CHRISTMAS MOVIEGOERS DELIGHTED TO 'MEET THE FOCKERS'

CHRISTMAS MOVIEGOERS DELIGHTED TO 'MEET THE FOCKERS'

Star-Studded Comedy Sets Two Records, Including Biggest Christmas Day Gross in History With $19.5 Million

UNIVERSAL CITY, Calif., Dec. 27 /PRNewswire/ -- Universal Pictures' / DreamWorks Pictures' "Meet the Fockers" -- the sequel to 2000's runaway comedy hit "Meet the Parents" -- came in first at the box office over the Christmas holiday, as well as setting two box office records. "Fockers" posted an impressive three-day total of $46.1 million from 3518 playdates for an average of $13,000 per date. Additionally, the film set two records: the biggest Christmas day box gross ever with a take of $19.5 million and the largest box office gross for the day after Christmas with a gross of $19.4 million. Since its release on December 22, 2004, "Meet the Fockers" has grossed $70.5 million.

Nikki Rocco, president, distribution, Universal Pictures, "It is very rewarding for Universal to have a comedy hit which has set records during this crowded holiday season. Working with the 'Fockers'' filmmakers and cast was an absolute bonus, culminating with audiences putting the film on the road to becoming a blockbuster endeavor."

Four years ago, audiences were invited to come along with male nurse Greg (a.k.a. Gaylord) Focker (Ben Stiller) on a weekend as he lost his luggage, set the backyard on fire, went a little over-the-top in a game of water volleyball, spray painted the cat and was administered a lie-detector test by Jack Byrnes (Robert De Niro), his girlfriend's father (who turned out to be not a horticulturalist, but an ex-CIA operative reluctant to allow Greg into The Byrnes Family Circle of Trust) in the blockbuster comedy "Meet the Parents." The film became the runaway hit of the fall of 2000, tallying more than $300 million worldwide.

Now, Greg has managed to earn his way inside the Circle of Trust and things are going great. He and his fiancee Pam (Teri Polo) are excitedly planning their wedding and there's only one tiny, itsy-bitsy little thing left to smooth the way to the altar: the future in-laws need to spend a weekend together. So, Greg and Pam climb aboard Jack's new state-of-the-art RV for a trip to Focker Isle, the Cocoanut Grove domicile of Bernie and Roz Focker (Dustin Hoffman and Barbra Streisand). The next 48 hours will provide the parents of the intended bride and groom a little time to get to know each other, but more importantly, give Jack the opportunity to study Greg's parents. Things start off well enough, but that's before Jack discovers that the lawyer and doctor Greg presented are, in fact, a liberal stay-at-home dad and a senior citizens' sex therapist. Then there's the RV toilet episode, the overly zealous game of touch football, the saucy Cuban caterer with the secret, the incident with the toddler and the glue ...

Universal Pictures and DreamWorks Pictures Present A Tribeca/Everyman Pictures Production of A Jay Roach Film: Robert De Niro, Ben Stiller, Dustin Hoffman and Barbra Streisand in "Meet the Fockers," starring Blythe Danner, Teri Polo. The music is by Randy Newman. The costume designer is Carol Ramsey. The co-producer is Jon Poll. The film is edited by Jon Poll and Lee Haxall. The production designer is Rusty Smith; the director of photography is John Schwartzman, A.S.C. The executive producers are Nancy Tenenbaum and Amy Sayres. It is based on characters created by Greg Glienna & Mary Ruth Clarke. The film is produced by Jane Rosenthal, Robert De Niro and Jay Roach. The story is by Jim Herzfeld and Marc Hyman, with a screenplay by Jim Herzfeld and John Hamburg. "Meet the Fockers" is directed by Jay Roach. (C) 2004 Universal Studios and DreamWorks LLC www.meetthefockers.com

Universal Pictures is a division of Universal Studios (www.universalstudios.com). Universal Studios is part of NBC Universal. NBC Universal is one of the world's leading media and entertainment companies in the development, production, and marketing of entertainment, news, and information to a global audience. Formed in May 2004 through the combining of NBC and Vivendi Universal Entertainment, NBC Universal owns and operates the No. 1 television network, the fastest-growing Spanish-language network, a valuable portfolio of news and entertainment networks, a premier motion picture company, significant television production operations, a leading television stations group, and world-renowned theme parks. NBC Universal is 80%-owned by General Electric, with 20% controlled by Vivendi Universal.


Source: Universal Pictures

CONTACT: Paul Pflug of Universal Pictures, +1-818-777-0020

Web site: http://www.universalstudios.com/

Web site: http://www.meetthefockers.com/


-------
Profile: intent