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'Australia' Leads Fox Comeback Bid

By Robert Marich
    Nov. 19, 2008 – While usually a top-performing studio, 20th Century Fox is on a losing streak, and a Wall Street Journal article outlines the studio’s comeback plans with upcoming releases. Its hopes ride on historical epic Australia with Nicole Kidman and Hugh Jackman, a remake of sci-fi classic The Day the Earth Stood Still and comedy/drama Marley & Me.
 All eyes are on Australia, which Fox tells the WJS’ Peter Barnes cost $115 million to make, while industry sources estimates peg the drama as a $130 million production (that excludes maketing costs). The film -- whose sweeping landscapes promote the Down Under continent as a tourist destination -- is set in early WWII, which can be a tough sell to the youth audience, but the film has a good early buzz.
   Notes the WSJ, “The film's billboard campaign is somewhat of a throwback, forgoing the typical stylized, artsy images of
the movies' stars in favor of a series of stills. The movie's theatrical prospects also got a boost last week from Oprah Winfrey, who devoted an entire episode of her television talk show to promoting the film. She interviewed the cast and the director while lauding the movie, which had been screened for her and her studio audience.”
   According to Boxofficemojo.com, Fox ranks last among the six major studios in year-to-date domestic box office at 9.9%, which is just behind #5 Disney/Buena Vista. Topping the chart is Warner Bros. with an 18.9% share of box office

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