Box office is still looking to surge from last year....
Underworld: Awakening got off to a strong start on Friday, earning an estimated $9.5 million. The horror fourquel improved from Rise of the Lycans' $8 million Friday, and earned a solid "A-" CinemaScore grade from audiences. Based on recent trajectories, the film is headed for a $25 million weekend, in line with the first two films.
Surprisingly overperforming in second place, George Lucas war epic Red Tails benefited from high buzz and earned an estimated $6 million on Friday. Audiences gave it a "A" CinemaScore grade, and that should help it at least approach the $20 million mark for the weekend.
Contraband held its' own in third, with around $3.5 million on Friday (down 57%), and is heading for a $12 million weekend.
Rounding out the Top 5 are the other new releases, Extremely Loud and Incredibly Close and Haywire, which got off to slow starts with estimates of $3.1 million and $2.9 million. Both are headed for $8-$9 million debuts, and the latter got a discouraging "D+" CinemaScore grade despite positive critical reception.
Weekend studio estimates coming tomorrow afternoon...
