Kate Beckinsdale appears to be back. After co-starring in last weekend's winner Contraband, she returned to her most famous role in horror fourquel Underworld: Awakening, which claimed the top spot with $25.3 million, for a per-theater average of a great $8,222 from around 4,800 screens at 3,078 theaters (59% of business coming from 3D showings). That was on the high-end of expectations, and was the second-biggest gross of the franchise's history, only behind Evolution ($26.5 million start, $62 million finish). It also was in line with another franchise horror fourquel, Resident Evil: Afterlife ($26 million start, $60 million finish). Critics were negative toward this supernatural tale, but audiences enjoyed it, as the film was given an "A-" CinemaScore grade. The film will likely be front-loaded, as films in its' genre usually are, and with a budget of $70 million (by distributor Screen Gems/Sony), its' going to have to rely on international grosses to turn a profit.
But Underworld wasn't all the nation was clamoring this weekend, George Lucas' war epic Red Tails got off to a much stronger start than expected. Earning second place, the film earned $18.8 million, for a per-theater average of a good $7,477 from around 2,700 screens at 2,512 theaters. The film was originally projected for an opening in the $10-$13 million range based on a lot of competition going up against it, but it was heavily buzzed over the last week, which made it be this weekends' "pleasant surprise". Critics didn't endorse it, but audiences loved it as the CinemaScore grade was an "A". That could help it to see strong legs in the coming weeks, but there is more competition next week, so its' going to be tough. Distributor 20th Century Fox acquired the film from Lucasfilm, who produced it for $58 million, and Fox saw its' biggest-grossing opening for a non-franchise film since Rio.
After topping last weekend with strong numbers, Mark Wahlberg's Contraband had more competition and dropped 51% to $12 million, for a $45.9 million tally in 10 days and has become a success against its' $25 million budget.
The next strongest new release, 9/11 drama Extremely Loud and Incredibly Close, started off somewhat quiet, with a fourth place debut of $10 million, for a per-theater average of a mild $3,820 from 2,630 theaters. Being in limited release since Christmas, it has picked up $11.2 million since then. That's not a terrible start for a drama, especially on such a tough subject, but it was among the least-grossing openings in stars Tom Hanks and Sandra Bullock's careers. No budgeting information is available, but it was just below distributor Warner Bros. expectations, who had pegged it for a $12-$15 million opening. Critics were mixed on the film, though audiences responded favorably with a "A-" CinemaScore grade, which means it does have a shot at having long playability, but only significant Oscar nominations (which come out on Tuesday) will give it that boost of encouragement for the road ahead.
Following its' good start last weekend, Beauty and the Beast (3D) retreated to fifth place. And despite being the only option for family audiences, apparently a lot of them have seen it or own it as the re-issue of the animated classic dropped 51% to $8.8 million, for a $33.6 million tally in 10 days. That was nowhere near Lion King's re-release second weekend hold, which had $61 million through its' 10th day. There is no more competition over the next couple of weeks, so the film may have to settle for a finish of around $50 million.
The final new release, martial arts star Gina Carano's first headlining flick Haywire, debuted to modest results. The R-rated action flick earned $8.4 million on its' debut, for a per-theater average of an okay $3,454 from 2,439 theaters. On the upside, that was right in line with distributor Relativity Media's (who has seen mostly box office disasters) expectations, who had forecasted a $7-$9 million opening. It also gained favorable reviews from critics, with 83% on Rotten Tomatoes. But on the downside, considering its' strong supporting cast (Ewan MacGregor, Michael Fassbender, Channing Tatum, Antonio Banderas, and Michael Douglas), its' marketing was done in mediocre standards, and audiences were the opposite of critics, giving the revenge caper a scowling "D+" CinemaScore grade, which doesn't bode well for the road ahead. In a way, the film's opening and response is very similar to last years' Drive, which was a critical darling and yet didn't strike a note with audiences (93% on Rotten Tomatoes, but "C-" CinemaScore grade). But there's more good news, the films' budget was only at around $25 million, including foreign promotion, so it will end up being profitable for the upstart distributor.
Musical comedy Joyful Noise followed with a decent hold, sliding 47% to seventh place and $5.9 million, for a $21.7 million tally in 10 days and will likely sing its' swan song at around $35 million. Tom Cruise's Christmas blockbuster Mission: Impossible - Ghost Protocol had more competition against it and dropped 53% to $5.6 million, sliding from third to eighth place in the process. The action reboot has earned a fantastic $197.4 million in 37 days, and will cross the $200 million barrier by next weekend. It also still has a great chance at finishing ahead of Mission: Impossible II's $215.4 million final gross.
Sherlock Holmes: A Game of Shadows, on the other hand, is continuing to see above-average holds, with a 47% ease to $4.5 million, for a $178.3 million tally in six weeks of release. Meryl Streep's The Iron Lady rounded out the Top 10, easing a Top 10-best 32% to $3.7 million for a $12.6 million total since its' limited opening one month ago. (When actuals were reported, The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo fell to 11th place with a 47% drop to $3.5 million, for a $94.6 million tally in one month of release)
Overall box office was up a whopping 30% from last year when Ashton Kutcher-Natalie Portman romance comedy No Strings Attached tied up the top spot with a modest $19.7 million. The film would continue playing until Valentine's Day and ended up with over $70 million domestically. The Green Hornet retreated to second place with a 47% ease to $17.7 million, which was above average for a superhero film, and The Dilemma dropped 49% to $9.1 million in third. Awards contenders The King's Speech and True Grit rounded out the Top 5 with 15% and 33% eases to $7.9 million and $7.3 million.
Here is the final Top 10:
# Movie Final Numbers Projected Estimates My Predictions
1 Underworld: Awakening $25,306,725 $25,400,000 $24,000,000
2 Red Tails $18,782,184 $19,100,000 $10,500,000
3 Contraband $12,039,605 $12,500,000 $14,000,000
4 Extremely Loud & Incredibly Close $10,045,332 $10,500,000 $13,000,000
5 Beauty and the Beast (3D) $8,779,676 $8,600,000 $12,500,000
6 Haywire $8,425,370 $9,000,000 $7,500,000
7 Joyful Noise $5,917,437 $6,000,000 $6,200,000
8 Mission: Impossible - Ghost Protocol $5,554,254 $5,500,000 $6,500,000
9 Sherlock Holmes: A Game of Shadows $4,515,497 $4,800,000 $5,000,000
10 The Iron Lady $3,684,279 $3,700,000 ---
