It was another weekend to be a superhero as a major big-budget crusader flick topped the box office with blockbuster numbers. Zach Snyder and Christopher Nolan's Superman reboot, Man of Steel, came in a bit higher than expected with a spectacular $116.6 million over the three-day weekend, for a huge per-venue average of $27,720 (from around 11,400 screens at 4,207 locations and 41% of sales coming from 3D showings). Including Wal-Mart's exclusive $12 million Thursday evening sales, the 3 and a quarter day gross is at a massive $128.7 million. Being the 10th movie of 2013 to pass the century mark and having the second-biggest opening weekend of the year so far is already a given, but considering expectations were from $90-$100 million, its' quite impressive this outwitted those expectations. Man of Steel edged out Toy Story 3's $110.3 million debut from three years ago to take the June opening weekend record (though, with three years of inflation and added 3D screens, that movie had higher attendance). With a strong marketing effort, incredible buzz, and the starpower attached both in the cast and crew, this seemed like a must-see for audiences. As a result, the CinemaScore was a very solid "A-" which will benefit word-of-mouth. Critical reception was mixed, however, but that won't matter. Distributor Warner Bros., who has had a mostly rocky year so far, finally got that big hit with Man of Steel, and they were forecasting a $80 million debut. The budget was between $175 and $225 million, with most sources favoring the latter.
Overseas, Man of Steel opened to a huge $73.3 million from 24 markets, for an early worldwide tally above $200 million. With an additional 26 markets on the horizon next weekend, the final worldwide gross for the Superman reboot could go as high as an unbelievable $900 million.
The other new release, ensemble comedy This is the End, fared well in the face of the red-caped crusader. The film opened to $20.7 million over the three-day period, for a $33 million gross since its' debut on Wednesday. For the weekend, the per-venue average was a fairly solid $6,710. The film obviously outperformed The Internship from last weekend, but the five-day gross was behind Pineapple Express through the same point (which had picked up $41 million through the same point). However, given the films' budget was just $32 million, it will easily be a success for distributor Columbia Pictures, which scored a disappointment a couple of weeks ago with After Earth. Analysts were hoping for a five-day debut above $30 million, and the film did exceed that mark. Comparing recent R-rated comedies, This is the End pales in comparison to The Hangover, Identity Thief and fell short of Bridesmaids. However, strong critical reception and a "B+" CinemaScore could help it play well in the weeks ahead. But, as of now, especially with The Heat coming out in two weeks, $100 million does not look reachable.
With the strong amount of competition, most holdovers flinched. Now You See Me had one of the lighter holds of the bunch, off 42% to $11 million, for a strong $80.7 million gross in 17 days. It looks like the magician crime caper will be able to reach the $100 million mark before its' done. Fast and Furious 6 was off 51% to $9.6 million, for a franchise-best $219.7 million in 24 days. The film also has surpassed its' predecessor overseas. Last week's topper, The Purge, fell all the way to fifth place and plummeted 76% to $8.3 million, in line with The Devil Inside, indicating word-of-mouth must be pretty bad (or audiences already came out to see it). Though with $52 million in 10 days, Purge is already a huge financial success, as its' budget was just $3 million.
The Internship had direct competition right at its' door, and plummeted 59% to $7.1 million, for just a $31.1 million gross in 10 days. Looks like Vince Vaughn and Owen Wilson will be fired at around $45 million. Another Fox release, Epic, had older kids flock to Man of Steel, and was down 47% to $6.3 million, for a more successful $95.7 million gross in 24 days. The animated flick continues to underperform overseas, and will drop in the face of Monsters University next weekend. But its still a lock to finish with over $100 million stateside. Star Trek into Darkness fell a lighter 45% to $6.25 million, and continues to lag behind its' predecessor with a $211.1 million one-month total. The final domestic gross will likely be at around $235 million.
After Earth took a harsh plunge, down 62% to $4.05 million, and a 17-day gross of a pitiful $54.5 million with not much more to go. Iron Man 3 rounded out the Top 10 in its seventh weekend, and apparently wasn't all that bothered by Superman (though to be fair, the film probably played as a back-end in double-feature shows with Man of Steel). The blockbuster threequel was down 49% to $3 million, for a strong $399.7 million gross in 42 days, and will pass $400 million tomorrow.
Overseas, Man of Steel easily topped with $73.3 million from 24 markets. After Earth added $24 million from most territories, for an early overseas gross of $90 million and a $150 million worldwide tally so far. Fast and Furious 6 earned an additional $20 million this weekend, and has passed Fast Five with $415 million overseas and $640 million worldwide. The Hangover - Part III tallied $17.5 million from 56 markets, pushing its' worldwide tally past $300 million. Star Trek into Darkness rounded out the Top 5 with another $17 million from 90% of the foreign marketplace, pushing its' worldwide tally past $400 million, already ahead of the original Star Trek's $385 million final worldwide gross with still a few big markets to open.
After Earth took a harsh plunge, down 62% to $4.05 million, and a 17-day gross of a pitiful $54.5 million with not much more to go. Iron Man 3 rounded out the Top 10 in its seventh weekend, and apparently wasn't all that bothered by Superman (though to be fair, the film probably played as a back-end in double-feature shows with Man of Steel). The blockbuster threequel was down 49% to $3 million, for a strong $399.7 million gross in 42 days, and will pass $400 million tomorrow.
Overseas, Man of Steel easily topped with $73.3 million from 24 markets. After Earth added $24 million from most territories, for an early overseas gross of $90 million and a $150 million worldwide tally so far. Fast and Furious 6 earned an additional $20 million this weekend, and has passed Fast Five with $415 million overseas and $640 million worldwide. The Hangover - Part III tallied $17.5 million from 56 markets, pushing its' worldwide tally past $300 million. Star Trek into Darkness rounded out the Top 5 with another $17 million from 90% of the foreign marketplace, pushing its' worldwide tally past $400 million, already ahead of the original Star Trek's $385 million final worldwide gross with still a few big markets to open.
