Weekend Wrap-up: Wreck-It Helps Fix the Box Office
November 5, 2012
Wreck-It-Ralph's opening was on the very high end of expectations, which was a pleasant surprise over the weekend. Also, Flight beat all but the most bullish predictions. Even The Man with the Iron Fists did a little better than expected. Overall, the box office soared 49% from last weekend to $138 million. It was also higher compared to this weekend last year by a very impressive 21%. November certainly got off to a great start. Year-to-date, 2012 is ahead of 2011's pace by just under 4.0% at $8.89 billion to $8.55 billion. After a couple weak months, the box office has shown great strength and it would take a disastrous collapse for 2012 to not come out ahead.
Wreck-It-Ralph turned out to be a big winner this weekend with $49.04 million over the weekend, which was the best opening for a Disney animated film, not counting Pixar's releases. Additionally, its reviews are amazing and audience reaction has been even better. Add in an impressive internal multiplier and all the evidence suggests a long run in theaters. It should certainly stick around long enough to benefit from Thanksgiving long weekend.
Despite playing in under 2000 theaters, Flight pulled in $24.90 million. In fact, it had the best per theater average over the weekend. Strong reviews and an equally strong internal multiplier point plus some room to grow in terms of theaters points to better than average legs. Getting to the century market is certainly a strong possibility. If the film does make it there, it will prove Robert Zemeckis hasn't lost any of his box office magic during his motion capture run.
Argo again beat expectations with $10.21 million over the weekend for a total of $75.86 million after four weeks of release. Its path to $100 million is clear, even if it is likely the film will be knocked out of the top five before then.
The Man with the Iron Fists opened in fourth place with $7.91 million. At first glance, this seems disappointing, especially compared to the other two wide releases. However, it was a relatively inexpensive film and even with mixed reviews, it should still make enough money to break even sometime on the home market.
Taken 2 was a surprise entry in the top five with $5.92 million over the weekend for a total of $125.59 million after a month of release.
Cloud Atlas was the best of the sophomore class earning sixth place with $5.38 million over the weekend for a total of $18.39 million after two. Perhaps it will find a more receptive audience on the home market, but there's little hope this ambitious film will break even any time soon. Silent Hill: Revolution 3D plummeted 59% to just $3.29 million over the weekend for a two-week total of $13.88 million. It was a relatively inexpensive movie to make, but I don't think a third film will be made, not unless it goes direct-to-DVD. Fun Size fell by 44%, which is better than expected, but it still slipped to 13th place with $2.29 million over the weekend for a total of just $7.45 million. It will all but disappear next weekend. The same fate awaits Chasing Mavericks, which made just $1.23 million over the weekend for a total of $4.36 million after two. Its per theater average is an anemic $605.
Filed under: Weekend Estimates, Cloud Atlas, The Man with the Iron Fists, Taken 2, Wreck-It Ralph, Fun Size , Argo, Chasing Mavericks, Silent Hill: Revelation 3D, Flight, Robert Zemeckis