December 2011 Content at BoxOfficeProphets.com

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Friday Box Office Analysis

Yesterday was the fifth day out of nine that Mission: Impossible surpassed its "first" day total.

How Well Do You Know: 2011: The Year in Pop Culture, Part II

Ah, the past year in pop culture: Katy Perry's unique brand of subtlety, a terminated talk show host and Lindsay Lohan vs. the American justice system. You may know your business school supermodel from your canceled Wonder Woman, but how well do you know 2011: The Year in Pop Culture (Part II)?

Be sure to catch This Is So Last Week, our pop culture week-in-review, published every Friday

Top Film Industry Stories

#10: Tower Heist
#9: Faith-Cinema
#8: Animation
#7: Margin Call
#6: Bridesmaids/The Help
#5: Digital Lockers
#4: Superheroes
#3: Billionaires
#2: Netflix Falters
#1: Harry Potter

Weekend Forecast

With the arrival of the final weekend of 2011, the studios aren’t bothering to release any new product.

Oscar 2012: Best Score

What does it take to get over the hump of scoring a first nomination in this category?

How Well Do You Know: 2011: The Year in Movies, Part III

Another year in film has come and gone. 2011 gave us Beastly and Zookeeper, Water for Elephants and African Cats. So let us take time to see how well you know the last twelve months in cinema. You may know Arthur from Paul and Hanna from J. Edgar, but how well you know 2011: The Year in Movies (Part III)?

Chapter Two: Eh, Canada

A belated Merry Christmas (and Happy Boxing Day, to boot!) and a pre-emptive Happy New Year!

The Twelve Days of Box Office

Everything, with one obvious exception, is down from Tuesday, as is to be expected when we look at mid-week figures.

How Well Do You Know: 2011: The Year in Kate Upton

Propelled by her rookie appearance in the Sports Illustrated Swimsuit Edition, Kate Upton skyrocketed to fame in 2011. Few supermodels have become an instant celebrity or created as widespread sensation as this blond bombshell did in 2011. You may know how to do The Dougie solely because of her, but how well do you know 2011: The Year in Kate Upton?

Make an Argument

Movies have been disappointing this year...

The Twelve Days of Box Office

The Christmas week bonanza continued in slightly subdued form on Tuesday.

How Well Do You Know: 2011: The Year in Pop Culture, Part I

A royal wedding and unintended nudity. A murder trial and a groundbreaking children's book. The past year in celebrity and entertainment news had something for everyone. So today before you go the F to sleep, let's see how well you know 2011: The Year in Pop Culture?

Tinker, Tailor, Soldier, Spy

The Cold War was a messy and confusing time in world history (it's funny that we egotistical Americans think of it as strictly a US vs. them thing).

Mission: Impossible 4

There are some ridiculously implausible scenes in Mission: Impossible – Ghost Protocol, yet we believe they are all perfectly possible in the context of the movie.

Twelve Days of Box Office

All the little (and not so little) girls and boys open their presents on Christmas Eve or Christmas Day, but the movie industry celebrates on December 26th.

Overpaid Jerks: 12/19/11-12/25/11

This week: A microscopic preseason, an acrobatic touchdown, Super Bowl changes and jeers for the commissioner. Run the floor, sign the contract and win the division...here comes our final weekly sports quiz for 2011.

Top Chef: Texas Recap

Previously on Top Chef, we bore witness to most shocking heel turn since Shawn Michaels super-kicked Marty Janetty through a plate glass window.

Twelve Days of Box Office

The actual figures from Christmas weekend are in, and we now have a very good idea of where everything stands at this point as we enter the most wonderful time of the year

Weekend Wrap-Up

Mission: Impossible - Ghost Protocol does the impossible. It wins the weekend in spite of Tom Cruise.

How Well Do You Know: 2011: The Year in Movies, Part II

Another year in film has come and gone. 2011 gave us Beastly and Zookeeper, Water for Elephants and African Cats. So let us take time to see how well you know the last twelve months in cinema. You may know your Dolphin Tale from your Shark Night, but how well you know 2011: The Year in Movies (Part II)?

Oscar 2012: Letters to Santa

While some favorites are already writing acceptance speeches, other contenders should be writing letters to Santa asking for a present, or in some cases a Christmas miracle.

Friday Box Office Analysis

The fourth entry in the Mission: Impossible series is on top on Friday with $9.7 million.

This is So Last Week: 12/16/11-12/22/11

This week: A death hoax, popular videos, a near drowning and fashion advice from a Young Adult. It's SLW's final edition of 2011, so enjoy our weekly entertainment and celebrity trivia quiz.

This Is So Last Week returns January 6. Watch for 2011: The Year in Pop Culture next week.

Weekend Forecast

Three more films add themselves to the Christmas week slate over the next three days, adding to the Holiday glut that started last Friday.

The Twelve Days of Box Office

With regards to Thursday box office, Mission: Impossible – Ghost Protocol was once again the number one film in North America.

How Well Do You Know: 2011: The Year in Movies, Part I

Another year in film has come and gone. 2011 gave us Beastly and Zookeeper, Water for Elephants and African Cats. So let us take time to see how well you know the last twelve months in cinema. You may know your Bad Teacher from your Horrible Bosses, but how well you know 2011: The Year in Movies (Part I)?

This Weekend, Watch This

A whole slew of new films enter TWWT Thunderdome. Which emerges victorious?

Movie Review: Scream 4

Recently, another member of the staff, Tom Douglass (whom I shall from now on refer to as either Tom 2 or Fake Tom), decided to review the first 94:12 of Scream 4...

Sole Criterion

Today kicks off a new column that explores the many wondrous offerings of the Criterion Collection.

Things I Learned From Movie X

What deeper subtext is there to be drawn from a film which features Daniel Stern getting a stapler shot into his crotch? You'd be surprised, maybe.

The Twelve Days of Box Office

As expected, Mission: Impossible – Ghost Protocol was the top performer for December 21, 2011.

How Well Do You Know: Mission: Impossible Franchise Screenshots

Cue the distinctive theme music and light the fuse. In 1996, Tom Cruise and director Brian de Palma brought the world of Mission: Impossible to the big screen. With plenty of explosions, spectacularly executed stunts and ripping off of masks, Cruise had a franchise all his own. On the eve of the latest entry in the series, it's time to see how well you know the first three Mission: Impossible films by sight. This quiz will self-destruct in 3...2...1...

How Well Do You Know: The Office: Season 8 Part 1

Season 8 of The Office introduced viewers to life at paper company Dunder Mifflin without Michael Scott. A new office manager, plus the addition of James Spader as CEO Robert California, has breathed new life into The Office. While a lot has changed within the office, the quirky characters who make up the office staff is still as crazy as ever. How well do you know Part 1 of The Office: Season 8?

Comics Weekly

It's a very comic book-y Christmas!

TV Rewind: Twin Peaks

The cliffhanger from “Episode 23” confuses me.

Are You With Us?

The evolution of Angelina Jolie is surely a fascinating one.

Oscar 2012: Visual Effects

You can't love the Oscars without loving the tech categories.

Top Chef: Texas Recap

The latest episode picks up where the last one ended. People are still horrified by Heather’s abusive treatment of Beverly.

How Well Do You Know: Christmas in TV and the Movies, Part 2

Probably no holiday lends itself more to film and television than Christmas. Christmas has given us numerous classic movies and programs whose influence reach far beyond the holiday season. You know know your Buddy the Elf from Rudolph the Red Nosed Reindeer, but how well do you know Christmas in TV and the Movies (Part II)?

How Well Do You Know: Modern Family, Season 3 Recap Part 1

Emmy-award winning comedy Modern Family's 3rd season starts out strong, continuing to entertain us with the exploits of the Pritchett, Dunphy and Tucker-Pritchett families. Family vacations to a Dude Ranch, trips to a college campus, and an early Christmas celebration are just part of the family fun this season. You may know all about chunkin' a punkin', but how well do you know the first part of Modern Family: Season 3?

Monday Morning Quarterback

Things start to kick into a higher gear, and the BOP staff discusses all the ins and outs of the box office.

Part One
Part Two

Weekend Forecast

The first batch of this Christmas 2011's Release Fest arrive Wednesday, with three of the six new wide release films this week entering theaters.

Movie Review: Shame

He lies naked in bed, staring off into nothing. He’s either just had sex or thinking about his next opportunity.

Viking Night: Real Genius

Real Genius is a relentlessly hysterical collegiate farce worthy of comparison to the best of the genre - only it involves real geniuses instead of Nerds.

How Well Do You Know: Survivor: South Pacific Recap

For its 23rd iteration, Survivor brought back two notorious players, and added another pair of polarizing contestants. So gather together your prayer circle, and try to take this test with honor, integrity and loyalty. How well do you know Survivor: South Pacific.

Overpaid Jerks: 12/12/11-12/18/11

This week: The quest for perfection ends. The quest for imperfection ends. Also: #1 vs #2, a plethora of bowl games, drug charges and coaching changes. Here's our sports quiz for the 51st week of 2011.

Review: Sherlock Holmes 2

Sherlock Holmes: A Game of Shadows is a mainstream production that utilizes its hefty budget to provide a kinetic and entertaining experience.

TiVoPlex

John promises to stop pimping if you will watch a movie about roadside pimping. Wait, what?

Survivor: South Pacific

Hello, good people, and welcome to the first part of the finale of Survivor: South Pacific here at Box Office Prophets.

Survivor: South Pacific

Hello, good people, and welcome to Part Two of the Survivor: South Pacific finale recap.

How Well Do You Know: Rio

In the spring of 2011, Twentieth Century Fox unveiled the bright and lively world of Rio with its latest animated feature, as seen through the eyes of our feathered friends. The film boasts the voice talents of two Oscar nominees (Jesse Eisenberg and Anne Hathaway), an Oscar winner (Jamie Foxx), a Grammy winner (Will.i.am) and...well...George Lopez. The result is a fun movie that uses the vibrant colors and sounds of Brazil to great effect. You may know that there are forty different species of flightless birds, but how well do you know the movie Rio?

Survivor: South Pacific

After last week's ousting of Edna, we are down to the original Upolu alliance. Coach, Albert, Sophie, Brandon and Rick have run the table.

Weekend Wrap-Up

Sherlock Holmes does well enough, Chipwrecked does not, and Mission: Impossible - Ghost Protocol impresses.

How Well Do You Know: Ernest Saves Christmas

Hey Vern it's Christmas. The lovable Ernest is back again, and this time saving Christmas for everyone. Santa Claus wants to retire and needs to appoint a new Santa before it's too late. Along with helping Santa, Ernest meets a young runaway girl and helps her find her own Christmas spirit. You may know all them movie folks want is poison, but how well do you know Ernest saves Christmas? Know what I mean?

How Well Do You Know: Twas the Night Before Christmas

Twas the night before Christmas and all through the house, not a creature was stirring not even a mouse. Clement Moore's classic poem is brought to life by this adorable cartoon, told by a man and a mouse. So wake your brain from its long winter's nap and shake out the visions of sugarplums. How well do you know Twas the Night Before Christmas?

Friday Box Office Analysis

The Robert Downey Jr. sequel earned $14.7 million on Friday, far surpassing everything else.

This is So Last Week: 12/9/11-12/15/11

This week: Nominations, a protest, a new judge and a healthy batch of celebrity Twitter madness. As the year barrels towards its end, rate your pop culture knowledge. Here's our celebrity and entertainment quiz for the 50th week of 2011.

This Weekend, Watch This

In which Alvin and the Chipmunks wins one point, albeit largely on charity.

Weekend Forecast

Look, would you people just see a movie already? Are you going to make Hollywood beg? Okay, okay.

How Well Do You Know: Robert Downey, Jr. Movie Roles

Robert Downey, Jr. has been around for nearly three decades. Starting out as a supporting comedic player, he then made Oscar-nominated splash as a screen legend. After years of well-documented substance abuse and then recovery, he returned better than ever. How well do you know the roles of Robert Downey, Jr.

Review: Sherlock Holmes 2

Guy Ritchie constructed the visuals of the first Sherlock Holmes largely in the shadows, with a rarely sunny look of an Industrial England.

How to Spend $20

Face it, you likely haven't even started your Christmas shopping yet. Let us hurl some gift suggestions your way.

How Well Do You Know: 1970s Bands by Lead Singer

It was the decade that saw the rise of area rock and disco. Let's see how well you know the bands of the 1970s. We'll give you a lead singer of an 70s act, and ask you to identify the band he or she fronted. How well do you know 70s Bands by Lead Singer?

Before you send in angry emails, yes, we know that acts listed in this quiz may have had careers before or after the 1970s....we just picked some bands that are most identified with that era.

How Well Do You Know: Glee, Season 3 Recap, Part 1

Several New Directions defect to a new club. Sue targets the arts in her political campaign. Several of the kids vie for Senior Class President. So make time for the recruiter, enroll in Booty Camp and pledge to go topless on Tuesdays - but first let's see how well you know the fall episodes of Glee, Season 3.

Comics Weekly

This week: Cable declares war on the X-Men. Don't ask me why.

Review: Young Adult

A dark, dark comedy, Charlize Theron gives a showcase performance as Mavis Gary, a ghostwriter of a used-to-be-popular young adult fiction novel series.

Top Chef: Texas Recap

Previously on Top Chef, Beverly claimed an entire kitchen as her own, much to the chagrin of the (less important) other three chefs in the room.

Golden Globes Predictions

Who wants Golden Globe predictions? Get your Golden Globe predictions here!

Top Chef Power Rankings

How do the chefs stack up? Heh heh. We said "stack."

How Well Do You Know: Cars 2

Lightning McQueen and his pal Mater find themselves far away from Radiator Springs in Cars 2. Lightning challenges a speedy rival in a multi-country race, while Mater is swept up in international espionage. You may know well enough to leave the wasabi alone, but how well do you know Cars 2?

How Well Do You Know: The Amazing Race 19 Recap

The Amazing Race is back and the first 11 episodes remind us why it deserves those Emmys. It's a tense, yet fun race across the world that allows teams to either work together (e.g. Andy & Tommy and Bill & Cathi) or against each other (*cough* Laurence & Zac *cough* Justin & Jennifer *cough*) in scenic locales with varying degrees of success. Luck outweighs strategy most times, which keeps it interesting and sometimes infuriating. As for that disappointing, anticlimactic finale, let's not dwell on it. Let's just see how well you know The Amazing Race Season 19.

Review: Scream 4 (Short Version)

BOP maintains that Scream 4 is a missed opportunity as a movie. We have asked someone to review the version we feel is superior.

TV Rewind: Twin Peaks

Following several weeks of steady action, Twin Peaks slowed itself some in “Episode 23.”

Overpaid Jerks: 12/5/11-12/11/11

This week: A college melee, a nixed trade, mega baseball signings and a fired analyst. Enjoy our review of the the previous seven days in sports, presented in a pleasing quiz format.

TiVoPlex

If you are looking at the picture and wondering if Heavenly Bodies is a ripoff of Flashdance, the answer is DUH!

The Amazing Race Recap

Does good triumph over evil or does an Indiapolis Colt fall short in the final game once again?

Movie vs. Movie

A Dangerous Method and Shame are today's combatants.

Monday Morning Quarterback

It's one of the worst movie weekends in ages. So much for star power. The BOP staff discusses the horror.

Part One
Part Two

How Well Do You Know: The Three Amigos

Wherever there is injustice, suffering, or where liberty is threatened, you will find them. Chevy Chase, Martin Short and Steve Martin star in the hilarious comedy The Three Amigos. Time for the Amigo salute (you know you know it)! You may not know what a plethora is either, but how well do you know The Three Amigos?

Weekend Wrap-Up

It's two weekends before Christmas, and what do loyal movie fans across this great continent get as a soother against holiday shopping?

How Well Do You Know: Community Season 3 Recap

Community returned for a third season that was darker than expected, both on-screen - Jeff basically killed a guy! - and off, with the show's undetermined hiatus causing fans to worry about its future. What better way to fill the void than with a light-hearted look back at the first half of season 3? You may have your own Dreamatorium, but how well do you know Community, Season Three: Part One.

How Well Do You Know: The Ref

Meet Gus, your typical burglar who robs houses on Christmas Eve. Unfortunately, Gus chose the wrong family to hold hostage. Christmas Eve is going to be hell with this bickering family, and now Gus has to play referee. You may have to remind yourself that no guns means no yelling but how well do you know The Ref?

Friday Box Office Analysis

Despite starring approximately 93 different actors, New Year's Eve earned only $5.1 million on Friday.

How Well Do You Know: Parks and Recreation, S04E10: Citizen Knope

Leslie tries to keep busy while on suspension, and finds out bad news about her campaign. Meanwhile, the staff attempts to construct the perfect present for her. You may know not to get a wax at the day spa, but how well do you know Parks and Recreation: Citizen Knope?

This is So Last Week: 12/2/11-12/8/11

From Herman Cain to Lady Gaga, anyone who's anyone left their mark on pop culture this week. See how well you were paying attention and try our entertainment/celebrity week-in-review quiz.

Weekend Forecast

After a weekend where we saw no new wide releases, the studios now unleash two new films into the market.

This Weekend, Watch This

New movies are released into theaters every weekend. How do you decide which movie to watch?

How Well Do You Know: Happy Endings, Season 2 (Part 1) Recap

The second season of Happy Endings continues the escapades of six fast-talkin', women-be-stoppin' friends in Chicago. Vision boards, a limo and Halloween in the suburbs all figure into the proceedings. You may think that Alex-as-Marilyn makes for a great second place in the drag queen costume contest, but how well do you know Happy Endings, Season 2 (Part 1)?

How Well Do You Know: America's Next Top Model Cycle 17 Recap

Previous standouts returned for an All-Star edition of America's Next Top Model. The models had to contend with being heckled by fans, a damn big salad and a mysteriously controversial ending. How well do you know America's Next Top Model All-Stars?

Chapter Two: Secret Wars

This column and next, Chapter Two will be indulging in a year-end blowout of a different sort.

Review: Answers to Nothing

As a film, Answers to Nothing doesn’t do anything new, but it does try to do something good.

Make An Argument

If you haven’t seen it, Pirate Radio is a delight of a film.

Oscar 2012: Screenplays

Heading into the Oscar race, the Screenplay categories tend to look like two large, grey, nebulous clouds.

How Well Do You Know: Pirates of the Caribbean: On Stranger Tides

Embarking on a brand new set of travels with their iconic character Captain Jack Sparrow, Disney reset a franchise with a fun adventure that hearkened back to the feel of the first film, the Curse of the Black Pearl. This time, Jack must square off against Blackbeard (the pirate all other pirates fear), resist a former lady love, side with an old foe and find the legendary Fountain of Youth. You may know a Jack Sparrow impostor when you see one but how well do you know Pirates of the Caribbean: On Stranger Tides?

How Well Do You Know: Sons of Anarchy, Season 4 Recap

Season 4 of Sons of Anarchy begins with SAMCRO members walking out of jail...and immediately into more trouble. Forces both within and without the club threaten life and liberty for members of the club. If given the choice between spending time with Jacob Hale or Georgie Caruso, you may opt to disparage Happy to his face, but how well do you know Sons of Anarchy, Season 4?

Comics Weekly

I'm getting comics for Christmas!

Top Chef Power Rankings

We finally have enough of a handle on this season to launch our initial power rankings.

Viking Night

A cynical teen is about as rare as a hot day in July.

How to Spend $20

DVDs make perfect Christmas presents. Here's a selection of the best of this week.

Survivor: South Pacific

Survivor debate: was Cochran's treachery the single most detrimental move in the history of the show? BOP says yes.

How Well Do You Know: Indiana Jones Franchise Screenshots

The Indiana Jones franchise has given moviegoers with some of the most iconic and memorable images to hit the screen. If presented with a single screenshot, can you identify the film from which it came? How well do you know Indiana Jones franchise screenshots?

Awards Season Kickoff

In the same way that the Iowa Caucuses kick off election season every four years, the Oscar season always starts in December.

Movie Review: Hugo

Upon leaving Hugo, I asked myself if any other director could have been as impassioned with this story as Martin Scorsese.

Top Chef: Texas Recap

This week, a cigar is not a cigar...and everyone involved regrets this.

TV Rewind: Twin Peaks

For quite a while - and this continues, mind you - I grappled with what Twin Peaks was really trying to be.

Overpaid Jerks: 11/28/11-12/4/11

This week: Conference champions are crowned, kickers are iced, Cam runs and Tiger wins. We'll understand if you sprain your thumb after answering a single quiz. Let's see how well you remember the 49th week of 2011 in sports.

Movie Review: Like Crazy

Failed relationships are fairly universal, and frankly, the non-self-destructive amongst us make a concerted effort to avoid them.

TiVoPlex

TiVo: the friendly device that loves your television in a way you will never understand.

Are You With Us?

One of my favorite types of movie is the ensemble pic.

The Amazing Race Recap

Last week, we said goodbye to one of the remaining deserving teams – grandparents Bill & Cathi.

How Well Do You Know: Fast Five

Dom, Brian and Mia are on the run, but that doesn't mean they don't have time to take down a local crime boss. Of course, they'll have to get the old gang back together. On the other hand, a badass law enforcement dude is hot on their trail. Action, action, action! Racing, racing, racing! How well do you know Fast Five?

Weekend Wrap-Up

It's the post-Thanksgiving weekend at the box office, and that means only one thing: poorly cooked leftovers.

How Well Do You Know: Captain America, Part 2

Chris Evans ably fills the boots of Captain America in the 2011 comic-to-film project. Transformed from a 98-pound weakling into the ultimate freedom fighter, Captain America must save the world from a horrific WWII scourge. You may have thought he'd be taller, but how well do you know Captain America (Part 2)?

How Well Do You Know: Nikita, Season 2 Recap Part 1

Nikita's sophomore season finds the ex-Division rogue and her associates far-flung and often working at cross purposes. Percy is caged, Alex is vengeful and Birkhoff is super, super rich. You may be surprised at how easy black boxes are to come by, but how well do you know Nikita, Season 2?

Friday Box Office Analysis

Historically one of the weakest box office weekends of the year, the weekend after Thanksgiving sees no new wide releases at all.

This is So Last Week: 11/25/11-12/1/11

With your TVs heating up from the Victoria's Secret Fashion Show, your volume cranked in honor of the Grammy nominations, and your glass of a musically inspired ale hoisted in the air, another pop culture week is behind us. You probably didn't plop down over $2 mil on a comic book but we hope you were paying attention to the 48th week of 2011.

How Well Do You Know: Parks and Recreation, S04E09: The Trial of Leslie Knope

Following disclosure of their relationship, Chris orders an ethics investigation of Ben and Leslie. You can't tell, but Chris takes it really hard. So try hard to remember the names of the other department heads, and let's see how well you know Parks and Rec: The Trial of Leslie Knope.

Weekend Forecast

Right about now, Hollywood has the sinking feeling it forgot to do something.

How Well Do You Know: Captain America, Part 1

Oscar 2012: The Supporting Actors

The supporting categories are often very complicated to predict early on.

What Went Wrong

This will go into a few spoilers, so if you haven’t seen The X-Files: I Want to Believe… well, there’s no need to trouble yourself.

Survivor: South Pacific

As Te Tuna returns from Tribal Council, they all emphasize how much of a family they are.

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