Although $44 million is far from ideal opening numbers when you have this much at stake, Disney execs can rest easier knowing that “Tron: Legacy” wasn’t a flop. The sci-fi adventure was the uncontested first-place finisher this weekend, beating out second-place finisher “Yogi Bear” by nearly $30 million.

It’s Johnny Depp Appreciation Day here at Movie Muse, but very very unofficially. Turns out that the two most interesting new trailers both feature the international superstar: “Pirates of the Caribbean: On Stranger Tides” and the animated desert Western, “Rango.”

This year I’ve amped up my pre-awards coverage, so this isn’t the first time you’ve read about this on (if you’ve been reading) Movie Muse. But without a doubt, things don’t really get cooking until now, when the 2011 Golden Globe nominations come out. As the most extravagant/popular pre-Oscars ceremony, the Globes receive a lot [...]

After this weekend, Walt Disney can breathe a sigh of relief and say “I told you so.” The company dropped the “Chronicles of Narnia” films after “Prince Caspian,” the second film, didn’t come nearly as close to the first, “The Lion, The Witch and the Wardrobe.” Picked up by 20th Century Fox and made with [...]

As December kicks into gear, expect a lot of first trailers for this summer’s major releases. “Thor” will kick off the summer season in that coveted first weekend of May and here’s our first look at footage (if you didn’t catch the stuff that got leaked after Comic Con).

Last time we saw a first trailer for a “Tranformers” movie, there was a distinctly different buzz in the air. The 2007 film was a major hit and we all eagerly awaited how Michael Bay and co. would top it. Several scathing reviews, racial stereotype accusations, a “feud” between Bay and star Megan Fox, and [...]

Although it’s uncertain to what extent, Irrfan Khan, who played the investigator in “Slumdog Millionaire,” will play a second villain, Nels Van Adder, in 2012′s reboot of the “Spider-Man” franchise directed by Mark Webb. The barely known character becomes “Proto-Goblin” in the comics.

On the slowest movie weekend of the year, “Tangled” jumped over “Harry Potter” to be first at the box office with about $21 million. Business was cut in half from last week thanks to no notable new releases.

In a surprisingly close box-office race this weekend, “Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows Pt. 1,” in its second week, fended off Disney’s latest animated hit, “Tangled.” Although the five-day Thanksgiving totals were not as close (“Harry” won by a good $6 million), the three-day total put “Harry” ahead by fewer than $400,000.

Dramatic actor-turned-deadpan comedian Leslie Nielsen, 84, best known for appearing in the Zucker, Abrahams and Zucker comedies “Airplane!” and “The Naked Gun” passed away Sunday from complications resulting from pneumonia.

You might have seen some of these films attached to new movies these past couple of weeks. With the increased business movie theaters get this time of year, more new trailers are popping up every day. I’ve selected a few of the highlights/films most buzzed about.

Although I firmly believe Hollywood can never say never, it appears that Disney, at the moment, has no interest in continuing its revitalized push for big-screen fairy tales. Ed Catmull of Pixar — who along with John Lasseter oversees the Disney house-brand animated films — told the LA Times: “Films and genres do run a [...]

Landing at No. 6 on the all-time opening weekends list, “Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows Pt. 1″ earned the biggest first-weekend take for a “Potter” film yet. Clearly, fans of all degrees were interested in checking out the beginning of the final chapter of the beloved film franchise. That’s the power of the ending [...]

Call him “Honest Day-Lewis.” Steven Spielberg’s previously shelved “Lincoln” biopic, originally with Liam Neeson attached to play the 16th president, has resurfaced with two-time Oscar winner Daniel Day-Lewis officially on board as Abraham Lincoln.

In brightest day and darkest night, we have the first trailer for “The Green Lantern” starring Ryan Reynolds. This pre-”Potter” day present is worth twice of any regular Trailer Wednesday. In other words, the trailer is coming attached to Warner Bros.’ biggest holiday film,”Harry Potter,” on Friday, but Apple has the sneak peek which I’ve [...]