This weekend was a lacklustre one for nearly every new release, including the film most expected would top the box office. Here’s what went down.
Lee Daniels’ The Butler hit number one this weekend, bringing in a strong $24.5 million. This is definitely a surprise showing, and the film was certainly helped by Oprah Winfrey’s first cinematic appearance in a decade, not to mention the lack of adult film fare this summer. The Butler has already doubled its budget and should make a nice little profit going forward.
Find out how the rest of the weekend turned out after the jump!
Kick-Ass 2 was nothing less than a bomb at the box office, debuting in a distant third with just $14 million, less than the original’s opening $19 million take in 2010. Jim Carrey badmouthing the picture certainly didn’t help, and the comic book geek in me thinks creator Mark Millar’s recent comments about rape in comics may have turned some would-be fans off. The first film eventually found its audience on DVD, and that should be no different for the sequel.
As for the rest of the top five, We’re The Millers was in second place this week with $17.7 million, Elysium dropped to fourth with $13.5 million, while Planes closed out the top five with $13.4 million.
Meanwhile, as predicted, Jobs debut outside the top five, landing in seventh place with just $6.5 million.
So, to recap, here were our predictions:
1) Kick-Ass 2 – $25 million
2) Lee Daniels’ The Butler – $24 million
3) We’re The Millers – $19 million
4) Elysium – $17.5 million
5) Planes – $12 million
And here’s how the weekend turned out:
1) Lee Daniels’ The Butler – $24 million
2) We’re The Millers – $17.7 million
3) Kick-Ass 2 – $14 million
4) Elysium – $13.5 million
5) Planes – $13.4 million
Next weekend sees the release of The World’s End. Be sure to check back on Friday to see our predictions!
