By the end of the weekend, it was Jim Carrey and Jeff Daniels who won the day as Dumb and Dumber To managed to pull in $36.1 million for the weekend (averaging $11,450 per-venue). The sequel, which arrives 20 years after the first Dumb and Dumber, opened ahead of expectations, which analysts thought $30 million would be the ceiling. Considering the first movie is fairly well-known and well-liked, a sequel definitely seemed like something that could play to crowds. While ticket sales weren't close to the original, this is still a strong number. Distributor Universal gave the film solid marketing, and produced it for $40 million. On lower levels, To is Carrey's biggest debut in over a decade, and the Farrelly brothers (who directed) highest debut of their career. However, reviews were bad (27% on Rotten Tomatoes) and audience reception was mixed to negative ("B-" CinemaScore). This probably won't hold on very well in the coming weeks, but with Thanksgiving boosting business, it should end up at least around $100 million.After a strong debut last weekend, Big Hero 6 held decently. Disney's latest animated flick was off 38% to $34.7 million, for a strong $110.3 million pick-up in 10 days. That wasn't quite as strong of a hold as Wreck-it Ralph (33%) did in its second weekend, but its not a bad hold by all means. 6 is running about $15 million ahead of Tangled through the same point. Next weekend could either spell good or bad news for it as The Hunger Games - Mockingjay - Part I opens. Big Hero 6 became the 24th movie of 2014 to pass $100 million this weekend (The Maze Runner also passed the century mark on Sunday).
Interstellar managed to hold decently also, off 40% to $28.3 million. After opening somewhat disappointingly last weekend, Christopher Nolan's latest is up to $96.9 million in 12 days. With the movie being primarily for an older audience, Interstellar seems well-positioned to hold up well through Thanksgiving, and is definitely proving to be one I'm keeping an eye on through the holiday season.
Meanwhile, the other new release, Beyond the Lights, didn't quite catch on. The well-received musical dramedy earned $6.2 million in a distant fourth place, for a mild $3,466 average. Despite strong remarks from critics (especially a strong performance from Belle's Gugu-Mbatha Raw) and an "A" CinemaScore, this just couldn't quite bring in audiences. It could hold up through Thanksgiving, but its going to be difficult to hold screens and an audience in the face of Mockingjay. The budget was only $7 million here, though, so financial exposure is limited for distributor Relativity Media.
Spending a seventh-straight weekend in the Top 5, there doesn't seem to be anything stopping Gone Girl. The surprise blockbuster fell just 27% to $4.6 million, for a strong $152.6 million pick-up in 49 days, with still a little more gas left in the engine. St. Vincent held the sixth spot, and was down a light 30% to $3.8 million. The Bill Murray dramedy is at $33 million in six weeks. Fury ended up just $7,000 behind with also $3.8 million, and also held well with a 33% slide. The Brad Pitt war flick is at $75.9 million in one month of release, and should pass $80 million.
Ouija slid to eighth place in its fourth weekend but continues to hold up fine for a horror flick, down 50% to $3 million, for a solid $48 million in 24 days. Nightcrawler was off 46% to $2.9 million, for a mild $24.9 million in 17 days, and will have to claw and scratch for $30 million. Rounding out the Top 10 was potential awards season contender Birdman. The critically-acclaimed Michael Keaton thriller was up 7% to $2.5 million, expanding to 857 locations. Since its limited debut one month ago, the dramedy has earned $11.6 million.
Next weekend brings The Hunger Games - Mockingjay: Part I. Will records fall? We shall see.
