For the first time in 40 years, an African-American actor was the box-office champion. Big Will Smith kept gate receipts jiggy as he was voted the star who generated the most box office revenue for theaters last year.
In the survey conducted by Quigly Publishing Company, Smith became the first Black actor since Sidney Poitier in 1968 to be honored. The poll, which has existed since 1932, has asked exhibitors to vote on the 10 stars who brought in the most business. Smith’s superhero summer blockbuster, “Hancock,” grossed $228 million, while his latest, “Seven Pounds,” has pulled in a somewhat lackluster $39 million in two weeks. He currently has had eight $100 million films in a row, another Hollywood record!
Following Smith, in order, were Robert Downey Jr. (”Iron Man,” “Tropic Thunder”), Christian Bale (”The Dark Knight”), Shia LaBeouf (”Indiana Jones and the Kingdom of the Crystal Skull”) and LaBeouf’s “Indiana Jones” co-star Harrison Ford.
The top 10 were rounded out by Adam Sandler, Reese Witherspoon, George Clooney, Angelina Jolie and Daniel Craig.
Last year’s winner, Johnny Depp, who didn’t have a film released this year, didn’t make this year’s poll, nor did seven-time winner Tom Cruise.
Well, it seems that Bale has done it again. Someone published a tape on which Christian Bale lashes out at the director of photography while shooting a scene for his new movie, “Terminator: Salvation.”