With year-end worst of lists, it’s rarely fun to pick on films that are dead and buried. Is it really worth rehashing why I Am Number Four or Apollo 18 are bad movies?  In five years no one’s going to remember those films, to say nothing of Shark Night or One Day. in fact it’s likely everyone’s forgotten them. What’s much more disappointing and terrible is cinematic good will squandered. And so here is our list of the ten worst films and trends in cinema in 2011:

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This Fall has been modest in comparison to many other recent years, in terms of major film releases. On paper there were a number of films that could have been $100 Million plus titles, but only Breaking Dawn has done blockbuster business, and has remained on top of the box office for three weeks. That’s going to change with the release of New Year’s Eve. Still, it’s been a slow, slow Fall.

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Between limited releases and big studio launches, there are very few weekends where there isn’t something new out. But the weekend after Thanksgiving – much like the first weekend of a new year – is considered a dead spot. There’s already a vacuum created by the holiday weekend being over, people are likely recuperating from their families, and the only studio film being released (on nine screens) is Shame. The only possible benefit is to The Muppets, which may have enough goodwill to take the top spot from Breaking Dawn. Let’s get to it, shall we?

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Oh my.  Because Breaking Dawn Part 1 isn’t bad enough already, featuring as it does a tween fantasia in which a blank young girl finds happiness by abstaining from sex until marrying the much older and emotionally controlling vampire with goofy hair who loves her, the movie is now giving people seizures.

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Last weekend Breaking Dawn made a ton of cash, which was a surprise to no one. But not everyone who wants to see the latest blockbuster sequel goes opening weekend, and so though the fall off should be heavy (over 50%, possibly over 60%, and just as likely near 70%) it may be able to fend off the newcomers, which will probably hurt each other and let Twilight win. What must have happened is that no one blinked about this weekend, as there’s three films aimed at parents and children hitting theaters: The Muppets, Arthur Christmas and Hugo. On top of a week-old Happy Feet Two. It’s a Children’s film blood bath is what it is.

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Though there was never any doubt the box office for the latest Twilight was going to be strong, The Twilight Saga: Breaking Dawn – Part 1 grossed $30.3 Million in midnight shows, making it the second highest midnight gross ever. The champion is Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows Part 2, which did $43.6 Million earlier this year. This bodes well for the film which could do anywhere from $120 Million to $150 this weekend.

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For Taylor Lautner, the biggest challenge of Breaking Dawn Part 1 wasn’t being on the losing end of a love triangle between himself, Bella Swan (Kristen Stewart) and Edward Cullen (Robert Pattinson), but figuring out how to play imprinted. In the latest and penultimate Twilight film, the werewolf love bond is enacted, and between Jacob (Lautner) and an interesting partner. Check out his thoughts on that and his non-denial about working with Gus Van Sant in out interview…

Also, check out our video version of the press conference (plus some Twilight clips) below…

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For Robert Pattinson, there is now an end to playing Edward Cullen. In the latest film he marries Bella Swan (Kristen Stewart) against Jacob’s (Taylor Lautner) objections, and the film ends with a cliffhanger, but though Breaking Dawn is the final book in the Twilight franchise, it was broken into two halves for the big screen and both parts were shot at the same time. So even though we’ll have to wait until November, 2012 for the conclusion of the series, Pattinson’s work is almost all done except for possible reshoots and doing the press tour. He sat down at a press conference to answer questions about the film and other things.

Also, check out our video version of the press conference below…

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$169,189,427. $91,071,119. These are the numbers that The Twilight Saga: Breaking Dawn – Part 1 would have to do in its weekend and on its first day to compete with Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows Part 2, which holds the weekend and single day crowns. But those numbers tell a story of how front loaded sequels are these days. Still, it could be close, which would put a kick in the rear of the recent modest box office. And then there’s Happy Feet Two. All that, Renesmee Cullen and more…

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