You know, when you think about it it’s not that surprising, but with so few family friendly films in theaters it shouldn’t shock any of us that a 17-year-old classic took the top spot by a massive margin over a one week holdover and three new releases. Let’s have a look.
Laremy predicted the #1 movie correctly 0 Weeks In A Row
The Lion King
There hasn’t been a kid-centric film released since the August 19th bomb Spy Kids 4: All the Time in the World and before that The Smurfs on July 29, so yeah, families were heading out to the theater to check out The Lion King and are willing to pay a little extra to see it in 3D. Nice job Disney, I’m sure you’re licking your chops and wondering if you need to begin pressing more copies of the upcoming Lion King Blu-ray which hits shelves on Oct. 4.
As far as the cumulative below goes, I am considering this just more money on top of the overall total for the film in all its forms. It appears Box Office Mojo is doing the same.
In the prediction department the film did 2.5 times what Laremy thought it would and out of the reader predictions only Chris Etrata went over $20 million with a $25 million prediction. Very nice work Chris.
Weekend: $29.3 million
Cummulative Total: $357.8 million
RottenTomatoes Score: 92%
Laremy’s rank: Laremy picked it to finish #2 and his prediction of $11.5 million was $17.8m off for a percentage error of 60.75%.
Cummulative Total: $357.8 million
RottenTomatoes Score: 92%
Laremy’s rank: Laremy picked it to finish #2 and his prediction of $11.5 million was $17.8m off for a percentage error of 60.75%.
2. Contagion
A 35% drop is pretty good and far better than I would have expected. This film was decent, but I’m not sure I have too many friends I would have suggested it to. It’s a bit too sterile and one you could easy wait to see at home.
Weekend: $14.4 million (-35.7% drop) / Cume: $44.1 million / RottenTomatoes: 83%
Laremy’s rank: Laremy picked it to finish #1 with $12.32 million, which is $2.08m off for a 14.44% error.
Laremy’s rank: Laremy picked it to finish #1 with $12.32 million, which is $2.08m off for a 14.44% error.
3. Drive
It’s too bad critics couldn’t elevate this film higher than a third place finish as FilmDistrict certainly gave it a shot with a release in 2,886 theaters, but this just isn’t a mass market film. Film lovers are going to love and I suspect it will fair very well with audiences over 30, but the younger ones may be a tougher sell even though they would be the ones that would probably like it even more.
On the prediction side Laremy did quite well and of the readers andrew almost nailed it with an $11.1 million prediction with several others predicting around $11.5-11.7m.
Weekend: $11 million / RottenTomatoes: 93%
Laremy’s rank: Laremy picked it to finish #4 with $10.06 million, which is $0.94m off for a 8.55% error.
Laremy’s rank: Laremy picked it to finish #4 with $10.06 million, which is $0.94m off for a 8.55% error.
4. The Help
As the weeks go by this gains momentum as a Best Picture contender. I’m not moving it out of my predictions yet, but I will say it’s going to be a tough call until domestic critics get a chance to see Tinker, Tailor, Soldier, Spy and The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo. Also, be on the lookout for Moneyball to move up the charts in the coming days.
Weekend: $6.4 million (-28.1% drop) / Cume: $147.3 million / RottenTomatoes: 73%
Laremy’s rank: Laremy picked it to finish #6 with $5.97 million, which is $0.43m off for a 6.72% error.
Laremy’s rank: Laremy picked it to finish #6 with $5.97 million, which is $0.43m off for a 6.72% error.
5. Straw Dogs
Rach and his $6.2 million prediction was the lowest prediction on the board and this film still managed to fall below that. Yikes, that’s a bomb, but the $25 million production budget doesn’t paint a terrible picture.
Weekend: $5 million / RottenTomatoes: 37%
Laremy’s rank: Laremy picked it to finish #5 with $8.42 million, which is $3.42m off for a 68.4% error.
Laremy’s rank: Laremy picked it to finish #5 with $8.42 million, which is $3.42m off for a 68.4% error.
Bomb #2 goes to I Don’t Know How She Does It. Apparently it was made for $24 million, but I didn’t talk to a single person that didn’t think the trailers for this made it look like an absolute nightmare.
Weekend: $4.5 million / RottenTomatoes: 19%
Laremy’s rank: Laremy picked it to finish #3 with $10.2 million, which is $5.7m off for a 126.67% error.
Laremy’s rank: Laremy picked it to finish #3 with $10.2 million, which is $5.7m off for a 126.67% error.
7. The Debt
The Debt is just trucking along nicely, adding to its total and crossing its $20 million budgetary mark.
Weekend: $2.9 million (-38.3% drop) / Cume: $26.5 million / RottenTomatoes: 77%
Laremy’s rank: Laremy picked it to finish #8 with $2.48 million, which is $0.42m off for a 14.48% error.
Laremy’s rank: Laremy picked it to finish #8 with $2.48 million, which is $0.42m off for a 14.48% error.
8. Warrior
Whew, Lionsgate doesn’t want to even think about what happened with this one, but if you’re looking for a saving grace I would expect this one to move some units on DVD and Blu-ray, especially if they’re smart enough to hold off releasing it until The Dark Knight Rises hits theaters next summer. Can a movie studio actually wait that long to release a home video in this day and age?
Weekend: $2.7 million (-48.1% drop) / Cume: $9.9 million / RottenTomatoes: 83%
Laremy’s rank: Laremy picked it to finish #7 with $2.75 million, which is $0.05m off for a 1.85% error.
Laremy’s rank: Laremy picked it to finish #7 with $2.75 million, which is $0.05m off for a 1.85% error.
The production budget is listed as $93 million. The film has made over $377 million worldwide. Yet, no sequel announcement. Are we ready to call that budget a load of BS?
Weekend: $2.6 million (-31.6% drop) / Cume: $171.6 million / RottenTomatoes: 82%
Laremy’s rank: Laremy picked it to finish #10 with $1.85 million, which is $0.75m off for a 28.85% error.
Laremy’s rank: Laremy picked it to finish #10 with $1.85 million, which is $0.75m off for a 28.85% error.
10. Colombiana
The fact this film cost $40 million to make is a bit surprising, but then again I only mention that because I have nothing else to say.
Weekend: $2.3 million (-41% drop) / Cume: $33.3 million / RottenTomatoes: 28%
Laremy’s rank: Laremy picked it to finish #9 with $2.18 million, which is $0.12m off for a 5.22% error.
Laremy’s rank: Laremy picked it to finish #9 with $2.18 million, which is $0.12m off for a 5.22% error.
In other news, did you know Cowboys & Aliens is still in theaters? It brought in $537,000 from 614 theaters and now sits at $98.8 million. Can it make it to $100 million?
Next week sees the release of a whole slew of films including Taylor Lautner’s Abduction, a limited release of Dolphin Tale, Killer Elite, a New York and Los Angeles release of Machine Gun Preacher, Moneyball and a three city release of Puncture. What will take the top spot? Lautner or Pitt? My money is on the latter and in a big way.
