Sunday, September 09, 2007

Box Office Report: First Day of Futbol Norte Americana Edition

Dude here again. It's a lovely September weekend, and football has started in the U.S. Which would mean a whole lot more to me if I actually cared. And I only care when there's money on the line. And I only put money on the line when I'm at a pizzeria in New Jersey, because Tony gives me good odds. Point is, some movies came out this weekend.

This weekend, a slower change of pace hits the box office, as the movies are a bit smaller, and not exactly the kind that will break records like this previous summer has burned me out on. Let's go to the numbers, shall we? (All in millions, remember, and these are the studio estimates, the actuals will be available on Monday. Just to prove me wrong).

1. 3:10 to Yuma (LGF) - $14.1, 2652 screens, week 1, $14.1 total

2. Halloween (MGM/Wein) - $10.0, 3475 screens, week 2, $44.2 total

3. Superbad (Sony) - $8.0, 3069 screens, week 4, $103.6 total

4. Balls of Fury (Rogue) - $5.6, 3081 screens, week 2, $24.2 total

5. The Bourne Ultimatum (Uni) - $5.47, 3010 screens, week 6, $210.0 total

6. Shoot 'Em Up (NL) - $5.45, 2108 screens, week 1, $5.45 total

7. Rush Hour 3 (NL) - $5.3, 2690 screens, week 5, $129.1 total

8. Mr. Bean's Holiday (Uni)- $3.38, 1778 screens, week 3, $25.0 total

9. The Nanny Diaries (MGM/Wein Co) - $3.32, 2444 screens, week 3, $21.0 total

10. Hairspray (NL) - $1.9, 1393 screens, week 8, $114.8 total

So those are the numbers, but what do they mean? Well, it means that the huge summer box office numbers are gone for a bit, and we're going to have some low number 1 spots for the first week. 3:10 to Yuma took the top spot, but only took in $14.1 million, so it's not like there will be clamoring for the return of the western anytime soon. (Despite the fact that a bunch are scheduled to come out in the next few weeks). The Russell Crowe/Christian Bale flick did garner some fantastic reviews, however, and it looks like it will stand to find it's audience eventually.

Hopefully the same can be said of Shoot 'Em Up, which opened to a middling sixth place (although don't be surprised if it winds up taking slightly more than Bourne when tomorrow's numbers are finalized). Shoot 'Em Up, the ultraviolent nihilistic glee-fest which features some of the most ridonkulous (in the good sense) action sequences ever captured on film, seems to have polarized audiences and critics alike, and that's a shame. This movie is just plain fun.

Coming in at 23rd place is the Brothers Solomon, taking in $525,000 on 700 screens. There's no polarizing about this movie, people just outright hate it. Loathe it, and for no good reason. It's not perfect, not by a long shot, but it has some outstanding gags, and Wills Arnett and Forte are a brilliant comedic duo. (Granted, nowhere near on par as Jonah Hill/Michael Cera, whom audiences opted for once again, enough to push the film over the $100 million mark).

Below the radar, the going to the moon doc In The Shadow Of The Moon opened up on 4 screens and took in $41,200. The Richard Gere led The Hunting Party also opened up on 4 screens and took in $40,000. Interesting, to say the least.

And in the "Because It's There" series: The King of Kong: A Fistful of Quarters took in $67,000 on 37 screens, bringing it's grand total to $423,000 in 4 weeks.

There you have my break down. Next week, another large group of movies will open and not make record breaking amounts of money. I'm not even sure what comes out at all next week to be honest. Oh, snap! The one about the dragons fighting each other comes out! Holy crap, that movie's gonna be amazing! It's got dragons, people. And they're fighting a war on our turf!

Until next weekend....

No comments: