The Dark Knight Rises did sustain better this weekend, easing 45% from last Friday to an estimated $10.4 million. Based on recent trajectories, the finale in Christopher Nolan's trilogy is headed for close to $36 million this weekend, a solid 42% dip from last weekend and pushing its' total past $350 million.
But it wasn't good news for Total Recall, which received a mediocre "C+" CinemaScore. The sci-fi flick earned an estimated $9.2 million in second place, in what should be just a $25 million weekend, maybe slightly higher if it can at least hold steady on Saturday. The movie, which has been reported to have cost $125 million, will be the latest pricey misfire this year, ranking alongside Dark Shadows, Battleship and John Carter (though it probably won't wind up nearly as costly as those titles).
Third place went to family threequel/children's book adaptation Diary of a Wimpy Kid: Dog Days, which was able to tally a solid, but unspectacular estimated $5.85 million on Friday. That was off a bit from its' predecessors, which both earned $7.4 million on their opening days (but those two films opened in the Spring). On a positive side, the films' opening day was in line with previous family films such as Mr. Popper's Penguins, The Three Stooges, Dolphin Tale and Mirror Mirror, which all tallied $18+ million on their opening weekends. With an "A-" CinemaScore, $18 million seems like a reasonable expectation at this point (the movie will have a chance to make up serious ground over stronger weekday business).
Even with Diary of a Wimpy Kid 3 as competition, Ice Age: Continental Drift is actually starting to show signs of legs. The animated fourquel slid 37% from last Friday to an estimated $2.5 million, in what should be a $9 million weekend. Rounding out the Top 5 was The Watch, which dropped 53% from last Friday to an estimated $1.9 million, in what should be just $6 million for its' second weekend.
Weekend estimates to be posted tomorrow evening...
