Machete, Drew Barrymore | featured news

1. Machete (Fox) NEW [2,670 Theaters]
Friday $3.9M, Estimated 4-Day Holiday $14M)

2. The American (Focus Features) NEW [2,823 Theaters] Opened Wed
Friday $3.8M, Estimated 4-Day Holiday $16M, Estimated Cume $15M

3. Takers (Screen Gems/Sony) Week 2 [2,206 Theaters]
Friday $3.1M (-60%), Estimated 4-Day Holiday $14M, Estimated Cume $40M

This week at the movies, we've got one tough Mexican (Machete, starring Danny Trejo and Jessica Alba), long-distance lovers (Going the Distance, starring Drew Barrymore and Justin Long), and a lonely assassin (The American, starring George Clooney and Thekla Reuten). What do the critics have to say? Machete started as a trailer for a fake movie, then became a real movie. It's a curious route to the multiplex, but critics say this old-school exploitation flick largely delivers -- if you're in the mood some sleazy fun with zero pretense.