Fall is definitely in the air, and the box office is paying the price as it was down 20% from last year...and at a combined total of just an estimated $65.4 million, this weekend was the worst turnout in 11 years (the weekend after 9/11). It was also the first time in four years that no movie on the list topped $10 million. Last year, Contagion debuted on top with a solid $22.4 million...
Easily holding onto the #1 spot, The Possession dropped 46% to an estimated $9.5 million, bringing its' 10-day total to a good $33.3 million. Despite leading by default, it was a very strong hold for a supernatural horror flick (most drop by more than 60% in their second weekends), and it would be a promising sign for the road ahead (if it didn't have to compete against Resident Evil 5 next weekend). Against a $14 million budget, you'd have to agree that Lionsgate is having a terrific year.
Also holding steady in second place was Lawless, which also had a nice hold this weekend, down 40% to an estimated $6 million, for a decent $23.5 million gross in 10 days. Word-of-mouth does appear to be positive, and it looks like the western drama will have to settle for a $35 million finish domestically, far from impressive, but still a solid result.
That leaves the lone wide release in the Top 10 in third place (only because of weak holdovers). Inspirational drama The Words landed with a thud with just an estimated $5 million, for a per-theater average of a weak $1,785 from 2,801 theaters. Despite some starpower, the CBS Films-distributed flick had very low expectations, and it did open generally in line with what was expected. Without a doubt, its' still a weak opening, but the budget was only $6 million, which indicates that it should turn a small profit.
Holdovers from August kept the rest of the field. The Expendables 2 suffered the worst drop out of the Top 10, down 47% to an estimated $4.75 million, for a 24-day tally of a not-bad $75.4 million, but its' still lagging far behind its' predecessors. Fellow action flick The Bourne Legacy followed with a 45% decline to an estimated $4 million, for a $103.7 million gross in one month of release. Over the weekend, it became the years' 18th film to reach $100 million stateside. However, it will ultimately finish as the Bourne franchise's least-grossing installment, and there's a chance that this may be the last installment as well.
Family movies usually take a hit from kids being back in school, but apparently the two mid-August holdovers held their own. Both ParaNorman and The Odd Life of Timothy Green dropped 42% in their fourth weekends, and were within $200,000 of each other.
The animated spookfest rallied an estimated $3.8 million, for a solid, but unspectacular $45.1 million in 24 days, while the family drama earned an estimated $3.65 million, for a $43 million total in 26 days. Both movies will likely take a hit from Finding Nemo's 3D re-release next weekend, but they are both still well-positioned to finish at or just north of $50 million.
Holding the eighth spot, The Campaign had the best hold of the Top 10, down 38% to an estimated $3.5 million, for a $79.5 million tally in one month of release. In its' eighth weekend, The Dark Knight Rises is now preparing for its' curtain call as it dropped 46% to an estimated $3.3 million. The Christopher Nolan finale has picked up an incredible $437.8 million in 56 days. Tying the superhero threequel was political documentary 2016: Obama's America, which was down 42% to an estimated $3.3 million, for a $26.1 million gross in nine weekends of release.
Meanwhile, the other new wide release, The Cold Light of Day earned a pale estimated $1.8 million from 1,511 locations, averaging a pathetic $1,191 per location. Returning to 267 IMAX theaters, Indiana Jones: Raiders of the Lost Ark tallied an impressive estimated $1.7 million, for a per-theater average of a great $6,461.
As the summer season ended, most films took a dive internationally. The Dark Knight Rises held the top spot (for a seventh non-consecutive weekend) with another $13 million from 64 markets, pushing its' overseas tally to over $600 million. Nearly tying it was The Bourne Legacy, which earned another $12.5 million from 48 territories and pushing its' cumulative gross close to $80 million and worldwide gross at $185 million and counting. Also close behind in third was The Expendables 2, which earned another $12 million, pushing its' overseas gross to around $100 million. Brave continued to slowly roll along in fourth with another $10.3 million in 54 markets (it has earned over $250 million overseas by far). Among American titles, Ted rounded out the Top 5 with another $6.4 million from 34 territories, and pushing its' cumulative overseas gross to near $180 million (and worldwide gross near $400 million).
Due to having no internet access this week, actuals will not be reported (visit boxofficemojo.com this evening for the actuals)...
