Shattering more records, The Avengers continued to dominate the charts for a third-straight weekend (as expected). The superhero blockbuster eased 46% to $55.6 million, averaging a super $13,096 from around 10,700 screens at 4,249 theaters. Through 17 days, it has earned a blazing $457.7 million, reaching the $400 and $450 million mark the fastest (14 and 17 days). The film has shown some amazing stability in its' second and third weekends, as its' drops have been below 55% (which is the average drop for a superhero flick), and has already earned an amazing $720 million overseas, for a worldwide total of $1.18 billion (WOW!!). Also, the film already ranks sixth on the all-time domestic list, and fourth on the all-time worldwide list (behind Avatar, Titanic, and Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows - Part II). Even though it will have to give up the #1 spot next weekend to Men in Black III, the film should still see a remarkable hold over the extended period. Yesterday, the film passed Pirates on the Caribbean: Dead Man's Chest to become Disney's biggest-grossing film yet.
While Avengers continued to soar, Battleship was shot. The pricey action war flick opened to a stale $25.5 million, averaging $6,920 from around 6,100 screens at 3,690 theaters. That was far below expectations, as distributor Universal Pictures had modestly projected a $35-$40 million opening, and it couldn't even come close to that. While competition was imminent, perhaps the main reason why the film failed to earn a big audience was because the film had some negative buzz from the marketing, and the fact it looked very much different from its' board game basis. The film even fell short of Wrath of the Titans and John Carter's dismal openings. After having an outstanding first quarter, Universal's 100th year of film business suffered its' first loss as the films' budget was a huge $209 million (according to analysts). One positive note keeping this just barely above waters is that the film has earned nearly $250 million overseas as Universal opened it in foreign markets five weeks in advance of its' domestic debut. Critical reception was negative, while audiences were slightly more positive ("B" CinemaScore).
The news wasn't much more positive from there. Sacha Baron Cohen's latest comedy, The Dictator, opened to mixed results in third place. Earning $17.4 million in its' first weekend (and $24.5 million since its' Wednesday start), the film averaged a decent $5,796 from around 3,900 screens at 3,008 theaters. That was just over one-half of Bruno and Borat's openings, and while it was in line with analysts' expectations, it still looks puny in the face of its' $65 million budget. One bright side is that it opened to $30 million overseas, which should guarantee a healthy overseas run. Audiences were primarily negative towards the flick ("C" CinemaScore) while critics were more positive (61% on Rotten Tomatoes). Distributor Paramount Pictures had forecasted around $20 million for the three-day weekend.
After its' underwhelming start last weekend, Dark Shadows flinched. The film dropped 58% from last weekend to $12.6 million, for a slow $50.7 million tally in 10 days, against a budget of at least $125 million. The Tim Burton-Johnny Depp collaboration did earn a solid $30 million overseas this weekend, bringing its' two-week overseas total to over $80 million and its' worldwide total to $132 million.
Meanwhile, the final new release, What To Expect When You're Expecting, failed in its' attempt to counter-program Avengers and Battleship. The book adaptation earned $10.5 million on its' debut, for a per-theater average of a mild $3,491 from around 3,500 screens at 3,021 theaters. That was less than half of Bridesmaids opening, and was about half of what analysts were expecting. Distributor Lionsgate had forecasted a high-teens millions opening, and had produced the film for $40 million. At best, the film was close to matching the start of star Jennifer Lopez's previous film The Back-Up Plan ($12 million). Critics were negative towards this, and audiences were mixed ("B-" CinemaScore). Though the lack of female competition next weekend should help this one hold well and get notable numbers over the extended period, this one will likely be the second straight misfire for Lionsgate (after Safe).
The rest of the Top 10 wasn't nearly as impressive. The Best Exotic Marigold Hotel benefited from solid word-of-mouth, as the limited release was up 21% from last weekend to $3.2 million, averaging the best per-theater average of all films this weekend, an excellent $18,200 from just 178 theaters. The film could end up playing similarly to last year's Midnight in Paris.
The Hunger Games spent a ninth weekend in the Top 10, and slid just 35% from last weekend to $2.95 million, for a 63-day tally of a strong $391.6 million and slotting in seventh place.. With an extended weekend coming up, the blockbuster may just have a shot at closing at $400 million. Another hit (on a smaller scale), Think Like A Man, followed with a 54% drop to eighth place and $2.65 million for a $85.8 million tally in one month of release. The Lucky One dropped 57% to $1.8 million, for a $56.9 million tally in the same amount of timeand The Pirates! Band of Misfits rounded out the Top 10 in its' fourth weekend, down 50% to $1.6 million, for a forgettable $25.5 million in 24 days.
Overall box office was down 15% from last year when Pirates of the Caribbean: On Stranger Tides topped the box office with a less-than-expected $90.15 million. The fourquel in the hit series would go on to earn $240 million domestically, which was the least-grossing installment of the franchise. But, the film was a blockbuster overseas, earning $1.08 billion worldwide, charting as the eighth-biggest movie of all-time and the third-biggest movie of 2012. Bridesmaids held onto the second spot, down just 20% to $20.9 million, while Thor was down 56% to third place and $15.5 million. Fast Five and Priest rounded out the Top 10, down 48% and 68% to $10.6 million and $4.75 million.
