As expected, Vin Diesel's franchise reboot Riddick got off to a solid, yet unspectacular start this weekend. The R-rated action thriller earned $19 million, for a per-venue average of a decent $6,125 from 3,107 locations ($2.5 million came from IMAX locations). Altogether, this falls just short of expectations, and it was around two-thirds of The Chronicles of Riddick's $24.3 million debut back nine years ago. However, with a very light $38 million budget and early solid grosses overseas, this number is certainly nothing to scoff at. Considering the fact that the post-Labor Day weekend is generally very slow, and that it came relatively close to recent similar movies such as Resident Evil: Retribution and Evil Dead, this is overall a very good start. Considering the small price tag, this movie will wind up in fine shape by the time its done. Will it start a new franchise? Maybe not. But weirder things have happened. Critical reception was mixed, while audiences gave the film a "B" CinemaScore. Distributor Universal was expecting $20 million for the weekend.After topping the box office for three (technically) consecutive frames, Lee Daniels' The Butler dropped to second, and eased 44% to $8.4 million. Since its' debut 24 days ago, the historical drama has earned $91.4 million, and should close at around $120 million, a strong result for the early awards-season contender.
Expanding to just over 700 locations, Lionsgate's foreign comedy Instructions Not Included picked up fairly nicely this weekend after a huge Labor Day Weekend. Up 4% to $8.1 million, the flick has earned a terrific $20.5 million in just 10 days. Instructions is boasting an "A+" CinemaScore, which is helping its' word-of-mouth immensely. Should it expand further, then it could very well earn close to $50 million by the time its' done.
We're The Millers remained strong, off 40% to $7.7 million, for a $123.6 million gross in one month of release. Looks like the latest R-rated comedy hit will miss the $150 million milestone, but it should at least add another $15 million by the time its' done. Although kids returned to school, Planes spent a fifth-consecutive weekend in the Top 5, off 47% to $4.1 million, for a $79.1 million gross in the same amount of time. Disney's former direct-to-DVD release has two more weeks before Cloudy with a Chance of Meatballs 2 takes in family audiences, and could wind up approaching $90 million by the time its' done
The floor came out from underneath One Direction: This is Us this weekend, which plummeted 74% to $4 million, for a $23.9 million 10-day gross. While solid, the 3D concert pic will likely lose many screens next weekend, and may only wind up narrowly hitting the $30 million mark. Fellow Sony release Elysium was off 51% to $3.1 million, and has earned $85.1 million in one month of release, with over $200 million worldwide so far. Percy Jackson: Sea of Monsters was up one spot to eighth place in its' fifth weekend, off 46% to $2.4 million, for a $59.8 million gross in over one month of release.
Woody Allen's Blue Jasmine had the best hold of the Top 10, though it was over-estimated. The critically-adored independent release was off 41% to $2.35 million, for a $25.1 million gross in seven weeks of release. Rounding out the Top 10 was The World's End, which plummeted 54% to $2.3 million, for a modest $21.8 million pick-up in 17 days.
Topping the foreign circuit for a third non-consecutive weekend, Elysium opened to strong numbers in China, and added $21.2 million altogether, with its' worldwide take passing $200 million with still some to go. Expanding to five major markets, White House Down added $12.6 million, as its' worldwide tally finally managed to pass $150 million. Planes expanded to 31 markets and added $11.3 million, with its' worldwide tally at over $120 million so far, on its' way to $200-$250 million. We're The Millers added $9.9 million from 41 territories, for a strong $170 million worldwide so far. The Conjuring rounded out the Top 5 with $8.5 million from 47 markets, with its' worldwide cume at a strong $260 million.
