Ender’s Game Lifts Off To Number 1- Biff Bam Pop’s Weekend Box Office Wrap-Up Report

The early weekend estimates are now out, and as predicted, Ender’s Game flew to the top of the box office, but with an uninspired gross. Here’s what went down:

Amidst middling reviews and a fan base inclined to boycott the film because of author Orson Scott Card’s raging homophobia, Ender’s Game hit number one this weekend, but with an underwhelming $28 million. With an estimated budget of $110 million, and hopes for a franchise to boot, the film clearly did not hit its target audience. With Thor: The Dark World due out next week, and Catching Fire coming to theatres soon after, the end game for Ender’s Game is going to read poor showing.

Find out how the rest of the weekend turned out after the jump!
The animated film Free Birds debut in third place with $15.5 million; while not  great showing, for a film not attached to any major studios, it is a minor win. Free Bird could have some wings over the coming weeks as a family film option.

Close behind in third place with $15.3 million was the ensemble comedy Last Vegas, which debut in the range of what was expected. Once again, with blockbuster films en route over the next few weeks, adult audiences may continue to check this one out.

As for the rest of the top five, Jackass Presents: Bad Grandpa dropped to second place with $18.5 million, while Gravity closed things out in fifth with $12.2 million.

So, to recap, here were our predictions:

1) Ender’s Game – $25 million
2) Last Vegas – $18 million
3) Free Birds – $15 million
4) Jackass Presents: Bad Grandpa – $13 million
5) Gravity – $12.5 million

And here’s how the weekend turned out:

1) Ender’s Game – $28 million
2) Jackass Presents: Bad Grandpa– $18.5 million
3) Free Birds – $15.5 million
4) Last Vegas – $15.3 million
5) Gravity – $12.2 million

Next weekend sees the release of Thor: The Dark World. Be sure to check back on Friday to see our predictions!