'Obsessed' paces box office with $28.5m debut, April 24-26, 2009

Sony Screen Gems hit the jackpot with their heavily marketed thriller Obsessed, which scorched the box office with $28.5 million, more than doubling its next closest competitor. Starring Beyonce Knowles, Idris Elba, and Ali Larter, the debut finished off a record breaking April, once again finishing an impressive 30% higher than last year's comparable frame. Thanks to an edgy premise (a happily married black couple jeopardized by an obsessed sexy white temptress) and a rather hefty marketing campaign, Obsessed averaged an incredible $11,337 in 2,514 theaters. It was remarkably the seventh biggest April bow in history, as well as the second biggest in studio history, behind Streen Gems' 2005 thriller The Exorcism of Emily Rose with $30.1 million. Budgeted at a modest $20 million, the already profitable PG-13 rated pic was poorly reviewed by critics.

Zac Efron's comedy 17 Again slipped 51% in its sophomore frame to $11.7 million, bringing its ten day take to a solid $40 million. At its current pace the PG-13 hit should finish with $70 million domestic.

Debuting in third was the action drama Fighting, which brought in $11.4 million. Starring Step Up's Channing Tatum, the Rogue Pictures release averaged $4,955 in 2,309 theaters. Released in 2006, Step Up bowed with $20.6 million on its way to $65 million. Fighting's prospects to repeat that total seem slim to none.

The most disappointing performance this weekend came from Paramount's drama The Soloist, which couldn't shrug off weak reviews finishing in fourth with $9.7 million. Starring Robert Downey Jr. and Jamie Foxx, the PG-13 pic based on a real life journalist and musician friendship, averaged $4,800 in 2,024 theaters. Budgeted at $60 million largely because of its two high-priced stars, The Soloist will have real trouble breaking $25 million domestic.

Rounding out the top five was Disney's Planet Earth wannabe Earth, which took in $8.6 million this weekend. Averaging $4,742 in 1,804 theaters, the G-rated documentary launched Wednesday (consequently on Earth Day), bringing in a very impressive $14.2 million over the five-day frame. The $8.6 million weekend haul was the second biggest opening ever for a documentary behind only 2004's Fahrenheit 9/11, which debuted with $23.9 million. It is already the second highest grossing nature-themed documentary in history, behind only 2005's March of the Penguins with $77.4 million.

The numbers, April 24-26, 2009

THE TOP TEN		Weekend	Theaters	Avg.	Total Gross	%+-	Wks	Distributor
1	Obsessed	$28,500,000	2,514	$11,337	$28,500,000	--	1	Sony
2	17 Again	$11,665,000	3,255	$3,584	$39,970,000	-50.8	2	Warner Bros.
3	Fighting	$11,441,000	2,309	$4,955	$11,441,000	--	1	Universal
4	The Soloist	$9,715,000	2,024	$4,800	$9,715,000	--	1	Paramount
5	Earth	$8,554,000	1,804	$4,742	$14,201,000	--	1	Buena Vista
6	Monsters vs. Aliens	$8,524,000	3,358	$2,538	$174,817,000	-35.6	5	Paramount
7	State of Play	$6,891,000	2,807	$2,455	$25,124,000	-51.0	2	Universal
8	Hannah Montana The Movie	$6,372,000	3,231	$1,972	$65,590,000	-52.5	3	Buena Vista
9	Fast & Furious	$6,062,000	3,566	$1,700	$145,224,000	-48.5	4	Universal
10	Crank High Voltage	$2,400,000	2,223	$1,080	$11,518,000	-65.5	2	Lionsgate

'17 Again' tops with $24.4m, April 17-19, 2009

The box office continued its incredible run through 2009 with another big weekend as Zac Efron's comedy 17 Again dominated the top ten in its debut, out-pacing second place opener State of Play by nearly $10 million. In a distant sixth was Jason Statham's actioner Crank High Voltage. Overall, the top ten films finished up a hefty 21% from last year's comparable frame when The Forbidden Kingdom topped with $21.4 million. It was up an even more remarkable 40% from 2007 when Disturbia held the top spot with $13 million.

Leading all films this weekend was Zac Efron's family comedy 17 Again, debuting with a strong $23.7 million and relegating Russell Crowe and his State of Play to a distant second place finish. The Warner pic averaged an impressive $7,288 in 3,255 theaters, as the young actor broadened his audience reach with his first ever PG-13 rated picture.

Compared with similarly themed "body swapping" pictures, 17 Again posted the biggest debut of the bunch. 1988's Big opened to $8.2 million on its way to $115 million total. Jennifer Garner's 13 Going on 30 bowed with $21 million on its way to $57 million domestic. 2003's Freaky Friday debuted with $22.2 million, finishing with $110.2 million.

Debuting in second was Russell Crowe's thriller State of Play, which finished with $14 million in 2,803 theaters. Co-starring Ben Affleck and Helen Mirren, the well-reviewed Universal pic averaged $5,030 per theater. The debut was slightly better than Crowe's last outing, 2008's Body of Lies which bowed with $12.8 million on its way to $39.3 million domestic.

Disney's Hannah Montana The Movie finished in third with $13.4 million, tumbling a massive 61% in its sophomore frame. In ten days the Miley Cyrus starrer has grossed $56.1 million.

Paramount/DreamWorks Animation's animated hit comedy Monsters vs. Aliens added another $13.2 million to $163 million total, becoming the top grossing film of 2009. The film has quickly become the sixth biggest movie in DreamWorks Animation history, behind the Shrek trilogy, last summer's Kung Fu Panda with $215.4 million and 2005's Madagascar with $193.2 million.

Rounding out the top five was Universal's Fast & Furious, bringing in $12.3 million in its third weekend of release. In 17 days the $85 million budgeted pic has amassed $136.7 million. Internationally, the Vin Diesel starrer has been even more powerful, totaling $145 million and bringing its worldwide take to $281.7 million, easily the highest-grossing pic in franchise history.

Jason Statham may be the hardest working man in showbiz, even if he doesn't have big numbers to show for it. Starring in his tenth film in less than 3 years, the actor's latest effort Crank High Voltage debuted with a weak $6.5 million in sixth, averaging just $2,928 in 2,223 theaters. The R-rated pic opened below the original 2006 actioner Crank, which bowed with $10.5 million. The opening was significantly below last year's Death Race ($12.6 million). Reviews were, surprisingly, mostly positive.

The numbers, April 17-19, 2009

THE TOP TEN		Weekend	Theaters	Avg.	Total Gross	%+-	Wks	Distributor
1	17 Again	$24,070,000	3,255	$7,395	$24,070,000	--	1	Warner Bros.
2	State of Play	$14,099,000	2,803	$5,030	$14,099,000	--	1	Universal
3	Monsters vs. Aliens	$12,900,000	3,662	$3,523	$162,723,000	-40.9	4	Paramount
4	Hannah Montana The Movie	$12,666,000	3,118	$4,062	$56,133,000	-60.8	2	Buena Vista
5	Fast & Furious	$12,290,000	3,674	$3,345	$136,721,000	-54.9	3	Universal
6	Crank High Voltage	$6,510,000	2,223	$2,928	$6,510,000	--	1	Lionsgate
7	Observe and Report	$4,050,000	2,727	$1,485	$18,687,000	-63.2	2	Warner Bros.
8	Knowing	$3,480,000	2,405	$1,447	$73,701,000	-45.9	5	Summit
9	I Love You, Man	$3,370,000	2,202	$1,530	$64,657,000	-46.3	5	Paramount
10	The Haunting in Connecticut	$3,150,000	2,255	$1,397	$51,918,000	-46.6	4	Lionsgate

'Hannah Montana' outraces 'Fast and Furious' for the top spot with $34m, April 10-12, 2009

Thanks to a big dose of Miley Cyrus the box office continued its torrid pace for the new year, finishing 63% better than last year's comparable frame as moviegoers flocked to the Disney starlet this Easter weekend. Universal's actioner Fast and Furious was bumped from its perch to second place, while DreamWorks Animation's Monsters vs. Aliens finished solidly in third. Thanks to great weekends from the three films the box office posted the biggest Easter weekend in history.

Following up her box office smash Hannah Montana/Miley Cyrus: Best of Both Worlds -- which shattered records over last year's Superbowl weekend -- Disney's Miley Cyrus scored another major hit with her Hannah Montana The Movie, taking in an estimated $34 million in its debut frame.

Besting the record breaking 3D concert movie Best of Both Worlds, which took in $31.1 million in February of 2008, Hannah Montana The Movie mobilized the legion of Cyrus' preteen fans (mostly girls) and their ticket-paying parents to movie theaters, as the G-rated pic averaged an incredible $10,904 in 3,118 theaters. It was the second biggest opening ever over Easter weekend, behind only 2006's Scary Movie with $40.2 million, as well as the fifth biggest April debut in history.

Disney has been able to successfully translate Cyrus' appeal to the big screen unlike any of their other Disney channel stars. Hoping to work the same February weekend magic as Best of Both Worlds this year, the studio offered their Jonas Brothers: The 3D Concert on February 27th with lackluster results. The film significantly underperformed albeit lofty expectations, debut with just $12.5 million and losing the weekend bout to the sophomore weekend of Madia Goes to Jail.

More than half of Hannah Montana the Movie's weekend total came from a staggering $17.3 million Good Friday haul, as families took advantage of school closings for the religious holiday. Reviews were mixed.

Falling 59% in its sophomore frame was last weekend's record breaking Fast & Furious, which followed up the biggest April debut in history with a $28.8 million Easter weekend. In ten days the $85 million budgeted pic has grossed $118 million, and should have no trouble surpassing the $144.5 million domestic haul of 2001's The Fast and the Furious to become the highest grossing ipc in the franchise.

DreamWorks Animation's 3D computer-animated pic Monsters vs. Aliens dropping a slight 31% in its third weekend to $22.6 million, bringing its domestic take to $141 million. At its current pace the $175 million budgeted comedy could come close to reaching $200 million.

Opening in fourth was Seth Rogen's mall cop comedy Observe and Report, which opened with $11 million this weekend. Debuting in 2,727 theaters, the Warner release averaged $4,085 per theater. Budgeted at a modest $18 million, the film received mixed reviews from critics.

In the "who actually greenlit this?" category, Fox's Dragonball Evolution debuted in a distant eighth with $4.7 million, averaging just $2,132 in 2,181 theaters. An adaptation of the Japaneses anime cartoon, the film was largely savaged by critics.

The numbers, April 10-12, 2009

THE TOP TEN		Weekend	Theaters	Avg.	Total Gross	%+-	Wks	Distributor
1	Hannah Montana The Movie	$34,000,000	3,118	$10,904	$34,000,000	--	1	Buena Vista
2	Fast & Furious	$28,783,000	3,472	$8,290	$118,042,000	-59.4	2	Universal
3	Monsters vs. Aliens	$22,617,000	4,136	$5,468	$141,009,000	-30.6	3	Paramount
4	Observe and Report	$11,140,000	2,727	$4,085	$11,140,000	--	1	Warner Bros.
5	Knowing	$6,670,000	2,925	$2,280	$68,006,000	-18.1	4	Summit
6	I Love You, Man	$6,412,000	2,643	$2,426	$58,997,000	-17.0	4	Paramount
7	The Haunting in Connecticut	$5,710,000	2,721	$2,098	$46,297,000	-39.8	3	Lionsgate
8	Dragonball Evolution	$4,650,000	2,181	$2,132	$4,650,000	--	1	Fox
9	Adventureland	$3,433,000	1,876	$1,830	$11,450,000	-40.0	2	Miramax
10	Duplicity	$2,997,000	1,965	$1,525	$36,848,000	-28.2	4	Universal

'Fast & Furious' posts record $72.5m bow, April 3-5

Sometimes all it takes is one big reunion. Supercharging the first weekend of April Unversal's Fast & Furious blew past virtually all industry expectations with a record smashing $72.5 million. DreamWorks Animation's the animated pic Monsters vs. Aliens slipped 45% to second, with the two films helping push the marketplace to a nearly doubling of ticket sales compared to last year.

Universal hit the jackpot with the fourth installment of its Fast and the Furious franchise, reuniting the cast of the original 2001 action hit. Grossing a record-shattering $72.5 million in 3,461 theaters, the Vin Diesel starrer averaged an incredible $20,950. It was the biggest April debut in history, easily surpassing 2003's Anger Management with $42.2 million. It also blew past the $59.3 million debut of last week's Monsters vs. Aliens, becoming the biggest opening of 2009. Only 2004's Passion of the Christ opened bigger over the first four months of a year, pulling in $83.3 million in February of 2004.

Fast & Furious blew past all previous openings in the franchise, beating out 2001's The Fast and the Furious with $40.1 million, 2003's 2 Fast 2 Furious with $50.5 million and 2006's Tokyo Drift with $24 million. Diesel starred only in the first film (also the highest grossing at $144.5m), while co-star Paul Walker hung around for the second ($127.1m total). The third installment took place in Japan and featured an entirely new cast ($62.5m total).

Originally tapped for a June 12th release Universal smartly backed off from the over-saturated release date, staking claim on the first weekend of April. With little competition, a huge marketing blitz and increased traffic at theaters this year, it was no surprise Fast & Furious dominated the box office. But noone expected the sheer size of the opening, with $30.5 million in ticket sales coming on Friday alone. If estimates hold, the film will become Universal's biggest debut in history, surpassing 1997's The Lost World with $72.1 million (over the three day portion of Memorial Day weekend).

The numbers, April 3-5, 2009

THE TOP TEN		Weekend	Theaters	Avg.	Total Gross	%+-	Wks	Distributor
1	Fast & Furious	$72,508,000	3,461	$20,950	$72,508,000	--	1	Universal
2	Monsters vs. Aliens	$33,510,000	4,109	$8,155	$105,700,000	-43.5	2	Paramount
3	The Haunting in Connecticut	$9,550,000	2,732	$3,496	$37,240,000	-58.5	2	Lionsgate
4	Knowing	$8,130,000	3,323	$2,447	$58,204,000	-44.7	3	Summit
5	I Love You, Man	$7,850,000	2,829	$2,775	$49,287,000	-38.1	3	Paramount
6	Adventureland	$6,010,000	1,862	$3,228	$6,010,000	--	1	Miramax
7	Duplicity	$4,300,000	2,522	$1,705	$32,376,000	-44.0	3	Universal
8	Race to Witch Mountain	$3,351,000	2,825	$1,186	$58,388,000	-42.2	4	Buena Vista
9	12 Rounds	$2,300,000	2,331	$987	$9,022,000	-56.8	2	Fox
10	Sunshine Cleaning	$1,879,000	479	$3,923	$4,775,000	47.5	4	Overture