Fat, Flightless Birds Waddle Off With Box Office

Aug. 29, 2005 -- -- Since "Jaws," Hollywood has cashed in on the summertime box office. But this year, the studios can't wait for school to start. There is good news, however, especially if you live at the South Pole.

The penguins in "Madagascar" organized an escape from New York's Central Park Zoo, they hijacked the freighter and, so far, have filled it up with $450 million in box office receipts around the world. And that, as they say, ain't ice.

"March of the Penguins," an exquisite family film, has become the second-biggest grossing documentary ever. Yes, it's "The Year of the Penguin" and it's also the answer to this Hollywood riddle: What's black and white and green all over?

Unfortunately, the penguin is also a perfect symbol for most of Hollywood's other summer movies. It's a bird but it can't get off the ground.

The recipe for success was once a simple mix of special effects, lots of noise, a mega-hit director, and maybe a star to guide it all by. Not this summer.

"Stealth," "The Island" and "Kingdom of Heaven" -- all with A-list directors and B-list stars -- cost a cumulative $500 million, and they've brought in just over $100 million at the domestic box office. True, they've done better overseas. My theory: It's because fewer people overseas understand English.

By Labor Day, according to an estimate by The New York Times, the total box office will be down 9 percent, but because ticket prices have gone up, total admissions will be down 11.5 percent.

Some of the loss can be explained by competition from DVDs and video games and other new diversions. In past summers, action fans would see a film like "Batman Begins" as many times as they could. But this year, once or twice was enough, and Hollywood was disappointed even with that movie's $200 million gross.

"Cinderella Man," one of the best films I've seen in years, didn't have a Cinderella ending. It was pulled from theaters in what should have been mid-run, because the studio didn't know how to sell a movie that serious in the summertime.

There were two genuine summer mega-hits, and -- no surprise -- they feature the four biggest names in movies: Steven Spielberg and Tom Cruise ("War of the Worlds," $231 million), and George Lucas and Darth Vader ("Star Wars: Episode III -- Revenge of the Sith," $379 million).

"Charlie and the Chocolate Factory" was an instant classic ($192 million). "Mr. & Mrs. Smith" was an instant surprise ($183 million), making it a great summer for Angelina Jolie. She got a baby, a beau and her biggest box office hit yet.

"The Longest Yard" ($157 million) and "Wedding Crashers" ($178 million) were blockbuster comedies because they delivered blockbuster laughs. But, be honest now, is there anyone, anywhere who is upset because there will never be a "Trey Bigalow," after a sequel that brought in just $17 million?