THE MARKET: “Space Chimps” goes into wide release on Friday, July 18, 2008. How much will it gross in its opening weekend as first reported by Variety on July 20? Each dollar of the share price represents millions of dollars in sales. Shares bought at $45, for example, would be worth $78 if the movie grosses $78 million. Trading closes on July 18 at 9 a.m. ET.
THE DATA: 20th Century Fox’s take on the animated-animal genre, “Space Chimps,” brings in some heavy hitters. Producer Barry Sonnenfeld has worked on such megahits as “When Harry Met Sally” and “Men In Black,” and Stanley Tucci, Kristin Chenoweth, and Andy Samberg lend their voices. “Kung Fu Panda” landed a $60 million opening, and figures to take on “Wall-E” and “The Clone Wars” for summer animated supremacy. Is there room for the chimps?
OUR TAKE: Kids love monkeys. Kids love spaceships. What does this add up to? “Space Chimps,” wherein a “slacker” chimp who’s the grandson of the first monkey in space is sent to rescue a lost probe and eventually learns the “true meaning of courage.” So … another movie about sassy talking animals, chock full of jokes that go over kids’ heads but entertain the parents stuck watching the movie with them. A recipe for success, albeit an oft-recycled one. – Leigh Kunkel

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