Back in May, I once again took a stab at predicting the top ten movies of the summer with their box office totals. I fared much better than last year it pains me how see how close I was to really nailing it. While I was able to predict the top five movies, I botched the order- particularly that number one slot. If only I had listened to myself back in January and hadn't reneged on my original prediction that The Dark Knight would be the summer's top grosser! Argh- next time I'll trust my instincts. With the brilliant cast, stellar early reviews and awesome marketing, that had blockbuster written all over it (though who knew it was a half-billion dollar blockbuster?).

Looking back, I overestimated the appeal of Wall-E as I should have realized that a bleak, eradication-of-Earth's-population plot would limit the character's lovability (thankfully, Kung Fu Panda filled that void). I also underestimated the Hulk, while overestimating the ability of male-driven comedies to make the top ten. Finally, I can hang my hat on my prediction of the "surprising" success of female-oriented Sex and the City and Mamma Mia! (which wound up #11). Say it with me folks: Counterprogramming works and women do actually like movies!