Box office unfortunately will be down from the last two Thanksgivings, though families were still out in force on Black Friday...
The Twilight Saga: Breaking Dawn Part I jumped up signifigantly on Friday, earning an estimated $16.9 million on Friday, for a $37 million total since Wednesday and $193 million in one week. Thursday should be a couple of million lower, then it should plunge further on Sunday. As of now, Twilight is sticking to its' $62 million 5-day estimate.
As for The Muppets, it also did strong business on Friday, grossing an estimated $12.3 million on Friday, up around 90% from Wednesday and 110% from Thursday. Thats' a stronger Wednesday-Friday multiplier than Tangled, though it's far from that films' stronger $19.5 million Friday last year. The Disney-released film had 97% of critics on Rotten Tomatoes give it positive notice, plus audiences gave it an "A" CinemaScore grade, so it should see strong playability through the end of the year. Following the trajectories of other films, its' Saturday will be slightly lower, then it should plunge around 40% on Sunday. Muppets is also sticking to its' 5-day estimate of $43 million, with $30.5 million of that coming from the 3-day weekend.
Happy Feet Two did just fine on Friday, up about 80% to an estimated $5.3 million, which actually is down a light 15% from its' opening a week ago. Its' also on par with MegaMind's $5.4 million fourth Friday, which would gross $12.6 million for the 3-day weekend. Happy Feet is in its' second frame, so that number should slightly increase to about $13 million for the 3-day weekend, though its' 5-day estimate has been slightly lowered to $18 million.
The next strongest release, Arthur Christmas, also did okay on Friday. In the face of the Muppets, it earned an estimated $4.7 million, up nearly 100% from Wednesday. Fortunately, holiday movies do better business over the weekend, so it should hold better than the rest of the family movies over Saturday and Sunday. Look for it to earn close to $12 million over the 3-day frame, and around $16 million over five days, both much lower than earlier projections. 93% of critics gave it positive reviews, and audiences gave it a "A-" CinemaScore grade, so it should also hold well in the weeks ahead.
Hugo continued its' wonders on Friday, earning an estimated $4.5 million on Friday, up nearly 100% from Thursday. The Martin Scorcese-directed pic is on its' way to a $10.5 million 3-day and sticking to its' $14.5 million 5-day forecast.
Among holdovers, Jack & Jill is doing well over Thanksgiving, with a $4.1 million Friday and will likely gross $10 million over the three-day, down just 15% from last weekend and grossing around $14 million in five days. Immortals and Puss in Boots followed with estimates of $3.7 million and $3.3 million on Friday. The Greek war epic should find its' way to $9.5 million over the 3-day period, while the animated comedy should benefit from positive word of mouth and end up with close to $8 million on the same period, for $11 million over the 5-day period.
Finally, Tower Heist and The Descendants round out the Top 10 with estimates of $2.9 and $2.7 million on Friday. The Ben Stiller-Eddie Murphy comedy is headed for a $9.5 million 5-day, while the George Clooney film is aiming closer towards $8 million for the 5-day.
Here is the projected Top 10 (updated):
#1: The Twilight Saga: Breaking Dawn Part I ($43 million 3-day, $62 million 5-day)
#2: The Muppets ($30.5 million 3-day, $43 million 5-day)
#3: Happy Feet Two ($13 million 3-day, $18 million 5-day)
#4: Arthur Christmas ($11.8 million 3-day, $16 million 5-day)
#5: Hugo ($10.6 million 3-day, $14.7 million 5-day)
#6: Jack & Jill ($10.1 million 3-day, $14 million 5-day)
#7: Immortals ($9.4 million 3-day, $12.3 million 5-day)
#8: Puss in Boots ($7.8 million 3-day, $10.8 million 5-day)
#9: Tower Heist ($6.7 million 3-day, $9.6 million 5-day)
#10: The Descendants ($4.8 million 3-day, $6.8 million 5-day)
