> Heh. Shrek is showing on more screens than Pearl Harbor is at my local theater. (4 vs 3 at a 16 theater chain.)

Shrek's weekend box office performance last weekend was *amazing*. It sustained its audience from opening weekend, which is amazing, and it did so under threat of Pearl Harbor's expected $100 opening weekend. Pearl Harbor, on the other hand, grossed $75 million, which is admittedly impressive, but it makes it unlikely Disney will do much more than break even on it, especially if it tanks next weekend. (Many are predicting Shrek will be #1 again next weekend; resurgences to the #1 spot are rare and indicative of a movie with staying power going up against a movie with lots of hype but no staying power.) If this pans out as I'm thinking it might, I will rest easy. Michael Bay's next greenlight will be at a tighter budget, and, when Pearl Harbor's paltry profits are compared with Saving Private Ryan's wild success, perhaps studios will think twice about dumbing down and politically correct-izing war.