An interesting and surprising weekend at the box office, as the one new debut of the weekend managed to surprise everyone by taking the top spot at theatres. Apart form being way off on that particular film, our predictions this weekend were not bad. Here’s how the weekend turned out.
The Devil Inside managed a spectacular January opening, one of the best ever, pulling in an awesome $34 million (I had predicted a third place showing with only $13 million, so I’m eating crow). Considering the budget for this one was roughly $1 million, I’m fairly certain we’ll be seeing a sequel at some point, as this has franchise written all over it. Critics weren’t enamoured with The Devil Inside, but audiences clearly responded to the creepy trailers and commercials that were running. While I don’t expect to see The Devil Inside hold onto the top spot next weekend, since horror flicks usual have massive drops after opening weekend, I don’t think it matters, as this weekend exceeded all expectations.
Mission: Impossible – Ghost Protocol continued its strong at the theatres, landing at number two with $20 million (I had predicted a first place showing with $18 million so I wasn’t too far off). The film’s current total rests at $170 million in North America, so it should hit $200 million shortly.
Sherlock Holmes: A Game of Shadows was number three this weekend, with $14 million (one spot and a million less than I predicted). The film’s total is currently $157 million in North America, which is still far off from the original’s gross. I’m doubting we’ll see another film in the franchise anytime soon, even with a worldwide gross of $263 million.
As for the rest of the top five, The Girl With The Dragon Tattoo managed to drop just 24% from last weekend, winding up in fourth place with $11 million (about a million off from my predictions), while Alvin and the Chipmunks: Chipwrecked closes out the top five with $9.5 million.
So, to recap, here were our predictions:
1) Mission: Impossible – Ghost Protocol – $18 million
2) Sherlock Holmes: A Game of Shadows – $15 million
3) The Devil Inside – $13 million
4) Alvin and the Chipmunks: Chipwrecked – $12.5 million
5) The Girl With The Dragon Tattoo – $10 million
And here’s how the weekend turned out:
1) The Devil Inside– $34.5 million
2) Mission: Impossible – Ghost Protocol – $20 million
3) Sherlock Holmes: A Game of Shadows – $14 million
4) The Girl With The Dragon Tattoo – $11 million
5) Alvin and the Chipmunks: Chipwrecked – $9.5 million
Next weekend sees the release of Contraband, Joyful Noise and the 3D rerelease of Disney’s Beauty and the Beast, which should be an easy number one. Check back on Friday to see our predictions.
