As expected, Madagascar 3: Europe's Most Wanted held the top spot, and actually had a decent hold. Easing 44% to $34.1 million, the animated threequel has picked up a solid $119 million in just 10 days, and marking the 10th film of the year to pass the $100 million mark domestically. The drop was a bit less than Escape 2 Africa and was a stronger hold than Toy Story 3 and Cars 2's second weekends. It also was about the same as Kung Fu Panda's second weekend drop and gross (with Madagascar 3 about $2.5 million ahead of it right now). If the film didn't have to deal with Brave next weekend, it would be guaranteed to earn $200+ million domestically, and it still has a chance at reaching that barrier, but it will be determined next weekend whether it reaches it or not. Overseas, the film earned another $53 million, for a worldwide total of a strong $276 million in just 10 days.
Repeating in second place, Prometheus was unable to get a strong hold as Ridley Scott's latest plunged 59% to $20.7 million, for a great $89.4 million gross in 10 days. Sci-fi films usually drop hard, and with the mixed word-of-mouth, it was certainly expected. It will cross the $100 million barrier by the end of this week, and it should go on to finish with around $130 million.
As for the new releases, well, they're pretty much forgettable. For what its' worth though, Tom Cruise did beat Adam Sandler. The musical adaptation Rock of Ages debuted in a disappointing third place with just $14.4 million, for a per-theater average of a mild $4,161 from around 4,700 screens at 3,470 theaters. That was just over half of Mamma Mia! and Hairspray's debut numbers, and was also just over half of what analysts and distributor Warner Bros. Pictures were expecting. Considering it had an all-star cast, this is a very discouraging opening for a buzz-worthy movie. Critical reception was negative and audiences were mixed ("B" CinemaScore). There isn't much competition (unless if you count Brave) over the next week so a solid multiple is possible. But considering the budget was a reported $75 million, this will certainly be written down as a loss for Warner Bros. (who will likely gain back serious ground when the hugely-anticipated The Dark Knight Rises debuts in about five weeks).Not only did it lose in the major star race, but Adam Sandler is looking at his first major disappointment (yeah, Jack & Jill did fall short of its' budget stateside, but it still grossed a pretty solid $75 million in the face of so much competition) with That's My Boy. The R-rated crassy comedy tallied $13.5 million in fourth place, averaging a slightly better $4,440 from around 4,200 screens at 3,030 theaters, but again, way behind what analysts were expecting. Relating it to past R-rated comedies, a good example would be The Change-Up, which had starpower, but couldn't keep the success streak up (unlike this year when the only R-rated comedy to succeed so far is 21 Jump Street). Produced for $70 million by distributor Columbia Pictures, this will also be considered as one of the summer's major write-downs (although Sony did modestly project a high-teens millions opening, it still fell short of that).
Snow White and the Huntsman slid to fifth place in its' third weekend, but actually held well this time around. The second movie based on the fairy tale from 2012 earned another $13.3 million, down 43% from last weekend's more gruesome 59% drop, and has earned a solid $122.1 million in 17 days. Look for the fantasy flick to close with around $150 million stateside, with much more coming overseas.
With Father's Day Weekend boosting some movies' grosses, some older holdovers had great holds this weekend. Men in Black III eased just 28% from last weekend to sixth place, earning $10 million in its' fourth weekend, and has picked up $152.7 million in 24 days, along with nearly $550 million worldwide. The third installment in the Will Smith franchise will likely be finally held up against the wall at $180 million.
The Avengers also benefited from Father's Day, and dipped just 21% (coming in seventh place) from last weekend to $8.9 million (gaining 4% from Saturday-to-Sunday), for a monster $586.8 million gross in seven weeks of release and is now guaranteed to hit $600 million stateside. The film also has collected a stellar $1.42 billion worldwide, leaving it to take the bronze medal on the all-time list behind the unstoppable James Cameron dynamic duo (Avatar and Titanic).
Two limited releases remained in the Top 10. The Best Exotic Marigold Hotel eased 30% from last weekend to $2.3 million, for a solid $35.2 million gross in 49 days. Moonrise Kingdom rose a spot to ninth place, and gained 30% from last weekend, expanding into 178 theaters and earning $2.2 million. The highly-anticipated limited release will continue to expand, and once again had the best per-theater average in the Top 10, a great $12,571.
Pricey action disaster Battleship rounded out the Top 10 with a 45% drop to $1.2 million, for a dismal $62.2 million gross in one month of release.
Internationally, Madagascar 3 held the top spot with just a 31% ease from last weekend's debut numbers, grossing $53 million in 43 territories for a 10-day overseas total of $157 million and a worldwide total of $276 million. Snow White and the Huntsman expanded to 57 territories and climbed up to second place with a solid $31.2 million, and has earned $125 million overseas, bringing its' worldwide total to nearly $250 million since its' debut three weeks ago. Prometheus found itself in third place again with another $25.2 million, for a foreign total near $130 million and worldwide total near $220 million. Men in Black III continued to be an international megahit, with an additional $19.7 million from 79 markets, bringing its' foreign total to $391.6 million, and with nearly $550 million worldwide, its' likely this threequel will be deemed a success. Much lower in terms of gross, The Dictator rounded out the Top 5 with a $4.7 million pick-up, and has earned over $75 million overseas by far.
