'Monkey' shines at Japanese b.o.
TOKYO -- Monkey and his sidekicks defied a devastating typhoon and two major earthquakes in Japan to rake in a respectable $6.5 million during the opening three-day holiday weekend for Monkey Magic.
The big-screen adaptation of Fuji Television Network's hugely popular TV series -- an interpretation of a folk tale first published in the 1590s in China -- opened on a record 461 screens across Japan, despite the elements.
"'Monkey Magic' has started remarkably, despite the odds this weekend," said Chihiro Kameyama, head of Fuji's Motion Picture Department. "The summer boxoffice season has just begun, so we have every confidence that 'Monkey' fans will be lining up in front of theaters in the coming weeks."
"We will work our own Monkey Magic against any typhoon that comes our way," he added.
At least 10 people have been reported killed in the typhoon and earthquakes over the weekend, with thousands more evacuated from their homes.
Fuji has sky-high expectations for the movie, which features Shingo Katori, star of the boy-band SMAP, after one in four Japanese TV viewers tuned in weekly to the 11-part series, which first screened in January 2006.
The big-screen adaptation of Fuji Television Network's hugely popular TV series -- an interpretation of a folk tale first published in the 1590s in China -- opened on a record 461 screens across Japan, despite the elements.
"'Monkey Magic' has started remarkably, despite the odds this weekend," said Chihiro Kameyama, head of Fuji's Motion Picture Department. "The summer boxoffice season has just begun, so we have every confidence that 'Monkey' fans will be lining up in front of theaters in the coming weeks."
"We will work our own Monkey Magic against any typhoon that comes our way," he added.
At least 10 people have been reported killed in the typhoon and earthquakes over the weekend, with thousands more evacuated from their homes.
Fuji has sky-high expectations for the movie, which features Shingo Katori, star of the boy-band SMAP, after one in four Japanese TV viewers tuned in weekly to the 11-part series, which first screened in January 2006.
- 7/18/2007
- The Hollywood Reporter - Movie News
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