Blockbuster

15 Stars Who Need A Hit This Summer

As we all know the summer brings all the big Hollywood blockbuster movies, which for the moviestars is a vital time because if there movie becomes a smash hit then they can ask for a bigger salary – if not then they will forever be tied to a movie bombing.

With this in mind, Forbes have put together a list of 15 moviestars who are in need of a hit with their summer blockbuster, be it to cement their career of a top grossing actor or redeem their fading career.

1. Robert Downey Jr., Iron Man 2

The first Iron Man took Hollywood by surprise with its mix of rapid-fire dialogue and hard-hitting action. Audiences loved the film, spending $585 million on tickets at the box office. The sequel looks like it will live up to the original–it’s already earned $100 million abroad.

2. Tom Cruise, Knight and Day

Cruise hasn’t had a major hit since 2006′s Mission: Impossible III. The star needs Knight and Day to bring in the crowds this summer. The actor earned some good buzz with his comedic cameo in 2008′s Tropic Thunder. Knight and Day (co-starring Cameron Diaz) could be just the mix of comedy and action Cruise needs for a comeback.

3. Angelina Jolie, Salt

In her career, Jolie has vacillated between action flicks like Lara Croft: Tomb Raider and Oscar bait like The Changeling. It seems the actress might be settling into the action life. She follows up the 2008 shoot-’em-up hit Wanted with this summer’s Salt, about a rogue CIA agent. Hollywood will be watching the box office returns to see if they prove she’s an action star worthy of $15 million a film.

4. Russell Crowe, Robin Hood

Crowe has had a rough couple of years. His last two films, State of Play and Body of Lies, disappointed at the box office. So there’s a lot riding on Robin Hood, Universal’s new take on the old story. With Cate Blanchett along for the ride as Marion, the film is sure to focus as much on acting as on bow and arrow action.

5. Julia Roberts, Eat Pray Love

“Chick flicks” like The Proposal, Sex and The City and Mamma Mia have performed well over the past few summers, so hopes are high for Roberts’ newest film, Eat Pray Love, based on the best-selling book by Elizabeth Gilbert. Roberts could use a hit. Her last big box office winner (aside from the Ocean’s films) was 2001′s America’s Sweethearts.

6. Sarah Jessica Parker, Sex and the City 2

The first Sex and the City film was a smash hit, earning $415 million at the box office on an estimated budget of $65 million. The filmmakers are taking a risk with the sequel by taking Carrie and her friends out of Manhattan. If the movie’s a hit, though, it will mean big bucks for Parker, who is also a producer on the film.

7. Jake Gyllenhaal, Prince of Persia: The Sands of Time

Gyllenhaal is best known for his work in serious movies like Donnie Darko, Zodiac and Brokeback Mountain. It’s quite a departure for the actor to take on the lead role in Prince of Persia, which is based on a videogame. If the film is a hit, Gyllenhaal might have found a second career for himself playing action heroes.

8. Leonardo DiCaprio, Inception

Leo finally had a big hit with Shutter Island. He needs that streak to continue if he’s going to hold onto his reputation as an actor worth $20 million for serious adult movies. Few films have been as shrouded in secrecy as Christopher Nolan’s Inception, which hits theaters July 16. It has something to do with technology and dreams, but that’s as much as anyone knows. Considering Nolan was the man behind The Dark Knight, Inception could be a huge hit.

9. Jennifer Aniston, The Switch

Aniston has had a run of bad luck at the box office lately. Love Happens and The Bounty Hunter both bombed despite the presence of strong costars like Gerard Butler and Aaron Eckhart. She needs The Switch to do well to maintain her reputation as a solid romantic comedy star.

10. Will Ferrell, The Other Guys

Ferrell starred in one of the biggest bombs of 2009 last summer: Land of the Lost, which earned only $68 million on an estimated budget of $100 million. Ferrell needs The Other Guys to be a hit. It helps that the cop movie has a lower budget than the effects-heavy Land of the Lost.

11. Matt Damon, The Adjustment Bureau

Thanks to the Bourne movies, Damon has starred in some top-earning films. But he’s also been in his share of duds. Recent movies like The Informant, Green Zone and Invictus have disappointed at the box office. The Adjustment Bureau is the directorial debut of writer George Nolfi, who penned The Bourne Ultimatum.

12. Steve Carell, Dinner for Schmucks and Despicable Me

If Carell leaves The Office next year, as rumored, he’ll have a burgeoning career as a movie star–his films this summer could either add to his momentum or break it. His most recent film, Date Night, has had a respectable run, earning $109 million at the box office worldwide. Dinner for Schmucks, co-starring Paul Rudd, is getting good buzz, as is the animated Despicable Me.

13. Mark Wahlberg, The Other Guys

Wahlberg is one of those dependable actors who can go between action films like Max Payne and serious dramas like The Lovely Bones with no problem. But until recently he’s stayed away from comedies. His shirtless performance in the comedy Date Night has audiences excited for the upcoming film The Other Guys, which stars Wahlberg and Will Ferrell.

14. Cameron Diaz, Shrek 4 and Knight and Day

The Shrek movies (which co-star Diaz as Princess Fiona) have been some of the biggest earners of all time, bringing in a total $2.2 million (EDIT: should read $2.2 billion) at the global box office so far. The fourth and final film is sure to be a box-office winner, especially because it’s being shown in 3-D. Audiences will be able to see Diaz in Knight and Day, which co-stars Tom Cruise.

15. Adam Sandler, Grown Ups

For his latest movie, Sandler brought along fellow Saturday Night Live veterans like Chris Rock and Rob Schneider for a big family ensemble comedy. The presence of Kevin James (hot off of last year’s Paul Blart: Mall Cop) could make the film a summer hit.

source: Stars On The Edge This Summer [Forbes]

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Tags | Gossip Adam Sandler, Angelina Jolie, Blockbuster, Cameron Diaz, Jake Gyllenhaal, Jennifer Aniston, Julia Roberts, Leonardo DiCaprio, Mark Wahlberg, Matt Damon, Robert Downey Jr., Russell Crowe, Sarah Jessica Parker, Steve Carrell, Tom Cruise, Will Ferrell

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Angelina Jolie Tops Oprah on Forbes 100 List

James Joyner @ Gone Hollywood

Angelina Jolie has topped Oprah Winfrey to become the World’s Most Powerful Celebrity, according Forbes magazine. The methodology is, shall we say, unclear. But here’s what they say about Jolie:

Eclectic actress and gossip-column favorite dethrones media maven Oprah Winfrey atop this year’s Celebrity 100. Jolie has always been able to attract tabloid attention and Oscar nods, but this year, she’s finally figured out a way to make serious money. Her most recent blockbuster, Wanted, proved this mother of six’s sweet spot is action films; the movie earned $340 million at the box office. Up next: Salt, in which Jolie plays a CIA officer accused of being a spy.

Oddly, Oprah earned a whole order of magnitude more money — $275 millionto Jolie’s paltry $27 — but, since they don’t tell us what factors were used or how they were weighed, who’s to criticize. And, certainly, Jolie’s hotter. (Were I employed by Playboy magazine, I would compile a list. As it is, I shall pass.)

But here’s an odd one for you:

About halfway down the list sits a very familiar face: President Barack Obama. At No. 49, Obama’s the first sitting head of state to appear on this Forbes fixture because of his worldwide fame, his historic election and his career as a best-selling author.

On what planet is Angelina Jolie more powerful than Barack Obama?

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Batman Beats Iron Man, Becomes Summer’s Top Grosser

Allie @ Gone Hollywood

In Day 11, The Dark Knight surpassed Iron Man to become 2008′s highest grossing film plus the superhero sequel cracked the all-time Top 20 in the process.

$Batman Beats Iron Man, Becomes Summer\'s Top Grosser - Photo$

Warner Bros. generated $10.5M on Monday to raise its unbelievable cume to $324.3M which was more than enough to soar past Marvel’s metal man which has taken in $315M to date since its early May bow. Knight also climbed to number 18 on the all-time domestic blockbusters chart just ahead of Shrek the Third which banked $321M last summer.

Monday’s gross was down 57% from last Monday’s towering $24.5M haul. Given its current pace, Knight might be able to reach the $350M mark by the end of its second week of release. That would mean a jump up to number 13 on the all-time list ahead of The Lord of the Rings: The Two Towers by the time the third weekend begins.

As if it hasn’t broken enough records, The Dark Knight also became the top-grossing blockbuster in Warner Bros. history surpassing the $317.6M of 2001′s Harry Potter and the Sorcerer’s Stone. Ticket prices were lower back then, but the new Batman adventure will still be able to zoom past the boy wizard in admissions in the coming days.

The Joker and friends are on course to boost the cume to roughly $390M by the end of this coming weekend and then blast through the $400M mark mid-next week.

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