UNIVERSAL PICTURES' 'THE 40 YEAR-OLD VIRGIN' OPENS AT #1 AND BECOMES BEST REVIEWED WIDE-RELEASE STUDIO FILM OF 2005

UNIVERSAL PICTURES' 'THE 40 YEAR-OLD VIRGIN' OPENS AT #1 AND BECOMES BEST REVIEWED WIDE-RELEASE STUDIO FILM OF 2005

UNIVERSAL CITY, Calif., Aug. 24 /PRNewswire/ -- Universal Pictures/An Apatow Production's "The 40 Year-Old Virgin," the hilarious new comedy from the production team behind "Anchorman: The Legend of Ron Burgundy," "Kicking & Screaming" and television's "Freaks and Geeks," has received enormous kudos during its opening days. The film pulled in $21.4 million this past weekend and an 86 percent approval from critics. On Monday, August 22, the film earned an additional $3 million in sales. Charming audiences and critics alike -- and securing its number one status at the box office -- "The 40 Year-Old Virgin" now stands as the best reviewed, wide-release studio film of this year.

Complementing the movie's financial success, RottenTomatoes.com, a premier entertainment portal for moviegoers and critics alike, just ranked the film at 86 percent approval from film print and online critics on its Tomatometer(TM). The meter shows the groundswell of support for "The 40 Year-Old Virgin" from both critics and audiences across the country.

"The 40 Year-Old Virgin" stars Steve Carell stars as 40 year-old Andy Stitzer, an electronics superstore employee with a job stamping invoices, an apartment with a proud collection of action figures & comic books, good friends and a nice attitude. But there's just one little thing he hasn't gotten around to doing yet -- Andy's never, ever had sex.

His painful shyness and comedy stylings charmed audiences and critics across the country this past weekend. "This film is clearly what moviegoers want to see right now -- a flirty, fun two hours that allows us to explore the shy person inside us all. Judd's comedic sensibilities, coupled with Steve's side-splitting timing, equal a smart and sophisticated adult comedy that isn't afraid to challenge social norms," said Nikki Rocco, president, distribution, Universal Pictures. "The opening of 'The 40 Year-Old Virgin' is a fantastic start for what looks to be a promising run."

Andy's buds consider it their duty to help him out of his dire situation. But nothing proves effective enough to lure their friend out of lifelong chastity until he meets Trish (Catherine Keener), a 40 year-old mother of three. His friends are encouraged by the possibility that "it" may finally happen... until they hear that Andy and Trish have begun their relationship based on a mutual no-sex policy.

With hilarious catchphrases such as "man-o' lantern" and memorable lines including, "Is that The Six Million Dollar Man's boss?" "The 40 Year-Old Virgin" offers filmgoers laughs, cringes and a tender humanity not common in today's films.

Comedy writer and producer Judd Apatow ("Anchorman: The Legend of Ron Burgundy," television's "Freaks and Geeks," "Kicking & Screaming") makes his feature film directorial debut with "The 40 Year-Old Virgin," starring Steve Carell, Catherine Keener and Paul Rudd and an ensemble cast including Romany Malco, Seth Rogen, Elizabeth Banks and Leslie Mann. Apatow also co-wrote the script with Carell and produces along with Clayton Townsend ("The Skeleton Key") and Shauna Robertson ("Elf").

Universal Pictures is a division of Universal Studios (www.universalstudios.com). Universal Studios is part of NBC Universal, 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 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: Michael Moses, +1-818-777-5926, or Stephanie Kluft,
+1-818-777-5227, both of Universal Pictures

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

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