'Noise' takes on 'Fockers' in weekend box office race
{{date|January 7, 2005}}

After two weekends of box office domination, Universal Pictures' ''Meet the Fockers'' will be challenged for the top spot by horror film ''White Noise'', also from Universal, which opens in wide release Friday.
 
To be considered in wide release, a film must open or play in at least 1,000 theatres throughout the U.S. and Canada. With ''Noise'' being the only new wide release movie for the weekend, it looks to take advantage of movie goers looking from a change from holiday themed film fare.

''Noise'' is a come-back attempt for [[w:Michael Keaton|Michael Keaton]], who hasn't had a hit movie since 1992's ''[[w:Batman Returns|Batman Returns]]''. But according to one critic, this film may not be a comeback hit for Keaton.

"''White Noise'' never gives skeptics a chance to enjoy the film. I also suspect even believers will be bored," Jack Garner, film critic for ''Gannet News Service'' said. Garner's not alone in panning the film. According to web site [http://www.rottentomatoes.com/ RottenTomatoes.com], 87 percent of film critics in its survey have given the film a bad review. 

"The nominal thriller ''White Noise'' is worthy neither of Michael Keaton's talents nor even a desperate horror fan's attention," Manohla Dargis, film critic for the ''[[w:New York Times|New York Times]]'', said.

But not all reviews were bad. ''[[w:Hollywood Reporter|Hollywood Reporter]]'' critic, Kirk Honeycutt said, "Even though logic takes a holiday in ''White Noise'', Geoffrey Sax, a British television director making his theatrical debut, lavishes enough craft on the paranormal thriller to send more than a few chills down the spine."

The movie faces stiff competition as five other films have a wider release, playing in more theatres and reaching a larger potential audience. Universal's ''[[w:Meet the Fockers|Meet the Fockers]]'', the sequel to 2000's ''[[w:Meet the Parents|Meet the Parents]]'' is playing in about 1,000 more theatres than ''Noise'' and could dominate the box office for a third weekend.

'Fockers', starring Ben Stiller, Robert De Niro, Dustin Hoffman and Barbra Streisand, has made $186.5 million since its release Dec. 22, according to Box Office Mojo.

==Wide release films for the weekend of Jan. 7==
The following films will be playing in at least 1,000 U.S. and Canada venues:

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{| border="1"
|+ valign=bottom align=left| ''Source: Box Office Mojo''
!style="background:#9FCC9F;"| '''Rank'''
!style="background:#9FCC9F;"| '''Title'''
!style="background:#9FCC9F;"| '''Studio/Distributor'''
!style="background:#9FCC9F;"| '''Theatre Count'''
!style="background:#9FCC9F;"| '''Change'''
|-
| 1. || ''Meet the Fockers'' || Universal || 3,528 || +4  
|-
| 2. || ''Lemony Snicket's A Series of Unfortunate Events'' || Paramount || 3,343 || -280  
|-
| 3. || ''Ocean's Twelve'' || Warner Bros.|| 3,010 || -280 
|-
| 4. || ''Fat Albert'' || 20th Century Fox|| 2,675 || -69 
|-
| 5. || ''Spanglish'' || Columbia || 2,587 || +98 
|-
| 6. || ''White Noise'' || Universal || 2,258 || NEW 
|-
| 7. || ''National Treasure'' || Touchstone || 2,177 || -105  
|-
| 8. || ''The Polar Express'' || Warner Bros. || 2,007 || -506  
|-
| 9. || ''The Aviator'' || Miramax || 1,867 || +71 
|-
| 10. || ''Darkness'' || Dimension || 1,714 || -4 
|-
| 11. || ''The Flight of the Phoenix'' || 20th Century Fox|| 1,643 || -730  
|-
| 12. || ''The Incredibles'' || Disney/Pixar || 1,619 || -96 
|-
| 13. || ''Blade: Trinity'' || New Line|| 1,507 || -700 
|-
| 14. || ''The Life Aquatic with Steve Zissou'' || Touchstone || 1,105 || 0 
|-
| 15. || ''Closer'' || Columbia || 1,098 || +4 
|-
| 16. || ''Finding Neverland'' || Miramax || 1,077 || +23 
|-
|}

==Sources==
*[http://www.boxofficemojo.com/counts/ Box Office Mojo theatre count]
*{{source|url=http://www.lsj.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20050104/THINGS0107/501040302/1055/news |title='Fockers' sets New Year's mark at the box office |author=Greg Risling |pub=Lansing State Journal |date=January 4, 2005}}
*{{source|url=http://www.indystar.com/articles/3/207427-3613-062.html |title=`Dead people in 'Noise' can't bring film to life |author=Jack Garner |pub=Gannett News Service |date=January 7, 2005}}
*[http://www.rottentomatoes.com/m/white_noise/ ''White Nose'' ranked on RottenTomatoes.com]
*[http://www.boxofficemojo.com/people/chart/?view=Actor&id=michaelkeaton.htm Michael Keaton profile on Box Office Mojo]

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[[Category:North America]]
[[Category:United States]]
[[Category:Canada]]
[[Category:Culture and entertainment]]
[[Category:Film]]
After two weekends of box office domination, Universal Pictures' Meet the Fockers will be challenged for the top spot by horror film White Noise, also from Universal, which opens in wide release Friday.
 
To be considered in wide release, a film must open or play in at least 1,000 theatres throughout the U.S. and Canada. With Noise being the only new wide release movie for the weekend, it looks to take advantage of movie goers looking from a change from holiday themed film fare.

Noise is a come-back attempt for Michael Keaton, who hasn't had a hit movie since 1992's Batman Returns. But according to one critic, this film may not be a comeback hit for Keaton.

"White Noise never gives skeptics a chance to enjoy the film. I also suspect even believers will be bored," Jack Garner, film critic for Gannet News Service said. Garner's not alone in panning the film. According to web site  RottenTomatoes.com, 87 percent of film critics in its survey have given the film a bad review. 

"The nominal thriller White Noise is worthy neither of Michael Keaton's talents nor even a desperate horror fan's attention," Manohla Dargis, film critic for the New York Times, said.

But not all reviews were bad. Hollywood Reporter critic, Kirk Honeycutt said, "Even though logic takes a holiday in White Noise, Geoffrey Sax, a British television director making his theatrical debut, lavishes enough craft on the paranormal thriller to send more than a few chills down the spine."

The movie faces stiff competition as five other films have a wider release, playing in more theatres and reaching a larger potential audience. Universal's Meet the Fockers, the sequel to 2000's Meet the Parents is playing in about 1,000 more theatres than Noise and could dominate the box office for a third weekend.

'Fockers', starring Ben Stiller, Robert De Niro, Dustin Hoffman and Barbra Streisand, has made $186.5 million since its release Dec. 22, according to Box Office Mojo.


 Source: Box Office Mojo

 'Rank'

 'Title'

 'Studio/Distributor'

 'Theatre Count'

 'Change'

 1. 

 Meet the Fockers 

 Universal 

 3,528 

 +4  

 2. 

 Lemony Snicket's A Series of Unfortunate Events 

 Paramount 

 3,343 

 -280  

 3. 

 Ocean's Twelve 

 Warner Bros.

 3,010 

 -280 

 4. 

 Fat Albert 

 20th Century Fox

 2,675 

 -69 

 5. 

 Spanglish 

 Columbia 

 2,587 

 +98 

 6. 

 White Noise 

 Universal 

 2,258 

 NEW 

 7. 

 National Treasure 

 Touchstone 

 2,177 

 -105  

 8. 

 The Polar Express 

 Warner Bros. 

 2,007 

 -506  

 9. 

 The Aviator 

 Miramax 

 1,867 

 +71 

 10. 

 Darkness 

 Dimension 

 1,714 

 -4 

 11. 

 The Flight of the Phoenix 

 20th Century Fox

 1,643 

 -730  

 12. 

 The Incredibles 

 Disney/Pixar 

 1,619 

 -96 

 13. 

 Blade: Trinity 

 New Line

 1,507 

 -700 

 14. 

 The Life Aquatic with Steve Zissou 

 Touchstone 

 1,105 

 0 

 15. 

 Closer 

 Columbia 

 1,098 

 +4 

 16. 

 Finding Neverland 

 Miramax 

 1,077 

 +23
North America United States Canada Culture and entertainment Film