List of 2008 box office number-one films in Canada
Highest-grossing films in Canada
Table:
Rank

Title

Studio

Total Gross (in millions)

Notes

1
The Dark Knight
Warner Bros.
$50.69
[1]

2
Indiana Jones and the Kingdom of the Crystal Skull
Paramount
$27.69
[2]

3
Iron Man
Paramount
$26.22
[3]

4
Quantum of Solace
Columbia
$22.56
[4]

5
Mamma Mia!
Universal
$18.63
[5]

6
Hancock
Columbia
$18.50
[6]

7
Twilight
Summit
$18.01
[7]

8
WALL-E
Disney/Pixar
$17.38
[8]

9
Kung Fu Panda
Paramount/DreamWorks
$17.04
[9]

10
Slumdog Millionaire
Fox Searchlight
$16.70
[10]

11
Madagascar: Escape 2 Africa
Paramount/DreamWorks
$16.49
[11]

12
Sex and the City
Warner Bros.
$16.29
[12]

13
The Curious Case of Benjamin Button
Paramount
$13.26
[13]

14
Wanted
Universal
$11.86
[14]

15
The Chronicles of Narnia: Prince Caspian
Disney
$11.84
[15]

16
Tropic Thunder
Paramount/DreamWorks
$11.69
[16]

17
Step Brothers
Columbia
$11.37
[17]

18
Journey to the Center of the Earth
Warner Bros.
$11.34
[18]

19
Get Smart
Warner Bros.
$11.33
[19]

20
Horton Hears a Who!
Fox
$11.10
[20]

Looking at the tabular data and the article excerpts listed below.

Solve the question: What was the total gross in millions of dollars of the film based on a book by Dr. Seuss ? Provide just your answer in a JSON object {"answer": "YOUR ANSWER"}.

The Dark Knight is a 2008 superhero film directed , co-produced , and co-written by Christopher Nolan . Based on the DC Comics character Batman , the film is the second installment of Nolan 's The Dark Knight Trilogy and a sequel to 2005 's Batman Begins , starring Christian Bale and supported by Michael Caine , Heath Ledger , Gary Oldman , Aaron Eckhart , Maggie Gyllenhaal , and Morgan Freeman . In the film , Bruce Wayne / Batman ( Bale ) , Police Lieutenant James Gordon ( Oldman ) and District Attorney Harvey Dent ( Eckhart ) form an alliance to dismantle organized crime in Gotham City , but are menaced by an anarchistic mastermind known as the Joker ( Ledger ) , who seeks to undermine Batman 's influence and turn the city to chaos . Nolan 's inspiration for the film was the Joker 's comic book debut in 1940 , the 1988 graphic novel The Killing Joke , and the 1996 series The Long Halloween , which retold Harvey Dent 's origin . The Dark Knight nickname was first applied to Batman in Batman # 1 ( 1940 ) , in a story written by Bill Finger . The Dark Knight was filmed primarily in Chicago , as well as in several other locations in the United States , the United Kingdom , and Hong Kong . The film was the first mainstream feature to partially utilize IMAX 70 mm cameras , with Nolan using them for 28 minutes of the film , including the Joker 's first appearance . Warner Bros. initially created a viral marketing campaign for The Dark Knight , developing promotional websites and trailers highlighting screenshots of Ledger as the Joker . Ledger died on January 22 , 2008 , some months after he completed filming and six months before the film 's release from a toxic combination of prescription drugs , leading to intense attention from the press and movie-going public . A co-production of the United States and the United Kingdom , The Dark Knight was released on July 18 , 2008 , in the United States and on July 25 , 2008 , in the United Kingdom . Considered one of the best films of its decade and one of the best superhero films of all time , the film received highly positive reviews , particularly for its action , score , screenplay , performances ( particularly Ledger 's ) , visual effects , and direction , setting numerous records during its theatrical run . The Dark Knight appeared on 287 critics ' top-ten lists , more than any other film of 2008 with the exception of WALL-E , and more critics ( 77 ) named The Dark Knight the best film released that year .
Warner Bros. Entertainment Inc. ( also simply known as Warner Bros. and initialized as WB ) is an American entertainment company headquartered in Burbank , California , and a division of AT & T 's WarnerMedia . Founded in 1923 , it has operations in areas such as film , television , and video games and is one of the Big Five major American film studios , as well as a member of the Motion Picture Association ( MPA ) . The company 's portfolio encompasses the film studios Warner Bros. Pictures , New Line Cinema , Castle Rock Entertainment and DC Films ; the television production and syndication company Warner Bros. Television ; the animation studios Warner Bros . Animation and Warner Animation Group ; the publisher DC Comics ; the video game development and publishing arm Warner Bros. Interactive Entertainment ; the pay television channels Cartoon Network , Boomerang and Turner Classic Movies ; and a 50% interest in The CW television network , which is co-owned with ViacomCBS . Aside from content operations , Warner Bros. also has several theme parks that are managed and operated by third party companies .
Indiana Jones and the Kingdom of the Crystal Skull is a 2008 American action-adventure film directed by Steven Spielberg and the fourth installment in the Indiana Jones series . Released nineteen years after the previous film , the film is set in 1957 , pitting Indiana Jones ( Harrison Ford ) against Soviet agents - led by Irina Spalko ( Cate Blanchett ) - searching for a telepathic crystal skull . Jones is aided by his former lover , Marion Ravenwood ( Karen Allen ) , and her son , Mutt Williams ( Shia LaBeouf ) . Ray Winstone , John Hurt , and Jim Broadbent are also part of the supporting cast . Screenwriters Jeb Stuart , Jeffrey Boam , Frank Darabont , and Jeff Nathanson wrote drafts before David Koepp 's script satisfied the producers . The filmmakers intended to pay tribute to the science fiction B-movies of the 1950s era . Shooting began on June 18 , 2007 , at various locations in New Mexico , New Haven , Connecticut , Hawaii , and Fresno , California , as well as on sound stages in Los Angeles . To maintain aesthetic continuity with the previous films , the crew relied on traditional stunt work instead of computer-generated stunt doubles , and cinematographer Janusz Kamiński studied Douglas Slocombe 's style from the previous films . The film premiered at the 2008 Cannes Film Festival on May 18 , 2008 , and was released worldwide on May 22 , 2008 to generally positive reviews with praise for the performances , action scenes , John Williams ' musical score , and the costume design . Criticism , however , focused on the dialogue , storyline , pacing , and overuse of CGI . It was also a financial success like the previous three films in the series , grossing over $ 790 million worldwide , becoming the franchise 's highest-grossing film when not adjusted for inflation , as well as the second-highest-grossing film of 2008 . A fifth film is scheduled for release on July 9 , 2021 , with both Spielberg and Ford returning .
Paramount Pictures Corporation ( also known simply as Paramount ) is an American film studio that is a subsidiary of ViacomCBS . It is the fifth oldest surviving film studio in the world , the second oldest in the United States , and the sole member of the Big Five film studios still located in the Los Angeles neighborhood of Hollywood . In 1916 , film producer Adolph Zukor put 22 actors and actresses under contract and honored each with a star on the logo . In 2014 , Paramount Pictures became the first major Hollywood studio to distribute all of its films in digital form only . The company 's headquarters and studios are located at 5555 Melrose Avenue , Hollywood , California , United States . Paramount Pictures is a member of the Motion Picture Association ( MPA ) .
Iron Man is a 2008 American superhero film based on the Marvel Comics character of the same name . Produced by Marvel Studios and distributed by Paramount Pictures , [ N 1 ] it is the first film in the Marvel Cinematic Universe . The film was directed by Jon Favreau from a screenplay by Mark Fergus and Hawk Ostby , and Art Marcum and Matt Holloway , and stars Robert Downey Jr. as Tony Stark / Iron Man , alongside Terrence Howard , Jeff Bridges , Shaun Toub , and Gwyneth Paltrow . In Iron Man , Tony Stark is an industrialist and master engineer who builds a mechanized suit of armor and becomes the superhero Iron Man . The film had been in development since 1990 at Universal Pictures , 20th Century Fox , and New Line Cinema at various times , before Marvel Studios reacquired the rights in 2006 . Marvel put the project in production as its first self-financed film , with Paramount Pictures serving as distributor . Favreau signed on as director , aiming for a naturalistic feel , and chose to shoot the film primarily in California , rejecting the East Coast setting of the comics to differentiate the film from numerous superhero films set in New York City-esque environments . Filming began in March 2007 and concluded in June . During filming , the actors were free to create their own dialogue because pre-production was focused on the story and action . Rubber and metal versions of the armor , created by Stan Winston 's company , were mixed with computer-generated imagery to create the title character . Iron Man premiered in Sydney on April 14 , 2008 , and was released in the United States on May 2 , 2008 . The film grossed over $ 585 million on its $ 140 million budget , becoming the eighth-highest grossing film of 2008 .
Quantum of Solace is a 2008 spy film and the twenty-second in the James Bond series produced by Eon Productions . Directed by Marc Forster and written by Paul Haggis , Neal Purvis and Robert Wade , it is a direct sequel to Casino Royale , and the second film to star Daniel Craig as the fictional MI6 agent James Bond . The film also stars Olga Kurylenko , Mathieu Amalric , Gemma Arterton , Jeffrey Wright , and Judi Dench . In the film , Bond seeks revenge for the death of his lover , Vesper Lynd , and is assisted by Camille Montes , who is plotting revenge for the murder of her own family . The trail eventually leads them to wealthy businessman Dominic Greene , a member of the Quantum organisation , who intends to stage a coup d'état in Bolivia to seize control of their water supply . Producer Michael G. Wilson developed the film 's plot while the previous film in the series , Casino Royale , was being shot . Purvis , Wade , and Haggis contributed to the script . Although Craig and Forster wrote some sections themselves during the screenwriter strike , they received no such credits in the final cut . The title was chosen from a 1959 short story in Ian Fleming 's For Your Eyes Only , though the film does not contain any elements of that story . Location filming took place in Mexico , Panama , Chile , Italy , Austria and Wales , while interior sets were built and filmed at Pinewood Studios . Forster aimed to make a modern film that also featured classic cinema motifs : a vintage Douglas DC-3 was used for a flight sequence , and Dennis Gassner 's set designs are reminiscent of Ken Adam 's work on several early Bond films . Taking a course away from the usual Bond villains , Forster rejected any grotesque appearance for the character Dominic Greene to emphasise the hidden and secret nature of the film 's contemporary villains .
Columbia Pictures Industries , Inc. ( commonly known as Columbia Pictures or simply Columbia ) is an American film studio and production & distribution company that is a member of the Sony Pictures Motion Picture Group , a division of Sony Entertainment 's Sony Pictures subsidiary of the Japanese multinational conglomerate Sony Corporation . What would eventually become Columbia Pictures , CBC Film Sales Corporation was founded on June 19 , 1918 by Harry Cohn , his brother Jack Cohn , and Joe Brandt . It adopted the Columbia Pictures name in 1924 , went public two years later , and eventually began to use the image of Columbia , the female personification of the United States , as its logo . In its early years , Columbia was a minor player in Hollywood , but began to grow in the late 1920s , spurred by a successful association with director Frank Capra . With Capra and others , Columbia became one of the primary homes of the screwball comedy . In the 1930s , Columbia 's major contract stars were Jean Arthur and Cary Grant . In the 1940s , Rita Hayworth became the studio 's premier star and propelled their fortunes into the late 1950s . Rosalind Russell , Glenn Ford , and William Holden also became major stars at the studio . It is one of the leading film studios in the world and is a member of the Big Five major American film studios . Columbia was one of the so-called Little Three among the eight major film studios of Hollywood 's Golden Age . Today , it has become the world 's fourth largest major film studio . The company was primarily responsible for distributing Disney 's Silly Symphony film series as well as the Mickey Mouse cartoon series from 1929 to 1932 .
Mamma Mia ! ( promoted as Mamma Mia ! The Movie ) is a 2008 jukebox musical romantic comedy film directed by Phyllida Lloyd and written by Catherine Johnson based on the 1999 musical of the same name , also written by Johnson , which itself is based on the songs of pop group ABBA , including the title song , with additional music composed by ABBA member Benny Andersson . The film features an ensemble cast , including Christine Baranski , Pierce Brosnan , Dominic Cooper , Colin Firth , Amanda Seyfried , Stellan Skarsgård , Meryl Streep and Julie Walters . The plot follows a young bride-to-be who invites three men to her upcoming wedding , each one with the possibility of being her father . The film was an international co-production between Germany , the United Kingdom , and the United States , and was co-produced by Relativity Media , Playtone and Littlestar Productions . Principal photography primarily took place on the island of Skopelos , Greece from August to September 2007 . The film was distributed by Universal Pictures . Mamma Mia ! held its world premiere on June 30 , 2008 at Leicester Square in London and premiered on July 4 , 2008 in Stockholm , Sweden , with Andersson , Björn Ulvaeus , Anni-Frid Lyngstad and Agnetha Fältskog in attendance . The film was released theatrically on July 10 in the United Kingdom , on July 17 in Germany and on July 18 in the United States . It received mixed reviews from critics , who praised the musical numbers and production values , but criticized the plot and casting of inexperienced singers , in particular Brosnan and Skarsgård .
Universal Pictures ( also known as Universal Studios , and formerly Universal Film Manufacturing Company ) is an American film studio owned by Comcast through the NBCUniversal Film and Entertainment division of its wholly owned subsidiary NBCUniversal . Founded in 1912 by Carl Laemmle , Mark Dintenfass , Charles O. Baumann , Adam Kessel , Pat Powers , William Swanson , David Horsley , Robert H. Cochrane , and Jules Brulatour , it is the oldest surviving film studio in the United States ; the world 's fifth oldest after Gaumont , Pathé , Titanus , and Nordisk Film ; and the oldest member of Hollywood 's Big Five studios in terms of the overall film market . Its studios are located in Universal City , California , and its corporate offices are located in New York City . Universal Pictures is a member of the Motion Picture Association ( MPA ) , and was one of the Little Three majors during Hollywood 's golden age .
Hancock is a 2008 American superhero film directed by Peter Berg and starring Will Smith , Charlize Theron , and Jason Bateman . It tells the story of a vigilante superhero , John Hancock ( Smith ) from Los Angeles whose reckless actions routinely cost the city millions of dollars . Eventually one person he saves , Ray Embrey ( Bateman ) , makes it his mission to change Hancock 's public image for the better . The story was originally written by Vincent Ngo in 1996 . It languished in development hell for years with various directors attached , including Tony Scott , Michael Mann , Jonathan Mostow , and Gabriele Muccino , before being filmed in 2007 in Los Angeles with a production budget of $ 150 million . In the United States , the film was rated PG-13 by the Motion Picture Association of America after changes were made at their request in order to avoid an R rating , which it had received twice before . The film was released on July 2 , 2008 in the United States by Columbia Pictures . Hancock received mixed reviews from critics who praised its performances and premise , but criticized its execution and failure to deliver on its potential , especially on its second half . It grossed $ 624 million worldwide , becoming the fourth highest-grossing film of 2008 .
Twilight is a 2008 American romantic fantasy film based on Stephenie Meyer 's 2005 novel of the same name . Directed by Catherine Hardwicke , the film stars Kristen Stewart and Robert Pattinson . It is the first film in The Twilight Saga film series . This film focuses on the development of the relationship between Bella Swan ( a teenage girl ) and Edward Cullen ( a vampire ) , and the subsequent efforts of Edward and his family to keep Bella safe from a coven of evil vampires . The project was in development for approximately three years at Paramount Pictures , during which time a screen adaptation that differed significantly from the novel was written . Summit Entertainment acquired the rights to the novel after three years of the project 's stagnant development . Melissa Rosenberg wrote a new adaptation of the novel shortly before the 2007-2008 Writers Guild of America strike and sought to be faithful to the novel 's storyline . Principal photography took 44 days and was completed on May 2 , 2008 ; the film was primarily shot in Oregon . Twilight was theatrically released on November 21 , 2008 ; it grossed over US $ 393 million worldwide . It was released on DVD March 21 , 2009 and became the most purchased DVD of the year . The soundtrack was released on November 4 , 2008 . Following the film 's success , New Moon and Eclipse , the next two novels in the series , were produced as films the following year .
Summit Entertainment is an American film production and distribution company . It is a label of Lionsgate Films , owned by Lionsgate Entertainment and is headquartered in Santa Monica , California .
WALL-E ( stylized with an interpunct as WALL·E ) is a 2008 American computer-animated science fiction film produced by Pixar Animation Studios for Walt Disney Pictures . It was directed and co-written by Andrew Stanton , produced by Jim Morris , and co-written by Jim Reardon . It stars the voices of Ben Burtt , Elissa Knight , Jeff Garlin , Fred Willard , John Ratzenberger , Kathy Najimy and Sigourney Weaver , and was the overall ninth feature film produced by the company . It follows a solitary trash compactor robot on a future , uninhabitable , deserted Earth , left to clean up garbage . However , he is visited by a probe sent by the starship Axiom , a robot called EVE , with whom he falls in love and pursues across the galaxy . After directing Finding Nemo , Stanton felt Pixar had created believable simulations of underwater physics and was willing to direct a film set largely in space . WALL-E has minimal dialogue in its early sequences ; many of the characters do not have voices , but instead communicate with body language and robotic sounds designed by Burtt . The film criticizes consumerism , corporatism , nostalgia , waste management , human environmental impact and concerns , obesity , and global catastrophic risk . It is also Pixar 's first animated film with segments featuring live-action characters . Following Pixar tradition , WALL-E was paired with a short film titled Presto for its theatrical release . WALL-E was released in the United States on June 27 , 2008 . The film was critically praised for its animation , story , voice acting , characters , and use of minimal dialogue .
Walt Disney Pictures ( branded as simply Disney since 2011 ) is an American film studio and a subsidiary of The Walt Disney Studios , which is ultimately owned by The Walt Disney Company . The subsidiary is the main producer of live-action feature films within the Walt Disney Studios unit , and is based at the Walt Disney Studios in Burbank , California . It took on its current name in 1983 . Films produced by Walt Disney Animation Studios and Pixar Animation Studios are also released under this brand . The 2019 remake of The Lion King is the studio 's highest-grossing film worldwide with $ 1.6 billion , and Pirates of the Caribbean is the studio 's most successful franchise , with two of its sequels , released in 2006 and 2011 , earning over $ 1 billion in worldwide box office gross .
Pixar Animation Studios ( /ˈpɪksɑːr/ ) is an American computer animation studio based in Emeryville , California , a subsidiary of Walt Disney Studios . Pixar began in 1979 as part of the Lucasfilm computer division , known as the Graphics Group , before its spin-off as a corporation on February 3 , 1986 , with funding from Apple co-founder Steve Jobs , who became its majority shareholder . Disney purchased Pixar in 2006 at a valuation of $ 7.4 billion by converting each share of Pixar stock to 2.3 shares of Disney stock , a transaction that resulted in Jobs becoming Disney 's largest single shareholder at the time . Pixar is best known for its feature films technologically powered by RenderMan , the company 's own implementation of the industry-standard RenderMan Interface Specification image-rendering application programming interface . Luxo Jr. , a character from the studio 's 1986 short film of the same name , is the studio 's mascot . Pixar has produced 21 feature films , beginning with Toy Story ( 1995 ) , which was the first ever computer-animated feature film ; its most recent film was Toy Story 4 ( 2019 ) . All of the studio 's films have debuted with CinemaScore ratings of at least an A− , which indicates a positive reception with audiences . The studio has also produced dozens of short films . As of July 2019 [ update ] , its feature films have earned approximately $ 14 billion at the worldwide box office , with an average worldwide gross of $ 680 million per film . Toy Story 3 ( 2010 ) , Finding Dory ( 2016 ) , Incredibles 2 ( 2018 ) , and Toy Story 4 ( 2019 ) are all among the 50 highest-grossing films of all time , with Incredibles 2 being the third highest-grossing animated film of all time , with a gross of $ 1.2 billion ; the other three also grossed over $ 1 billion . Moreover , 15 of Pixar 's films are in the 50 highest-grossing animated films of all time . The studio has earned 20 Academy Awards , 8 Golden Globe Awards , and 11 Grammy Awards , along with numerous other awards and acknowledgments .
Kung Fu Panda is a 2008 American computer-animated wuxia comedy film produced by DreamWorks Animation and distributed by Paramount Pictures . [ a ] It was directed by John Stevenson and Mark Osborne in their directorial debuts , and stars the voices of Jack Black , Dustin Hoffman , Angelina Jolie , Ian McShane , Seth Rogen , Lucy Liu , David Cross , Randall Duk Kim , James Hong , Dan Fogler , Michael Clarke Duncan , and Jackie Chan . The film is set in a version of ancient China populated by anthropomorphic talking animals and revolves around a bumbling panda named Po , a kung fu enthusiast . When an evil kung fu warrior named Tai Lung is foretold to escape from prison , Po is unwittingly named the Dragon Warrior , that was destined to defeat him . The film was originally conceived by Michael Lachance , a DreamWorks Animation executive . It was originally intended to be a parody of martial arts films , but director Stevenson decided instead to make an action comedy wuxia film that incorporates the hero 's journey narrative archetype for the lead character . The computer animation in the film was more complex than anything DreamWorks had done before . As with most DreamWorks Animation films , Hans Zimmer ( this time collaborating with John Powell ) scored Kung Fu Panda . He visited China to absorb the culture and get to know the China National Symphony Orchestra as part of his preparation . Kung Fu Panda premiered in the United States on June 6 , 2008 . The film received positive reviews upon release . Kung Fu Panda opened in 4,114 theaters , grossing $ 20.3 million on its opening day and $ 60.2 million on its opening weekend , resulting in the number one position at the box office .
DreamWorks Pictures ( also known as DreamWorks SKG or DreamWorks Studios , commonly referred to as DreamWorks ) is an American film production label of Amblin Partners . It was founded in 1994 as a film studio by Steven Spielberg , Jeffrey Katzenberg and David Geffen ( together , SKG ) , of which they owned 72% . The studio was formerly distributing its own and third-party films by itself . It has produced or distributed more than ten films with box-office grosses of more than $ 100 million each . In December 2005 , the founders agreed to sell the studio to Viacom , parent of Paramount Pictures . The sale was completed in February 2006 ( this version is now named DW Studios ) . In 2008 , DreamWorks announced its intention to end its partnership with Paramount and signed a $ 1.5 billion deal to produce films with India 's Reliance Anil Dhirubhai Ambani Group , re-creating DreamWorks Pictures into an independent entity . The following year , DreamWorks entered into a distribution agreement with Walt Disney Studios Motion Pictures , wherein Disney would distribute DreamWorks films through Touchstone Pictures ; the deal continued until 2016 . As of October 2016 , DreamWorks ' films are marketed and distributed by Universal Pictures . Currently , DreamWorks operates out of offices at Universal Studios Hollywood . DreamWorks ' former feature animation unit , now known as DreamWorks Animation ( which currently owns the DreamWorks trademarks ) , was spun off in 2004 , and as of August 2016 is a subsidiary of NBCUniversal . Spielberg 's company continues to use the DreamWorks trademarks under license from DreamWorks Animation .
Slumdog Millionaire is a 2008 British crime drama film that is a loose adaptation of the novel Q & A ( 2005 ) by Indian author Vikas Swarup , telling the story of 18-year-old Jamal Malik from the Juhu slums of Mumbai . Starring Dev Patel as Jamal , and filmed in India , the film was directed by Danny Boyle , written by Simon Beaufoy , and produced by Christian Colson , with Loveleen Tandan credited as co-director . As a contestant on the Indian version of Who Wants to Be a Millionaire ? Jamal surprises everyone by being able to answer every question correctly . Accused of cheating , Jamal recounts his life story to the police , illustrating how he is able to answer each question correctly . After its world premiere at the Telluride Film Festival and later screenings at the Toronto International Film Festival and the London Film Festival , Slumdog Millionaire had a nationwide release in the United Kingdom on 9 January 2009 , in India on 23 January 2009 , and in the United States on 25 December 2008 . Regarded as a sleeper hit , Slumdog Millionaire was widely acclaimed , being praised for its plot , soundtrack , direction , and performances ( especially Patel 's ) . It was nominated for ten Academy Awards in 2009 and won eight - the most for any 2008 film - including Best Picture , Best Director , and Best Adapted Screenplay . It won seven BAFTA Awards including Best Film , five Critics ' Choice Awards and four Golden Globes .
Searchlight Pictures ( formerly Fox Searchlight Pictures ) is an American film studio that is a subsidiary of The Walt Disney Studios , a division of The Walt Disney Company . It is a sister studio of the larger film studio 20th Century Studios . Searchlight specializes in the production and distribution of independent North American , European , and British films alongside comedy-drama , horror , art-house , and foreign films , all of which the studio sometimes finances . Searchlight 's Slumdog Millionaire , 12 Years a Slave , Birdman , and The Shape of Water have all won the Academy Award for Best Picture at the 81st , 86th , 87th , and 90th Academy Awards respectively , as well as a further 15 Academy Awards combined . Other Best Picture nominations include The Full Monty , Sideways , Little Miss Sunshine , Juno , Black Swan , 127 Hours , The Tree of Life , The Descendants , Beasts of the Southern Wild , The Grand Budapest Hotel , Brooklyn , Three Billboards Outside Ebbing , Missouri , The Favourite and Jojo Rabbit . Slumdog Millionaire is also the studio 's largest commercial success , with over $ 377 million ( US ) of box office receipts , against a production budget of only $ 15 million . Searchlight Pictures is one of the 21st Century Fox film production companies that was acquired by Disney on March 20 , 2019 . Searchlight , however , continues to operate its own distribution unit for its films autonomously from Disney 's main distribution unit . Searchlight Pictures ' name was changed from Fox Searchlight Pictures on January 17 , 2020 .
Madagascar : Escape 2 Africa is a 2008 American computer-animated comedy film produced by DreamWorks Animation and distributed by Paramount Pictures . The sequel to the 2005 film Madagascar and the second installment in the franchise , it continues the adventures of Alex the Lion , Marty the Zebra , Melman the Giraffe , and Gloria the Hippo . It was directed by Eric Darnell and Tom McGrath , with a screenplay written by Etan Cohen , Darnell , and McGrath . Ben Stiller , Chris Rock , David Schwimmer , Jada Pinkett Smith , Sacha Baron Cohen , Cedric the Entertainer , Andy Richter , and Elisa Gabrielli reprise their roles from the first film , and are joined by new cast members Bernie Mac , Alec Baldwin , Sherri Shepherd , and will.i.am . The film begins by showing a small part of Alex 's early life , including his capture by hunters , then moves to shortly after the point where Madagascar left off , with the animals deciding to return to New York City . They board an airplane in Madagascar but crash-land in Africa , where each of the central characters meets others of the same species and where Alex is reunited with his parents . Problems arise , and their resolution occupies much of the remainder of the film . Madagascar : Escape 2 Africa was released on November 7 , 2008 , and grossed $ 603.9 million on a $ 150 million budget , making it the sixth highest-grossing film of 2008 . It was dedicated to Mac , who died before the film 's release ( by coincidence , another film of his , Soul Men , would be released on the same date as this film ) . A sequel , Madagascar 3 : Europe 's Most Wanted , was released in 2012 .
Sex and the City ( advertised as Sex and the City : The Movie ) is a 2008 American romantic comedy film written and directed by Michael Patrick King in his feature film directorial debut , and a sequel to the 1998-2004 HBO comedy-drama series of the same name ( itself based on the 1997 book of the same name by Candace Bushnell ) about four female friends : Carrie Bradshaw ( Sarah Jessica Parker ) , Samantha Jones ( Kim Cattrall ) , Charlotte York Goldenblatt ( Kristin Davis ) , and Miranda Hobbes ( Cynthia Nixon ) , dealing with their lives as single women in New York City . The series often featured frank discussions about romance and sexuality . The world premiere took place at Leicester Square in London on May 15 , 2008 , and premiered on May 28 , 2008 , in the United Kingdom and on May 30 , 2008 , in the United States . Despite mixed reviews from critics , calling the film an extended episode of the series , it was a commercial success , grossing over $ 415 million worldwide from a $ 65 million budget . A sequel to the film , titled Sex and the City 2 , was released in 2010 to similar commercial success but even larger critical failure . A third film was announced in December 2016 , but in September 2017 , Parker confirmed that it was not going to happen .
The Curious Case of Benjamin Button is a 2008 American fantasy romantic drama film directed by David Fincher . The storyline by Eric Roth and Robin Swicord is loosely based on the 1922 eponymous short story by F. Scott Fitzgerald . The film stars Brad Pitt as a man who ages in reverse and Cate Blanchett as the love interest throughout his life . The film was released in North America on December 25 , 2008 to positive reviews and was a box office success . The film received thirteen Academy Award nominations , including Best Picture , Best Director for Fincher , Best Actor for Pitt , and Best Supporting Actress for Taraji P. Henson , and won three , for Best Art Direction , Best Makeup , and Best Visual Effects .
Wanted is a 2008 American action thriller film directed by Timur Bekmambetov and written by Michael Brandt , Derek Haas , and Chris Morgan , based on the comic book miniseries by Mark Millar and J. G. Jones . The film stars James McAvoy , Morgan Freeman , Terence Stamp , Thomas Kretschmann , Common , and Angelina Jolie . Its plot revolves around Wesley Gibson ( McAvoy ) , a frustrated account manager who discovers that he is the son of a professional assassin and decides to join the Fraternity , a secret society in which his father worked . Universal Pictures acquired the adaptation rights from Millar in 2004 , and while the eventual script drifted from the comic book supervillain mythos in the original miniseries , he was content to see most of the comic 's darker content retained . Production began in April 2007 , with filming in the Czech Republic , Budapest , and the story 's main setting , Chicago . Bekmambetov 's production company , Bazelevs Production , provided the majority of the film 's visual effects . Danny Elfman scored the film , employing a guitar-based musical score . Wanted opened on June 27 , 2008 to generally favorable reviews and box office success . It grossed $ 341 million worldwide and reviews praised its fast pacing and stylized action scenes . A sequel was planned the same year as the film 's release , but ultimately stalled in development .
The Chronicles of Narnia : Prince Caspian is a 2008 high fantasy film co-written and directed by Andrew Adamson , based on Prince Caspian , the second published , fourth chronological novel in C. S. Lewis 's epic fantasy series , The Chronicles of Narnia . It is the second in The Chronicles of Narnia film series from Walden Media , following The Chronicles of Narnia : The Lion , the Witch and the Wardrobe ( 2005 ) . William Moseley , Anna Popplewell , Skandar Keynes , Georgie Henley , Liam Neeson , and Tilda Swinton reprise their roles from the first film , while new cast includes Ben Barnes , Sergio Castellitto , Peter Dinklage , Eddie Izzard , Warwick Davis , Ken Stott , and Vincent Grass . In the film , the four Pevensie children return to Narnia to aid Prince Caspian in his struggle with the secret help of Aslan for the throne against his corrupt uncle , King Miraz . Prince Caspian , a British-American production , is the last Narnia film to be co-produced by Walt Disney Pictures , as 20th Century Fox became the distributor for the next film The Chronicles of Narnia : The Voyage of the Dawn Treader due to budgetary disputes between Disney and Walden Media , but as a result of Disney eventually purchasing Fox on March 20 , 2019 , Disney now owns the rights to all three Narnia movies . Work on the script began before The Lion , the Witch and the Wardrobe was released , so filming could begin before the actors grew too old for their parts . Director Andrew Adamson wanted to make the film more spectacular than the first , and created an action sequence not in the novel . The Narnians were designed to look wilder as they have been hiding from persecution , stressing the darker tone of the sequel . The filmmakers also took a Spanish influence for the antagonistic race of the Telmarines . Filming began in February 2007 in New Zealand , but unlike the previous film , the majority of shooting took place in Central Europe , because of the larger sets available in those countries . To keep costs down , Adamson chose to base post-production in the UK , because of recent tax credits there . The Chronicles of Narnia : Prince Caspian premiered on May 7 , 2008 at the Ziegfeld Theatre in New York City , before it was theatrically released on May 16 in the United States and on June 26 in the United Kingdom .
Tropic Thunder is a 2008 satirical action comedy film directed by Ben Stiller . It stars Stiller , Jack Black , Robert Downey Jr. , Jay Baruchel , and Brandon T. Jackson as a group of prima donna actors who are making a Vietnam War film . When their frustrated director ( played by Steve Coogan ) drops them in the middle of a jungle , they are forced to rely on their acting skills to survive the real action and danger . The screenplay by Justin Theroux , Stiller , and Etan Cohen was from a story by Stiller and Theroux . The film was produced by Stuart Cornfeld , Stiller , and Eric McLeod for Red Hour Productions and DreamWorks Pictures as an international co-production between the United States , Germany and the United Kingdom . Stiller 's idea for the film originated while playing a minor role in Empire of the Sun , and he later enlisted Theroux and Cohen to help complete the script . After the film was green-lit in 2006 , filming took place in 2007 on the Hawaiian island of Kaua ' i over thirteen weeks and was later deemed the largest film production in the island 's history . The film had an extensive marketing promotion , including faux websites for the three main characters and their fictional films , airing a fictional television special , and selling the energy drink advertised in the film , Booty Sweat . The film received generally positive reviews , with critics praising the film 's characters , story , faux trailers , and the performances of Stiller , Downey , Black and Tom Cruise , though the depiction of the mentally handicapped and usage of blackface makeup were seen as controversial . The film 's soundtrack and score debuted on August 5 , 2008 , before the film 's theatrical release . Paramount Pictures and DreamWorks released the film in the US on August 13 , 2008 . In its North American opening weekend , the film earned $ 26 million and retained the number one position for the first three weekends of release .
Step Brothers is a 2008 American comedy film directed by Adam McKay , produced by Jimmy Miller and Judd Apatow , and written by Will Ferrell and McKay from a story by Ferrell , McKay , and John C. Reilly . It follows Brennan ( Ferrell ) and Dale ( Reilly ) , two grown men who are forced to live together as brothers after their single parents , with whom they still live , marry each other . Richard Jenkins , Mary Steenburgen , Adam Scott and Kathryn Hahn also star . The film was released by Sony Pictures Releasing on July 25 , 2008 , two years after Talladega Nights : The Ballad of Ricky Bobby . Both films feature the same main actors , as well as the same producing and writing team . It grossed $ 128.1 million and received mixed reviews .
Journey to the Center of the Earth ( also promoted as Journey to the Center of the Earth 3-D or Journey 3-D ) is a 2008 American 3D science fantasy adventure film directed by Eric Brevig and starring Brendan Fraser , Anita Briem , and Josh Hutcherson . Produced by New Line Cinema , it is an adaptation of the Jules Verne novel ( which had previously been adapted multiple times , most notably in the 1959 film of the same name ) , and was released in 3D and 2D theaters by Warner Bros. Pictures on July 11 , 2008 . The film also introduced the 4DX movie format , featuring 4D motion effects in a specially designed cinema in Seoul , South Korea , using tilting seats to convey motion , wind , sprays of water and sharp air , probe lights to mimic lightning , fog , scents , and other theatrical special effects . The film received mixed to positive reviews from critics and earned $ 242 million on a $ 60 million budget .
Get Smart is a 2008 American action spy comedy film directed by Peter Segal , written by Tom J. Astle and Matt Ember and produced by Leonard B. Stern , who is also the producer of the original series . The film is based on Mel Brooks and Buck Henry 's television series of the same name . The film stars Steve Carell , Anne Hathaway , Dwayne Johnson , and Alan Arkin , with Terence Stamp , Terry Crews , David Koechner , and James Caan in supporting roles . Bernie Kopell , who played Siegfried in the original series , also appeared in the film . The film centers on an analyst named Maxwell Smart ( Carell ) who dreams of becoming a real field agent and a better spy . The film was released in North America on June 20 , 2008 . Get Smart received mixed reviews from critics but was a commercial success , earning $ 230 million on an $ 80 million budget .
Horton Hears a Who ! ( also known as Dr. Seuss ' Horton Hears a Who ! ) is a 2008 American computer animated adventure comedy film based on the book of the same name by Dr. Seuss , produced by Blue Sky Studios and distributed by 20th Century Fox . Directed by Jimmy Hayward and Steve Martino in their directorial debuts , the film 's screenplay was written by Cinco Paul and Ken Daurio , and features the voices of Jim Carrey and Steve Carell as Horton the Elephant and Mayor Ned McDodd , respectively , alongside Carol Burnett , Will Arnett , Seth Rogen , Isla Fisher , and Amy Poehler . John Powell composed the film 's music . The film was released theatrically on March 14 , 2008 , and grossed $ 297 million on a budget of $ 85 million . Horton Hears a Who ! was the third Dr. Seuss feature film adaptation , the first adaptation to be fully animated , and the second Dr. Seuss film starring Jim Carrey after How the Grinch Stole Christmas ( 2000 ) .
20th Century Studios ( formerly 20th Century Fox ) is an American film studio that is a subsidiary of The Walt Disney Studios , a division of The Walt Disney Company . The studio is located on the Fox Studio Lot in the Century City area of Los Angeles . For over 83 years , it was one of the Big Six major American film studios formed from the merger of the Fox Film Corporation and Twentieth Century Pictures in 1935 . In 1985 , the studio was acquired by News Corporation , which was succeeded by 21st Century Fox in 2013 following the spin-off of its publishing assets . In 2019 , Disney acquired 20th Century Fox through its merger with 21st Century Fox . In 2020 , the studio was renamed to 20th Century Studios .