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Max Braden: Like 3D, the IMAX format should be used sparingly for when the film really merits it. MI4 does merit the large screen format, and I think audiences could tell that right from the trailer. With a solid lead in, you've got everyone coming out of the theater saying "that was amazing!" which is going to build word of mouth and increase the already eager viewers for the regular screens. This was well-played.

Not so pretty now, is she?

Kim Hollis: Young Adult expanded to 986 venues this week and had a weekend total of $3.4 million. Its per location average was $3,451. What do you think of this result? Do you consider the film to be a serious awards contender?

Edwin Davies: I think that it's got a strong chance at nominations in the Actress (for Charlize Theron), Supporting Actor (for Patton Oswalt) and Screenwriting (for Diablo Cody) categories since those seem to be the aspects of the film that are getting the most attention, but unless it picks up some serious steam over the next couple of weeks I can't see it being a contender in any other major categories. That's not a slight on the film, it's just a little lightweight, and in a year when Alexander Payne has a film out, I don't imagine that awards bodies will favor a Jason Reitman film, since Reitman is basically Alexander Payne-lite.

Brett Beach: I think that Paramount went too quick from single digits to almost 1,000 screens on this, although I can't fault them wanting to get out ahead of the wide openings and expansions happening over the next week. The trailer sold me on its dark humor and anti-heroine (as well as Patton Oswalt's sidekick role), but I realize this will not be everyone's cup of arsenic. To me, the opening indicates that this won't be Reitman's lowest grossing film, but neither will it rise to the height of Juno or the mid-level of Up in the Air. I think an Oscar nom for Theron is the only thing close to a "sure thing" and that the "buzz" has already moved on to others.

David Mumpower: Brett, I haven't watched the movie yet but something Ryan Mazie told me the other day explains the rush to 1,000 locations. This is clearly not a populist title as it features dislikable characters behaving badly but not humorously. Kim described it as a polarizing release in that section of the Weekend Wrap-Up and I feel that is the perfect description. If it is my movie to market, I make this same attempt to get out in front of potentially hostile word of mouth. Young Adult isn't going to behave like a lot of end-of-year awards contenders do as they platform so getting every dime they can as soon as they can is the logical play for Paramount. The per-location average of $3,451 supports this conclusion. Young Adult is a great example of a critics' darling that isn't for the average movie goer. If Paramount can get $25 million out of this, they will have done well.

Max Braden: I love Diablo Cody longtime, but right from the first and last time I've seen the trailer, I keep thinking that Charlize Theron (regardless of her talent) is really miscast for the dialogue in this pic. Add to that that the character doesn't appear to be sympathetic, and you've got a turnoff as an obstacle before minute one. The Girl With the Dragon Tattoo has already positioned itself as the feel-bad movie of the season, so really you're only going to appeal to the filmfest crowd with a movie like this.

Reagen Sulewski: I think this kills almost all of the momentum for Oscars other than Theron. I never heard it as a serious Best Pic contender anyway, but if it had earned $80 million it would be difficult to ignore. This just puts it back to where it should have been - an indie film with a big star. It's our own expectations of what Theron/Reitman could bring it that are coloring this result.

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