Weekend Wrap-Up
Hunger Games Plays With Cabin, Stooges
By John Hamann
April 15, 2012
Third is The Cabin in the Woods from director and co-writer Drew Goddard (Cloverfield) and co-writer Joss Whedon (Buffy the Vampire Slayer, Angel, Serenity, the upcoming Avengers). On the shelf since MGM folded, The Cabin in the Woods had a buzz-filled week, due to mystery around the story line and some incredible reviews. The result, though, was almost expected. The Cabin in the Woods drew only $14.9 million worth of business this weekend from a muted venue count of only 2,811 venues. Is it horror? Is it sci-fi? Audiences were unclear, and the payoff was a lukewarm opening weekend and little buzz following, as the Cinemascore came in at a C. This one was originally supposed to be released by MGM in early 2010, but was sold to Lionsgate. The production cost for Cabin was $30 million, and with the strong reviews and buzz following this picture, it could turn into a cult classic on home video, which means Lionsgate should eventually make money on the film.
Fourth goes to Titanic 3D, as the famous boat marks the anniversary of its sinking this weekend. In its second weekend of 3D re-release, Titanic earned another $11.6 million, giving it a 33% drop compared to last weekend. The easiest comparison for this one is Star Wars Episode I: The Phantom Menace in 3D, which opened to $22.5 million, followed by four consecutive 60%+ drops. Titanic is saved this weekend by the non-stop babble in the press about the anniversary of the sinking, not to mention James Cameron's non-stop self promotion (this guy should have run for the Republican nomination – yes, I like him that little). After two weekends, Titanic 3D has taken the film's overall domestic total up to $638.1 million. Now sink and stay sunk, dammit.
Fifth is American Reunion, a sequel few wanted to see. But hey, it at least gave Tara Reid some non-street work. After opening to $21.5 million over Easter weekend, Reunion gets dumped in weekend two – badly – as it earns only $10.6 million, dropping 50%. American Reunion cost Universal $50 million to make, and will need some overseas help to make profit a reality. Its total so far is $39.9 million.
Relativity's Mirror Mirror drops to sixth this weekend, as the once promising Julia Roberts release is fading into obscurity. Now in its third weekend, the Tarsem Singh release earned $7 million, down 37% from its $11.1 million take last weekend. Mirror Mirror cost $85 million to make, and had it not been for overseas dollars, it would have been a mistake on a grand scale. The fairy tale has now earned $49.5 million stateside, and over $40 million from foreign shores.
Wrath of the Titans is a laughable seventh this weekend, as the swords and sandals sequel has quickly been shown the door. In its third weekend, Wrath earned only $6.9 million and was off a painful 53%. The $150 million picture opened to $33.5 million, fell 56% last weekend, and basically does the same thing this weekend. Shouldn't that mean a loss on the John Carter level? No way. Wrath has already earned more than the production budget overseas, and will likely finish with a $300 million worldwide total. Its domestic take is $71.3 million.
Eighth is our old friend 21 Jump Street, starring Jonah Hill and Channing Tatum. Now in its fifth weekend, Jump Street spends its first frame under the $10 million mark as this weekend's gross came in at $6.8 million, off 32%. The average drop for this one has been about 35%, and is the reason the comedy has pulled in $120.6 million stateside. Like The Hunger Games, 21 Jump Street is a true spring success story at the box office, with Sony turning nothing into a huge hit. The comedy cost $42 million to make, and will likely launch a franchise.
Ninth is Lockout, which Open Road Films is distributing for FilmDistrict. The only thing I know about this one is that it's a movie and it stars Guy Pearce from Memento. It earned $6.3 million from 2,308 venues, and was made in France for about $20 million. You won't hear about it again until it comes out on video.
Finally in tenth is Universal's over-achiever, Dr. Seuss' The Lorax, which has now been in release for seven weekends. The Lorax took in another $3 million this weekend, bringing its domestic total up to $204.5 million, against a budget of only $70 million.
Overall this weekend, box office numbers have hit the brakes as we pause and wait for The Avengers. The top 12 films this weekend earned $107.6 million, the lowest top 12 since March 16th. A year ago, the top 12 brought in $117 million thanks to Rio and the disappointing debut of Scream 4. Next weekend, things don't heat up unless there are still Zac Efron fans. Efron's The Lucky One opens, along with Think Like A Man (no, it has nothing to do with Madea), and the doc Chimpanzee, as Disney takes advantage of Earth Day again.
1 |
The Hunger Games |
Lionsgate |
$21,500,000 |
- 35% |
$337,069,539 |
2 |
The Three Stooges |
Twentieth Century Fox |
$17,100,000 |
New |
$17,100,000 |
3 |
The Cabin in the Woods |
MGM |
$14,850,000 |
New |
$14,850,000 |
4 |
Titanic 3d |
Paramount |
$11,625,000 |
- 33% |
$44,418,570 |
5 |
American Reunion |
Universal |
$10,649,975 |
- 50% |
$39,888,700 |
6 |
Mirror Mirror |
Relativity Media |
$7,000,000 |
- 37% |
$49,468,261 |
7 |
Wrath of the Titans |
Warner Bros. Pictures |
$6,905,000 |
- 53% |
$71,251,000 |
8 |
21 Jump Street |
Columbia Pictures (Sony) |
$6,800,000 |
- 32% |
$120,565,000 |
9 |
Lockout |
FilmDistrict |
$6,250,000 |
New |
$6,250,000 |
10 |
Dr. Seuss' The Lorax |
Universal Pictures |
$3,020,160 |
- 40% |
$204,482,790 |
11 |
The Raid: Redemption |
Sony Classics |
$1,003,111 |
+ 91% |
$2,567,724 |
12 |
Salmon Fishing In the Yemen |
Cbs Films |
$911,000 |
- 8% |
$6,087,391 |
|
Also Opening/Notables |
|
Woman Thou Art Loosed: On the 7th Day |
Codeblack |
$650,000 |
New |
$650,000 |
|
Blue Like Jazz |
Roadside Attractions |
$265,000 |
New |
$265,000 |
|
Monsieur Lazhar |
Music Box |
$120,000 |
New |
$120,000 |
|
Touchback |
Anchor Bay |
$75,000 |
New |
$75,000 |
|
The Lady |
Cohen Media |
$40,000 |
New |
$40,000 |
|
L!fe Happens |
Pmk0bmc |
$21,890 |
New |
$21,890 |
|
Here |
Strand |
$8,500 |
New |
$8,500 |
|
Hit So Hard |
Variance |
$6,500 |
New |
$6,500 |
|
The Graduate: 45th Anniversary |
Rialto |
$6,000 |
New |
$8,000 |
|
Damsels In Distress |
Sony Classics |
$93,040 |
+ 59% |
$178,263 |
|
We Have a Pope |
IFC Films |
$50,000 |
+ 59% |
$100,000 |
|
Bully |
The Weinstein Company |
$534,000 |
+ 624.0% |
$813,202 |
|
October Baby |
Samuel Goldwyn |
$524,538 |
+ 44% |
$4,502,168 |
|
John Carter |
WALT DISNEY |
$346,000 |
- 58% |
$68,700,000 |
|
Journey 2: the Mysterious Island |
WARNER BROS. |
$680,000 |
+ 26% |
$100,422,000 |
Box office data supplied by Exhibitor Relations
|
Continued:
1
2
|
|
|
|