Monday
Apr182011
Box Office Takes Flight
Monday, April 18, 2011 at 10:00AM Dave here rounding up the box office while Nat's away thinking about nicer things.
Parrots took over from rabbits at the top of the box office this weekend, although the fact that it still isn't Easter might give that foppish British bunny a boost this week. Or did they bounce him out too early? Rio signals the coming of summer by scooping the biggest opening weekend of the year so far, besting Rango's $38.1 million. Meanwhile, Scream 4 came in a pale second place, not even making half of Rio's total; and Nat will be delighted to learn that Academy Award Winner Helen Hunt's Soul Surfer held steady as others tumbled around it. Maybe Ghostface might be able to take a stab at her as he falls past her next week?
Jesse Eisenberg doesn't usually look so emotional at the movies...The Box Office (Actuals)
01 RIO new $39.2
02 SCREAM 4 new $19.3
03 HOP $11.2 (cumulative $82.6)
04 SOUL SURFER $7.4 (cumulative $20.0)
05 HANNA $7.3 (cumulative $23.3)
06 ARTHUR $6.9 (cumulative $22.3)
07 INSIDIOUS $6.7 (cumulative $35.9)
08 SOURCE CODE $6.3 (cumulative $37.0)
09 THE CONSPIRATOR new $3.9
10 YOUR HIGHNESS $3.9 (cumulative $16.0)
Disastrous numbers for the $45 million-budgeted Your Highness, crashing almost 60% in only its second week; but beautiful ones for the $1.5 million budget of Insidious, a bonefide hit that even looks likely to outgross horror rival Scream 4. Sometimes the little guys win!
And how the mighty Ghostface has fallen. Here's a usefulless comparison of the opening weekends for the whole series.
Of course, the original Scream started out small and ended up breaking $100 million, whereas the unfavorably received Scream 3 couped the biggest debut but faltered before $90 million. Those numbers are now just a forgotten dream for Scream 4, of course; how much do you think it'll end up grossing?
Lower down the chart, audiences shrugged at Atlas Shrugged (thanks Glenn), Win Win won a little extra on further expansion, and the biggest winner of the week was Italian thriller Double Hour, snatching the biggest per-screen average with $15,400... on its two screens. But what did you enjoy this weekend, in theatres or at home? I had a scream myself.
tagged Helen Hunt, Holidays, Scream, box office, zoology
Helen Hunt, Holidays, Scream, box office, zoology
Reader Comments (20)
I saw Scream 4. I've liked each one, so there was no way I wasn't going to like this one. I did.
*I liked it, I mean. The end was very satisfying.
Scre4m would have a better opening if teenagers weren't purchasing tickets to movies like Rio and Soul Surfer so that they could sneak into the horror flick later. Or if older teens/young 20s could remember to bring their I.D. to a movie theater. Really, as the box office guy at work, it's appalling how many people say, "What do you mean, you can't sell me a ticket without ID? I'm 24!" Then you should know by now, shouldn't you?
Anyway. Yeah. Numbers are misleading, is what I'm saying.
finally saw "HANNA" and really liked it
Cate Blanchett + The Chemical Brothers, oh yes...
I sadly didn't see anything in theaters this weekend even though I'm chomping at the bit to see Scream 4 (or Scre4m..whatever). It's just unfortunate that so many of my friends are girls who don't like horror. **sigh**
I saw Potiche, which was charming and... whatever. Kind of runs off the rails in the second half, doesn't it?
I definitely found "Scream 4" very entertaining, though too self-aware/meta for its own good, tedious in the middle, and excessive at the end. I sympathized with Mary McDonnell for being reduced to playing such a generic non-role with an "arc" all too predictable and thought Emma Roberts bore striking resemblance to her aunt Julia in certain scenes.
Roark -- yeah, Potiche does have a deflating problem. But I thought it was charming and funny enough to compensate for a lot of that.
Walter -- i wonder about your explanataion because i was surprised at this number. Thought it would be much higher. The weird thing is that Scream (the original) is virtually the only horror movie i've ever seen on opening night and yet horror films are known for big openings and huge dropoffs so it surprises me that it was that small to begin with. I was ahead of the curve on ONE horror movie. haha. Not that i am the target market.
Finally saw "In a Better World" with a group of friends who were pretty divided on it, especially on the redemptive ending. I thought it was great -- very tense in many scenes -- but some friends thought it was too neat in its themes.
Hanna was really great. I usually find Tarantino heavy influenced movies annoying but thought this was really fascinating and exciting.
Saw "The Man From Nowhere" last night and I liked it. Gotta just go and enjoy a revenge flick for the ride it is. And ooh, Bin Won is a hottie.
Has Sucker Punch really sunk this fast? Jesus. Even The Conspirator managed to outgross it.
The theather I went to see Scream 4 was full of underage kids (like from 10 to 17) and I was like obviosly they didn't buy a ticket to this...
But I think this will only go down in numbers since it's not gross like Saw, Hostel, Piranha or filmed to make you feel dizzy like Paranormal Activity.
accompanied a friend to see hanna, though i didnt feel very enthusiastic. it was certainly well-made and totally engaging, with glimpses of thoughtfulness, but i don't think you're missing anything by not seeing it.
No going out to the theaters for me but I actually watched The Incredibles on Blu-Ray this weekend. It was AWESOME. I hadn't seen it in years but I wasn't too surprised it held up amazingly. The whole movie is a balancing act, isn't it? Just enough of everything to really deliver some amazing by the end.
A Best Pic nominee of 2004, it should've been, I can still firmly say. And also, the amazing art direction was robbed as hell. Giacchino's score as well. Actually, let's just say it was under-nominated in general.
Saw "Scream 4" another two times. Sad it didn't do too well on opening weekend.
I watched for the first time ever Gentlemen Prefer Blondes on Sunday, really fun film, of course there is that iconic Diamonds Are A Girl's Best Friend Marilyn number thats been done / spoofed to death and I can sort of see why, its a great star moment. But my favorite number in the film is this :
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pthokb18V7U
Finally saw 127 Hours and Conviction this past weekend...
Nathaniel - not loo long ago you had written Melissa Leo was somewhat weak in Conviction...I didn't see that at all...certainly not as colorful as her character in The Fighter, but she played the villian quite well...she really is underrepresented in Conviction.
And I think I had read some felt Juliette Lewis was over-the-top...I didn't see or feel that at all...is there a fear or a distaste for actors playing heightened, colorful, emotional characters...have we been watching too many understated foreign films?
And I know there is a lot of hositilty towards Hilary Swank for winning that second Oscar and having a weak filmography...but she was excellent in this role - totally believable, raw, emotional - this kind of drama is her wheelhouse. And the fact that Sam Rockwell was ignored by the Academy is sick! Loved that bar scene in the beginning of the film...Rockwell has got charisma and charm for days!
Franco was great in 127 Hours although the perfromance was heavily edited...lots of quick cuts and MTV style theatrics...not complaining, I love Danny Boyle...but I'm surprised Franco got more awards traction than Gosling and Dicaprio.
Forgot to mention I also saw Network this weekend for the first time...if anyone wants an example of over-the-top acting just refer to Marlene Warfield as Laureen Hobbs in Network...holy caca that is one loud performance.
SMG will always be the best "Scream Queen" -- can't wait for her return to TV!