As expected, The Expendables 2 holds the top spot, and eases 53% to $13.4 million, for a $52.2 million gross in 10 days. That's a solid hold for a major sequel, and was about on par with the original Expendables 51% second weekend drop. However, that movie had close to $66 million through the same point, and it guarantees that this one won't reach the $100 million mark domestically. Instead, the action ensemble sequel may have to settle closer to $80 million (dependent on how Labor Day treats it).Trying to catch up with audiences, The Bourne Legacy has yet to show signs of strong stability. Down 45% in its' third weekend, the action reboot held onto second place with $9.3 million, and has earned $85.5 million in 17 days. On the other hand, ParaNorman held onto third place and started to show signs of positive word of-mouth. The animated horror eased 39% in its' second weekend to $8.6 million, for a $28.3 million gross in 10 days. Like other movies, ParaNorman is likely to get its' gross boosted over the extended Labor Day frame next weekend.
Holding decently and staying in fourth place was The Campaign, which slid 43% to $7.5 million, for a solid $64.6 million gross in 17 days. Staying in the Top 5 for a sixth-straight weekend, The Dark Knight Rises had a strong hold, easing just 34% to $7.2 million, for a $422.3 million gross in 37 days. It will move into the Top 10 all-time domestic list as early as today. Just $100,000 behind it, Disney's family drama The Odd Life of Timothy Green was also down 34%, and jumped up a spot to sixth place, earning $7.1 million. Through 12 days of release, it has earned $27.1 million.
And that leads us to the new releases. The biggest news of the weekend however was the expansion of political documentary 2016: Obama's America. Originally not expected to make it into the Top 10, the movie wound up in eighth place and topped all newcomers with $6.5 million from just 1,091 theaters, and a per-theater average of a Top 10-best $5,966. The anti-president flick (distributed by Rocky Mountain Pictures) had some anticipation going into the weekend (it topped Fandango's pre-sales list this week surprisingly). Since its' limited opening six weeks ago, the film has earned $9.3 million.
Premium Rush was close behind but fell flat with just $6 million in eighth place, for a per-theater average of an abysmal $2,674 from 2,255 theaters. That was behind expectations, in which analysts were expecting $8-$9 million. Distributor Sony (Columbia Pictures) produced the film for $35 million, and despite positive reviews from critics, audiences were more mixed ("B" CinemaScore).
The final holdover of the Top 10 was Hope Springs, which held strongly, down 37% to $5.7 million, for a solid $45 million gross in 19 days.
Rounding out the Top 10 was the other major wide release, Hit & Run, which was unable to match expectations with just $4.5 million, for a per-theater average of a terrible $1,577 from 2,870 theaters. Since its' Wednesday start, the R-rated action comedy has picked up $5.7 million. On a positive side, the movie's budget was just a muted $2 million (by distributor Open Road Pictures), which means it won't be a total disaster. But with mixed critical reception (and a "C+" CinemaScore), this will likely fade fast.
After debuting in fifth place last weekend, despite an "A" CinemaScore, Sparkle fell apart this weekend, dropping out of the Top 10 and plunging 66% to $4 million, for a $18.7 million gross in 10 days. With just a $14 million budget though, this will still finish as a success.
Finally, horror flick The Apparition was put in 810 theaters by distributor Warner Bros., where it earned just $2.8 million, averaging a mild $3,508 and ranking in 12th place for the weekend.
Overseas, The Expendables 2 knocked The Dark Knight Rises from the top spot, earning $18.5 million from some markets. Christopher Nolan's final Batman film earned $15.3 million from 62 markets, pushing its' overseas gross past $500 million, and worldwide gross close to $950 million. Brave continued to expand, and finished in third place this weekend with another $14.6 million from 48 territories, for a worldwide total close to $450 million. With still some markets left to open, Pixar's latest is set to finish with at least $550 million worldwide. Total Recall slid to fourth place with another $13.8 million from 57 markets, bringing its' overseas gross to $80 million. Rounding out the Top 5 internationally was Madagascar 3: Europe's Most Wanted which tallied another $11.7 million from 39 markets, bringing its' overseas cume to $370 million, and putting it within shouting distance of the $600 million mark worldwide.
