Box Office Report: Salvation (again)

Dude here again. How about that World Cup, eh? Or the NBA Finals? Or The Hockey Thing. Or that oil spill that seems to be prevalent on people's Facebook status? Or anything that doesn't involve movies, because nobody seems to care about those anymore.

No, wait, I'm wrong again.

This weekend, a movie met and exceeded expectations and brought a burst of air to Hollywood's slowly deflating collective ego. 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, as these are holiday numbers).

1. The Karate Kid (Sony) - $56.0, 3663 screens, week 1, $56.0 total

2. The A-Team (Fox)- $26.0, 3535 screens, week 1, $26.0 total

3. Shrek Forever After (Par/DW) - $15.8, 3868 screens, week 4, $210.0 total

4. Get Him To The Greek (Uni)- $10.1, 2702 screens, week 2, $36.5 total

5. Killers (LGF) $8.1, 2859 screens, week 2, $30.6 total

6. Prince of Persia: Sands of Time (BV) - $6.6, 3108 screens, week 3, $72.3 total

7. Marmaduke (Fox)- $6.0, 3213 screens, week 2, $22.2 total

8. Sex and the City 2 (WB)- $5.5, 2750 screens, week 3, $84.7 total

9. Iron Man 2 (Par) - $4.5, 2305 screens, week 6, $299.3 total

10. Splice (WB)- $2.8, 2450 screens, week 2, $13.0 total

So those are the numbers, but what do they mean? Well, it means that The Karate Kid has still got it! Despite the misleading title (the kid learns kung fu!), the film went to make far more than anyone predicted, going so far as to make back its budget in three days. It also proves that it is indeed the best (cha) around! Nothing's ever gonna take it down!

(Fun Fact: Last evening I went to the Golf 'n Stuff they filmed the original at! It was the coolest place on Earth!)

The A-Team had an impressive debut, but given the cost and the hype, should have done better. This being the summer that it is, though, anything can happen. And what once seemed like a surefire bet plucking the talent from last years sleeper hits (Taken, Hangover, District 9) and blowing things up around them, has now turned into a cautionary tale of mediocrity.

I'm quite pleased that a lot of the rest of the top ten remained virtually unchanged, making it an easy week for me to show declining numbers of disappointing Hollywood product. I like calling it product. Reminds of cheese product. Eww.

Below the radar, Winter's Bone, which is sadly not a porn, opened on 4 screens to take in $85,400.

So there, you have my amazing break down. Next week, it's Pixar to the rescue. How amazing is Pixar? So amazing that when I type the word, it's already registered in SpellCheck! Also Jonah Hex opens, but if nobody sees it. will it have opened? Find out next week!

Until next weekend....

(All Numbers courtesy of Box Office Mojo)