Disney’s Magic Is Maleficent(ly) Strong: Biff Bam Pop’s Weekend Box Office Wrap-Up Report

Don’t bet against the Mouse.

That’s the lesson we all learned this weekend. Sure, my box-office prediction for Disney’s Sleeping Beauty backstory had Maleficent in first place, but I way, way, way underestimated the draw that the character (or was that Angelina Jolie?) would have on cinemagoers.

But hey! I was spot on with my science behind co-mingling westerns and comedy!

Follow me after the jump for a closer look at this weekend’s box-office numbers!

You’ve got to hand it to Disney and the $70 million that Maleficent brought in this weekend. The entertainment company has gone about mining their rich animation legacy and brought a character from one of their beloved fairy tales to new and old audiences – in a brand new way. I didn’t give much credence to a film starring a villain. These things rarely turn out well. But it’s evident that the world of Sleeping Beauty has a deep-rooted demand in people of all ages. And Angelina Jolie looks to have played the part of the wicked witch absolutely brilliantly.

That was delicious, wasn’t it?

The box-office return on Maleficent must bode well for next year’s Cinderella from director Kenneth Branagh, and The Jungle Book from director Jon Favreau. What animated character might be next?

X-Men: Days of Future Past dropped quite a bit this weekend but still retained second spot in the top five, raking in another $32.6 million. This is the first X-Men film to earn over $500 million globally. I’ll say this for the film: go see it.

A Million Ways to Die in the West, on the other hand, found a new way to, uh, die.

You knew things were off the rails a few months ago when advertisements for the comedy film (written, produced, directed and starring Seth MacFarlane) started concentrating on his hit comedy from a few years ago, Ted. Still. Everybody knows to run away from films that mix the comedy and western genres together, right?

A Million Ways to Die in the West is a huge disappointment in its opening weekend, garnering only $17.1 million in box office receipts. That’s a sight less than such luminary and note-worthy films like Year One and The Dictator.

Ouch.

So, to recap, here were the predictions:

1) Maleficent – $58 million

2) X-Men: Days of Future Past – $38 million

3) A Million Ways to Die in the West – $24 million

4) Godzilla – $11 million

5) Neighbors – $3.5 million

And here’s how the weekend actually turned out:

1) Maleficent – $70 million

2) X-Men: Days of Future Past – $32.6 million

3) A Million Ways to Die in the West – $17.1 million

4) Godzilla – $12.2 million

5) Blended – $8.4 million

Next weekend sees the release of the latest entrant into the summer blockbuster season, the Tom Cruise starring Edge of Tomorrow. How will it do stacked up against the others? Stick with us and find out!