This weekend, a few new movies tried to open, but this is typically one of the deader weekends, with films clearing room for all the big holiday and Oscar baiting films. 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).
1. Four Christmases (NL) - $18.1, 3335 screens, week 2, $70.8 total
2. Twilight (Sum) $13.1, 3620 screens, week 3, $138.5 total
3. Bolt (BV) - $9.6, 3516 screens, week 3, $79.2 total
4. Australia (Fox) - $7.0, 2721 screens, week 2, $30.8 total
5. Quantum of Solace (Sony)- $6.6, 3423 screens, week 4, $151.4 total
6. Madagascar: Escape 2 Africa (Par/DW)- $5.1, 3317 screens, week 5, $165.6 total
7. Transporter 3 (LGF) - $4.5, 2626 screens, week 2, $25.3 total
8. Punisher: War Zone (LGF)- $4.0, 2508 screens, week 1, $4.0 total
9. Cadillac Records (Sony) - $3.5, 686 screens, week 1, $3.5 total
10. Role Models (Uni) - $2.6, 1907 screens, week 5, $61.6 total
So those are the numbers, but what do they mean? Well, it means people in these times opted to not go to the movies, possibly spending their time shopping for holiday presents, or in my case, working on soft core pornography. But most of the movies are around the same order as last week, just with a lot less money. Four Christmases continues to dominate and browbeat you with it's holiday cheer, while Twilight struggles for relevance from more than just the teen girl contingency.
Two new movies opened up this week, and they may have well just shown up on screen and shrugged, then walked away. the third attempt to make a Punisher movie failed miserably, taking in just $4 million this weekend, but I've heard it on good authority that it's one of the dumbest (which by default means most awesome) movies he has ever seen. And Cadillac Records opened up, but not even Beyonce could lure them into the streets. It's a shame, as the movie actually looks pretty darn good.
Everything else is kind of just waiting around to be kicked out of theaters at this point. And actually, I'm willing to bet that numbers go down next week, as The Dark Knight, the biggest movie of all time (slight hyperbole) is released on DVD and Blu-Ray. (Which is a tremendous format, even if the only Blu-Ray I have is the Under Siege 1&2 double pack!) It's possible audiences will opt to stay in and watch that over selections in the theater, but that's something to ponder for next week's column.
Interesting fact, Dark Knight is still in release, it just crossed $530 million total in 21 weeks. It averages about $180,000 for the past few weeks now, which means people are still keeping it alive. Which is kind of remarkable given that I feel I'll find the Punisher movie that opened this weekend on the DVD racks in less than 2 months. Movies just don't last in theaters anymore.
Off the radar, the big winner was Ron Howard's Frost/Nixon. Opening on just 3 screens, the film had a per screen average of $60,000, with a weekend total of $180,000. (In case your calculator isn't working). I'm sure there's a stupid record being broken here, like 3rd highest limited release opening or something, but I'm too lazy to look it up. As well as having to go edit softcore pornography. I mean go to work.
There you have my amazing break down. Next week, Keanu Reeves makes the world stand still. In IMAX, no less. I'm sure something else opens, too. Probably something that wants Oscars. Certainly not the kind of movie I want to see.
Until next weekend...
No comments:
Post a Comment