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.
Showing posts with label Knowing. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Knowing. Show all posts
Sunday, March 22, 2009
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 |
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