As expected, a Marvel film came, was seen, and conquered the box office. Action sequel Thor: The Dark World was a huge opener this weekend, pulling in $85.7 million, for a per-venue average of a huge $22,418 from around 9,500 screens at 3,841 theaters. This ranks fourth (so far) among opening weekends this year, behind fellow superhero movies Iron Man 3 and Man of Steel and Fast and Furious 6, and was a 25% jump from the original Thor's $66 million debut back two and a half years ago. It was also in line with Skyfall and The Hobbit: An Unexpected Journey's debuts last year. All in all, this debut was in line with expectations, with analysts and distributor Disney pegging for an opening between $80 and $100 million. While it may not have hit $100 million like what some hoped for, we have to remember that Thor is not as popular or as likable of a superhero for audiences as Iron Man (Thor 2 opened to half the amount Iron Man 3 did). Also, Holiday Season 2013 is crowded with potential hits, and only so much money can go around, so those waiting for Hunger Games: Catching Fire may have opted to skip this one. Still though, this is a heck of a debut and definitely a win for both Marvel and Disney. Thor 2 actually had a strong weekend multiplier (2.7 vs. the average 2.5 for a Marvel title) and received an "A-" CinemaScore. While competition will be fierce in the weeks ahead, a Thanksgiving bump and solid word-of-mouth should help this pass $200 million by the time its' done. The budget was $170 million.Internationally, Thor: The Dark World is off to a huge start, having picked up $240 million overseas thus far. It earned an additional $94 million overseas this weekend, including a strong $20 million opening in China. With $320 million worldwide so far, the film is already on the verge of passing its' predecessor's $270 million overseas final gross, and could go as high as $750-$800 million worldwide by the time its done. Next up for Marvel is Captain America: The Winter Soldier, due for release next April.
There was a close battle for second place between Bad Grandpa, Free Birds and Last Vegas, with around $300,000 separating them between second and fourth place. The popular franchise spin-off came out slightly ahead with another solid hold, off 43% to $11.3 million, for a strong $78.8 million in 17 days. If it can hold well against The Best Man Holiday next weekend, then it should pass $100 million.
Free Birds had a strong hold, off a light 30% to $11.1 million, for a modest $30.1 million in 10 days. With two more weeks of no competition, look for the final gross to easily exceed $50 million, if not $60 million. Last Vegas also benefited from no competition, off a light 32% to $11 million, for a $33.5 million gross in the same amount of time. Look for the senior-themed comedy to play well through the end of the month.
It wasn't the same story with Ender's Game, which fell from first to fifth place this weekend, and plummeted 62% to $10.3 million, for a modest $44 million gross in 10 days. Competition from Thor did do some damage. Ender is playing a lot like Jack the Giant Slayer did in the face of Oz The Great and Powerful, which had an identical decline and gross. Ender will finish as a disappointment in the U.S., but won't wind up nearly as costly as Jack, with overseas grosses hoping to save it.
Despite more competition, Gravity maintained much of its' sheen despite losing all of its IMAX screens, off 33% to $8.5 million. Since its' debut six weeks ago, the sci-fi blockbuster has earned a huge $231.2 million. By next weekend, the film will overtake Oz The Great and Powerful and Fast and Furious 6 for fifth place domestically for 2013. Fellow awards contender 12 Years a Slave stayed in the seventh spot and expanded to wide release. The film added $6.7 million, for a strong $17.4 million gross in 24 days, and will continue to expand in the weeks ahead. Captain Phillips continued to hold well, off 32% to $5.7 million, for a $91 million gross in one month of release, with the century mark clearly in its sights.
Expanding to 1,200 locations, About Time failed to have a solid start, and instead settled for $4.8 million, for a per-venue average of a mild $3,965. The romantic comedy had solid reviews, but just didn't get enough audience. Distributor Universal never released an official projection, and the budget wasn't released either, showing the studio never really had confidence in the film.
Rounding out the Top 10 was animated hit Cloudy with a Chance of Meatballs 2, which eased 33% to $2.8 million, for a $110 million gross since its debut 43 days ago.
Overseas, Thor 2 topped with $94 million from 92 percent of the international marketplace. Gravity added $26.3 million from a similar percentage of the world, and its' worldwide gross is approaching $500 million. Escape Plan opened to an impressive $13 million in China, for a $55 million overseas gross. Not much else news on the international front, leaving animated films Turbo and Planes on the "officially" reported rounding out the Top 5 with $5 million and $3.9 million, respectively.
