According to Boxofficemojo, Bruno came out on top this past weekend at domestic theaters. It was expected. Since this is the follow-up to Sacha Baron Cohen's comedic phenomenon Borat, it was only natural for the rest of the competition to step aside and let the project through.

However, I have to wonder if General Electric (NYSE: GE) was truly happy with a $30 million estimated opening. Borat came out in November 2006. It opened with $26.5 million. I honestly thought Bruno would have debuted somewhere between $40 million and $50 million. Was that too high of a financial goal?

Continue reading 'Bruno' is number one -- but was the market expecting more?

'Bruno' is number one -- but was the market expecting more? originally appeared on BloggingStocks on Mon, 13 Jul 2009 08:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

'Borat' filmmakers sued by driver's ed instructor originally appeared on BloggingStocks on Wed, 05 Dec 2007 18:09:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

The people have spoken! The results are in for the Best and Worst of 2006 and the big winners include Donald Trump (in two different categories), Paris Hilton (with more votes than any other nominee in any category), President Bush, YouTube (edging out Borat), and this past year's skyrocketing gasoline prices.

Donald Trump didn't need the recent brouhaha with Rosie O'Donnell in order to triumph as the Most Annoying Money Personality of the Year, garnering 44% of the votes in that category. He didn't stop there. His signature comb-over was a very clear favorite as Worst Signature Style, with a whopping 85% of the vote (nearly 69 thousand votes). Readers evidently did not love the 'doo.

ExxonMobil's Lee Raymond came out on top as the Most Overpaid CEO (some very lively debate about it in the comments) with 63% of that vote. Readers also voted "real estate bubble" as the Most Overused Buzzword of 2006 with 47% of the vote in that category, and Northwest Airlines's dumpster-diving tips for laid-off employees the Dumbest Moment in Business with 45% of votes.

Continue reading Best & Worst: The results are in! It's Trump and Paris and gas prices, oh my!

Best & Worst: The results are in! It's Trump and Paris and gas prices, oh my! originally appeared on BloggingStocks on Thu, 28 Dec 2006 13:05:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Voting continues for the Best & Worst of 2006, and there is no closer race right now than between Borat, Sacha Baron Cohen's bumbling faux-journalist from Kazakhstan (as well as the motion picture named for him), and YouTube, everyone's favorite source for wacky foreign television commercials, drunken celebrity rants, and re-edited movie trailers, as the Up-and-Comer of 2006. Whether you think that Baron Cohen is brilliantly clever or just a cheap-shot artist, whether you believe YouTube offers hours of wholesome entertainment or is just an online version of America's Dumbest Home Videos, let your vote be counted.

The contest for Biggest Fall from Grace is not quite so close, but close enough that with a late surge, Mel Gibson could still overtake current frontrunner, President Bush. As some commenters have pointed out, Bush really didn't have far to fall as he'd already lost credibility before 2006. So if you think Gibson's arrest and drunken tirade have permanently harmed his career (despite the apparent popularity of Apocalypto), then lend your support to help him take the lead in this category.

Many of the close races are for second place. While Donald Trump leads in the Most Annoying Money Personality category, there is a virtual tie for the silver among Suze Orman, Jim Cramer, and Mark Cuban. In the Most Overpaid CEO contest, Barry Diller of IAC (NASDAQ:IACI) and Bob Nardelli of Home Depot (NYSE:HD) are battling for second place behind Lee Raymond of ExxonMobil (NYSE:XOM). The Walton family has a slight edge over Martha Stewart for second place as the Tycoon We'd Send to the Poor House, and the Enron sentencing and the real estate market trail gas prices as the Money Story of the Year.

As we've learned from the past few national elections, every vote counts.

Voting for the Best & Worst of 2006 ends Christmas Eve, so don't wait too long. Results will be posted December 28.

For another view on Borat and YouTube, as well as many other of the nominees, also check out MarketWatch's Winners and Losers of 2006.

Best & Worst: YouTube and Borat headed for a photo finish? originally appeared on BloggingStocks on Mon, 18 Dec 2006 11:06:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

This post is written as part of AOL Money & Finance's Best & Worst 2006. Vote for Borat or check out the other nominees in the Up-and-Comer category.

The hit movie Borat!: Cultural Learnings of America for Make Benefit Glorious Nation of Kazakhstan, has surpassed all expectations. Originally, the movie was released in a limited number of theaters, with industry insiders predicting it would gross $8 million to $10 million on its first weekend. But the movie pulled in $26.4 million that first weekend, despite the limited release.

By now, the movie has grossed around $100 million and those-in-the-know predict it to eventually gross as much as $300 million. Not bad for a movie that cost about $18 million to make.

The movie is a mockumentary featuring the story of a fictional Kazakh journalist (Sacha Baron Cohen) on his journey to discover America and (the Canadian) Pamela Anderson. Many have criticized the movie as insulting to Kazakhstan and the Kazakh people, when in fact the movie clearly mocks, and through the mockery, criticizes the United States. But perhaps that's part of the movie's appeal.

Continue reading Best & Worst: Borat! Sacha Baron Cohen insults all in one fell swoop

Best & Worst: Borat! Sacha Baron Cohen insults all in one fell swoop originally appeared on BloggingStocks on Thu, 07 Dec 2006 18:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Jagzhemash everybody!

Alright, I have to first admit that I have been a fan of Da Ali G Show for quite some time. I cannot count the times my eyes were tearing or my stomach was hurting from too much laughing. Not to mention the times I couldn't bear watch the show because it was just... too much, too painful. If you haven't seen the show but intend on seeing Borat, you'll know what I mean. Actually, out of the three characters in the show, Borat was my least favorite, but I still want to see the movie.

I actually went to the movies Saturday night. I went to see The Prestige knowing very well that Borat!: Cultural Learnings of America for Make Benefit Glorious Nation of Kazakhstan would be sold out. Indeed, there were signs all over the theater that Borat was sold out and every five minutes the PA announced that Borat was sold out for all times all over the city. And Toronto is no small town, let me tell you.

When I prepared this morning's post, I came across an article projecting the movie would likely "gross $8 million to $10 million and maybe as much as $15 million this weekend, a tidy sum for a film that cost only about $18 million to make." Well, "Borat" actually took in $26.4 million (€20.69 million) and was the number one film over the weekend. The movie got great reviews to boot.

News Corp.'s (NYSE: NWS, NWS.A) 20th Century Fox is the distributor of the film. Another winner for Murdoch!

By the way, anybody who has a hard time with this type of humor should probably stay away from this film, which is a mockumentary featuring the story of fictional Kazakh journalist, Borat Sagdiyev's (Sacha Baron Cohen) journey to discover America and Pamela Anderson. And if you wonder whether the real Kazakhstan is anything like Borat's portrayal, Slate has a great article that details the similarities and the differences.

'Borat' opening at $26.4 million originally appeared on BloggingStocks on Mon, 06 Nov 2006 17:27:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.