killing Them Softly
LOL
Madea’s Witness Protection
Parental Guidance
Project X
Savages
Sinister
Ted
That’s My Boy
The Campaign
The Collection
The Dictator
The Five-Year Engagement
The Guilt Trip
The Three Stooges
The Watch
This is 40
Wanderlust
What to Expect When You’re Expecting

But, if you don’t believe my list, how about the top 10 worst films according to the folks over at Time Magazine:

1. Cloud Atlas
2. John Carter
3. Hyde Park on Hudson
4. Abraham Lincoln: Vampire Hunter
5. This Means War
6. Dr. Seuss’ The Lorax
7. Alex Cross
8. What to Expect When You’re Expecting
9. The Odd Life of Timothy Green
10. One for the Money

What movies did you most enjoy seeing this year? Which movies were disappointments to you? Please share your thoughts and comments.

TOMORROW: Music