June 1st, 2012
While the summer is blockbuster season at the box office, it's rather slow on the home market. Because of this, we are giving away some screeners that arrived late and were added to the prize pool a while ago. Call them summer reruns. The two wide releases next week are Prometheus, a sci-fi reboot, and Rio, a digitally animated family film. So this week's prizes are a sci-fi reboot and a digitally animated family film. Prometheus is very likely going to be the bigger of the two films next weekend, so it is the target film for this week's box office prediction contest. In order to win, one must simply predict the opening weekend box office number forPrometheus.
Whoever comes the closest to predicting the film's opening 3-day weekend box office (Friday to Sunday), without going over, will win a copy of Rise of the Planet of the Apes on DVD.
Meanwhile, whoever comes the closest to predicting the film's opening 3-day weekend box office (Friday to Sunday), without going under, will a copy of Rio on DVD.
Entries must be received by 10 a.m., Pacific Time on Friday to be eligible, so don't delay!
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January 24th, 2012
Yesterday was one of the biggest days during Awards Season as The Oscar nominations were announced in the morning. It was a two horse race for top spot as far as the big winners are concerned. Hugo earned the most nominations with eleven, while The Artist was right behind with ten. However, one could argue The Artist is the bigger winner, as more of its nominations were in the more prestigious categories.
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September 21st, 2011
We had good news on the Blu-ray sales chart, as X-Men: First Class opened better than it did on DVD. It dominated with 825,000 units / $19.35 million during just three days of sales. That was more than the rest of the market managed over the full week. This gave the film an opening week Blu-ray ratio of just under 60%, which is the best the format has managed for a first-run release.
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September 21st, 2011
New releases dominated the DVD sales chart this week with ten in the top thirty and three in the top five. This includes X-Men: First Class, which took top spot with 561,000 units / $10.01 million during just three days of release.
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September 14th, 2011
While Rio fell to third place on the DVD sales chart this week, it remained in first place on the Blu-ray sales chart with 70,000 units sold and $1.40 million in sales. Its totals reached 1.58 million units sold and $34.63 million in total sales.
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September 13th, 2011
TV on DVD releases are really starting to dominate the chart with five of the top ten releases on the DVD sales chart this week. However, Madea's Big Happy Family managed to take top spot with 371,000 units, while it pulled in $5.92 million in opening week sales.
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September 7th, 2011
As bad as it was on the DVD sales chart this week, it was worse on the Blu-ray sales chart. The best new release was a catalog title for a direct-to-DVD sequel, which is a terrible sign. As for the only bit of bright news on the chart, Rio returned to first place with 69,000 units / $1.48 million for the week and 1.51 million units / $33.23 million after four.
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September 7th, 2011
It was a tragic week on the DVD sales chart as none of the new releases were blockbusters. Rio remained on top of the chart for the fourth week of release, selling an additional 180,000 units and generating $2.70 million in revenue. In total, 2.76 million units have been sold with total revenues of $41.44 million.
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September 1st, 2011
Despite only managing fourth place on the DVD sales chart this week, Priest opened on top of the Blu-ray sales chart with 187,000 units / $4.24 million. Its opening Blu-ray ratio was 49% and this is great news for upcoming summer blockbusters, as it suggests they could break 50%.
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August 30th, 2011
There were six new releases to chart this week, but none were able to push Rio out of top spot. The film sold an additional 361,000 units lifting its running tally to 2.58 million units / $38.67 million after three weeks of release.
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August 24th, 2011
Despite six new releases in the top ten on the Blu-ray sales chart this past week, Rio was able to remain on top with 261,000 units / $7.30 million over the week and 1.29 million units / $28.67 million after two.
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August 24th, 2011
New releases were particularly weak this past week, and none of them were able to unseat Rio on the DVD sales chart. It sold an additional 636,000 units and generated $9.53 million more dollars in sales, pushing its running tallies to 2.27 million units and $34.01 million. It is already in six place for 2011 (fifth place if you don't count Despicable Me, which was released in 2010).
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August 17th, 2011
As previously stated many, many times recently, the summer is the worst time of year for the home market. However, there was a bright spot this week with the release of Rio, which not only topped the Blu-ray sales chart, it topped studio estimates. During its opening week, the film sold 1.02 million units on Blu-ray generating $21.37 million in opening week sales, which was the best figures since we debuted the weekly Blu-ray sales chart at the beginning of summer, and in fact the best summer release in the history of the format. Its Blu-ray ratio for its opening week was 37%, which is stunning for a kids movie and certainly raises the bar for the summer CG blockbusters.
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August 16th, 2011
It has been more than three months since any DVD has sold more than 1 million units during any given week, but finally that streak is over this week. It should come as no surprise that Rio led all new releases, as it was for a time the biggest hit of 2011. However, the fact that it sold 1.77 million units and generated $26.58 million during its opening week is better than expected.
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August 16th, 2011
It's a deceptively busy week, as there are several significant releases hitting the home market on Tuesday. However, most of these are wide releases that flopped, to one degree or another. In fact, one of the best selling releases of the week is Jane Eyre, an early success story in limited release. When a limited release could conceivably lead the way in sales... well, that's a sure sign of weakness in the overall market. As for the best release of the week, that would have to go to The Big Lebowski Limited Edition Blu-ray Digibook. The latest season of Dexter would come close, but while the show is great, the releases are not Pick of the Week material.
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August 13th, 2011
For a while, Rio was the biggest hit of the year and was one of the few bright spots at the box office this spring. It came out on the home market a couple weeks ago and it has already become the biggest hit of 2011 with 2.5 million total units sold, including 750,000 Blu-rays. (There are a few others on that list that have sold more, but there were all released in theaters in 2010.) So did these people make a wise choice grabbing the film right away? Or would it have been wise to wait a bit and rent it first?
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August 2nd, 2011
It's not a particularly strong week on the home market with only two first-run releases of note. Coincidentally, I'm waiting on screeners for both Rio and Soul Surfer. While both are likely worth checking out at the least, the latter's Blu-ray / DVD Combo Pack is the best bet for Pick of the Week. Normally I'd like to wait till the screener arrives before handing out that honor, but there is a pretty big gap between first and second place this time around.
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May 18th, 2011
Fast Five remained in top spot on the international chart with $58.34 million on 8,819 screens in 61 markets for totals of $272.24 million internationally and $441.93 million worldwide. The film's only major market opening was in China, where it grabbed $9.1 million, which was easily enough for first place. It remained in first place in France ($4.97 million on 500 screens) and in Mexico ($4.77 million on 1,003) while it now has $15.17 million and $17.22 million in those two markets respectively. Its biggest market so far has been Russia, where it has earned $27.39 million after three weeks of release, including $2.53 million on 752 screens this past weekend. At this point, $600 million worldwide is becoming very likely, even with few additional markets left to open in. In fact, its next major market is Japan, but it doesn't open there till October.
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May 16th, 2011
A stronger than expected hold by Thor and a better than expected debut by Bridesmaids helped 2011 earn a surprise win in the year-over-year comparison. Granted, with an overall haul of $140 million, it was 16% lower than last weekend, but it topped the same weekend last year... By less than $1 million. Hey, a win is a win and I'll take it. Year-to-date, 2011 is still behind 2010 by $500 million at $3.44 billion to $3.94 billion, but we could see that gap close next weekend.
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May 15th, 2011
A bigger-than-expected opening for Bridesmaids gave the market a welcome shot in the arm this weekend, according to studio estimates. While the comedy didn't top the weekend, it did top most predictions (although C.S. just about nailed it in his Friday column) with an estimated debut of $24.4 million, continuing an excellent run for Universal after a long stretch of under-performance. Thor remained top of the chart though, and will drop a respectable 47% according to Paramount's figures. That puts it on track for about $170 million in total, which isn't bad for the first outing in a franchise, although hardly record-breaking.
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May 11th, 2011
Fast Five expanded worldwide and stormed into first place with $85.77 million on 7,363 screens in 58 markets for a total of $184.54 million internationally and $324.32 million worldwide. This is the biggest international weekend for an Universal film ever, just edging out King Kong's debut. It opened in 44 markets, finishing in first place in all of them. Highlights include France with $9.13 million on 500 screens, Mexico with $6.99 million on 1,743, Brazil with $4.85 million on 517, and Italy with $4.78 million on 533 screens over the weekend and $7.04 million in total. Meanwhile, the film held onto first place in Russia with $5.15 million on 1,100 screens over the weekend for a massive total of $22.64 million after two and it also repeated on top in Germany with $4.61 million on 645 screens over the weekend for a total of $16.72 million, also after two. Finally, the film completed the hattrick in Australia, leading the way for the third weekend in a row, with $1.97 million on 349 screens over the weekend lifting its total to $23.11 million. Fast Five doesn't have many more markets left to open in, but it is already an overwhelming success, so the studio should be ecstatic, so much so that extending the franchise is practically guaranteed at this point.
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May 9th, 2011
There were reasons to celebrate the opening weekend of summer, even if it didn't get off to the best opening in recent memory. Thor took top spot, but its opening weekend was the weakest for the start of summer since Mission: Impossible: III kicked things off in 2006. The overall box office was up 5% from last weekend to $167 million, but that was 7% lower than the same weekend last year. However, this time last year the biggest film was Iron Man 2, which had the biggest opening of the year, so falling being by just 7% is not a bad result. Year-to-date, 2011 is behind 2010 by 13% at $3.25 billion to $3.75 billion, but hopefully in a couple of weeks we can start seeing that gap close.
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May 5th, 2011
Box office watchers are looking at the second potential monster hit opening in as many weeks and many are hoping Thor can maintain the pace set last weekend by Fast Five. It's unlikely Thor will open with as much as Fast Five did, but perhaps the two films as a one-two punch can help 2011 keep pace with last year.
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May 4th, 2011
Thor began its international run in earnest this weekend and it screamed into first place with $89.16 million on 8,401 screens in 54 markets for a total of $98.92 million. It scored a first place $8.99 million opening on 500 screens in the U.K., which was its biggest opening. However, it was arguably better in Mexico with $7.06 million on 1664 screens, as that market is smaller. It also opened in first place in France with $7.05 million on 608 screens and in Brazil with $5.34 million on 557 screens. It opened a few days early in South Korea and in Italy, but still earned first place in both with total openings of $5.93 million on 555 screens and $5.46 million on 581 screens respectively.
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May 2nd, 2011
There's finally reason to celebrate at the box office as Fast Five surpassed even the high end expectations and helped the overall box office numbers to their best levels of the year at $159 million. This was up 17% from last weekend and was a stunning 56% improvement over the same weekend last year. Granted, 2011 still lags behind 2010 by $500 million at $3.04 billion to $3.54 billion, but this is great news in the short term, and perhaps its a sign of strength to come.
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April 28th, 2011
Analysts are optimistic this week, and for good reason. Not only is one of the most anticipated films of the spring opening this week, it is opening with better than expected reviews and with buzz that is growing at the right time. There's an outside chance that the number one film this year will earn more than the top ten films earned this weekend last year. Even if the top film misses expectations by a 50% margin, 2011 should still earn its third victory in a row in the year-over-year comparison.
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April 27th, 2011
Rio is the first film of 2011 to top $200 million on the international chart, reaching that milestone late in the weekend. It earned $44.27 million on 12,901 screens in 67 markets for a three-week total of $206.01 million internationally and $286.82 million worldwide. The film didn't open in any major markets this past weekend, but that clearly didn't hurt too badly, as the holds were excellent. For instance, the film was down just 10% in Brazil, earning $6.65 million on 971 screens for a total of $31.19 million. To put this into perspective, Avatar made less than $60 million in that market in total, and only had just over $20 million after three weeks of release. At this pace, $300 million internationally and $400 million worldwide is easily within reach.
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April 25th, 2011
That's two wins in a row. This weekend pulled in $136 million, which was 5% higher than last weekend and an impressive 37% higher than the same weekend last year. Granted, Easter landed on a different weekend last year, but this is still an impressive win. Also, it helped 2011 close the gap on 2010 to 17% at $2.84 billion to $3.41 billion. It still going to take a lot just to catch up by the end of the year, but at least there's some reason to be optimistic going into the summer.
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April 21st, 2011
The box office is looking to extend its winning streak to two this weekend. There is some great news regarding that goal, as this time last year was really poor, with the three new releases earning less than $30 million combined. I would be shocked if Madea's Big Happy Family opened with less than that. With the Easter holiday, Rio and Hop should hold on well and 2011 should finally start digging itself out of the huge hole it is in.
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April 20th, 2011
Rio has become the biggest hit on the international box office so far this year after just two weeks of release. This past weekend it made $56.34 million on 13,754 screens in 63 markets to lift its total to $131.78 million. This is just a couple of million above The Green Hornet, although it is extending that lead very rapidly. The film was aided by a pair of first place openings in major markets, scoring $4.92 million on 667 screens in France and $2.38 million on 626 screens in Italy. It really shone in a number of holdover markets as well, including Brazil, where it was down a mere 14% to $7.22 million on 1,025 screens over the weekend for a total of $18.75 million after two. At this pace, it will top the final box office of Toy Story 3, Harry Potter and Tangled by next weekend. It added $5.70 million on 1,297 screens in Russia to lift its running tally to $18.94 million. It did drop by 39% from its opening weekend, which was higher than in most major markets, but still very strong for Russia. It grew by 33% in Australia to $3.22 million on 467 screens over the weekend for a total of $7.97 million after two. It was up 12% in the U.K. to $2.76 million on 531 screens over the weekend for a total of $8.97 million. Rio doesn't have a lot of markets left to expand into, but even so, at this pace it should hit $200 million internationally and $300 million worldwide with relative ease.
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April 19th, 2011
The Double Hour earned top spot on the per theater chart with an average of $15,123 in two theaters. The only other film to crack the $10,000 mark was the overall box office leader, Rio, with an average of $10,250.
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April 19th, 2011
Woo hoo! 2011 finally won a week without having to rely on a misaligned holiday. Granted, the overall box office was about $20 million lower than expected, but I don't care. At this point I will take any win we can get. The overall box office was $130 million, which is 12% higher than last weekend and 8% higher from the same weekend last year. Year-to-date, 2011 is still down by a tragic amount, 19% to be precise at $2.65 billion to $3.29 billion, but at least we are moving in the right direction and if we can add a couple more wins before summer starts, it would be great.
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April 17th, 2011
At the 19th attempt, 2011 finally has a legitimate winning weekend at the box office, thanks to a better-than-expected opening for Rio (and, to be fair, a weak comparison weekend last year). With a $40 million estimated debut, Rio lays claim to having the best opening of the year so far, and the fifth-best April weekend of all time (nudging out Hop debut two weeks ago). While that's undoubtedly good news, the rest of the chart is something of a mixed bag.
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April 14th, 2011
While 2011 has been a year to forget, we could see that turn around this weekend with two potentially massive hits, at least compared to the average April release. Historically, April has the fewest $100 million hits over the past several years, but this year should buck that trend with Hop well on its way to that milestone, and both wide releases this weekend could also get there. Scream 4 and Rio are both tracking head of Hop's opening and by Monday could both be in the top five April openings of all time. Will that be enough to help 2011 finally earn an uncontested win in the year-over-year comparison? The total box office this time last year was $120 million, while the top two films should earn more than $40 million each. If the rest of the box office can't at least earn another $40 million, we are in serious trouble.
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April 13th, 2011
Did summer start already? I ask because we have a summer-like result at the international box office this weekend. Rio crushed the competition with $54.94 million on 11,714 screens in 45 markets. Opening on more than 10,000 screens is usually a feat reserved for summer blockbusters. The film earned first place in nearly every market, although its individual results did vary considerably. For instance, it was stunning in Russia earning $9.28 million on 1,297 screens over the weekend for a total of $11.31 million. Perhaps more impressively, the film earned $8.77 million on 1,024 screens in Brazil. While Brazil is a very large country, it's still an emerging market and this is a great result there. The film was also strong in Mexico with $4.90 million on 1,521. On the other hand, it was more average in a number of other major markets. For instance, it earned $2.63 million on 724 screens in Germany, which is mediocre for a potential blockbuster. The same was true in the U.K. with $2.48 million on 522, in Australia with $2.42 million on 459, and in Spain with $2.21 million on 390.
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April 1st, 2011
Another month has gone by and 2011 has slipped further behind 2010's pace. March was a bit of an improvement over the first two months, but only in the most generous of terms. It still lost ground to 2010, but not at the same disastrous pace as January and February did. There is some good news, as last April was rather weak and there's a chance 2011 could actually gain ground. After all, only Clash of the Titans earned $100 million last year (although Date Night came awfully close). This year, there are three or four films that could hit the century mark. That would be welcome news indeed. On a side note, April is usually a bit of a dumping ground as studios fear going head-to-head with summer blockbusters opening in May. However, I get the feeling that this year they are hoping to extend summer by having it open a couple of weeks early. Maybe they'll succeed.
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