!["Lincoln" leads the way](http://cdn2-b.examiner.com/sites/default/files/styles/image_content_width/hash/42/84/4284fe77e586e12adfd6bf0e4a2fa747.jpg?itok=PKcnUzHV ""Lincoln" leads the way")
This is the weekend when many will take in a screening of the Oscar-nominated films and may forget about the new releases. When all eyes in Hollywood are focused on The Oscars, opening a film now can have its drawbacks.
However, it can help, too, if the marketing is done right. But, given a choice, many would rather not see their picture open up when minds are elsewhere. Yes, minds are on movies in a big way, but for last year's films, for the most part.
Weekend
1. "Snitch" - 2,511 theaters
2. "Dark Skies" - 2,313 theaters
3. "Bless Me Ultima" - 263 theaters
So, case in point, release of movie starring The Rock and an independent film and see how they do. Plus, the Independent Spirit Awards are Saturday night, so some people have Indies on their mind.
For the Indies, look for "Silver Linings Playbook" to have a big night. Sure, that doesn't seem like an Independent film, but it is. Then there is the last Oscar box office going in to Sunday's show. A good year for the films and they were seen. One will still hear the usual cry that "I haven't seen any of the nominated films." If that is the case, it is your movie habits that is the problem, not the movies in general.
In what will likely be a slow weekend and one of the films already released, may stay or retake the lead, Oscars are here. In all, six films are over $100 million.
Oscar box office
"Lincoln" - 176,962,546
"Django Unchained" - $157,656,712
"Les Miserables"- $145,963,845
"Argo" - $127,654,188
"Life of Pi" - $111,745,023
"Silver Linings Playbook" - $100,870,102
"Zero Dark Thirty" - $89,047,400
"Beasts of the Southern Wild" - $12,306,988
"Amour" - $4,081,541
Total Gross: $926,288,345
Average Gross: $102,920,927
Not bad at all for the box office and it may be good news for TV ratings. People saw these movies and Seth MacFarlane is host. A combination that could prove worthy since he can sing, too. The producers have noted this when preparing. They also know he is quick with the humor and are not putting restrictions on him. If one saw the nomination announcement, that was evident.
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