Argo Claims The Top, New Releases Flounder – Biff Bam Pop’s Weekend Box Office Wrap-Up Report

This weekend, audiences had more to concern themselves with than the movies. As it turns out, the huge storm warnings in the U.S.A. definitely had an effect on the box office, as virtually every film underperformed this weekend. Here’s what went down.

Argo grabbed the top spot this weekend with $12.5 million. While not a hugely impressive number, especially for a number one film, this is proof that not the film has connected with audiences. Look for it to continue its decent run in theatres over the next weeks, and don’t be surprised to see it get a second wind come Oscar nomination time.

Find out how the rest of the top five turned out after the jump!
Debuting in second place with only $9.8 was Cloud Atlas from the Wachowski Starship. This is just a horrible showing and continues the downward box office spiral the duo have been on since the third Matrix film. Too long, too deep, and mixed reviews – just some of the reasons why Cloud Atlas failed to connect with audiences this weekend. This is an especially painful showing, seeing as the budget for this film was roughly $100 million. Look for the Wachowski’s to either grab on to a comic book franchise or start making smaller, indie films after this.

The other top five debut this weekend comes from Silent Hill: Revelation 3D, showing up in fifth place with just $8.5 million. Look for this film to disappear from theatres quickly, though it will likely find an audience on VOD around this time each year.

As for the rest of the top five, Hotel Transylvania hit number three with $9 million, bringing its total to a very impressive $129.9 million. Meanwhile, Paranormal Activity 4 had a horrible drop of 70%, bringing in $8.6 million. The film is trailing all the previous entries in the franchise, not that it matters much, as the fifth film was greenlit this week.

So, to recap, here were our predictions:

1) Paranormal Activity 4 – $17 million
2) Argo – $15.5 million
3) Cloud Atlas – $14 million
4) Hotel Transylvania – $11.5 million
5) Silent Hill: Revelation 3D – $10 million

And here’s how the weekend turned out:

1) Argo  – $12.5 million
2) Cloud Atlas – $9.8 million
3) Hotel Transylvania – $9 million
4) Paranormal Activity 4 – $8.6 million
5) Silent Hill: Revelation 3D – $8.5 million

Next week sees the release of Wreck-It Ralph, Flight and The Man With The Iron Fists. Be sure to check back on Friday for our predictions!