“SALT” PASSES P100-M MARK IN 12 DAYS, STILL GOING STRONG!

Angelina Jolie in a scene from "Salt"

MANILA, Aug. 9 – There’s no stopping the tenacious Evelyn Salt in her box-office domination!  Angelina Jolie’s power-packed action-thriller Salt breached the landmark P100-million gross Sunday, Aug. 8 or 12 days after its release.  This according to Victor R. Cabrera, managing director of distributor Columbia Pictures Industries, Inc.

The film’s cumulative nationwide gross now stands at a spectacular P100.11-million, easily beating the final grosses of previous spy megahits such as Wanted (P94.65-M), Mr. & Mrs. Smith (P83.26-M) and all three Jason Bourne movies --  The Bourne Ultimatum (P58.07-M), The Bourne Supremacy (P35.90-M) and The Bourne Identity (P 36.80-M).

Salt also became the 2^nd P100-M hit for Columbia this year, after last June’s blockbuster The Karate Kid.

The Philip Noyce-directed actioner continued to impress discriminating local critics.  “Among the fine cinematic lessons Salt teaches is a veritable crash course in relentless editing for maximum suspense and visceral impact,” wrote Nestor Torre in his column.  “From the film’s shocking start to its `twist within a twist’ conclusion, the movie’s pacing and ever-intensifying conclusion doesn’t let up until the viewer ends up feeling like a very wet and limp dishrag—no kidding.”

Widely-read columnist Scott Garceau wrote that after the expositional back-story, “Salt kicks into high gear and doesn’t look back. There are enough stunts here to fill a Die Hard trilogy or a handful of Jason Bourne flicks.”

The cinemas that posted the biggest grosses for “Salt” are Trinoma (P6.13-M), SM Mall of Asia (P5.04-M), Glorietta 4 (P3.90-M), SM Megamall (P3.65-M), SM North EDSA (P3.20-M), SM Cebu (P3.12-M), Greenbelt 3 (P3.11-M), Power Plant (P3.03-M), Alabang Town Center (P2.83-M) and Ayala Cebu (P2.66-M).

Also doing great business are Gateway (P2.65-M), Shang Cineplex (P2.29-M), Eastwood (P2.23-M), Robinsons Ermita (P2.19-M), Greenhills (P2.01-M), Gaisano Davao (P1.92-M), Robinsons Galleria (P1.87-M), Market! Market! (P1.71-M), Festival (1.67-M) and SM San Lazaro (P1.33-M)

In the film, CIA officer Evelyn Salt (Jolie) swore an oath to duty, honor and country. Her loyalty will be tested when a defector accuses her of being a Russian spy. Salt goes on the run, using all her skills and years of experience as a covert operative to elude capture. Salt's efforts to prove her innocence only serve to cast doubt on her motives, as the hunt to uncover the truth behind her identity continues and the question remains: "Who Is Salt?"

Still playing across the Philippines, “Salt” is distributed by Columbia Pictures, local office of Sony Pictures Releasing International.  Visit www.sonypictures.com.ph to get the latest movie news, video clips, games and free downloads. Find us on Facebook www.Facebook.com/ColumbiaPicturesPH and join our fan contests.

SALT” THRILLS RP WITH P58-M IN 5 DAYS, OPENS AT NO. 1

MANILA, Aug. 2 – Evelyn Salt outguns James Bond, Jason Bourne…even Mr. & Mrs. Smith!

Columbia Pictures’ “Salt,” a heart-stopping action-thriller starring Angelina Jolie as a suspected double spy, opened at No. 1 at the Philippine box-office, amassing a formidable gross of P58.12-million in five days in 132 screens for the July 28 to Aug. 1 weekend.  This was revealed today by Victor R. Cabrera, managing director of distributor Columbia Pictures Industries, Inc.

Arriving to tremendous rave reviews for its break-neck pace and hard-hitting action, “Salt” posted the 4^th biggest opening of the year, outpacing 5^th placer “Shrek Forever After” (P56.9-M) and bested only by “Twilight Saga: Eclipse” (P177.6-M),  “Iron Man 2” (P104.9-M) and “Prince of Persia: The Sands of Time” (P60.7-M).

“Salt” maneuvered itself to box-office success despite not having IMAX and digital screens which charge higher admission prices.

The kinetic actioner also gave Jolie her highest opening in the country, exceeding her previous best “Mr. & Mrs. Smith” (P51-M), even as it handily shattered the debuts of other franchise spy blockbusters --  James Bond’s “Quantum of Solace” (P53.1-M) and Jason Bourne’s “The Bourne Ultimatum” (P26.6-M).

Providing “Salt” its biggest grosses are the following cinemas: Trinoma (P3.41-M), SM Mall of Asia (P3.07-M), Glorietta 4 (P2.45-M), SM Megamall (P2.22-M), Power Plant (P1.87-M), SM North EDSA (P1.82-M), Greenbelt 3 (P1.81-M), SM Cebu (P1.76-M), Alabang Town Center (P1.70-M) and Gateway (P1.57-M).

Not to be outdone are Shang Cineplex (P1.53-M), Ayala Cebu (P1.45-M), Eastwood (P1.21-M), Robinsons Ermita (P1.202-M), Greenhills (P1.201-M), Robinsons Galleria (P1.16-M), Market! Market! (P1.05-M), Gaisano Davao (P1.04-M), Festival (P1.01-M) and SM San Lazaro (P781,090).

In the film, CIA officer Evelyn Salt (Jolie) swore an oath to duty, honor and country. Her loyalty will be tested when a defector accuses her of being a Russian spy. Salt goes on the run, using all her skills and years of experience as a covert operative to elude capture. Salt's efforts to prove her innocence only serve to cast doubt on her motives, as the hunt to uncover the truth behind her identity continues and the question remains: "Who Is Salt?"

Still playing across the Philippines, “Salt” is distributed by Columbia Pictures, local office of Sony Pictures Releasing International. To get the latest movie news,video clips, games and downloads, visit www.sonypictures.com.ph

 Find us at Facebook and join our fan contests www.Facebook.com/ColumbiaPicturesPH