SUNDAY AM: The holiday movie season officially opened big this weekend with North American box office grosses up 29% over last year's. Moviegoers once again had a huge appetite for Hollywood animation, even when it's a sequel that broke absolutely no new ground with respect to the genre. So DreamWorks Animation's Madagascar: Escape 2 Africa distributed by Paramount had an even stronger opening than anticipated by movie analysts. It made $17.6 million Friday and $27.6 million Saturday from a very wide release of 4,056 theaters for a $63.5M first weekend including Sunday's estimated take. Yowza! That far exceeds the performance of the 2005 original, which opened to $47.2M for the three-day Memorial Weekend. And it smashes Kung Fu Panda's June 6th-8th three-day weekend take from 4,114 venues of $60.2M that set Dreamworks Animation's all-time non-sequel opening. It also turned out to be the biggest animated opening of the year above the $63.1M of Pixar/Disney's Wall-E. Paramount boasted that this is the fifth $40 million opening it has released in one year -- Cloverfield, Iron Man, Indy 4, Kung Fu Panda, and now this film -- and claimed it was a first for any studio's distribution division. Madagascar 2's success just goes to show that the strategy of making 90-minute toons is shrewd: not only can theaters get in a lot of screenings, but both parents and offspring can sit through anything that short without too much squirming. Once again, my pet theory is proven: that almost any animated film featuring characters with fur does better at the box office.
Universal released one of those rare R-rated raunchy comedies not made by Judd Apatow and it far exceeded movie analysts' expectations. The studio had projected no more than an $11 million opening for No. 2 Role Models whose tracking showed middling awareness but decent interest with the under-25 set (both males and females followed by older males). Even most rival studios thought the low-cost pic would make low teens. So it's a surprise that Role Models debuted with $6.6 million Friday and $7.5 million Saturday (+14%) for a $19.2M weekend. There's clearly pent-up demand for adult laffers and pairing Seann William Scott and Paul Rudd with director David Wain didn't hurt. (I'm told that it was Rudd who suggested the studio hire Wain.) "We've had success placing R-rated movies against family oriented fare -- American Gangster against Bee Movie, Wanted against Wall-E," a Universal insider told me.
Disney's High School Musical 3: Senior Year ended the weekend No. 3 by adding another $9.2 million for a fresh cume of $75.7M. I wouldn't be surprised if Disney decides to insure Zac Efron's six-pack abs for millions. Universal's Oscar-touted Changeling directed by Clint Eastwood and starring Angelina Jolie came in No. 4 with a $7.2M weekend and new cume of $20.5M. The Weinstein Co's holdover Zach and Miri Makes A Porno was No. 5 adding another $6.5 million weekend for a fresh cume of $20.9M.
As expected, The Weinstein Co/MGM's Soul Men tanked for only 6th despite starring the late Bernie Mac which should have enabled it to overperform with African-American audiences. But it eked out $1.7 million Friday and $2.4 million Saturday from 2,044 theaters for just an estimated $5.6M weekend.
MGM/Sony's Quantum Of Solace was the #1 film in every international territory where it opened this week. Its box office grosses also have been bigger in every territory than Casino Royale, which was Daniel Craig's debut as 007, with 13 countries doubling the 21st Bond pic's earnings. The sequel (No. 22) has now opened in 60 countries on 9,870 screens for a $106.5M weekend and new 10-day cume of $160.3M with the U.S., Canada, Mexico, Brazil, Spain, and Japan still to go. There should be $200M in the bank by the time Quantum Of Solace debuts in North America Friday. It enjoyed a record-setting debut in the UK, France and Sweden last weekend. Then on Wednesday it had the 2nd biggest opening day ever for a non-Chinese picture in China (behind Spider-Man 3) and scored the 9th biggest opening day ever in The Phillippines, the 4th biggest opening day ever in Indonesia, and 2008's biggest opening day in Belgium. On Thursday, it had India's biggest opening day of 2008 and the second biggest opening day ever for a non-Indian film (behind Spider-Man 3). Over this weekend, Quantum Of Solace scored within the Top 20 openings of all time in 35 territories.
Miramax's Oscar-touted Holocaust drama The Boy In The Striped Pajamas based on John Boyne's book, debuted in 17 theaters of 8 markets with $255K for the weekend. Lionsgate's Repo! The Genetic Opera, Darren Lynn Bousman's Paris Hilton-Paul Sorvino starrer, opened in 8 theaters for a $51.5K weekend.
Overall, it looks like a big weekend at the box office with total grosses shaping up to approach $145M, +28.8% from last year's $112.5M.
The rest of the Top 10 were holdovers:.
1. Madagascar: Escape 2 Africa (DreamWorks Animation/Paramount) $63.5M wkd from 4,056 theaters.
2. Role Models (Universal) $19.2M wkd from 2,792 theaters.
3. High School Musical 3: Senior Year (Disney) $9.2M wkd from 3,464 theaters. $75.7M cume.
4. Changeling (Universal) $7.2M wkd from 1,855 theaters. $20.5M cume.
5. Zack And Miri Make A Porno (The Weinstein Co) $6.5M wkd from 2,735 theaters. $20.9M cume.
6. Soul Men (The Weinstein Co/MGM) $5.6 wkd from 2,044 theaters.
7. Saw V (Twisted Picture/Lionsgate) $4.2M wkd from 2,829 theaters. $52.3M cume.
8. The Haunting Of Molly Hartley (Freestyle Releasing) $3.5M wkd from 2,576 theaters. $10.2M cume.
9. The Secret Life Of Bees (Fox Searchlight) $3.1M wkd from 1,481 theaters. $29.9M cume.
10. Eagle Eye (DreamWorks/Paramount) $2.5M wkd from 1,407 theaters. $96.4M cume.
It’s going to be a Madagascarian weekend. Here’s hoping for a 55M weekend B.O
Comment by Armand — November 7, 2008 @ 7:51 pm
Very happy for Role Models. Paul Rudd really is one of the best comedic actors in the industry. Big congrats to him.
Comment by 40yearoldstitzer — November 7, 2008 @ 11:31 pm
You will all bow to the power of the cute Penguins!
Kneel before Penguins (and Zod).
Comment by ReelBusy — November 7, 2008 @ 11:41 pm
Too bad… At this stage, shouldn’t we always be moving UP the CG animated ladder? This thing looks like it belongs in 2000.
Comment by Ugh — November 8, 2008 @ 12:34 am
Zack and Miri actually held up well week to week.
Boxoffice should really heat up with the release of the new Bond film and then Twilight the week after that!
Comment by entertainmenttodayandbeyond.com — November 8, 2008 @ 7:56 am
Nikki,
Ouch! Not a fan of the new toon are we;-)
Agreed though with your comments about talking fury animacs will guarantee high returns at the B.O
But then when has Hollywood ever got a sequel better with the 1st one? Better in terms of originality and with a new plot? ( LOTR doesn’t count here..ok!)
On another note, seems like 2008 is the year for ‘modern’ comedies. With the latest ‘Role Model’, it joined the likes of ‘Zack & Miri..porno’, Tropic Thunder, Step Bros, Pineapple Express in lighting the B.O. Wonder if we will be getting more of the same next year and the year after that. Afterall, Hollywood is well known to milk a genre dry if proven handsome returns until we tire of it. Emm….
By the way, saw Quantum of Solace in UK last week and all I can say, it better be the biggest Bond flick yet cause it bloody so deserve it. Simply amazing and fast pace. Sure, it has a couple of flaws but still retains its charm and wits. Daniel Craig is def the Bond himself if ever there is one in real life. No offence, but all that comparison with Bourne, which I enjoyed very much, is non-existence and crap. It’s 2 different movie with seperate plot and acting.
The new Bond is far better than any other Bond that I have watched. I am referring to Casino and Quantum being the best.
I do hope it will set the B.O on fire when it opens next week. I predict above 50M opening wknd. Friends in other countries saw the flick this weekend and all said how much they enjoyed the movie, and that it was playing at a full house and with multiple screenings.
Comment by Armand — November 8, 2008 @ 9:47 am
QoS will definitely set the BO on fire.
I have seen it yesterday in India. I have never seen an English movie with a packed theater on a Friday Morning.
Comment by Keere — November 8, 2008 @ 11:43 am
In regard to Soul Men, it’s bad enough to have one dead guy in the cast but to have two? Way too morbid for most so no surprise the movie tanked. Speaking of which, when is Hollywood going to realize Samuel L Jackson is a good actor but doesn’t mean shit at the box office? If he was a woman, his career would be dead long ago with all the flops he has on his resume.
Comment by Francine Fishpaw — November 8, 2008 @ 11:47 am
Role Models is just a hilarious film. David Wain is a great director, and must have Kevin Smith scratching his head.
Comment by john — November 8, 2008 @ 11:54 am
I don’t know that I’d use the word “uplifting” in regard to “The Boy in the Striped Pajamas.” I came out feeling like I’d been punched in the stomach.
Make no mistake, it’s a good, worthwhile movie. But it’s not for the faint of heart.
Comment by Reader — November 8, 2008 @ 5:12 pm
The Holiday movie season has started? Really?
Well I guess they do have the xmas stuff in stores already.
Guess I’ll just look forward to the summer which Hollywood also says now starts in April right?
Comment by Joe — November 8, 2008 @ 5:42 pm
If you want to make money, make a family-friendly movie. If you want to lose money, make another anti-Iraq war flick.
Comment by Geoff — November 8, 2008 @ 5:43 pm
I saw Clint Eastwood “The Changeling” today and found it to be a fine engrossing film. The Best of the Year thus far. For those second grade and lower critics who gave this excellent film a negative review they ought to round them up and cage them in a theater and make it mandatory they see “eagle eye” for the rest of the year. Angelina Jolie should have an easy actress nomination and Eastwood should have at the very least a Best Directors nod along with a best pic nom as well. For the critic that said “The Dark Knight” was going to be the film that replaces “The Changeling” as best pic this year all I can say is “UGH U” get out and see more films.
Comment by jdls08 — November 9, 2008 @ 12:57 am
Comment by jdls08 — November 9, 2008 @ 12:57 am
What’s your prov with DK? So you like Changeling, and the critics hated it. But don’t take your beef here and make stupid remarks about the fans who enjoyed DK.
Go away. This site is for those with intelligence and good taste. We don’t welcome freaks and Angelina-fanatics.
Comment by Armand — November 9, 2008 @ 4:15 am
Apparently jdls08 was too engrossed in the film to notice there is no ‘The’ in the title of “Changeling’.
Comment by James Finlayson — November 9, 2008 @ 9:46 am
I never saw the original Madagascar since I’ve had so many ups and downs with Dreamworks. Antz and Shrek were great films, but Shrek 2, Shark Tale and Shrek 3 just got progressively worse, and Kung Fu Panda was a poor film, too. Call Pixar overrated if you want (And I did have some problems with WALL-E), but I’ll trust them with Up over Madagascar 2 any day.
Comment by Squirrel — November 9, 2008 @ 9:50 am
Surprised by how much I enjoyed ROLE MODELS, as the trailers were terrible. While Scott and Rudd are the “stars”, the movie is easily stolen by Christopher (McLovin) Mintz-Plasse and Robb’e J. Thompson, the two “boys”.
And it’s shame about SOUL MEN taking. It’s a decent movie and an absolute must-see for Bernie Mac fans.
The film actually deals with mortality, to a certain extent, making it all the more poignant re Mac and Hayes. Not a great movie, by any means, but worth seeing.
And is there a sexier actress alive than Sharon Leal? Move over, Halle.
Comment by Dixon Steele — November 9, 2008 @ 10:39 am
“What’s your prov with DK? ”
Well mine is that it’s a piece of shit - shallow, sadistic, pretentious & clumsily told. Why, what’s yours?
Comment by Armand's Mother — November 9, 2008 @ 2:16 pm
Armand,James I am sorry. You guys were right. I shouldn’t say what I said about Dark Knight.
I am sorry once again. By the way, whoever made that comment using ‘Armand’s mother’ is a prick. It wasn’t me.
Comment by jdls08 — November 9, 2008 @ 4:26 pm
Dreamworks has done well with both KFP and Madagascar2, they were fun/solid films. However, IMO Wall-E is still head and shoulders the better film and blows both of them out of the water. Can’t wait for Quantum of Solace!
Comment by jarred — November 9, 2008 @ 5:49 pm
What’s your prov with DK? So you like Changeling, and the critics hated it. But don’t take your beef here and make stupid remarks about the fans who enjoyed DK.
Go away. This site is for those with intelligence and good taste. We don’t welcome freaks and Angelina-fanatics.
Comment by Armand — November 9, 2008 @ 4:15 am
There is always an asshole who appears on sites like this and Armand I suppose is representing that group on this site.
Comment by jdls08 — November 9, 2008 @ 5:50 pm
Good news about Role Models — I saw it on Sunday and have spent the whole day talking it up at work and with friends. I wonder if word-of-mouth will help it keep some money coming in against Quantum of Solace. (Which I’m planning to see opening weekend.)
Comment by Chicklet — November 10, 2008 @ 12:08 pm
Unbelievable! It is now officially the time of the emporers new clothes. This movies stinks. There is a funny scene but a funny scene does not make a movie. It is so silly how the lambs of our times are flocking to the death of film. Good bye cinema. Justin, Britney and Mandy have beaten Penn, Norton and Portman. It’s over.
The official death of the movie.
Thank you.
Comment by anHonestAnswer — November 10, 2008 @ 12:37 pm
Just wondering if Role Models had a white kid slapping a black lead actor, if that would fly?
I doubt it.
Comment by Paul — November 10, 2008 @ 1:18 pm