The ComingSoon.net Box Office Report has been updated with studio estimates for the weekend. Click here for the full box office estimates of the top 12 films and then check back on Monday for the final figures based on actual box office.
Despite the release of three new movies in wide release, DreamWorks Animation’s Megamind, featuring the voices of Will Ferrell, Brad Pitt, Tina Fey and Jonah Hill, remained on top for the second week in a row, making it their fifth movie to remain #1 for two consecutive weeks. (A few of their animated movies have moved to #1 after opening lower.)
The strongest of the new movies was the fifth pairing of actor Denzel Washington and director Tony Scott for the runaway train action-thriller Unstoppable, co-starring Chris Pine, which took second place with an estimated $23.5 million. If that number holds up, it will be the duo’s biggest opening weekend over last year’s remake The Taking of Pelham 1 2 3, which fell just short of that amount, although it doesn’t come close to some of Washington’s work with other directors. American Gangster, his crime drama with the other Scott brother, Ridley, remains his strongest opening with $43.5 million and $130 million total. (The movie even had a hilarious spoof on this week’s “Saturday Night Live” which you can watch over on Hulu.)
Todd Phillips’ R-rated road comedy Due Date, starring Robert Downey Jr. and Zach Galifianakis, dropped 53% to third place with $15.5 million in its second weekend and $59 million total.
The $10 million budgeted sci-fi flick Skyline (Rogue Pictures) by the Brothers Strause had a disappointing fourth place opening with roughly $11.7 million in 2,880 theaters, averaging just over $4 thousand per site. With terrible reviews–the movie wasn’t screened for critics–and an abysmal reported CinemaScore of D-, it’s not likely the movie will be around very long, and it’s another disappointing showing for Rogue Pictures under its distribution deal with Universal.
Having opened on Wednesday and earning $2.6 million in its first two days, the morning show comedy Morning Glory (Paramount) starring Rachel McAdams, Harrison Ford and Diane Keaton, didn’t help turn around Paramount’s bad luck with comedies, grossing just $9.6 million over the weekend for fifth place. Reviews have generally been positive and it received a CinemaScore of B, so it could rebound over Thanksgiving and not be a complete loss.
Tyler Perry’s ensemble drama For Colored Girls (Lionsgate) dropped almost 65% to sixth place with $6.8 million despite having strong CinemaScores from Perry’s main target audience. With its sub-$20 million opening and ten-day total of $31 million, it’s not looking likely that Perry’s first dramatic adaptation will end up as strong as his own original comedies.
Seventh place went to the Bruce Willis action-comedy RED (Summit), which continues to hold well with $5.1 million in its fifth weekend with just under $80 million total gross.
The supernatural sequel Paranormal Activity 2 (Paramount) dropped to eighth place with $3 million and $82 million total.
The Top 10 was rounded out by a duo of 3D movies with Lionsgate’s Saw 3D coming out ahead of Paramount’s other hit sequel Jackass 3D with $2.8 and $2.3 million, respectively. The latter has grossed $115 million total, making it the most successful installment of the franchise, while the former’s $43.5 million after three weeks (having dropped 65% for the second time in a row) proves that ending the series was a wise move.
The Top 10 grossed roughly $110 million this weekend which is down 12% from last year when Roland Emmerich’s 2012 won the weekend with $65.2 million.
Click here for the full box office results of the top 12 films.
