After being in the runner-up spot for two weeks straight, Ben Affleck's Argo did just about the impossible this weekend, jumping to the top spot in its' third weekend (marking the first time since True Grit nearly two years back and The Blind Side nearly three years back). The movie kept on holding strong, easing just 27% from last weekend to $12 million, for a strong $60.5 million gross in 17 days. With rave critical and audience reception, the thriller looks well-positioned to play through awards season, and could close above $100 million if it keeps at this pace. Affleck's latest is catching up with The Town, which had a bit steeper drops and is only ahead of this by $5 million now (similar to weekend one). Argo should pass Town next weekend, but it may drop a little harder with Denzel Washington's Flight entering the picture.
But it was the newcomers that clearly missed their mark. The most costly will likely be Cloud Atlas, which got off to a disappointing start in second place. The nearly three-hour long epic debuted to $9.6 million, for a per-theater average of a modest $4,787 from around 2,400 screens at 2,008 theaters (low theater count for such a highly-promoted movie). Despite its' top-billing cast, Atlas' confusing concept and R-rating was unable to attract an audience. Reviews were mixed and the budget was a huge $100 million, something the movie will have to make up for largely overseas if it wants to avoid being one of the biggest flops of the year. Distributor Warner Bros. acquired distribution rights for $15 million, and they were tracking a debut in the low-to-mid teens millions.
With Halloween approaching and solid word-of-mouth continuing, Hotel Transylvania jumped to third place this weekend. The animated hit continued to hold on strong with a 27% ease to $9.4 million, for a $130.4 million gross in one month of release. The movie passed Cloudy with a Chance of Meatballs' final gross earlier this week, but with Halloween on Wednesday and the highly-anticipated Wreck-It Ralph arriving on Friday, this is likely to be it's last hurrah. Had Transylvania opened a week earlier (it was originally scheduled to before it was pushed a week), it would've had a better chance at reaching the $150 million milestone domestically. Regardless, its' still a big hit. Following its' middling debut last weekend, Paranormal Activity 4 plunged a series-worst 71% to $8.5 million, for a $42.5 million gross in 10 days. The fourquel will likely close with $55 million, which is considered disappointing when you compare it to its' predecessors. But remember, its' budget was just $5 million, so its' still a success.
Coming in fifth place was the next strongest release, horror sequel Silent Hill: Revelation, which also disappointed with just $8 million, for a per-theater average of a dismal $2,735 from around 4,800 screens at 2,933 theaters. That was less than half of the original Silent Hill's $16 million debut six years ago, and add in stiff competition, and it didn't seem like this one was going to succeed. Silent Hill 2 ended up landing in the same range as past disappointments such as Silent House and The Thing remake from last year. Distributor Open Road Films was projecting a debut of $10 million, and its' budget was $20 million.
Continuing to level off, Taken 2 was down 42% to $7.7 million, for a $117.1 million gross in 24 days. The sequel will likely leave theaters with around $130 million, short of its' predecessor but an overall better scenario than what other sequels have experienced in the past. Hanging onto the seventh spot and continuing to hold well was Kevin James comedy Here Comes The Boom, which eased 38% to $5.2 million, for a mild $30.3 million gross in 17 days. Despite earning an "A" CinemaScore, Alex Cross showed signs of Tyler Perry's typical front-loadedness, down 55% to $5.1 million, for a pale $19.5 million in 10 days and will likely close with around $25 million. Right behind it was Sinister, which despite more competition was able to miraculously hold on strong, down 43% to $5 million, for a strong $39.4 million in 17 days.
Rounding out the Top 10 with horrible results was teenage comedy Fun Size, which was only able to muster $4.1 million, for a per-theater average of a disastrous $1,361 from 3,014 theaters. Despite having promotion on Nickelodeon, Fun Size just wasn't able to sell it in its' campaign. The lost little brother and finding him plot sounds lame and simple, and the only minor audience that came out were probably just die-hard fans of Victoria Justice and a few other minor names. The movie received a "B" CinemaScore and negative critical reception, and will likely leave theaters quickly. Distributor Paramount Pictures was expecting $8 million for the weekend.
Two weeks ahead of its' domestic opening, Skyfall got off to a huge start overseas, earning $80.6 million from 25 markets (mainly fueled by a monster $32.4 million in the U.K. [second-biggest opening ever there]) and easily taking first place. The 23rd James Bond movie will expand to most other overseas markets next weekend. Hotel Transylvania took second place with another $18.1 million from 50 territories, and its' overseas tally is approaching $100 million ($91 million so far). Paranormal Activity 4 added $14.1 million in third place from 45 territories, for an overseas gross of near $50 million. Opening in China, The Bourne Legacy returned to the Top 5 with $11.5 million this weekend, for an overseas tally of near $140 million. Rounding out the Top 5 was Taken 2, which continued its' phenomenal overseas run with another $9.9 million, for an overseas tally close to $200 million, and will likely close with over $350 million worldwide.
