The Hangover stayed strong, dropping an incredibly small 25.7% to gross $33.4 million [I predicted it would be the number 3 film this weekend grossing $27.8 million, so I was off by $5.6 million]. This is incredible word of mouth for a film to drop less than 30% in its second weekend. Its per theatre average was $9,960 [still highest in the Top 10], and it’s total gross stands at $105 million. The Hangover, if it continues to play well, has a realistic shot of hitting $200 million. With no major comedies being released until Bruno comes out, it could be the king of the comedy marketplace for the rest of the month.
Up also had a great hold, dropping a small 30.9% to gross $30.5 million [I predicted it to be the #2 movie and to gross $28.7 million, so I was only off by $1.8 million]. Like The Hangover, this film has no major competition to deal with for the next little while, as there is no big family film being released in the near future. Up is currently the #3 film box office wise of 2009, and it will overtake Monsters Vs. Aliens sometime next week to become the #2 film. Its total gross stands at $187.1 million.
The Taking of Pelham 123 opened at #3 with a gross of $25 million [I predicted it would open #1 with $32 million, so I was off by $7 million]. It’s not a bad opening, but not a huge opening either. It’s on par with the other opening of Tony Scott/Denzel Washington films:
2006 – Déjà Vu – Opening Weekend – $20.5 million
2004 – Man of Fire – Opening Weekend – $22.7 million
1995 – Crimson Tide – Opening Weekend – $18.6 million
If you count for inflation, The Taking of Pelham 123 will fall somewhere in between those numbers. Sony should be happy with the amount made on the film, but somehow I feel that they are not.
Night at the Museum: Battle of the Smithsonian continues to stay in the top 5, hitting #4 while dropping only 34.4% to gross $9.6 million [I predicted it would be the #5 film and it would gross $8 million, so I was off by $1.6 million]. It’s continuing to hold well, and with a small drop this weekend, I think the film is exceeding some people’s expectations. It’s playing better than most people give it credit for, so Fox should be happy with its performance, even if it will not reach the final box office levels of the first one [that’s hard to compare it to, because the first one came out over the Christmas holidays]. Its total gross stands at $143.4 million.
Land of the Lost dropped 51.4% to gross $9.1 million [I did not make a prediction on this film, as I thought it would land outside the Top 5]. It will not last much longer and will be available on DVD shortly. Its total gross stands at a very disappointing $34.9 million.
However, if you thought Land of the Lost was considered a bomb, think again. Eddie Murphy seems to be becoming the summer box office kryptonite, as his latest film Imagine That debuted in the #6 spot, grossing a pathetic $5.7 million [I predicted it would open at #4 with $18 million, so I was off $12.3 million]. It might be even lower when final numbers come out tomorrow. The number is so bad because it got a wide release of 3,008 theatres, and its per theatre average was $1,895. Paramount has got to be furious at this, and it may be the end of Eddie Murphy as a leading man. He has shown lately that he cannot open a film [Meet Dave from last year comes to mind]. Watch for his career to be in more supporting roles in the foreseeable future. Don’t count him out though. Hollywood loves a good comeback story, and Eddie has had rough patches in his career before. Unfortunately, he is in one of the low points right now.
So to recap, here were my predictions:
1) The Taking of Pelham 123 – $32 million
2) Up – $28.7 million
3) The Hangover – $27.8 million
4) Imagine That – $18 million
5) Night at the Museum: Battle of the Smithsonian – $8 million
And here are the actual numbers:
1) The Hangover – $33.4 million
2) Up – $30.5 million
3) The Taking of Pelham 123 – $25 million
4) Night at the Museum: Battle of the Smithsonian – $9.6 million
5) Land of the Lost – $9.1 million
Come back Friday, as I give predictions for Year One and The Proposal.
