After a 10-year hiatus, Agents J & K finally were called back into action, and Men in Black III was the movie that took out the Marvel superhero squad for the top spot this weekend. The highly-anticipated threequel opened to $54.6 million over the three-day weekend and $69.3 million over the extended four-day period, averaging a super $16,303 from around 9,300 screens at 4,248 theaters. In terms of three-day openings unadjusted for inflation, the opening was slightly higher than Men in Black II ($52 million), and the original Men in Black ($51 million), however, they both opened on the Wednesday prior to the 4th of July Weekend and had earned much more through their fifth days. Now, analysts all across the board are saying that this is a disappointing start. But considering the long lapse of time between the second and third films, I think this is a very strong start. Distributor Sony Pictures had hoped for a four-day gross of at least $80 million, but some analysts had originally forecasted an extended frame debut of $70 million.
Critical reception was generally positive (68% on Rotten Tomatoes) and audiences liked what they saw, giving it a "B+" CinemaScore (with ages 25 and under giving it an "A-"). The film also is off to an outstanding start overseas, debuting with $132 million (the second-highest foreign opening this year behind The Avengers) in it's first four days from almost every international market, pushing its' worldwide total past $200 million. The threequel was reported to be produced for an expensive $225 million by distributor Columbia Pictures.
Even with the agents w/glasses at #1, The Avengers didn't run for cover. They still were able to hold a gun (or hammer) in their faces. The superhero blockbuster was down just 34% from last weekend to $36.7 million in its' fourth weekend and $47.2 million over the four-day period, averaging a still-strong $12,053 from around 8,200 screens at 3,918 theaters. That was nearly four times as much as Thor earned on this same weekend last year, and it continued to break records, reaching the $500 million mark the fastest (in 23 days) and becoming only the fourth film in history to pass the half-billion mark stateside. Currently, the ensemble extravaganza has picked up $523.9 million in 25 days and a monster $1.3 billion worldwide. It will pass Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows - Part II's $1.33 billion worldwide gross for third place all-time and The Dark Knight's $533 million domestic gross by next weekend.
While Men in Black and Avengers soared, Battleship continued to sink. The pricey action flick cascaded 57% to $11.05 million over the three-day weekend and $13.9 million over the extended weekend, while sliding to third place. The $210 million-budgeted domestic disaster has picked up a stale $47.4 million in 11 days. The Dictator didn't fare much better, down 47% to fourth place with $9.3 million over the three-day weekend and $11.5 million over the extended frame, for a 13-day tally of a modest $43.6 million.
Debuting in fifth place, horror flick Chernobyl Diaries wasn't impressive, earning just $8 million over the weekend and $9.35 million over the Friday-Monday period (ranking sixth on that chart), averaging a mild $3,845 from 2,433 theaters. That was on the low-end of expectations, and on the low-end of the average range for horror flicks. The "based on true events" chill pill recieved negative reception from audiences, with a discouraging "D+" CinemaScore.
Dark Shadows did hold better this time around, down 40% to $7.5 million over the three-day (ranking sixth), and $9.4 million over the extended frame (ranking fifth on that chart). The Tim Burton-Johnny Depp collaboration has earned a modest $64.9 million in 18 days, and should be on its' way to around $80 million stateside, along with over $120 million overseas.
What To Expect When You're Expecting was the strongest holdover, down just 32% from last weekend to $7.1 million, and $8.8 million over the four-day period. The pregnancy comedy slotted in seventh place and has earned a so-so $23.8 million in 10 days. The Best Exotic Marigold Hotel expanded further, into 1,233 theaters, where it earned $6.4 million over the three-day, $8.4 million over the Friday-Monday period, and sliding into the eighth spot. The latest limited release hit has earned $18.6 million in 25 days.
Two-month old hit The Hunger Games spent a 10th weekend in the Top 10, marking the first time since Inception that a movie has spent that long in the list. The sci-fi book adaptation eased just 22% from last weekend to $2.3 million over the three-day weekend and $3 million over the extended frame, for a stunning $396 million gross in 71 days. Think Like A Man rounded out the Top 10 in its' sixth weekend, down 45% to $1.4 million over the 3-day period and $1.8 million over the 4-day period, for a strong $88.7 million gross in 37 days.
Overall box office for the four-day holiday weekend was down a discouraging 30% from last year when R-rated sequel The Hangover - Part II took theaters by storm, earning $31.8 million on its' opening Thursday, $85.9 million over the three-day weekend, and a record-smashing $103.4 million four-day debut for a total of a smashing $135 million since its' Thursday start. The blockbuster sequel would go on to gross over $250 million stateside, just short of its' predecessor, along with nearly $600 million worldwide, ranking as the seventh-biggest film of 2011. Meanwhile, the animated sequel Kung Fu Panda 2 had high anticipation, but it struggled with $47.7 million over the three-day period, $60.9 million over the four-day period, and $66.7 million since its' Thursday start. While only a minor success in the U.S. (earning $165 million stateside, about $50 million short of its' predecessor), it was huge overseas, with over $665 million and ranking as the fourth-biggest movie of 2011. Pirates of the Caribbean: On Stranger Tides earned $50 million over the four-day weekend, while Bridesmaids and Thor rounded out the Top 5 with $20.7 million and $12.1 million extended frame grosses.
