2012 Set A Box Office Tsunami This Weekend
>> Nov 17, 2009
The apocalyptic-minded flick “2012” brings a tsunami of moviegoers to theaters across the world this weekend. Sony's pic directed by Roland Emmerich (Independence Day, The Day After Tomorrow) has surpassed predictions by grossing an estimated $160 million at the foreign box office and an estimated $65 million domestically for a total haul of $225 million. Columbia, a unit of Sony Corp, said "2012" marked the highest worldwide opening ever for an original film not based on an established franchise, brand or best-selling novel. The record for a worldwide opening is $394 million, set in July by "Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince." The movie earned $158 million from North America and $236 million from 54 foreign territories, but that film enjoyed a two-day head start by opening on a Wednesday. However, domestically, the extremely expensive "2012", which carried a $200 million production price tag, came in just shy of the $68.7 million opening weekend for Emerich’s previous catastrophe effort "The Day After Tomorrow." "Roland is that type of filmmaker that casts his net really wide," said Rory Bruer, head of distribution for Sony. "The story is something people could really relate to. It's a story of the survival of humanity." The domestic debut also lands “2012” as one of the top seven openers ever for the month of November, coming in behind three “Harry Potter” films ($88.4-102.4 million opening), “The Incredibles” ($70.5 million opening), “Twilight” ($69.6 million opening), and “Quantum of Solace” ($67.5 million opening). It could be interesting to know how “The Twilight Saga: New Moon” jumbling the chart next weekend.
Finishing second this weekend is Disney's previous weekend winner, “A Christmas Carol”. The $200 million 3-D motion capture event film from director Robert Zemeckis got a small drop of only 26% and hauled $22.3 million in its second weekend. Though it has a long way to go to match the production budget and need another strong hold next weekend, Jim Carrey-starred flick now has $63.3 million in its pocket. While, in third spot, “The Men Who Stare at Goats” was not as successful as it dropped 51% and earning only $6.2 million. But for Overture Films, this George Clooney’s black military comedy was a $5 million production, so they have easily made their money back already, as this one has grossed $23.4 million so far.
In a big “Paranormal Activity” surprise, came in fourth is Lionsgate's "Precious," which jumped up to No. 4 even though playing in just 174 locations, grossed a remarkable $6.1 million in its second week. Last week, the Oprah Winfrey-produced flick made the top 12 opening despite being on only 18 venues, and earning $1.9 million. With a cast that includes Mo'Nique, Mariah Carey and Lenny Kravitz, "Precious" stars newcomer Gabourey Sidibe as a Harlem teen pulling herself out of an abyss of illiteracy, incest and domestic abuse. Meanwhile, the previous surprise from Paramount's micro-budgeted horror flick "Paranormal Activity", now in eight spot but still pulled in $4.2 million to cross the $100 million mark. Shot for just $15,000, the supernatural tale rode a surge of online buzz to become a horror sensation, with a domestic gross now standing at $103.8 million.
Michael Jackson's “This Is It” was supposed to be out of theaters by now. And while it's losing steam (and theaters), it picked up another $5.1 million in fifth mark. The film now has overthrowed Miley Cyrus' “Best of Both Worlds”, as the top-grossing concert film with $67.2 million (and counting) versus $65.3 million. Earlier in the week, the Jackson film topped $200 million worldwide, and now stands at $222.6 million overall. Starting in limited release, Fox Searchlight's animated comedy "Fantastic Mr. Fox" drew big audiences with $260,000 in four theaters, for a whopping average of $65,000 a cinema. The film expands to nationwide release the day before Thanksgiving.
Below is the weekend gross for the top ten box office flicks this weekend (11/13/09-11/15/09):
Rank – Film Title – Weekend Gross – Running Total
1 – 2012 – $65,000,000 – $65,000,000
2 – A Christmas Carol – $22,325,000 – $63,289,000
3 – The Men Who Stare at Goats – $6,200,000 – $23,376,297
4 – Precious – $6,090,000 – $8,914,552
5 – This Is It – $5,100,000 – $67,211,000
6 – The Fourth Kind – $4,743,750 – $20,588,045
7 – Couples Retreat – $4,252,755 – $102,133,145
8 – Paranormal Activity – $4,200,000 – $103,847,000
9 – Law Abiding Citizen – $3,932,000 – $67,326,125
10 – The Box – $3,185,000 – $13,206,000
Sources: Yahoo Movie News, Box Office Prophets
Finishing second this weekend is Disney's previous weekend winner, “A Christmas Carol”. The $200 million 3-D motion capture event film from director Robert Zemeckis got a small drop of only 26% and hauled $22.3 million in its second weekend. Though it has a long way to go to match the production budget and need another strong hold next weekend, Jim Carrey-starred flick now has $63.3 million in its pocket. While, in third spot, “The Men Who Stare at Goats” was not as successful as it dropped 51% and earning only $6.2 million. But for Overture Films, this George Clooney’s black military comedy was a $5 million production, so they have easily made their money back already, as this one has grossed $23.4 million so far.
In a big “Paranormal Activity” surprise, came in fourth is Lionsgate's "Precious," which jumped up to No. 4 even though playing in just 174 locations, grossed a remarkable $6.1 million in its second week. Last week, the Oprah Winfrey-produced flick made the top 12 opening despite being on only 18 venues, and earning $1.9 million. With a cast that includes Mo'Nique, Mariah Carey and Lenny Kravitz, "Precious" stars newcomer Gabourey Sidibe as a Harlem teen pulling herself out of an abyss of illiteracy, incest and domestic abuse. Meanwhile, the previous surprise from Paramount's micro-budgeted horror flick "Paranormal Activity", now in eight spot but still pulled in $4.2 million to cross the $100 million mark. Shot for just $15,000, the supernatural tale rode a surge of online buzz to become a horror sensation, with a domestic gross now standing at $103.8 million.
Michael Jackson's “This Is It” was supposed to be out of theaters by now. And while it's losing steam (and theaters), it picked up another $5.1 million in fifth mark. The film now has overthrowed Miley Cyrus' “Best of Both Worlds”, as the top-grossing concert film with $67.2 million (and counting) versus $65.3 million. Earlier in the week, the Jackson film topped $200 million worldwide, and now stands at $222.6 million overall. Starting in limited release, Fox Searchlight's animated comedy "Fantastic Mr. Fox" drew big audiences with $260,000 in four theaters, for a whopping average of $65,000 a cinema. The film expands to nationwide release the day before Thanksgiving.
Below is the weekend gross for the top ten box office flicks this weekend (11/13/09-11/15/09):
Rank – Film Title – Weekend Gross – Running Total
1 – 2012 – $65,000,000 – $65,000,000
2 – A Christmas Carol – $22,325,000 – $63,289,000
3 – The Men Who Stare at Goats – $6,200,000 – $23,376,297
4 – Precious – $6,090,000 – $8,914,552
5 – This Is It – $5,100,000 – $67,211,000
6 – The Fourth Kind – $4,743,750 – $20,588,045
7 – Couples Retreat – $4,252,755 – $102,133,145
8 – Paranormal Activity – $4,200,000 – $103,847,000
9 – Law Abiding Citizen – $3,932,000 – $67,326,125
10 – The Box – $3,185,000 – $13,206,000
Sources: Yahoo Movie News, Box Office Prophets
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