‘Shrek 4’ Goes Green but Didn’t Live Up to Expectations
>> May 25, 2010
The fourth film in the green ogre franchise from DreamWorks Animation, “Shrek Forever After”, roared its way to the top of the box office, but somewhat set the weakest debut of all "Shrek" sequels. Though the latest installment was available for the first time in 3-D and IMAX 3-D, where ticket prices are higher, it only earned $70,8 million which absolutely far far away from "Shrek 2" (2004) that opened with $108 million and "Shrek the Third" (2007) that made $121.6 million in its first weekend. Still, the film starring the voices of Mike Myers, Cameron Diaz and Eddie Murphy, had the fourth-best opening ever for an animated film, behind the second and third "Shrek" movies and "The Simpsons Movie."
So much for the ability of 3D to open a film, though execs will be hoping the franchise's first extra-dimensional installment displays the kind of leggy run over the longer haul as displayed by DreamWorks Animation's March opener "How to Train Your Dragon." Bowing with less than $44 million, "Dragon" enjoyed smoking' 3D playdates over subsequent frames, and the family adventure has gone on to
become a $210 million grosser.
This weekend's only other wide opener, Universal debuted action comedy "MacGruber", bombed with a scant $4 million in its first three days in theaters. That was good only for sixth place among weekend rankings. Even with a $10-million budget, it will be hard pressed for MacGruber to make its money back in domestic take, as it is sure to be pulled from theaters sooner than anticipated. Just to relay how bad this film’s opening is, we’ll compare it to “The Ladies Man”, which opened on 500 less screens and made $1.3 million more in its opening weekend. It’s been ten years since Saturday Night Live pushed one of its properties to the big screen, and, if it’s ever going to happen again, expect to wait another decade.
Russell Crowe's "Robin Hood" narrowly holding on to the No. 1 spot for a second round overseas. Dropping 60% from its opening launch, "Robin Hood" fought its way to $30 million from 58 markets. So far, director Ridley Scott's re-imagining of the Crusades-era outlaw has grossed a total of $125 million overseas. Meanwhile, "Prince of Persia: The Sands of Time," which debuts in North America this weekend, earned $18 million after opening at No. 1 in 18 of its 19 markets. The strongest market was Spain, which provided a No. 1 tally of $3 million.
Below is the top 10 movies at U.S. and Canadian theaters Friday through Sunday, followed by distribution studio, gross, number of theater locations, average receipts per location, total gross and number of weeks in release:
1. "Shrek Forever After," Paramount, $70,838,207, 4,359 locations, $16,251 average, $70,838,207, one week.
2. "Iron Man 2," Paramount, $26,361,258, 4,177 locations, $6,311 average, $251,026,061, three weeks.
3. "Robin Hood," Universal, $18,769,220, 3,505 locations, $5,355 average, $66,165,690, two weeks.
4. "Letters to Juliet," Summit, $9,006,266, 2,975 locations, $3,027 average, $27,332,507, two weeks.
5. "Just Wright," Fox Searchlight, $4,290,431, 1,831 locations, $2,343 average, $14,697,071, two weeks.
6. "MacGruber," Universal, $4,043,495, 2,551 locations, $1,585 average, $4,043,495, one week.
7. "Date Night," Fox, $2,913,504, 1,869 locations, $1,559 average, $90,748,818, seven weeks.
8. "A Nightmare on Elm Street," Warner Bros., $2,321,388, 2,125 locations, $1,092 average, $59,967,500, four weeks.
9. "How to Train Your Dragon," Paramount, $1,901,211, 1,751 locations, $1,086 average, $210,990,918, nine weeks.
10. "Kites," Reliance Big Pictures, $958,673, 207 locations, $4,631 average, $958,673, one week.
So much for the ability of 3D to open a film, though execs will be hoping the franchise's first extra-dimensional installment displays the kind of leggy run over the longer haul as displayed by DreamWorks Animation's March opener "How to Train Your Dragon." Bowing with less than $44 million, "Dragon" enjoyed smoking' 3D playdates over subsequent frames, and the family adventure has gone on to
become a $210 million grosser.
This weekend's only other wide opener, Universal debuted action comedy "MacGruber", bombed with a scant $4 million in its first three days in theaters. That was good only for sixth place among weekend rankings. Even with a $10-million budget, it will be hard pressed for MacGruber to make its money back in domestic take, as it is sure to be pulled from theaters sooner than anticipated. Just to relay how bad this film’s opening is, we’ll compare it to “The Ladies Man”, which opened on 500 less screens and made $1.3 million more in its opening weekend. It’s been ten years since Saturday Night Live pushed one of its properties to the big screen, and, if it’s ever going to happen again, expect to wait another decade.
Russell Crowe's "Robin Hood" narrowly holding on to the No. 1 spot for a second round overseas. Dropping 60% from its opening launch, "Robin Hood" fought its way to $30 million from 58 markets. So far, director Ridley Scott's re-imagining of the Crusades-era outlaw has grossed a total of $125 million overseas. Meanwhile, "Prince of Persia: The Sands of Time," which debuts in North America this weekend, earned $18 million after opening at No. 1 in 18 of its 19 markets. The strongest market was Spain, which provided a No. 1 tally of $3 million.
Below is the top 10 movies at U.S. and Canadian theaters Friday through Sunday, followed by distribution studio, gross, number of theater locations, average receipts per location, total gross and number of weeks in release:
1. "Shrek Forever After," Paramount, $70,838,207, 4,359 locations, $16,251 average, $70,838,207, one week.
2. "Iron Man 2," Paramount, $26,361,258, 4,177 locations, $6,311 average, $251,026,061, three weeks.
3. "Robin Hood," Universal, $18,769,220, 3,505 locations, $5,355 average, $66,165,690, two weeks.
4. "Letters to Juliet," Summit, $9,006,266, 2,975 locations, $3,027 average, $27,332,507, two weeks.
5. "Just Wright," Fox Searchlight, $4,290,431, 1,831 locations, $2,343 average, $14,697,071, two weeks.
6. "MacGruber," Universal, $4,043,495, 2,551 locations, $1,585 average, $4,043,495, one week.
7. "Date Night," Fox, $2,913,504, 1,869 locations, $1,559 average, $90,748,818, seven weeks.
8. "A Nightmare on Elm Street," Warner Bros., $2,321,388, 2,125 locations, $1,092 average, $59,967,500, four weeks.
9. "How to Train Your Dragon," Paramount, $1,901,211, 1,751 locations, $1,086 average, $210,990,918, nine weeks.
10. "Kites," Reliance Big Pictures, $958,673, 207 locations, $4,631 average, $958,673, one week.
3 Remarks:
I thought those green Ogres got you away, Jaccsy, where have you gone missing for a few days? :))
You know the truth is I've been tricked by Rumpelstiltskin who sent me to Far, Far Away :))
Oh, and I thought the Puss in Boots ate you :))
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