As expected, J.J. Abrams' highly-anticipated sci-fi sequel Star Trek into Darkness took the top spot, though it didn't fare nearly as well as expected. The latest re-imagining of the iconic TV series managed $70.2 million over the three-day weekend, and $83.7 million since Thursday. Playing in around 10,100 screens at 3,868 theaters, the three-day per-location average was a strong $18,140. That's a solid start by most means, but considering buzz was through-the-roof on this sequel, plus four years of ticket inflation and 3D premiums, it doesn't make sense why it didn't pass $100 million for the four-day period like it was expected to. Perhaps being sandwhiched between stiff competition and maybe even fan inflation in the anticipation may have something to do with its' underperformance. No matter, the three-day start was off from its' predecessor, which earned $79.2 million over its' first 3 and a half days, and the four-day start is off $3 million from that films' 4-day gross. Counting in 3D and IMAX grosses, the sequel even sold a lot less tickets. No need to panic though, for it to come this close to its' predecessor is still a miracle in itself, especially given the fact that sequels rarely live up to their predecessors anyway. Into Darkness does stand a small chance at having its' predecessors' legs, judging by its' "A" CinemaScore, great critical reception and its' strong 3.2 Friday-to-Sunday multiplier. However, the competition isn't like it was in 2009, so it may be very tough for it to duplicate the first Trek's 3.1 multiplier. Overseas, Abrams' sequel is continuing to outpace its' predecessor, with the worldwide total at $165 million and counting. Distributor Paramount Pictures was estimating a $100 million four-day gross, and they co-financed the project for $190 million.
Even with stiff competition, Iron Man 3 held on very well. The superhero threequel was down 51% to $35.8 million, for a 17-day tally of an incredible $337.7 million. That's still a bit of a steeper drop than what The Avengers and Iron Man 2 experienced in their third weekends, but its' solid nonetheless. The films' overseas gross propelled past $700 million this weekend, and worldwide, the film passed $1 billion on Friday. As of now, the global tally is a massive $1.073 billion, placing Iron Man 3 as the 9th-biggest film of all-time worldwide, with a chance at taking the 4th spot by the time its' done.
Even with two other movies crowding the marketplace, The Great Gatsby still pulled in business, even though it was off 52%. Grossing $23.9 million, the 10-day gross for Baz Luhrmann's romantic drama is at a strong $90.7 million, on its' way to going well past $100 million, and even has an outside shot of hitting $150 million.
The rest of the Top 10 was muted in the face of the Top 3. Michael Bay's Pain and Gain was in fourth place by default, and was off a light 35% to $3.2 million, for a 24-day gross of a solid $46.7 million. Spending eight out of the last nine weekends in the Top 5, The Croods had its' last hurrah with family audiences this weekend, with another strong hold. The latest animated hit was down a very light 16% to $3 million, for a $177 million gross since its' release 58 days ago. Croods will likely finish at about $185 million, and will be officially wiped out next weekend by another Fox animated release, Epic.
42 continued to play well, off 39% to $2.8 million, for a very solid $88.8 million in six weeks of release, and will close just a few million shy of the century mark. Oblivion didn't drop as hard as expected with another sci-fi epic on the market, off 43% to $2.3 million, for a not-so-solid $85.6 million gross in one month of release. Tom Cruise's sci-fi flick will likely finish at $90 million, ahead of Jack Reacher, but nowhere near Mission Impossible - Ghost Protocol. Limited release Mud expanded to nearly 1,000 locations and was off a light 12% to an estimated $2.2 million, for an $11.7 million gross since its' arthouse debut 24 days ago. Tyler Perry's (producer effort) Peeples was down 53% to $2.15 million, for a 10-day start of an anemic $7.9 million and will probably finish at or just less than $10 million. Rounding out the Top 10 in its' fourth weekend was The Big Wedding, which was down 51% to $1.2 million, and a 24-day gross of a poor $20.3 million.
It was a tight race internationally between the Top 3 domestic releases. But, in a surprise upset, The Great Gatsby edged out Iron Man 3 and Star Trek for #1. The romantic drama earned a very strong $42.9 million from 49 markets, bringing its' early worldwide total to $135 million. Based on recent trajectories, Gatsby is looking like its' heading for a final worldwide gross at or above $350 million. Iron Man 3 added $40.2 million from 100% of international territories, pushing its' overseas gross near $750 million. There's a solid chance the threequel could end up ahead of Avengers' $890 million final overseas gross. Outdoing its' predecessor, Star Trek into Darkness earned another $40 million from roughly half of the international marketplace, for an early overseas total of $80 million. With still some markets to go, the final overseas gross should wind up doubling the original's $128 million overseas gross. Two of next weekend's extended frame openers got a jump on the U.S. this weekend overseas, and opened to positive results. Animated flick Epic debuted in 15 markets to a very solid $14.5 million, while Fast and Furious 6 debuted to a record $13.8 million in the U.K., the top debut ever for distributor Universal in that market...
