General Electric (NYSE: GE) didn't see a huge reaction to its earnings on Friday. I think the stock closed up by only a couple pennies. But at least its NBC Universal asset scored a hit with Hellboy II: The Golden Army. According to Boxofficemojo, it topped this weekend's domestic box office with a gross of more than $35 million. Sony's (NYSE: SNE) Hancock, however, is close. That film was in second place with a haul of $33 million. By the time final figures are out, Hancock could find itself in first place, but I doubt that's going to happen. This really seemed to be Hellboy's weekend. I have to say, though, that Hancock did much better than I thought it would for its second weekend at bat. The film will easily pull in over $200 million, maybe $250 million, before all is said and done.

Time Warner's (NYSE: TWX) Journey to the Center of the Earth 3D was number three with over $20 million. Not a particularly great debut, I don't expect too much action in the coming weeks from this one. Now, Wall-E is an important project for Disney (NYSE: DIS) shareholders since it is another effort from Pixar. Investors are still trying to figure out if the price paid for Pixar will be ultimately worth it. Wall-E is doing pretty well; it came in fourth over the weekend, and its total box-office take so far is about $162 million. Incidentally, Eddie Murphy failed horribly with his film Meet Dave. The movie, from News Corp. (NYSE: NWS), came in seventh with a little over $5 million. I didn't even know it was in the marketplace.

GE and Universal scored again at the multiplex with Wanted, which came in fifth. Its cumulative gross is now more $110 million. See that? GE can leverage quality content to bring in the revenues. If NBC Universal can synergize better with hits like these, then perhaps there won't be such pressure in terms of dumping the asset. For now, though, NBC Universal is a show-me division, and it better keep the hits coming to placate the board.

Disclosure: I own Disney and GE; positions can change at any time.

GE's Universal gives 'em Hellboy at the box office! originally appeared on BloggingStocks on Mon, 14 Jul 2008 10:22:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

All the drama on Wall Street these days -- from the credit crunch to the housing slump, everything from runs on the bank to rogue traders -- had the Hollywood Reporter wondering recently why Hollywood isn't cashing in on the fun. Given how well most of the serious Iraq War/War on Terror movies have done lately, perhaps moviemakers will be searching for greener pastures. Heck, Gordon Gekko is scheduled to make a reappearance next year in a Wall Street sequel tentatively called Money Never Sleeps.

Until then, with a little help from the Internet Movie Database, here is a list of some of Hollywood's best takes on Wall Street so far.

• American Psycho (2000). Christian Bale stars as a soulless investment banker with a taste for violence and kinky sex. Based on the bestselling book by Bret Easton Ellis.
• The Bank (2001). This award-winning Australian film is set in a corrupt corporate bank, and like Pi features a maverick mathematician who may have found a way to accurately predict stock market fluctuations. Stars Anthony LaPaglia.
• Barbarians at the Gate (1993). This Emmy-winning made-for-television movie is based on the leveraged buyout of RJR Nabisco in the 1980s. James Garner won a Golden Globe for his portrayal of the company's CEO.
• Boiler Room (2000). A college dropout joins a small brokerage house and discovers that his new career isn't all it's cracked up to be. This film has been compared to both Wall Street and Glengarry Glen Ross. Stars Giovanni Ribisi and Ben Affleck.

Continue reading Where's Gordon Gekko gone? Best Wall Street movies

Where's Gordon Gekko gone? Best Wall Street movies originally appeared on BloggingStocks on Sat, 05 Apr 2008 13:40:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.