September
5 Studios pray that their auteurs know what the hell they're doing

Anne Thompson takes a look at the mega-budget wannabe/better-be blockbusters "Avatar," "The Curious Case of Benjamin Button" and "Where The Wild Things Are." Bottom line: "Avatar" is the most expensive at $250 million-$300 million, but likely stands the greatest chance of success; "Benjamin Button" will need lots of Oscar love to turn a profit; and "Where the Wild Things Are" is a real wild card. While Warner Bros. production chief Jeff Robinov puts a brave face when he says, "He's making a Spike Jonze family movie," Thompson writes, "The movie doesn't seem to be the family-friendly commercial picture the studio had in mind." [Variety]