Box office isn't getting any better....audiences didn't show much excitement for the new releases, though the holdovers showed some promise....
New Year's Eve debuted, as expected, on top, but with just an estimated $5.1 million. That was roughly one-third of Valentine's Day, which earned a massive $14.3 million opening day, on its' way to $56 million for the 3-day and $72 million for the 4-day. It was also much lower than what analysts were expecting. Based on recent trajectories, the ensemble romance comedy is heading for a first weekend of $15 million.
The Sitter fared a bit better than New Year's, but is performing on the low end of modest expectations. The Jonah Hill R-rated comedy debuted to an estimated $3.7 million, which was on the low-end for a R-rated comedy this year. Based on recent trajectories, Sitter should gross $10.5 million for the weekend.
The Twilight Saga: Breaking Dawn Part I fell from the top spot for the first time, and dropped 55% to an estimated $2.5 million, and is slowly gaining ground on the other Twilight movies. The first part of the final book of the fantasy romance series should be on course for a $7.5 million weekend.
Meanwhile, The Muppets showed little traction, dropping a more modest 39% to an estimated $1.7 million. The good news is that it should be able to gross between $7 and $7.5 million for the weekend and may be able to take Twilight out. The bad news is quite obvious, this guarantees that it won't reach the $100 million mark domestically.
Martin Scorcese's Hugo expanded further to over 2,600 theaters and eased just 20% to an estimated $1.6 million, and will likely head for a $6 million weekend. The other family movie, Arthur Christmas, saw a strong hold, easing a light 13% to an estimated $1.4 million, and will likely jump ahead of Hugo for fifth place with a weekend of $6.5 million.
The Descendants held well, down 28% to an estimated $1.3 million, and will head for a $4 million fourth weekend as it continues to expand.
Here is the projected Top 10 (updated):
#1: New Year's Eve ($15.1 million)
#2: The Sitter ($10.6 million)
#3: The Twilight Saga: Breaking Dawn Part I ($7.6 million, -54%)
#4: The Muppets ($7.3 million, -34%)
#5: Arthur Christmas ($6.4 million, -14%)
#6: Hugo ($6 million, -21%)
#7: The Descendants ($4.1 million, -15%)
#8: Happy Feet Two ($3.7 million, -37%)
#9: Jack & Jill ($3.1 million, -43%)
#10: Immortals ($2.6 million, -43%)
