• Clerks II scored a healthy 9.6 million dollars at the box office this weekend to open things up — Even cooler, it took the 4th spot by per-screen averages given it’s lower screen count, and even beat the MUCH higher budgeted, PG-13 rated “My Super Ex-Girlfriend”, despite that film’s much higher production cost and higher screen count. Clerks II was only slightly edged out by two other comedies, “Little Man” and “You, Me and Dupree”, but both of those films suffered heavy drops — We’re expecting Clerks II will drop much less next weekend due to strong word of mouth and repeat business. A commentary track that will for the first time allow fans to listen to a director’s commentary IN A THEATER via their MP3 player should be available via this site and all our sites sometime this week (Friday at the latest).

The full details are available in this Yahoo Movies chart:

Overall, Clerks II is the big success story of the weekend, by far earning a better return on investment than any other flick that arrived. Both Lady in the Water and Super-Ex are considered dead-on-arrival flops. We’ll keep you posted on the box office as we learn more. Thanks to all who saw Clerks II this weekend. We hope you’ll go back and urge others to do the same this week and next weekend!

• As if you didn’t need yet ANOTHER reason to see Clerks II, if you see the film and bring your ticket stub into Stash East (Red Bank, NJ) we’ll hook you up with a free View Askew T-Shirt! How cool is that? The official word from Ming:

And hey, just look how happy Chris’s Dad looks in HIS Clerks II shirt, fresh from the Stash! (Note: Free t-shirt is not a Clerks II shirt, just a shirt from the inventory).

• As we’re cleaning out the inbox in the next few days, we’ll likely run a review or article on Clerks II here and there, just to complete our coverage and make sure we’ve got it all in the archives. We hope you’ve been enjoying our extensive looks at press and reviews from around the web:

• Due to incredibly popular demand, the Eninburgh Film Fest in the UK has added a THIRD Clerks II screening, 22:30 on August 18th. Tickets go on sale TOMORROW (Monday).
• Unfortunately some crazy traffic situations and a busy schedule had some reshufflings yesterday regarding Kevin’s appearances — Last we heard the con panel was moved to a later time in the day, and one of the San Diego Clerks screenings had their audience back for a later Q&A session. We hope you all were able to track Kevin down, and do apologize for the confusion yesterday — There’s just nothing that can really be done about 10/20 MPH traffic in California backups.
• Movies.Go.Com allows critcs, site visitors, and moviegoers to review films themselves and give them a rating. Clerks II was BY FAR the best reviewed of the weekend, with an “A” grade across the board!
• Check out a new radio call-in from Brian and Jeff on morning show “The Rise Guys” via YouTube. This was conducted on Thursday last week, just before the film was released. It runs about 7 minutes and is audio-only.
• For those of you who enjoyed hearing Soul Asylum back on the new Clerks II soundtrack, take note — The band released a new CD two weeks ago, their first studio record in 8 years. The new CD is the first release since the death of bassist Karl Mueller last year who features on four tracks. Soul Asylum was featured on the Clerks and Chasing Amy soundtracks as well.

• We just wanted to catch everyone up on a few blog posts from Kevin, regarding the release this weekend — He’s busy on the Q&A circuit this weekend, and into next week, though he’ll be checking in as regularly as possible. Here’s what he had to say yesterday about Clerks II:

Why the fuck aren’t you watching “Clerks II” right now?

Today’s the day, folks.

Thanks, all, for putting up with me yakking about “Clerks II” for the last four months. I look forward to having a lot more stuff to talk about here on MySpace, now that this motherfucker’s goin’ all theatrical and shit. You guys have been really sweet in indulging a whore as he peddles his wares…

Even right now.

If you’ve got a few free hours, please go check out our flick this weekend. If the Holy fucking NY Times has something good to say about it,l maybe it’s worth a look.

Gimme yer money this weekend (well, really, give it to MGM and the Weinstein Co.), and I promise I’ll at least make you smile (if not cackle; with the flick, mind you, not at). And when it’s all over, and our l’il five million dollar film that could has earned our standard $25 to $30 million, I’ll get back to work and start writing the next flick.

So check out what time and where “Clerks II” is playing in your hood http://movies.yahoo.com/showtimes/changeloc?p=sho&date=20060721 , grab a friend, and get ready for the funny (’cause we bring it in a big motherfucking way).

I love you guys (and gals). Thanks for watching what I do – as without you, I wouldn’t have a job.

“Clerks II” – in theaters everywhere (in the U.S. and Canada), right now.

And ya gotta love this fan-made short that Kevin shouts out in the latest blog, too. Check out also this one-sheet sent to us from fans Tim and John. Kevin dug it so much he included it in his latest blog entry. Thanks for the laughs, everyone!

• More great Clerks II press today for ya, folks…Probably the last big round, including both some articles and select reviews. Dig in!

• Jeff and Brian wrapped up their extensive publicity for Clerks II (and seriously, AMAZING job guys) with a stop at XM satellite radio’s Opie & Anthony show on Friday. We’ve got the full edited clippage thanks to our pal Will just ahead. Here’s what Anthony himself had to say about the appearance:

And now, we’re happy to present both high and low bandwidth MP3 versions of Brian & Jeff on Opie & Anthony. ENJOY!!!

• The great Davis DVD runs some nice scoopage on the Clerks II DVD today culled from recent interviews and quotes. Check it out:

Hey, what can we say? Bring on that new, deleted footage! Clerks II will certainly be THE DVD to own this Christmas. We’ll keep ya posted.

You can also check out a short interview they conducted with Brian & Jeff.

Oh, and that tentative release date? DECEMBER 5, 2006! MARK IT!!!

• Kevin made a surprise appearance on Friday night’s Tonight Show with Jay Leno! It was a segment of the show where audience members ask Jay fake questions and Jay has staged answers. The last person to ask a question was “Kevin from New Jersey” and he asked Jay if he could show a clip of Jason Mewes and himself promoting Clerks II around Los Angeles. Before the video clip, though, Kevin and Jay traded insults about weight and big chins.

The entire bit ran for about four and a half minutes and it was very, very hilarious. If anyone caught it and can hook us up with a capture, let us know. We think there’s 3 AM reruns of the show next week as well, so we’ll try and catch it then. It was the episode with Tina Fey as a guest.

• Will “Train Wreck” continue? Ya never know! It’s not on the official site yet, but YouTube presents this six minute entry, brand new, into the world of Storyboarding. It’s called, simply, “The Boards”. Enjoy, and use some of THEIR bandwidth instead of ours, dammit.
• Davis DVD has a high-res scan of the J&SBSB Blu-Ray cover for ya. Check it out!
• Seems that David Arquette actually LOST footage of “The Tripper” (a flick featuring View Askew’s own Jason Mewes) somewhere at the San Diego con! To appease the crowd, Arquette acted out a few lines from the movie, which he co-wrote.
• Genius Products and The Weinstein Company will finally release Feast on October 17th, according to Davis DVD. One evening at a rural bar, a motley group of patrons struggles to survive a ravenous family of flying beasts bent on devouring every last one of them. Who will survive and who will be part of the feast? Directed by John Gulager and starring Navi Rawat, Krista Allen, Balthazar Getty, Judah Friedlander and JASON MEWES, this eagerly anticipated horror film’s notorious production was chronicled on the third season of Bravo’s Project Greenlight series. The disc arrives with an anamorphic widescreen transfer, Dolby Digital 5.1 audio, “The Making of Feast” featurette, deleted scenes and theatrical trailers. Retail will be $28.99. In addition, Fangoria reports that ‘Feast’ will open in 100 of the nation’s top markets, and show at two theaters [per market] at midnight on Friday [September 22] and Saturday [the 23rd, with no further screenings scheduled].
• And uh, finally today…Uh…Okay. Thanks, Ah-nuld.

• Box Office Mojo currently estimates a FRIDAY box office total of $3,920,000 for last night, putting Clerks II on track for over a healthy $10 million weekend and #4 overall for the weekend. With a lower amount of screens, this is likely a better per-screen average than some of the flicks over it, as well.

Word of mouth on the film should be good, spreading business around and helping Clerks II to a healthy take tonight as well, with the usual expected Sunday dropoff. Get out there and see the flick again, bring some friends, and if you had a good time, let folks know! Let’s spread the good word about the greatness of Clerks II and help us to a strong opening weekend, and more bucks into next week, too!

We’re guessing this sets all kind of precedents for a sequel, outgrossing the entire box office take of its predecessor in a single day for one — And, of course, by the end of the weekend, the budget will have been doubly made back, at least. Niiice.

More news later on final totals for today, the weekend, and official numbers. More news as well, as e-mails that were log jammed due to our server getting slammed are coming in as well. See you again soon!