Top-grossing Pinoy Movies of 2008

Nix top 12 lists down the twelve top-grossing flicks of 2008. Two entries in the 34th Metro Manila Film Festival are already included based on their box  office performance from Dec. 25 to 31, 2008.

1. A VERY SPECIAL LOVE – P179.23 million (Star Cinema/Viva Films)

Romantic-comedy film featuring the first team-up of Sarah Geronimo with John Lloyd Cruz, this movie directed by Cathy Garcia Molina received an “A” rating from the Cinema Evaluation Board.

2. CAREGIVER – P139.54 million (Star Cinema)

Stars Sharon Cuneta portraying the role of Sarah, a mother who left her son in the Philippines and also a teacher who relinquished her profession in lieu of care giving in London, in hopes of augmenting her salary. Chito S. Roño directed the film and Chris Martinez wrote its screenplay.

3. FOR THE FIRST TIME – P134.7 million (Star Cinema)

Romantic film that features Richard Gutierrez and KC Concepcion. It was shot in the Philippines and in Santorini, Greece.KC’s  first movie  also marks the first time that actors from two rival networks have been allowed to team-up for a film. Richard is a GMA 7’s  star while KC  is an exclusive contract artist of Star Cinema.

4. ANG TANGING INA ‘NYONG LAHAT – P 102.5 million (Star Cinema)*

5. MY BESTFRIEND’S GIRLFRIEND – P101.24million (GMA/Regal Films)

6. DOBOL TROBOL GET REDI 2 RAMBOL – P90.51 million (Octoarts Films)

7. WHEN LOVE BEGINS – P89.38 million (Star Cinema/Viva Films)

8. MY ONLY U – P79.18 million (Star Cinema)

9. MAG-INGAT KA SA KULAM – P76.6 million (Regal Films)

10. ISKUL BUKOL: 20 YEARS AFTER – P72.6 (OctoArts/M-Zet/APT)*

11. MY BIG LOVE – P68 million (Star Cinema)

12. SUPAHPAPALICIOUS – P66.98 million (Star Cinema)

* the list did not include the films’ earning from Jan. 1 onwards

Baler: 34th MMFF’s best

If you chose to watch this film among the MMFF entries this year, you made the right decision, or if you didn’t watch it, you missed the festival’s best movie. Baler is definitely the only movie in the festival that gives importance to Filipino culture and history. In short, watching Baler in the most expensive cinemas in the metropolis is not a waste of money.

Baler connects with the audience without trying. It’s not Jericho Rosales’ subtle yet effective acting or Anne Curtis’ surprising display of acting flair but it’s the beauty of the story of 19th century Baler translated by Mark Meily into a moving tale of love, hatred, and nationalism that keeps our hearts beating extra faster while watching it. The entirety of this Viva produced movie proves that Philippine Cinema can be better.

Festival Awards

• Best Picture:
  • 1) Baler
  • 2) Tanging Ina N’yong Lahat
  • 3) Iskul Bukol: 20 Years After
    
• Best Director : Mark Meily (Baler)
  
• Best Actor: Christopher de Leon (Magkaibigan)
• Best Actress: Anne Curtis – Baler
• Best Supporting Actor:Philip Salvador – Baler
• Best Supporting Actress: Manilyn Reynes – One Night Only
• Best Sceenplay: Roy Iglesias – Baler
• Best Story: Jose Javier Reyes – One Night Only
  
• Best Cinematography: Lee Meily – Baler
• Best Sound: Albert Idioma and Wally Dellosa – Dayo
• Best Visual Effects: Robert Quilao – Dayo
• Best Production Design: Aped Santos – Baler
• Best Editing: Danny Anonuevo – Baler
• Best Make-Up: Noli Villalobos – Desperadas 2
• Best Musical Score: Jessie Lazatin – Dayo
• Best Theme Song: Lipad by Jessie Lasaten and Artemio Abad Jr., performed byLea Salonga – Dayo
• Best Child Performer:Robert Villar – Shake, Rattle, & Roll X
• Gatpuno Antonio Villegas Cultural Award – Baler
• Most Gender Sensitive Film Award – Baler

12 top-grossing pinoy movies of 2008

Philippine Cinema used to be the world’s fourth largest movie producer. The local industry produced almost a hundred films in 1999, but due to crisis and other factors, production has decreased over the years.

Movie producers have released more than 30 films as of November (including indies or digital flicks). Last year, 50 films were exhibited in commercial theaters.

Today’s edition of Nix’s Top 12 is quite special because aside from the 12 top-grossing films of 2008, 9 mainstream losers are also  included. Here are the A-listers:

1. A VERY SPECIAL LOVE – P179.23 million (Star Cinema/Viva Films)

2. CAREGIVER – P139.54 million (Star Cinema)

3. FOR THE FIRST TIME – P134.7 million (Star Cinema)

4. MY BESTFRIEND’S GIRLFRIEND – P101.24million (GMA/Regal Films)

5. DOBOL TROBOL GET REDI 2 RAMBOL – P90.51 million (Octoarts Films)

6. WHEN LOVE BEGINS – P89.38 million (Star Cinema/Viva Films)

7. MY ONLY U – P79.18 million (Star Cinema)

8. MAG-INGAT KA SA KULAM – P76.6 million (Regal Films)

9. MY BIG LOVE – P68 million (Star Cinema)

10. SUPAHPAPALICIOUS – P66.98 million (Star Cinema)

11. ONE TRUE LOVE – P61.58 million (GMA Films/Regal Films)

12. MANAY PO 2: OVERLOAD P34.24 million (Regal Films)

The BIG LOSERS of Philippine Cinema (2008)

1. TOROTOT – P2.71 million (Viva Films)

2. LOVING YOU – P5.78 million (Regal Films)

3. URDUJA – P12.65 million (APT Films)

4. PLONING – P13.94 million (Panoramanila Philippines Co.)

5. SCAREGIVERS – P23.28 million (APT Films)

6. I.T.A.L.Y. (I Trust and Love You) – P23.32 million (GMA Films)

8. IKAW PA RIN, BONGGA KA BOY! – P26.74 million (Viva Films)

9. MY MONSTER MOM – P32.42 million (GMA Films)

source: Box Office Mojo

Note:  The list of top-grossing films and big losers will definitely change after the Metro Manila Film Festival this Dec.25.