As expected, Sherlock Holmes: A Game of Shadows is #1, but its' numbers weren't nearly as impressive as the original. The Robert Downey Jr. and Jude Law adventure sequel earned $39.6 million on its' debut weekend, for a per-theater average of a pretty strong $10,704 from around 6,300 screens at 3,703 theaters. By comparison, the original Sherlock Holmes grossed $64 million on its' debut weekend nearly two years ago, and the sequel also fell short of last years' Tron: Legacy, which earned $44 million on this same weekend last year. But, we also have to remember that the original film opened on Christmas Day, and had an advantage of more people being available to see it. Distributor Warner Bros. Pictures didn't expect a replication of its' predecessor, and had projected an opening in the low-50's millions. However, the road ahead is looking bright as this one has a nine-day advantage on its' predecessor, and could make up ground with strong weekday business over Christmas break. A good indicator of strong legs is that audiences ("A-" CinemaScore grade) and critics (62% on Rotten Tomatoes) gave it positive reception. The film was produced for $125 million by Warner Bros./Village Roadshow Pictures.
Debuting one spot higher than its' two predecessors, Alvin & The Chipmunks: Chipwrecked couldn't hold a candle to the other two's strong openings. The family threequel earned just $23.2 million in second place, for a per-theater average of a modest $6,244 from around 5,500 screens at 3,723 theaters. By comparison, the original Alvin & The Chipmunks earned $44.3 million on this same weekend four years ago and The Squeakquel amassed $48.9 million over Christmas Day weekend two years ago and a massive $75.6 million over its' first five days. It also fell short of The Muppets $29.2 million opening one month ago. With all of this holiday seasons' family movies underperforming, it isn't a big surprise that this one wouldn't buck that trend. Distributor 20th Century Fox, who produced the film for $80 million, had projected an opening in the upper 20's millions. The good news is that this film has a one-week advantage on its' predecessor, and will play a factor in helping it make up ground as kids are off school for the next two weeks.
If there's one good thing that this weekend had, it was the surprising strength of the early IMAX release of Mission Impossible: Ghost Protocol. Hoping to relaunch Tom Cruise's career (as he has had a series of bombs in the last few years), the action revival earned $12.7 million from just 425 IMAX theaters, and a per-theater average of a mammoth $30,083. This is a promising sign as the film releases nationwide on Wednesday, as it seems like critics (95% on Rotten Tomatoes) and audiences are welcoming the hit action series return. More analysis on this film during the weekend box office predictions later.
After its' disappointing debut last weekend, New Year's Eve was able to hold much better than Valentine's Day, easing 44% to fourth place and grossing $7.3 million, for a dismal $24.7 million tally in 10 days. This indicates that the film will continue to play well until the holiday itself. Jonah Hill's The Sitter followed dropping 53% to fifth place and $4.6 million, for a forgettable $17.9 million tally in 10 days. The latest R-rated film will likely close even with its' $25 million budget.
The Twilight Saga: Breaking Dawn Part I is starting to gain ground on its' predecessors, as it held well in the face of other fare for its' audience, as the first part to the final book dropped 46% to $4.2 million and while it is estimated to be in sixth place, it could very well take fifth place from The Sitter when actuals are reported tomorrow. With $266.3 million in one month of release, it should be heading for $290 million when it closes after the holidays.
The three Thanksgiving family holdovers flinched in the face of Alvin. Martin Scorcese's Hugo held the best due to earning a Best Picture nomination on the Golden Globes, easing 39% to eighth place and $3.7 million, for a $39.12million tally in 24 days. Arthur Christmas followed close behind with a 45% retreat to $3.6 million, for a $38.5 million tally in the same amount of time. With more competition around, The Muppets are fading fast, dropping from fourth to ninth place and dropping 50% to $3.5 million for a $71 million tally in the same amount of time. With kids off school the next couple of weeks, all three movies should pick up speed over the holiday break.
After opening to modest numbers in limited release, Charlize Theron's Young Adult expanded to wide release and did once again, modest business. Rounding out the Top 10, the R-rated film earned $3.4 million, for a per-theater average of a mild $3,451 from 986 theaters. That was nowhere near Black Swan's nationwide debut, but it was still okay compared to other films that debut in that many theaters. The film should continue to expand over the next few weeks, and more awards season attention could make it get much bigger numbers and help it continue to play into January.
Overall box office was down 15% from the same time last year when long-awaited sequel Tron: Legacy debuted to a mildly strong $44 million on its' debut. The sci-fi action flick would hook itself into the mainstream and went on to gross over $170 million domestically as well as $400 million worldwide. Classic cartoon adaption Yogi Bear debuted in a distant second with an unspectacular $16.4 million, but would see great legs throughout the holidays and into January, grossing over $100 million domestically and $200 million worldwide by the time it was all said and done. The Chronicles of Narnia: The Voyage of the Dawn Treader held decently, sliding to third with a 48% ease to $12.4 million, while boxing drama The Fighter opened in fourth place with a solid $12.1 million, and would also see strong legs into awards season with over $90 million domestically. Tangled rounded out the Top 5 with a 39% ease to $8.8 million. The other new wide release, romance comedy How Do You Know, was a bust, debuting in eighth place with $7.5 million, on its' way to just over $30 million stateside. Natalie Portman's Black Swan expanded to wide release and earned seventh place with $8.4 million, and would see strong awards season attention, going on to gross over $100 million domestically.
Here is the final Top 10:
# Movie Final Numbers Projected Estimates My Prediction
1 Sherlock Holmes: $39,637,079 $40,020,000 $57,000,000
A Game of Shadows
2 Alvin & The Chipmunks: $23,244,744 $23,500,000 $37,000,000
Chipwrecked
3 Mission Impossible: $12,785,204 $13,000,000 $4,200,000
Ghost Protocol
4 New Year's Eve $7,310,413 $7,420,000 $7,500,000
5 The Sitter $4,608,681 $4,400,000 $5,500,000
6 The Twilight Saga: $4,197,893 $4,300,000 $3,500,000
Breaking Dawn Part I
7 Hugo $3,707,848 $3,625,000 $4,000,000
8 Arthur Christmas $3,554,286 $3,600,000 $5,000,000
9 The Muppets $3,520,926 $3,454,000 $4,500,000
10 Young Adult $3,403,159 $3,650,000 $3,000,000
