Box office is still set to be up at least 10% from last year...
The Twilight Saga: Breaking Dawn Part I was unstoppable in its' debut Friday, earning an estimated $72 million, which is the highest-opening day gross for a film in the popular series, and beating out New Moon's $72.4 million opening Friday. Based on that films' trajectory, the latest entry should wind up on top with $145 million for the weekend, enough for the November record and third place on the all-time list for opening weekends, behind Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows Part II and The Dark Knight.
While vampires surged, penguins struggled as Warner Bros. animated sequel Happy Feet Two was wiped out by it on Friday. In a distant second, the film picked up a stale estimated $5.9 million on opening day, which was far below expectations, despite the boost from 3-D prices. However, business could pick up as the weekend progresses, but the only comparison here would be February's Gnomeo and Juliet, as that opened on a pre-Holiday weekend, so the film will likely finish with $24.5 million for the weekend. Looks like the studio is going to have to look for a strong Thanksgiving hold against three other releases, then good legs to follow.
Last week's topper, Immortals, plunged 72% from its' opening Friday to an estimated $4 million, and will likely have to fight for third place with two other family pics. Jack & Jill and Puss in Boots both dropped 60% and 62% from last Friday to $3.5 million and $3.4 million, but dependent on how family audiences pick up on Saturday, Puss will likely jump to the third spot with $13 million, with Jack fourth and Immortals fifth.
Here is the projected Top 10 (updated):
#1: The Twilight Saga: Breaking Dawn Part I ($145 million)
#2: Happy Feet Two ($24.6 million)
#3: Puss in Boots ($13.2 million, -47%)
#4: Jack & Jill ($12.7 million, -46%)
#5: Immortals ($12.4 million, -65%)
#6: Tower Heist ($7.4 million, -42%)
#7: J. Edgar ($6.3 million, -43%)
#8: A Very Harold & Kumar 3-D Christmas ($3.3 million, -46%)
#9: In Time ($2 million, -50%)
#10: Footloose ($1.3 million, -50%)
