Thanks to a hefty marketing campaign and a little help from Uncle Sam, DreamWorks Animation's 3D animated pic Monsters vs. Aliens topped the box office with the biggest opening of 2009, pulling in $58.2 million over the weekend. Lionsgate's The Haunting in Connecticut debuted solidly in second with $23 million, helping the top ten films gross $135 million, up a whopping 58% from last year's comparable frame.
Nabbing the lucrative March release period usually reserved for Fox's animation studio Bluesky Studios (who instead moved their Ice Age 3 to the July 4th weekend), DreamWorks Animation's Monsters vs. Aliens delighted audiences to the tune of $58.2 million in its debut, averaging a stout $14,181 in 4,104 theaters. Helping those gaudy per theater numbers were 1,550 3D equipped theaters charging an extra few dollars per ticket.
Budgeted at a hefty $165 million, the film featured a massive marketing campaign that tipped off with this year's Superbowl ad in 3D. Solid reviews and heavy rotation television ads ensured a strong $16.8 million Friday bow, but strong word of mouth and a lack of family competitors saw ticket sales surge 45% on Saturday to $24.4 million. The debut bested Warner's Watchmen, which opened at the beginning of March with $55.2 million. For a studio heavily dependent on sequel revenue, the computer-animated release was the second largest opening ever for a non-sequel pic, behind only Kung Fu Panda's $60.2 million bow last June. The debut was also the third biggest ever in March, behind only 2007's 300 ($70.9m) and 2006's Ice Age: The Meltdown ($68m).
Lionsgate's horror/thriller The Haunting in Connecticut surpassed industry estimates with a strong $23 million bow, averaging an impressive $8,422 from 2,732 theaters. It was the studio's biggest horror debut outside of the Saw franchise. Reviews for the PG-13 release were universally poor.
Last week's champ Knowing slipped just 40% in its sophomore frame to $14.7 million, bringing the Nic Cage pic's ten-day cume to $46.2 million. At its current pace the film should hit $75 million by the end of its run.
Paramount's comedy I Love You, Man slipped only 29% to $12.6 million, bringing its ten-day total to $37 million.
Universal's romantic comedy Duplicity fell 46% to $7.6 million, bringing its cume to $25.6 million. Starring Julia Roberts and Clive Owen, the film will have trouble reaching $50 million domestic.
Thanks to the monster debut of Monsters vs. Aliens, Disney's reboot Race to Witch Mountain took a 56% hit in sales to $5.6 million. In 17 days the Dwayne Johnson starrer has grossed $53.3 million.
Debuting in seventh was the weekend's only other wide release debut, the Fox actioner 12 Rounds. Starring wrestler John Cena, the PG-13 release earned just $5.3 million this weekend, below his own debut film The Marine with $7.1 million.
Thanks to Monsters' huge debut, the top ten films grossed an estimated $135.1 million, up a staggering 58% from last year's comparable frame.
Sunday, March 29, 2009
The numbers, March 27-29, 2009
| THE TOP TEN | Weekend | Theaters | Avg. | Total Gross | %+- | Wks | Distributor | |
| 1 | Monsters vs. Aliens | $58,200,000 | 4,104 | $14,181 | $58,200,000 | -- | 1 | Paramount |
| 2 | The Haunting in Connecticut | $23,010,000 | 2,732 | $8,422 | $23,010,000 | -- | 1 | Lionsgate |
| 3 | Knowing | $14,700,000 | 3,337 | $4,405 | $46,215,000 | -40.3 | 2 | Summit |
| 4 | I Love You, Man | $12,600,000 | 2,717 | $4,637 | $37,007,000 | -29.3 | 2 | Paramount |
| 5 | Duplicity | $7,556,000 | 2,579 | $2,930 | $25,639,000 | -45.9 | 2 | Universal |
| 6 | Race to Witch Mountain | $5,637,000 | 3,268 | $1,725 | $53,295,000 | -55.9 | 3 | Buena Vista |
| 7 | 12 Rounds | $5,300,000 | 2,331 | $2,274 | $5,300,000 | -- | 1 | Fox |
| 8 | Watchmen | $2,755,000 | 2,010 | $1,371 | $103,296,000 | -59.5 | 4 | Warner Bros. |
| 9 | Taken | $2,700,000 | 1,961 | $1,377 | $137,074,000 | -33.5 | 9 | Fox |
| 10 | The Last House on the Left | $2,611,000 | 2,251 | $1,160 | $28,459,000 | -54.8 | 3 | Universal |
Sunday, March 22, 2009
'Knowing' forcasts big box office victory with $24.8m bow, March 20-22, 2009
Rebounding from last year's action flop Bangkok Dangerous Nicolas Cage posted the eleventh No. 1 opening of his career with his doomsday thriller Knowing, which easily outpaced the weekend's two other debuts I Love You, Man and Duplicity.
Nicolas Cage's Knowing led all films with a strong $24.8 million debut, averaging $7,447 in a wide 3,332 theaters, giving upstart Summit Entertainment (who produced last year's smash hit Twilight) another No. 1 release. Despite poor reviews Summit managed to lure moviegoers to the PG-13 release with a huge marketing blitz that appealed to the Over 25 demographic (nearly two-thirds of the audience was 25 or older).
Opening in second was the well-received comedy I Love You, Man, which debuted in second with $18 million. Released by Paramount and co-produced with DreamWorks, the R-rated Paul Rudd-Jason Segal starrer averaged a solid $6,641 from 2,711 theaters. The opening was slightly below Rudd's most recent effort Role Models, which bowed with $19.2 million last November. It was slightly better than Segal's Forgetting Sarah Marshall, which opened last spring with $17.7 million.
Debuting in third was Julia Roberts and Clive Owen's romantic comedy caper Duplicity, which took in $14.4 million in 2,574 theaters. Averaging $5,595 per theater, the Universal pic saw a strong 27% uptick in sales from Friday to Saturday, indicating strong word of mouth. The opening was significantly stronger than Roberts' co-starring role in Charlie Wilson's War, which bowed with $9.6 million in 2007.
Last week's champ Race to Witch Mountain slipped 47% in its sophomore frame to $13 million, bringing the Disney adventure's ten day take to $44.7 million. At its current pace the film should break $80 million domestic, though it should see a heftier drop next weekend when DreamWorks' Monsters vs. Aliens makes its anticipated debut.
Rounding out the top five was Warner's comic adaptation Watchmen, which tumbled another massive 62% to $6.8 million. Following a 67% loss in its sophomore frame, clearly word of mouth has been a struggle for the nearly three-hour epic. In 17 days the $150 million budgeted pic has amassed $98.1 million. It will have a hard time surpassing $115 million domestic.
Despite three major new releases, the top ten films grossed $94.3 million, down 1% from last year's comparable frame when Fox's Horton Hears A Who held onto the top spot with $24.6 million.
Nicolas Cage's Knowing led all films with a strong $24.8 million debut, averaging $7,447 in a wide 3,332 theaters, giving upstart Summit Entertainment (who produced last year's smash hit Twilight) another No. 1 release. Despite poor reviews Summit managed to lure moviegoers to the PG-13 release with a huge marketing blitz that appealed to the Over 25 demographic (nearly two-thirds of the audience was 25 or older).
Opening in second was the well-received comedy I Love You, Man, which debuted in second with $18 million. Released by Paramount and co-produced with DreamWorks, the R-rated Paul Rudd-Jason Segal starrer averaged a solid $6,641 from 2,711 theaters. The opening was slightly below Rudd's most recent effort Role Models, which bowed with $19.2 million last November. It was slightly better than Segal's Forgetting Sarah Marshall, which opened last spring with $17.7 million.
Debuting in third was Julia Roberts and Clive Owen's romantic comedy caper Duplicity, which took in $14.4 million in 2,574 theaters. Averaging $5,595 per theater, the Universal pic saw a strong 27% uptick in sales from Friday to Saturday, indicating strong word of mouth. The opening was significantly stronger than Roberts' co-starring role in Charlie Wilson's War, which bowed with $9.6 million in 2007.
Last week's champ Race to Witch Mountain slipped 47% in its sophomore frame to $13 million, bringing the Disney adventure's ten day take to $44.7 million. At its current pace the film should break $80 million domestic, though it should see a heftier drop next weekend when DreamWorks' Monsters vs. Aliens makes its anticipated debut.
Rounding out the top five was Warner's comic adaptation Watchmen, which tumbled another massive 62% to $6.8 million. Following a 67% loss in its sophomore frame, clearly word of mouth has been a struggle for the nearly three-hour epic. In 17 days the $150 million budgeted pic has amassed $98.1 million. It will have a hard time surpassing $115 million domestic.
Despite three major new releases, the top ten films grossed $94.3 million, down 1% from last year's comparable frame when Fox's Horton Hears A Who held onto the top spot with $24.6 million.
The numbers, March 20-22, 2009
| THE TOP TEN | Weekend | Theaters | Avg. | Total Gross | %+- | Wks | Distributor | |
| 1 | Knowing | $24,813,000 | 3,332 | $7,447 | $24,813,000 | -- | 1 | Summit |
| 2 | I Love You, Man | $18,005,000 | 2,711 | $6,641 | $18,005,000 | -- | 1 | Paramount |
| 3 | Duplicity | $14,402,000 | 2,574 | $5,595 | $14,402,000 | -- | 1 | Universal |
| 4 | Race to Witch Mountain | $13,004,000 | 3,187 | $4,080 | $44,715,000 | -46.7 | 2 | Buena Vista |
| 5 | Watchmen | $6,725,000 | 3,510 | $1,916 | $98,065,000 | -62.3 | 3 | Warner Bros. |
| 6 | The Last House on the Left | $5,921,000 | 2,402 | $2,465 | $24,047,000 | -58.1 | 2 | Universal |
| 7 | Taken | $4,100,000 | 2,661 | $1,541 | $133,139,000 | -37.6 | 8 | Fox |
| 8 | Slumdog Millionaire | $2,700,000 | 2,067 | $1,306 | $137,202,000 | -46.0 | 19 | Fox Searchlight |
| 9 | Madea Goes to Jail | $2,510,000 | 1,835 | $1,368 | $87,208,000 | -50.9 | 5 | Lionsgate |
| 10 | Coraline | $2,143,000 | 1,431 | $1,498 | $72,803,000 | -21.2 | 7 | Focus |
Sunday, March 15, 2009
'Race to Witch Mountain' knocks off 'Watchmen' with $25m debut, March 13-15, 2009
*Correction: I misspelled Watchmen director Zack Snyder earlier (thanks Terry).
Disney's family adventure Race to Witch Mountain unseated Warner's superhero epic Watchmen, landing a solid $25 million opening this weekend. Universal's The Last House on the Left debuted in third with $14.6 million, while Fox Searchlight's Miss March opened a distant tenth with $2.3 million. However, given the massive 67% drop in sales for Watchmen, as well as solid but not overly strong openings from the three newcomers, the box office slipped below last year's comparable frame for the first time in six weeks.
Disney successfully restarted its old Witch Mountain franchise thanks to star Dwayne Johnson, who notched the sixth No. 1 opening of his career. Knocking off Watchmen from its one week perch at the top, the PG-rated pic averaged a strong $7,844 in 3,187 theaters. The opening was slightly better than Johnson's previous family-friendly collaboration with director Andy Fickman The Game Plan, which bowed to $23 million on its way to $90.6 million domestic. Reviews were mostly poor, with just 39% of critics polled by Rottentomatoes.com giving the film a recommendation rating.
Warner's Watchmen followed up the biggest weekend of 2009 with a huge 67% slide in its sophomore frame, finishing with just $18.1 million. Despite solid reviews the film's lengthy running time and apparently lukewarm word of mouth seems ready to doom the film to a disappointing domestic finish. In ten days the $150 million budgeted comic adaptation has grossed $86 million, and seems to have failed in luring fans outside of its core male demographic. At its current pace the Zack Snyder directed pic will have trouble breaking $120 million domestic.
Universal's horror thriller The Last House on the Left debuted in third with $14.7 million, averaging a strong $6,105 in 2,401 theaters. Thanks to a hefty marketing campaign the remake of Wes Craven's 1972 classic should earn $35-40 million.
Liam Neeson's thriller Taken fell a top ten best 9% in its seventh week of release, bringing in another impressive $6.7 million this weekend. The modestly budgeted Fox release will likely be the sleeper hit of the entire year, and its cume now stands at an incredible $126.8 million. At its current pace the film should have no problem surpassing $140 million domestic.
Lionsgate's Madea Goes to Jail fell 40% to $5.1 million, bringing its cume to a very strong $83.2 million.
Oscar darling Slumdog Millionaire fell just 26% to $5 million, pushing its cume to $132.6 million.
Rounding out the top ten was Fox Searchlight's sex comedy Miss March, which took in $2.4 million in 1,742 theaters. The raunchy pic was severely beaten down by critics.
Thanks to the massive drop in sales for Watchmen, the top ten films grossed an estimated $85.5 million, down 16% from last year's comparable frame when Fox/Blue Sky Studio's Horton Hears A Who opened with $45 million.
Disney's family adventure Race to Witch Mountain unseated Warner's superhero epic Watchmen, landing a solid $25 million opening this weekend. Universal's The Last House on the Left debuted in third with $14.6 million, while Fox Searchlight's Miss March opened a distant tenth with $2.3 million. However, given the massive 67% drop in sales for Watchmen, as well as solid but not overly strong openings from the three newcomers, the box office slipped below last year's comparable frame for the first time in six weeks.
Disney successfully restarted its old Witch Mountain franchise thanks to star Dwayne Johnson, who notched the sixth No. 1 opening of his career. Knocking off Watchmen from its one week perch at the top, the PG-rated pic averaged a strong $7,844 in 3,187 theaters. The opening was slightly better than Johnson's previous family-friendly collaboration with director Andy Fickman The Game Plan, which bowed to $23 million on its way to $90.6 million domestic. Reviews were mostly poor, with just 39% of critics polled by Rottentomatoes.com giving the film a recommendation rating.
Warner's Watchmen followed up the biggest weekend of 2009 with a huge 67% slide in its sophomore frame, finishing with just $18.1 million. Despite solid reviews the film's lengthy running time and apparently lukewarm word of mouth seems ready to doom the film to a disappointing domestic finish. In ten days the $150 million budgeted comic adaptation has grossed $86 million, and seems to have failed in luring fans outside of its core male demographic. At its current pace the Zack Snyder directed pic will have trouble breaking $120 million domestic.
Universal's horror thriller The Last House on the Left debuted in third with $14.7 million, averaging a strong $6,105 in 2,401 theaters. Thanks to a hefty marketing campaign the remake of Wes Craven's 1972 classic should earn $35-40 million.
Liam Neeson's thriller Taken fell a top ten best 9% in its seventh week of release, bringing in another impressive $6.7 million this weekend. The modestly budgeted Fox release will likely be the sleeper hit of the entire year, and its cume now stands at an incredible $126.8 million. At its current pace the film should have no problem surpassing $140 million domestic.
Lionsgate's Madea Goes to Jail fell 40% to $5.1 million, bringing its cume to a very strong $83.2 million.
Oscar darling Slumdog Millionaire fell just 26% to $5 million, pushing its cume to $132.6 million.
Rounding out the top ten was Fox Searchlight's sex comedy Miss March, which took in $2.4 million in 1,742 theaters. The raunchy pic was severely beaten down by critics.
Thanks to the massive drop in sales for Watchmen, the top ten films grossed an estimated $85.5 million, down 16% from last year's comparable frame when Fox/Blue Sky Studio's Horton Hears A Who opened with $45 million.
The numbers, March 13-15, 2009
| THE TOP TEN | Weekend | Theaters | Avg. | Total Gross | %+- | Wks | Distributor | |
| 1 | Race to Witch Mountain | $25,000,000 | 3,187 | $7,844 | $25,000,000 | -- | 1 | Buena Vista |
| 2 | Watchmen | $18,070,000 | 3,611 | $5,004 | $86,005,000 | -67.3 | 2 | Warner Bros. |
| 3 | The Last House on the Left | $14,658,000 | 2,401 | $6,105 | $14,658,000 | -- | 1 | Universal |
| 4 | Taken | $6,650,000 | 2,858 | $2,327 | $126,833,000 | -9.3 | 7 | Fox |
| 5 | Madea Goes to Jail | $5,130,000 | 2,203 | $2,329 | $83,209,000 | -39.9 | 4 | Lionsgate |
| 6 | Slumdog Millionaire | $5,025,000 | 2,578 | $1,949 | $132,625,000 | -26.2 | 18 | Fox Searchlight |
| 7 | Paul Blart: Mall Cop | $3,100,000 | 2,281 | $1,359 | $137,767,000 | -25.2 | 9 | Sony |
| 8 | He's Just Not That Into You | $2,900,000 | 1,890 | $1,534 | $88,999,000 | -27.8 | 6 | Warner Bros. |
| 9 | Coraline | $2,655,000 | 1,768 | $1,502 | $69,144,000 | -18.5 | 6 | Focus |
| 10 | Miss March | $2,350,000 | 1,742 | $1,349 | $2,350,000 | -- | 1 | Fox Searchlight |
Monday, March 9, 2009
The numbers, March 6-8, 2009
| THE TOP TEN | Weekend | Theaters | Avg. | Total Gross | %+- | Wks | Distributor | |
| 1 | Watchmen | $55,214,334 | 3,611 | $15,291 | $55,214,334 | -- | 1 | Warner Bros. |
| 2 | Madea Goes to Jail | $8,532,412 | 2,151 | $3,967 | $76,237,739 | -47.3 | 3 | Lionsgate |
| 3 | Taken | $7,334,814 | 3,016 | $2,432 | $117,933,922 | -25.6 | 6 | Fox |
| 4 | Slumdog Millionaire | $6,808,383 | 2,890 | $2,356 | $125,324,813 | -43.4 | 17 | Fox Searchlight |
| 5 | Paul Blart: Mall Cop | $4,146,316 | 2,558 | $1,621 | $133,588,995 | -26.0 | 8 | Sony |
| 6 | He's Just Not That Into You | $4,017,326 | 2,445 | $1,643 | $84,644,583 | -33.2 | 5 | Warner Bros. |
| 7 | Coraline | $3,255,852 | 1,959 | $1,662 | $65,627,777 | -38.1 | 5 | Focus |
| 8 | Confessions of a Shopaholic | $3,100,298 | 2,290 | $1,354 | $38,335,114 | -33.1 | 4 | Buena Vista |
| 9 | Jonas Brothers: The 3D Concert Experience | $2,832,454 | 1,276 | $2,220 | $16,838,775 | -77.4 | 2 | Buena Vista |
| 10 | Fired Up | $2,478,381 | 1,798 | $1,378 | $13,238,432 | -33.0 | 3 | Sony |
Monday, March 2, 2009
'Madea' holds off 'Jonas Brothers' with $16.5m, Feb. 27-March 1, 2009
Tyler Perry's Madea Goes to Jail held off a strong debut from Disney's Jonas Brothers as well as a huge bump in sales for Fox Searchlight's Oscar juggernaut Slumdog Millionaire, topping the box office for the second straight weekend. Meanwhile, the box office continued its torrid pace for the new year, as the country's economic woes seem to be boosting movie ticket sales (nytimes: "In Downturn, Americans Flock to the Movies"), up another 10% from last year's comparable frame.
With Disney's 3D concert Jonas Brothers: The 3D Concert Experience expected to crush the competition, it was Madea who got the last laugh, as Tyler Perry's Madea Goes to Jail topped the box office for the second straight weekend with $16.5 million, or a 60% drop from last weekend. In ten days the Lionsgate hit has grossed an impressive $64.9 million, already becoming Perry's highest grossing movie ever. 2006's Madea's Family Reunion took in $63.3 million domestic. At its current pace, look for Madea to finish with $85 million by the end of its run.
Because of the record-breaking launch of Miley Cyrus' smash hit Hannah Montana/Miley Cyrus: Best of Both Worlds Concert Tour last February ($31 million debut), Disney had hoped to get even better results from their Jonas Brothers: The 3D Concert Experience. Analysts projected an opening in the $30-40 million range. Instead, the poorly-reviewed 3D film opened well short of that mark with $12.7 million for second place. Regardless of expectations though, the film averaged a strong $9,992 in 1,271 3D theaters. The numbers are an even stronger testament to how incredible last year's Hannah Montana performed, as that G-rated concert opened in virtually half the theaters as Jonas Brothers, while averaging a jaw-dropping $45,561 per theater. Expect a quick exit from the top ten for the sibling trio.
As expected, the biggest beneficiary of last weekend's Oscars was Best Film winner Slumdog Millionaire, which enjoyed a 45% spike in sales thanks to the added buzz as well as an additional 699 theaters. The $15 million Fox Searchlight sensation took in $12.2 million in third, bringing its 16 week cume to an incredible $115.1 million.
Crossing the $100 million mark this weekend was Fox's sleeper hit Taken, which grossed $10 million bringing its five week cume to $107.9 million.
Razzie front-runner Street Fighter: The Legend of Chun-Li debuted in eighth with $4.7 million, as the Fox videogame adaptation failed to shrug off a big fat donut on Rottentomatoes.com (no critic polled by the site gave the film a recommendation rating). The film still managed to eek out $4,093 from 1,136 theaters nationwide.
With Disney's 3D concert Jonas Brothers: The 3D Concert Experience expected to crush the competition, it was Madea who got the last laugh, as Tyler Perry's Madea Goes to Jail topped the box office for the second straight weekend with $16.5 million, or a 60% drop from last weekend. In ten days the Lionsgate hit has grossed an impressive $64.9 million, already becoming Perry's highest grossing movie ever. 2006's Madea's Family Reunion took in $63.3 million domestic. At its current pace, look for Madea to finish with $85 million by the end of its run.
Because of the record-breaking launch of Miley Cyrus' smash hit Hannah Montana/Miley Cyrus: Best of Both Worlds Concert Tour last February ($31 million debut), Disney had hoped to get even better results from their Jonas Brothers: The 3D Concert Experience. Analysts projected an opening in the $30-40 million range. Instead, the poorly-reviewed 3D film opened well short of that mark with $12.7 million for second place. Regardless of expectations though, the film averaged a strong $9,992 in 1,271 3D theaters. The numbers are an even stronger testament to how incredible last year's Hannah Montana performed, as that G-rated concert opened in virtually half the theaters as Jonas Brothers, while averaging a jaw-dropping $45,561 per theater. Expect a quick exit from the top ten for the sibling trio.
As expected, the biggest beneficiary of last weekend's Oscars was Best Film winner Slumdog Millionaire, which enjoyed a 45% spike in sales thanks to the added buzz as well as an additional 699 theaters. The $15 million Fox Searchlight sensation took in $12.2 million in third, bringing its 16 week cume to an incredible $115.1 million.
Crossing the $100 million mark this weekend was Fox's sleeper hit Taken, which grossed $10 million bringing its five week cume to $107.9 million.
Razzie front-runner Street Fighter: The Legend of Chun-Li debuted in eighth with $4.7 million, as the Fox videogame adaptation failed to shrug off a big fat donut on Rottentomatoes.com (no critic polled by the site gave the film a recommendation rating). The film still managed to eek out $4,093 from 1,136 theaters nationwide.
Sunday, March 1, 2009
The numbers, Feb. 27-March 1, 2009
| THE TOP TEN | Weekend | Theaters | Avg. | Total Gross | %+- | Wks | Distributor | |
| 1 | Madea Goes to Jail | $16,500,000 | 2,052 | $8,041 | $64,850,000 | -59.8 | 2 | Lionsgate |
| 2 | Jonas Brothers: The 3D Concert Experience | $12,700,000 | 1,271 | $9,992 | $12,700,000 | -- | 1 | Buena Vista |
| 3 | Slumdog Millionaire | $12,150,000 | 2,943 | $4,128 | $115,148,000 | 44.9 | 16 | Fox Searchlight |
| 4 | Taken | $9,950,000 | 3,089 | $3,221 | $107,882,000 | -11.8 | 5 | Fox |
| 5 | He's Just Not That Into You | $5,875,000 | 2,858 | $2,056 | $78,525,000 | -31.4 | 4 | Warner Bros. |
| 6 | Paul Blart: Mall Cop | $5,600,000 | 2,698 | $2,076 | $128,106,000 | -17.9 | 7 | Sony |
| 7 | Coraline | $5,252,000 | 2,063 | $2,546 | $61,145,000 | -54.1 | 4 | Focus |
| 8 | Street Fighter: The Legend of Chun-Li | $4,650,000 | 1,136 | $4,093 | $4,650,000 | -- | 1 | Fox |
| 9 | Confessions of a Shopaholic | $4,490,000 | 2,534 | $1,772 | $33,662,000 | -33.4 | 3 | Buena Vista |
| 10 | Fired Up | $3,800,000 | 1,811 | $2,098 | $10,137,000 | -30.7 | 2 | Sony |
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