Men In Black Return To Number One – Biff Bam Pop’s Box Office Wrap-Up Report, Weekend of May 25th, 2012

Men In Black returned to the big screen with a bang, knocking Marvel’s The Avengers from the top of the heap after a three week run. Here’s how it all went down:

It’s Memorial Day long weekend in the U.S., which means the box office pundits are tracking both three and four day totals. In the case of Men In Black 3, Will Smith’s first big screen offering in four years and the franchise’s first entry in ten, it’s three day total is currently at $55 million, with estimates bringing it to roughly $70 million by Monday’s end. While the at home numbers are satisfactory, the film’s worldwide total is looking to be $200 million by Monday as well, which is nothing to sneeze at. Reviews have been decent for MIB3, as is word of mouth, so the film could have decent legs over the next few weeks. However, it will have to content with Snow White and the Huntsman next weekend, and Prometheus the following, so it’s not going to have it easy.

The other new release of the weekend, the horror flick Chernobyl Diaries, debut with an anemic $8 million for fifth place. Oren Peli’s name couldn’t sell the picture, and bad reviews from critics and theatre goers sealed the deal.

As for the rest of the top five, Marvel’s The Avengers became the fourth film in North America box office history to earn more than $500 million, and it did so in a record 23 days. The film brought in $37 million over the weekend to raise it’s total to a stellar $513 million. It looks to add another $10 million more by the end of Monday. Meanwhile, Battleship grossed $10.7 million to land in third place while The Dictator wound up in forth place with $9.6 million.

So, to recap, here were our 3-day predicti0ns:

1) Men In Black 3 – $75 million
2) Marvel’s The Avengers – $39 million
3) Battleship – $16 million
4) The Dictator – $13 million
5) Chernobyl Diaries – $10 million

And here’s how the weekend turned out:

1) Men In Black 3 – $55 million
2) Marvel’s The Avengers – $37 million
3) Battleship – $10.7 million
4) The Dictator – $9.6 million
5) Chernobyl Diaries – $8 million

Next week, Snow White and the Huntsman and Piranha 3DD try to take the number one spot from Men In Black 3. Check back on Friday to see our predictions!