December 2013 Content at BoxOfficeProphets.com

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Viking Night: Trading Places

One of the reasons Trading Places still works so well is because every generation comes up with a reason to despise Wall Street.

Movie Review: Anchorman 2

Based on the quality of the original and the trailer for the sequel, I was more than eager to catch up with Ron Burgundy and his eccentric news crew.

The 12 Days of Box Office

With Christmas week in the rearview mirror, box office neophytes may believe that the fun and games are over for Hollywood releases.

Overpaid Jerks: 12/23/13-12/29/30

Pro football finality, college football bowls, NBA sour grapes and a memorable MMA ending. Here's your very last chance to prove your knowledge of sports during 2013.

The Twelve Days of Box Office

Sunday finalized a few of the narratives for this Christmas season, although there was not much in terms of shaking up the established pecking order of films.

2013 Films in Haiku

There have been many films that had wide releases in 2013. Here's a sampling of Haiku synopses for each of them.

Weekend Wrap-Up

The December holiday season is always the most wonderful time of the year in Hollywood.

How Well Do You Know: 2013: The Year in Pop Culture Part 3

Cable television was where the action was in 2013. Heisenberg's era ended, people ate up all the zombies (or is it the other way around?) and a bunch of hicks became media icons. And network television didn't do too badly, either. New shows soared and even a couple of canceled ones came back to life. How well do you know the year in Pop Culture?

Friday Box Office Analysis

The holiday weekend is always magical at the box office and 2013 is no exception.

Review: Mandela

Directed by Justin Chadwick from a script by recent Les Miserables adapter William Nicholson, Long Walk to Freedom feels like a history class...

Review: The Wolf of Wall Street

No subtle coding is present, and no careful reading of the text is necessary to interpret Martin Scorsese’s The Wolf of Wall Street.

The Twelve Days of Box Office

Remember that Madonna song with the lyrics, “Holiday, celebrate”? A lot of folks in Hollywood are not singing that tune today.

This is So Last Week: 12/20/13-12/26/13

The ruler of Redbox, an ex X-Man, an unexpected DJ and the passing of an Oscar winner. Sharpen those pop culture wits by taking our entertainment and celebrity quiz for the 52nd week of 2013.

Indie Watch

We are still three weeks away from he nominations for the 86th Academy Awards, but the Academy has already started winnowing the fields in several categories.

Review: Inside Llewyn Davis

Inside Llewyn Davis plays like a whimsical short story contained in a book of other short stories.

Doctor Who Recap

As we've known for months now, "The Time of The Doctor" is the episode where Smith bows out...

The Twelve Days of Box Office

Christmas ordinarily contains an entire day’s worth of yuletide glee for Hollywood studios.

How Well Do You Know: 2013: The Year in Miley Cyrus

If you thought that the worst that Billy Ray Cyrus could unleash on the world was Achy, Breaky Heart or that Hannah Montana would be the height of his daughter's exposure, then you were vey wrong. 2013 was a big year for Miley publicity-wise with outrageous onstage antics and racy/nonsensical videos. It's time to twerk...sorry...test how well you know the year in Miley Cyrus.

Elf Off the Shelf 2013

For the last few years the Elf on the Shelf phenomenon has captured the attention of kids everywhere.

Part One
Part Two
Part Three

This Weekend, Watch This

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

The Twelve Days of Box Office

Merry Christmas, everyone! Let’s quickly talk box office before you return to the eggnog, mistletoe and rampant consumerism.

How Well Do You Know: 2013: The Year in Movies, Part 4

2013 at the movies effectively starred Benedict Cumberbatch, co-starred Melissa McCarthy and was produced/directed by Tyler Perry. You may know your Peeples from your Identity Thief and your Smaug from your Jobs but how well do you know 2013: The Year in Movies?

Weekend Forecast

It's one of the tightest Christmas weekends in recent memory, with as many as six different films having a chance to take the top spot on the weekend.

Review: American Hustle

Part of the central absurdity in American Hustle is in the film’s obsessive devotion to the look and style of that decade.

The Twelve Days of Box Office

Hobbits may be smaller than humans, but one of them continues to dominate the box office realm.

How Well Do You Know: 2013: The Year in Pop Culture Part 2

BOP loves pop culture the way that Miley Cyrus loves attention. We have tracked an entire year of headlines just for these two quizzes. Enjoy Part II today, and demonstrate that you know obscure stuff about 50 Shades of Grey, Family Guy and royal babies.

Review: Inside Llewyn Davis

At this point in their careers, the Coen Brothers can’t help but make one of the best films of a given year.

Top Chef Recap

The episode begins with Nina lamenting the absence of Travis.

Review: Saving Mr. Banks

Directed by John Lee Hancock (The Blind Side), Saving Mr. Banks purports to relay the behind-the-scenes drama that surrounded Mary Poppins.

The 12 Days of Box Office

By now, you know the drill. The end of December holiday period is the most lucrative time on the box office calendar.

Overpaid Jerks: 12/16/13-12/22/13

A kicker has a great week, a quarterback has an even better week, and a coach's tirade goes viral. Prove that you're a true blue fan of sports by taking this quiz that wraps up the week of December 16-22, 2013.

Weekend Wrap-Up

A slew of new product started the Christmas box office bonanza with a bang this weekend.

How Well Do You Know: 2013: The Year in Gaming

2013 marked the end of a console generation and the beginning of a new one, with the XBox One and Playstation 4 finally here. While we await all the next gen awesomeness that is coming in 2014, let's find out how well you know 2013 in games.

This Weekend, Watch This

For the weekend of December 20th, the new films in wide release are Anchorman 2, Walking with Dinosaurs, American Hustle, and Saving Mr. Banks.

Friday Box Office Analysis

And now we begin a very special time of year in BOP Land. It's the 12 Days of Box Office, a magical time when movies just keep racking up the big bucks.

This is So Last Week: 12/13/13-12/19/13

It's almost time to wave goodbye to 2013. First, let's devour a healthy dose of music news with unexpected albums, Hall of Fame inductees and suggested retirement (please be true). Throw in some movie casting news/rumors, admissions of stealing another's work and a death of a legend. Let's see how well you know the 51st week of 2013.

Weekend Forecast Part 2

Three new movies hit wide release this weekend in advance of the Christmas holidays, just ahead of when, let me check my records here... all. All the movies are opening on Christmas.

How Well Do You Know: 2013: The Year in Music

Musician marriages and breakups, big hits and one hit wonders. There was twerking and blurred lines and questions about foxes. You may know your One Direction from your Jonas Brothers (or maybe not), but how well do you know 2013: The Year in Music?

Monday Morning Quarterback II

Today we discuss the impact of The Hobbit films on the original Lord of the Rings series as well as Madea's Christmas celebration.

What Went Wrong: Sphere

This will contain spoilers, so if you have not seen (or read) Sphere then please take into account that you should not judge a book by its movie.

Movie Review - Hobbit 2

This will contain spoilers, so if you have not seen (or read) Sphere then please take into account that you should not judge a book by its movie.

Watchlist

As they say, one man's trash is another man's treasure.

Comics Weekly

If you have never read Locke & Key, today is the perfect moment to start. It is the Breaking Bad of comic books.

Top Chef Power Rankings

There is almost but not quite a change at the top of this week’s Power Rankings.

Weekend Forecast Part 1

Wednesday brings a little amuse-bouche for the upcoming feast of Christmas movie season, with one new comedy sequel.

How Well Do You Know: 2013: The Year in Pop Culture Part 1

BOP loves pop culture the way that Miley Cyrus loves attention. We have tracked an entire year of headlines just for these two quizzes. Enjoy Part I today, and demonstrate that you A) know where Banksy has been B) know who filled Jon Stewart's shoes and C) know the new Pope's resume.

Survivor Finale Recap

There are four people left in the real game and three people left on Redemption Island.

Part One
Part Two

Top Chef New Orleans Recap

Previously on Top Chef, the most lopsided Restaurant Wars battle to date caused ripple effects among the contestants.

Viking Night

When I was a little boy, all I ever wanted for Christmas was an X-Wing Fighter.

Monday Morning Quarterback

The Hobbit: The Desolation of Smaug took the crown for biggest box office even as it lagged behind the first movie.

Part One

How Well Do You Know: 2013: The Year in Movies, Part 3

Movie Review: Nebraska

Late in Alexander Payne’s affected and deliberate comedy Nebraska, two sons take their reluctant father to see what remains of his childhood home.

Review: The Hobbit 2

If there’s a central flaw in the films of the Hobbit trilogy — and there are many ancillary ones — it is, of course, the remarkably poor decision to divide the story into three parts.

Overpaid Jerks: 12/9/13-12/15/13

Baseball happenings in December, a Heisman Trophy winner, totally voluntary resignations and questionable smack talk. We won't believe that you're really a sports fan until you ace this sports trivia quiz for the 51st week of 2013.

Survivor Power Rankings

I'm basing my rankings for the finale on who I think has the best shot to win this game.

Weekend Wrap-Up

The Hobbit: The Desolation of Smaug is no The Hunger Games: Catching Fire, as the Peter Jackson sequel couldn’t match the $85 million December record.

Friday Box Office Analysis

The second of the three Hobbit movies (and fifth Peter Jackson film adapted from Tolkien’s books) comes in with an opening day of $31.1 million.

This is So Last Week: 12/6/13-12/12/13

An avalanche of award nominations, the Person of the Year, supermodel controversy and the most overpaid actresses. Strap on your Pop Culture Genius hat and try our entertainment/celebrity quiz for the 50th week of 2013.

This Weekend, Watch This

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

Weekend Forecast

December makes its best case for a blockbuster this weekend with the return yet again of the Tolkien universe of Middle Earth to the big screen.

How Well Do You Know: 2013: The Year in Movies, Part 2

2013 at the movies saw the White House threatened (repeatedly), zombies attack, minions mutate and giant robots punching giant monsters. You may know 2 Guns from Bullet to the Head, but how well do you know 2013: The Year in Movies?

Survivor Recap

Previously on Survivor, there was a final four alliance between Malcolm, Denise, Michael and Lisa, so Abi came up with a ridiculous plan about a hidden immunity idol.

Indie Watch

The landscape for independent films has changed rapidly.

Survivor Recap

We begin after Tribal...as Katie arrives at Redemption Island.

How Well Do You Know: 2013: The Year in Movies, Part 1

Thor and Iron Man returned to major bank. Everyone was tired of Sly and Arnold. The past year in movies brought us The Conjuring, The World's End and The Big Wedding. You may know The Heat from Frozen, but how well do you know 2013: The Year in Movies?

Comics Weekly

All I want for Christmas is comic books.

Top Chef Power Rankings

The fallout from Restaurant Wars resonates throughout this week’s Power Rankings.

Elf Off the Shelf 2013

He's back...

For the last few years the Elf on the Shelf phenomenon has captured the attention of kids everywhere.

How Well Do You Know: The Hobbit: An Unexpected Journey, Part 2

It lacked the critical acclaim and popular embrace of the Lord of the Rings movies, but the first film in the Hobbit series still made more than $1 billion at the box office. Here's another chance to test your know the adventures of Bilbo, Gandalf, Thorin and his company in The Hobbit: An Unexpected Journey.

Review: Out of the Furnace

I predict most viewers will walk away from Out of the Furnace either disappointed or confused, or maybe both.

Viking Night: Happy Gilmore

So, you hate Adam Sandler? Well let's see YOUR hockey player golf tournament movie.

The Amazing Race Finale Recap

Sayonara, Japan, and HELLO, U.S. of A.

Top Chef Recap

Previously on Top Chef, Brian confirmed his long held suspicion. His was the hippest tang in the competition.

Overpaid Jerks: 12/2/13-12/8/13

College football championships, an NBA cancellation, baseball signings and a raucous Silent Night. Verify that you are an athletic supporter with our sports trivia quiz for the 50th week of 2013.

Survivor Power Rankings

Last week’s Tribal Council was a lot of fun and turned my predicted direction of the show on its head.

The Amazing Race Recap

Settle in kiddos, because it’s time for part one of the whopping two-hour finale of the Amazing Race 23.

Weekend Wrap-Up

The Hunger Games: Catching Fire and Frozen are doing battle again over the post-holiday frame.

Friday Box Office Analysis

The traditional post-Thanksgiving hangover is here, with everything down massively from a week ago and the one new release flopping.

This is So Last Week: 11/29/13-12/5/13

A $250K disaster, a superheroine, Thanksgiving records, the Entertainer of the Year and boy band history. Here's our pop culture recap quiz for the 49th week of 2013.

This Weekend, Watch This

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

Weekend Forecast

As is tradition, Hollywood essentially takes the weekend after Thanksgiving off, thinking you're all movied out from the long weekend.

400 Words: Out of the Furnace

In director Scott Cooper’s second film, Out of the Furnace, his hand is nearly invisible.

How Well Do You Know: 2013 Movie Posters Part II

Here is yet another chance for you to prove your worth in identifying movie posters from the past year. We'll give you a tidbit of the one-sheet, you just have to identify the 2013 film it is promoting. How well do you know 2013 Movie Poster?

Indie Watch

The contenders for the foreign film Oscar are usually largely an unseen mystery; Renoir is available for easy viewing on a variety of platforms.

Survivor Recap

Previously on Survivor, there were no sentimental attachments or Survivor obstacles left to get in the way of cut-throat gameplay

How Well Do You Know: Honest 2013 Movie Titles Part 3

Movie titles are intended to encapsulate all that is good and pure in the film. Alas, most titles misrepresent the actual product they are encapsulating. So, HWDYK has taken the liberty of renaming them in a manner that better reflects the content.

Survivor Power Rankings

Last week we saw everyone stuff up their game big-time, while being 100% convinced that they were all making the right decisions.

Comics Weekly

Comics for Christmas! What a fabulous idea!

Top Chef Recap

Do you know what "hip tang" means? Do you want to? If so, this recap is for you.

Top Chef Power Rankings

Last week’s episode was confusing in that everyone did so well that differentiation is a virtual impossibility. I will try to do it anyway because I’m just that naïve.

How Well Do You Know: The 2013 Movie That Starred....Part II

With the year getting shorter, the list of movies released in 2013 gets longer...which means you'll have plenty of options to sort through for this quiz. If we give you names of actors, can you spot the film they all appeared in? Here's another edition of The 2013 Movie That Starred...

Viking Night: Sin City

With Sin City, Robert Rodriguez’s devotion to his source material is clear.

How Well Do You Know: The Walking Dead, Season 4 Recap Part 1

Holed up within the safety (wink, wink) of the prison, and with the threat of The Governor supposedly behind them (nudge, nudge) Rick, Daryl and the others face new threats (surprise, surprise) in Season 4 of The Walking Dead. See how well you recall the fall episodes of AMC's zombie-licious hit.

Overpaid Jerks: 11/25/13-12/1/13

Thanksgiving football, a rushing record, coaches behaving badly and a silly extension. Shake off your post-holiday coma with our sports recap quiz for the 48th week of 2013.

Amazing Race Recap

Nine down…two to go. Episodes that is. We are already on the cusp of another season finale and another team being $1 million richer.

What Went Right

“You wanted to see a bit of real India,” says Jamal to two American tourists after their car has been broken into. “Here it is.”

Monday Morning Quarterback

Do you like big box office weekends? If so, have we ever got the discussion for you.

Part One
Part Two
Part Three

Weekend Wrap-Up

Both The Hunger Games: Catching Fire and Disney’s Frozen lit it up at the Thanksgiving box office, almost breaking the record book in the process.

Amazing Race Power Rankings

Amazing Race math for this week's power rankings and the remainder of the season: 4 teams + 3 hours + 2 episodes = 1 more non-elimination leg.

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