As Hollywood prepares for the annual Oscars awards in the light of the Golden Globes and the Brit Awards, it is instructive to look back at some of the biggest films of 2008.
1. The Dark Knight
The latest Batman film was Timesonline’s prediction for the biggest film of 2008. Well, they sure got that one right, with the movie taking $530.9 million in the US and $996.9 million worldwide. That’s nearly a billion dollars. With Tinsletown’s most talked about star in Heath Ledger, The Dark Knight beat all-comers to take the accolade of biggest earner of 2008. In the UK, however, it was beaten by Mama Mia: The Musical!, the film based on 1970s pop group Abba.
2. Harry Potter & The Half-Blood Prince
This prediction for second place was a non-runner, with the Boy Wizard’s latest movie release being delayed until 2009 ostensibly because of the Hollywood writers’ strike. Place your bets now for 2009!
3. Bond 22: Quantum of Solace
Whilst performing well in Ireland, and running third as predicted by Timesonline, in both the US and worldwide it came in at number 7, taking $164.3 million and $537.1 million respectively.
4. Iron Man
Another comic book spin-off performing well with a second place in the US (earning $318.3 million) but a fifth worldwide ($581.9 million).
5. Indiana Jones & the Kingdom of the Crystal Skull
In this, the latest and, dare it be said, the last Indiana Jones movie, the hero who is possibly the world’s oldest archaeologist pulled into third place in the US (with box office takings of $317.0 million) and a magnificent second place in the world ($786.6 million). This performance proved that it’s not always a young man’s world!
6. Sweeney Todd
The film of the musical starring Helena Bohnham, Tim Burton and Johnny Depp failed to fulfil Timesonline’s expectations and didn't appear in the top-ten in either the US or the world.
7. Hancock
A third superhero movie, this one starring Will Smith, makes it into the list of top-earning movies of 2008. This seemingly endless transfer from a worldview previously restricted to the comic book to one up there on the silver screen would have astonished parents from previous generations who were keen to dissuade their sons from wasting their time on cartoons and fantasy. Had they known about this film was to be fourth best earner of 2008 in both the US and the world (with $227.9 million and $624.4 million respectively) they would have held their tongues!
8. Speed Racer
Another cartoon-derived film, this time from Japan, but one which failed to excite either cinema-goers or bean-counters. Speed Racer failed to make the top ten.
9. Star Trek XI
This prequel has not yet entered either the US or the world top-ten but, given time and the huge army of 'Trekkies' out there, it may be one for the long haul rather than the short, annual, sprint.
10. Body of Lies
Bringing Ridley Scott and Russell Crowe back together again some years after Gladiator, this film has not lived up to the expectations of its financial backers or the Timesonline soothsayers and looks unlikely to make back its production costs.
Alistair McCulloch - Alistair McCulloch has been listening to good music since his early teenage years in the 1960s. It is his genuine belief that music ...
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