Dreamgirls' first week in wide release was a huge success, after expanding from 3 to 852 theatres on Christmas Day. After earning a whopping $8.7 million on Christmas Day, the film has gone on to rack up $43.31 million in its first 8 days of wide release.

Jamie Foxx is happy to play character roles in movies because he never aimed to be a leading male. Foxx has supported Will Smith in Ali, Josh Lucas in Stealth and Tom Cruise in Collateral, but went on to win an Academy Award for his portrayal of blues legend Ray Charles in Ray.

Will Smith credits Nelson Mandela with his string of successful comedies because the political leader inspired him to use his gift to spread happiness. The actor vowed to make serious, moral movies after his 2001 Oscar nomination for his role as legendary boxer Muhammad Ali in Ali, but meeting the South-African convinced him of the value of laughter.