No surprise, it was a Hobbit weekend with the title, accounting for over half of the overall box office and even setting a December record. It did not match the highest estimates of some box office prognosticators, but nevertheless a solid showing considering its expectations. The top 10 grossed over $122.6 million.
1. The Hobbit: An Unexpected Journey
Gross: $84,775,000
Screens: 4,045 (PSA: $20,958)
Week: 1
As expected, Middle Earth proved highly lucrative at the box office, even setting a December record. With 4,045 theaters, The Hobbit’s gross outpaced the previous December record-holder, I Am Legend with $77.2 million. It also performed above the start of The Lord of the Rings: The Return of the King at $73.3 million. Still, the Lord of the Rings prequel did not match the lofty expectations of $100 million some had predicted. The feature accounted for over half of the b.o. over the weekend.
2. Rise of the Guardians
Gross: $7,420,000 (Cume: $71,361,823)
Screens: 3,387 (PSA: $2,191)
Week: 4 (Change: – 28.7%)
Rise of the Guardians placed second again and the title only fell about 29% maintaining momentum that should continue with its holiday theme. The pic will have to contend with a number of new releases headed to theaters between now and Christmas, so reaching the $100 million mark may still be tough.
3. Lincoln
Gross: $7,244,000 (Cume: $107,898,000)
Screens: 2,285 (PSA: 3,170)
Week: 6 (Change: – 18.8%)
After its big Golden Globe nomination haul, Steven Spielberg’s pic on the 16th U.S. President held strong, only dropping under 19% as the title added 271 theaters. Among the Oscar contenders, it is the highest grossing, at nearly $107.9 million, ahead of Argo’s $104.9 million.
4. Skyfall
Gross: $7 million (Cume: $272,366,000)
Screens: 2,924 (PSA: $2,394)
Week:…
Skyfall once again headed to the top spot in the box office over the weekend, grossing $11 million in a weekend that only had one weak showing from a major newcomer, Playing for Keeps. With little momentum behind it, the movie opened with only $6 million. Overall, the top 10 only took in $69.14 million, making it one of the lowest grossing weekends of 2012.
1. Skyfall
Gross: $11 million (Cume: $261.6 million)
Screens: 3,401 (PSA: $3,234)
Week: 5 (Change: – 33.6%)
A weak showing from the only major newcomer Playing for Keeps allowed the latest and most successful Bond installment to move back into number one over the weekend. It is within reach of becoming Sony’s highest-grossing film of the year, passing the studio’s The Amazing Spider-Man which totaled $262 million. The title is on track to make a final come of $290 million or even $300 million, which would give it bragging rights of over $120 million to $130 million more than the previous 007 record from Quantum of Solace.
2. Rise of the Guardians
Gross: $10,450,000 (Cume: $61,913,574)
Screens: 3 (PSA: $2,896)
Week: 3 (Change: – 21.3%)
Last weekend’s number 4 shot up to second this weekend with only a 21 percent drop. The pic has a Christmas connection which should give it momentum through the month, but its total at nearly $62 million may make a $100 million cume a challenge.
3. Twilight Saga: Breaking Dawn Part – 2
Gross: $9.2 million (Cume: $268.7 million)
Screens: 3,646 (PSA: $2,523)
Week: 4 (Change: – 47.2%)
The film is now $1.4 million ahead of New Moon at the same point. It dropped two slots to number 3 after placing first for three weeks. The title lost 362 theaters from the previous weekend…
Full Story »Newcomers Killing Them Softly and The Collection bowed soft over the weekend, with the latter barely making it into the top ten. Holdovers including Twilight Saga: Breaking Dawn Part 2, Skyfall and Lincoln remained the top three pics domestically. The Weinstein Company’s Silver Linings Playbook, meanwhile, placed just outside the top ten over the weekend, though the Oscar hopeful played in comparatively far fewer locations and is showing strength as it continues to roll out slowly.
1. Twilight Saga: Breaking Dawn Part 2
Gross: $17,410,000 (Cume: $254.6 million)
Screens: 4008 (PSA: $4,344)
Week: 3 (Change: – 60%)
Number one for three weeks, the final Twilight scored the top spot after a weak showing from newcomers. The feature dropped 62 locations from its second weekend and its $4,344 average was significantly lower than its $10,723 showing in week 2. Still, it is a bit better off than its previous installments and is within $1 million from matching New Moon.
2. Skyfall
Gross: $17 million (Cume: $246 million)
Screens: 3,463 (PSA: $4,909)
Week: 4 (Change: – 52%)
The highest grossing Bond film continues to show strength one month into its U.S. run. The pic averaged a solid $4,909, compared to Twilight’s $4,344 average in its third week, though it is in 545 fewer theaters. Globally, Skyfall has grossed over $869 million, a good return for its $200 million budget. A $300 million domestic run is not out of the question.
3. Lincoln
Gross: $13,509,000 (Cume: $83,698,000)
Screens: 2,018 (PSA: $6,694)
Week: 4 (Change: – 47%)
Steven Spielberg’s big Oscar contender remained in the same number of theaters in its third weekend, though its per screen average was almost halved from the previous weekend’s $12,724. Still, it had the highest PSA in the top 10 for the…
Full Story »All four studio releases debuted with a whimper at best and tanked at worst. Ben Affleck’s Argo topped the box office in a disappointing weekend. It is hard to estimate the impact on the onslaught of Hurricane Sandy had on Sunday on the East Coast as residents scurried to get ready for the storm, but the weekend’s box office took a hit nevertheless. Strong word-of-mouth made Argo one of the lone stars of the weekend.
1. Argo
Gross: $12,355,000 (Cume: $60,780,288)
Screens: 2,855 (PSA: $4,327)
Week: 3 (Change: – 24.9%)
Argo finally made it to number one three weeks into its release. But it was mostly by default because its competition from newcomers failed to make the box office grade. Still, Argo showed bravado on its own, with only a small dip in its returns, despite losing 392 locations. Word of mouth is clearly propelling the Ben Affleck-directed political thriller that is a strong contender for awards this season. A $100 million gross is certainly not out of the question.
2. Hotel Transylvania
Gross: $9.5 million (Cume: $130,434,000)
Screens: 3,276 (PSA: $2,900)
Week: 5 (Change: – 26.9%)
The animated feature jumped from fourth place last week to second in its fifth round. The $130 million-plus cumulative makes it one of Sony Pictures Animation’s top animated-only pic. It will eventually overtake The Smurfs, which grossed $142.6 million.
3. Cloud Atlas
Gross: $9.4 million
Screens: 2,008 (PSA: $4,681)
Week: 1
Six slightly connected stories told over two hours and forty-four minutes was bound to be a marketing challenge. The pic received a C+ CinemaScore, so it’s going to be a steep trek for this $100 million movie sees any profit. Its recognizable cast should help it as it heads overseas. While it’s the…
Full Story »A decent weekend overall, Paranormal Activity 4 lead the pack though its debut came in rather slow compared to previous installments. Argo held strong in its second weekend, showing word-of-mouth is cementing its box office prowess, while Hotel Transylvania, Taken 2 and Alex Cross rounded out the top five at the weekend box office.
1. Paranormal Activity 4
Gross: $30.2 million
Screens: 3,412 (PSA: $8,851)
Week: 1
The latest installment of Paranormal Activity lead a robust box office weekend. Still, it debuted comparatively lower to last year’s Paranormal Activity 3, which opened with over $52.5 million in 3,321 theaters and a $15,829 average. Paranormal Activity 2 bowed with just under $40.7 million its opening weekend in October of 2010, averaging $12,649.
2. Argo
Gross: $16,625,000 (Cume: $43,191,489)
Screens: 3,247 (PSA: $5,120)
Week: 2 (Change: – 14.6%)
Debuting second to Taken 2 last week, Ben Affleck’s Oscar-buzzed political thriller held strong adding just 15 more theaters in its second run, holding solidly in the number two position again. Word-of-mouth is clearly propelling the title as it continues its run.
3. Hotel Transylvania
Gross: $13.5 million (Cume: $119 million)
Screens: 3,384 (PSA: $3,989)a
Week: 4 (Change: – 21.7%)
One month into release, the animated title is holding strong. It placed fourth in its third weekend and managed to up one spot in its fourth weekend out. The title added nine theaters in its fourth run. Last weekend the title grossed $17.3 million.
4. Taken 2
Gross: $13.4 million (Cume: $105,971,000)
Screens: 3,489 (PSA: $3,841)
Week: 3 (Change: – 38%)
The number one film when it debuted, it tumbled over 55% in its second weekend, but managed to stem the fall a bit in the current round. The pic lost 217 theaters compared…
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