It’s a Great Debut for “Gatsby” at the Box Office

Baz Luhrman‘s stunning new epic drama The Great Gatsby based on the iconic book opened way above expectations this weekend with $51 million. That was a huge number for a historical film that is geared towards women but the appeal of Leonardo DiCaprio and Luhrman’s artistry clearly pulled in a lot of fans. I have to say I’m thrilled for the successful opening because I loved the movie. (The Great Gatsby is a fantastic American tragedy that is sumptuous and gorgeous to behold with fantastic performances by DiCaprio and Joel Edgerton. Grade: A) … While Gatsby‘s opening was great, it still could only manage second place as Iron Man 3 took in a huge $72 million in its sophomore frame for a big $284 million to date… The other new film opening this weekend, Tyler Perry Presents Peeples, tanked big time with just $4.8 million, the first casualty of the summer movie season…. We’ll see how Gatsby and Iron Man hold up against the new Star Trek film next weekend, but in the meantime, check out the new top ten below. And head to Box Office Mojo for all the numbers.

TW LW Title (click to view) Studio Weekend Gross % Change Theater Count / Change Average Total Gross Budget* Week #
1 1 Iron Man 3 BV $72,472,000 -58.4% 4,253 – $17,040 $284,893,000 $200 2
2 N The Great Gatsby (2013) WB $51,115,000 – 3,535 – $14,460 $51,115,000 – 1
3 2 Pain and Gain Par. $5,000,000 -33.4% 3,303 +16 $1,514 $41,608,000 $26 3
4 N Tyler Perry Presents Peeples LGF $4,850,000 – 2,041 – $2,376 $4,850,000 $15 1
5 3 42 WB $4,650,000 -23.2% 2,930 -415 $1,587 $84,732,000 $40 5
6 4 Oblivion Uni. $3,864,000 -31.5% 2,770 -660 $1,395 $81,655,000 $120 4
7 5 The Croods Fox $3,600,000 -14.3% 2,650 -265 $1,358 $173,215,000 $135 8
8 6 The Big Wedding LGF $2,500,000 -35.6% 2,298 -335 $1,088 $18,288,000 $35 3
9 7 Mud RAtt. $2,343,000 +8.4% 854 +278 $2,744 $8,363,000 – 3
10 8 Oz The Great and Powerful BV $802,000 -62.0% 774 -386 $1,036 $229,985,000 $215 10

Iron Man 3 Makes a Smashing Debut

Iron Man 3 smashed its way into theaters this weekend with a giant $175 million over its first three days. That marks the second highest debut in history after last year’s The Avengers. No doubt the good vibes from that film rubbed off on the third installment in the Iron Man franchise erasing the lackluster fan reaction to the second film. (Personally, I think Iron Man 3 was a huge improvement over the # 2. It was fun an entertaining if a bit overwrought and forced. I give it a “B” grade.) It should continue to do well over the next few weeks as the summer movie season kicks into high gear…. No other new films dared challenge Man, so the rest of the top ten were mostly holdovers trying to get some attention. One indie film, Mud the Southern drama starring Matthew McConaughey and Reese Witherspoon, did expand to just over 500 theaters and was able to crack the top ten though…. Take a look at the full list below and head to Box Office Mojo for all the numbers.

TW LW Title (click to view) Studio Weekend Gross % Change Theater Count / Change Average Total Gross Budget* Week #
1 N Iron Man 3 BV $175,300,000 – 4,253 – $41,218 $175,300,000 $200 1
2 1 Pain and Gain Par. $7,600,000 -62.5% 3,287 +10 $2,312 $33,919,000 $26 2
3 3 42 WB $6,210,000 -41.7% 3,345 -60 $1,857 $78,336,000 $40 4
4 2 Oblivion Uni. $5,797,000 -67.4% 3,430 -362 $1,690 $75,969,000 $120 3
5 5 The Croods Fox $4,225,000 -37.2% 2,915 -368 $1,449 $168,743,000 $135 7
6 4 The Big Wedding LGF $3,875,000 -49.0% 2,633 – $1,472 $14,210,000 $35 2
7 11 Mud RAtt. $2,150,000 -3.0% 576 +213 $3,733 $5,158,000 – 2
8 13 Oz The Great and Powerful BV $1,822,000 +0.6% 1,160 -450 $1,571 $228,568,000 $215 9
9 7 Scary Movie 5 W/Dim. $1,435,000 -58.2% 1,857 -876 $773 $29,603,000 $20 4
10 9 The Place Beyond the Pines Focus $1,298,000 -52.4% 1,162 -422 $1,117 $18,678,000 $15 6

“Pain & Gain” Doesn’t Have Much Muscle But Still Tops the Box Office

The new action film about muscle-head criminals (and the true life scandal about their actions), Pain and Gain, topped the box office this weekend with $20 million. It was a lackluster opening considering the combined power of stars Mark Wahlberg and The Rock, and the poor audience reaction does not bode well for its future. But, it still won the weekend over Tom Cruise’s Oblivion which added another $17 million for a decent $64 million after two weeks. Both films should take huge hits next week when Iron Man 3 crashes the party… One other film opened this weekend and was DOA as the star-studded romantic comedy The Big Wedding with Robert DeNiro, Susan Sarandon, Katherine Heigl, Diane Keaton and Topher Grace tanked with only $7.5 million. For more on all the numbers, head to Box Office Mojo and check out the new top ten below… The summer movie season can’t get here soon enough is all I’m saying!

TW LW Title (click to view) Studio Weekend Gross % Change Theater Count / Change Average Total Gross Budget* Week #
1 N Pain and Gain Par. $20,000,000 – 3,277 – $6,103 $20,000,000 $26 1
2 1 Oblivion Uni. $17,443,000 -52.9% 3,792 +9 $4,600 $64,731,000 $120 2
3 2 42 WB $10,725,000 -39.5% 3,405 +155 $3,150 $69,079,000 $40 3
4 N The Big Wedding LGF $7,500,000 – 2,633 – $2,848 $7,500,000 $35 1
5 3 The Croods Fox $6,600,000 -28.5% 3,283 -152 $2,010 $163,025,000 $135 6
6 5 G.I. Joe: Retaliation Par. $3,620,000 -37.2% 2,707 -468 $1,337 $116,396,000 $130 5
7 4 Scary Movie 5 W/Dim. $3,457,000 -43.8% 2,733 -669 $1,265 $27,494,000 $20 3
8 7 Olympus Has Fallen FD $2,768,000 -38.2% 2,334 -304 $1,186 $93,076,000 $70 6
9 6 The Place Beyond the Pines Focus $2,699,000 -45.1% 1,584 +42 $1,704 $16,205,000 $15 5
10 9 Jurassic Park 3D Uni. $2,310,000 -43.0% 1,848 -482 $1,250 $42,000,000 $10 4

Tom Cruise Tops the Box Office with “Oblivion”

Tom Cruise rebounded at the box office this weekend after the poor performance of Jack Reacher last December with his new sic fi flick Oblivion as it opened to $37 million. That was a good number, but not great considering how expensive the film is and the mediocre audience reception. Nonetheless, the film is doing well globally for Cruise and Universal and has another week ahead before the barrage of the big summer movie season. It was the only new release in the top ten as The Croods and 42 enjoyed strong holds. Take a look at all the numbers below and head to Box Office Mojo for more.

TW LW Title (click to view) Studio Weekend Gross % Change Theater Count / Change Average Total Gross Budget* Week #
1 N Oblivion Uni. $37,054,485 – 3,783 – $9,795 $37,054,485 $120 1
2 1 42 WB $17,721,410 -35.5% 3,250 +247 $5,453 $53,753,511 $40 2
3 3 The Croods Fox $9,235,295 -29.6% 3,435 -254 $2,689 $154,633,037 $135 5
4 2 Scary Movie 5 W/Dim. $6,150,584 -56.6% 3,402 – $1,808 $22,798,176 $20 2
5 4 G.I. Joe: Retaliation Par. $5,763,891 -47.1% 3,175 -360 $1,815 $111,200,157 $130 4
6 10 The Place Beyond the Pines Focus $4,917,545 +27.2% 1,542 +1,028 $3,189 $11,642,645 $15 4
7 7 Olympus Has Fallen FD $4,475,543 -38.3% 2,638 -297 $1,697 $88,776,795 $70 5
8 5 Evil Dead (2013) TriS $4,112,001 -56.7% 2,823 -202 $1,457 $48,456,951 $17 3
9 6 Jurassic Park 3D Uni. $4,054,285 -54.2% 2,330 -448 $1,740 $38,525,375 $10 3
10 8 Oz The Great and Powerful BV $3,004,644 -38.2% 2,045 -459 $1,469 $223,726,752 $215 7

“42″ Scores at the Box Office

Over the weekend, the new baseball movie 42 scored big with a much higher than anticipated $ 27.4 million. The film about baseball great Jackie Robinson starring Chadwick Boseman and Harrison Ford was a crowd pleaser (I gave it a solid “B” grade) and it easily defeated the underwhelming debut of Scary Movie 5 which only took in $14 million. Looks like that franchise is finally out of steam. The Croods held up well in its fourth week while Evil Dead plummeted 63 % in its second week. For more on their totals and all the numbers, head to Box Office Mojo. Then check out the new top ten below which also features the Ryan Gosling/Bradley Cooper indie The Place Beyond the Pines making its first appearance in the top-tier after expanding to just over 500 theaters.

TW LW Title (click to view) Studio Weekend Gross % Change Theater Count / Change Average Total Gross Budget* Week #
1 N 42 WB $27,487,144 – 3,003 – $9,153 $27,487,144 $40 1
2 N Scary Movie 5 W/Dim. $14,157,367 – 3,402 – $4,161 $14,157,367 $20 1
3 3 The Croods Fox $13,115,074 -36.5% 3,689 -190 $3,555 $142,439,144 $135 4
4 2 G.I. Joe: Retaliation Par. $10,894,415 -47.8% 3,535 -199 $3,082 $102,520,113 $130 3
5 1 Evil Dead (2013) TriS $9,488,302 -63.2% 3,025 – $3,137 $41,530,084 $17 2
6 4 Jurassic Park 3D Uni. $8,861,820 -52.4% 2,778 +7 $3,190 $31,970,985 $10 2
7 5 Olympus Has Fallen FD $7,250,084 -28.7% 2,935 -124 $2,470 $81,856,898 $70 4
8 7 Oz The Great and Powerful BV $4,859,958 -39.3% 2,504 -401 $1,941 $219,381,370 $215 6
9 6 Tyler Perry’s Temptation: Confessions of a Marriage Counselor LGF $4,503,102 -55.4% 1,805 -242 $2,495 $45,425,098 – 3
10 13 The Place Beyond the Pines Focus $3,865,687 +449.6% 514 +484 $7,521 $5,239,866 $15 3

“Evil Dead” Kills at the Box Office

The remake of Evil Dead made a killing at the box office this weekend taking in $ 25 million and already recouping its production budget to debut at # 1. The film held off a decent holds for G.I. Joe Retaliation and The Croods and the 3D re-release of Jurassic Park which took in a nice $18.6 million. Overall the box office was down again from last year as the industry awaits the summer movie going surge starting extra early with Tom Cruise’s Oblivion at the end of this month. We’ll see if he can regain his box office shine after the lackluster showing of Jack Reacher soon. In the meantime, take a look at the new top ten below and head to Box Office Mojo for more.

TW LW Title (click to view) Studio Weekend Gross % Change Theater Count / Change Average Total Gross Budget* Week #
1 N Evil Dead (2013) TriS $25,775,847 – 3,025 – $8,521 $25,775,847 $17 1
2 1 G.I. Joe: Retaliation Par. $20,875,389 -48.5% 3,734 +15 $5,591 $86,438,449 $130 2
3 2 The Croods Fox $20,651,694 -22.7% 3,879 -186 $5,324 $125,351,896 $135 3
4 N Jurassic Park 3D Uni. $18,620,145 – 2,771 – $6,720 $18,620,145 $10 1
5 4 Olympus Has Fallen FD $10,163,132 -28.2% 3,059 -47 $3,322 $71,236,633 $70 3
6 3 Tyler Perry’s Temptation: Confessions of a Marriage Counselor LGF $10,085,805 -53.4% 2,047 – $4,927 $38,469,146 – 2
7 5 Oz The Great and Powerful BV $8,010,234 -31.6% 2,905 -419 $2,757 $212,606,952 $215 5
8 6 The Host (2013) ORF $5,198,615 -51.0% 3,202 – $1,624 $19,624,328 $40 2
9 7 The Call TriS $3,500,248 -28.9% 2,002 -437 $1,748 $45,481,341 $13 4
10 8 Admission Focus $1,946,048 -39.8% 1,407 -754 $1,383 $15,265,596 $13 3

It’s Go “Joe” at the Box Office

Apparently taking more than 9 months to fix your movie, I mean add 3D to it, worked well for Paramount as the long-delayed sequel G.I. Joe: Retaliation opened to a good $40 million over the Easter weekend and $51 million to date. Those were pretty strong numbers for a film many thought didn’t merit a sequel. Joe added the star power of The Rock and Bruce Willis and easily defeated two other newcomers Tyler Perry’s Temptation and The Host…. Temptation opened along the lines of most Perry films with a decent $21.6 million while The Host (the latest YA from that Twilight hack writer) tanked with just $10 million…. Holding up the best over the holiday weekend was the family animated comedy The Croods with another $26 million…. For more on all the numbers, head to Box Office Mojo and check out the new top ten below.

TW LW Title (click to view) Studio Weekend Gross % Change Theater Count / Change Average Total Gross Budget* Week #
1 N G.I. Joe: Retaliation Par. $40,501,814 – 3,719 – $10,891 $51,008,689 $130 1
2 1 The Croods Fox $26,705,868 -38.8% 4,065 +19 $6,570 $88,887,945 $135 2
3 N Tyler Perry’s Temptation: Confessions of a Marriage Counselor LGF $21,641,679 – 2,047 – $10,572 $21,641,679 – 1
4 2 Olympus Has Fallen FD $14,147,416 -53.4% 3,106 +8 $4,555 $54,890,085 $70 2
5 3 Oz The Great and Powerful BV $11,702,316 -45.7% 3,324 -481 $3,521 $198,374,716 $215 4
6 N The Host (2013) ORF $10,600,112 – 3,202 – $3,310 $10,600,112 $40 1
7 4 The Call TriS $4,925,675 -44.7% 2,439 -68 $2,020 $39,605,891 $13 3
8 5 Admission Focus $3,235,263 -47.4% 2,161 +1 $1,497 $11,744,141 $13 2
9 6 Spring Breakers A24 $2,774,146 -42.9% 1,379 +275 $2,012 $10,074,433 $5 3
10 7 The Incredible Burt Wonderstone WB $1,343,025 -68.9% 1,575 -1,585 $853 $20,629,646 $30 3

“The Croods” Animates the Box Office

Sorry for the belated weekly box office post, I was working on a fundraiser all weekend and got behind. But I have the numbers for you now and it looks like 2013 has another hit on its hands with the new animated family comedy The Croods. The film took in over $43 million in its first frame and should have a nice shelf life ahead with spring break on the way for families to hit the movies… Also opening well and way over expectations was the new action film Olympus Has Fallen starring Gerard Butler (who finally has a hit) which took in $30 million. That’s great news for the star and FilmDistrict which has its biggest hit ever… Unfortunately, everything wasn’t rosy at the turnstiles as the new Tina Fey/Paul Rudd comedy Admission underperformed with a middling $6 million. Luckily it didn’t cost too much to make… Holding up well were Oz the Great and Powerful and The Call which is now Halle Berry’s biggest movie in ages. For more on all the numbers, head to Box Office Mojo and check out the top films below.

TW LW Title (click to view) Studio Weekend Gross % Change Theater Count / Change Average Total Gross Budget* Week #
1 N The Croods Fox $43,639,736 – 4,046 – $10,786 $43,639,736 $135 1
2 N Olympus Has Fallen FD $30,373,794 – 3,098 – $9,804 $30,373,794 $70 1
3 1 Oz The Great and Powerful BV $21,568,957 -47.7% 3,805 -107 $5,669 $177,097,090 $215 3
4 2 The Call TriS $8,900,935 -48.0% 2,507 – $3,550 $31,105,056 $13 2
5 N Admission Focus $6,154,984 – 2,160 – $2,850 $6,154,984 $13 1
6 27 Spring Breakers A24 $4,858,944 +1,747.5% 1,104 +1,101 $4,401 $5,265,802 $5 2
7 3 The Incredible Burt Wonderstone WB $4,321,388 -57.5% 3,160 – $1,368 $17,411,818 $30 2
8 4 Jack the Giant Slayer WB (NL) $2,949,101 -53.3% 2,560 -797 $1,152 $59,036,384 $195 4
9 5 Identity Thief Uni. $2,588,355 -41.4% 2,166 -676 $1,195 $127,770,300 $35 7

 

Moviegoers Hear the Call but Ignore the Magic

In another lackluster weekend at the box office, moviegoers said a big no thank you to a couple of comic superstars as the Steve Carrell/Jim Carrey comedy The Incredible Burt Wonderstone became the latest big bomb of 2013 debuting with only $10 million. That put the film in third place behind a decent hold for Oz the Great and Powerful with another $42 million (one of the few bright spots at the box office this year) and the new Halle Berry thriller The Call which netted $17 million. Berry’s film did much better than anticipated and with a low production budget could turn a nice little profit…. However as a whole, not much is exciting moviegoers this year, and as for me, the summer movies can’t get here fast enough…. For more on this week’s numbers, head to Box Office Mojo here and check out the new top ten below.

TW LW Title (click to view) Studio Weekend Gross % Change Theater Count / Change Average Total Gross Budget* Week #
1 1 Oz The Great and Powerful BV $41,252,704 -47.9% 3,912 – $10,545 $144,056,326 $215 2
2 N The Call TriS $17,118,745 – 2,507 – $6,828 $17,118,745 $13 1
3 N The Incredible Burt Wonderstone WB $10,177,257 – 3,160 – $3,221 $10,177,257 $30 1
4 2 Jack the Giant Slayer WB (NL) $6,315,262 -35.8% 3,357 -168 $1,881 $54,007,635 $195 3
5 3 Identity Thief Uni. $4,419,310 -30.2% 2,842 -160 $1,555 $123,606,175 $35 6
6 5 Snitch LG/S $3,504,618 -31.3% 2,353 +13 $1,489 $37,261,895 – 4
7 6 21 and Over Rela. $2,669,967 -47.6% 2,424 -347 $1,101 $21,918,740 $13 3
8 8 Silver Linings Playbook Wein. $2,525,603 -30.2% 1,602 -125 $1,577 $124,551,782 $21 18
9 7 Safe Haven Rela. $2,453,229 -34.6% 2,206 -335 $1,112 $66,911,039 $28 5
10 9 Escape From Planet Earth Wein. $2,339,419 -27.3% 2,211 -338 $1,058 $52,178,000 $40 5

Moviegoers Flock to “OZ”

The 2013 box office has been pretty dismal with only the Oscar contenders and Identity Thief really doing much business. However, this weekend, things finally turned around with the opening of the ultra expensive Oz the Great and Powerful which had a powerful debut pulling in $80 million. That was easily the best opening of the year and a sharp contrast to last week’s incredibly disappointing debut for the another ultra-expensive movie Jack the Giant Slayer (which tumbled a big 63% in week two). Oz should hold up well in the weeks to come with few event films in its wake. Oz also eclipsed the latest action film of the year to tank on arrival as Collin Farrell‘s Dead Man Down barely managed a $ 5.3 million opening…. For more on all these numbers, head to Box Office Mojo and check out the new top ten below.

TW LW Title (click to view) Studio Weekend Gross % Change Theater Count / Change Average Total Gross Budget* Week #
1 N Oz The Great and Powerful BV $80,278,000 – 3,912 – $20,521 $80,278,000 $215 1
2 1 Jack the Giant Slayer WB (NL) $10,020,000 -63.2% 3,525 – $2,843 $43,811,000 $195 2
3 2 Identity Thief Uni. $6,319,000 -34.9% 3,002 -228 $2,105 $116,530,000 $35 5
4 N Dead Man Down FD $5,350,000 – 2,188 – $2,445 $5,350,000 – 1
5 4 Snitch LG/S $5,100,000 -34.3% 2,340 -171 $2,179 $31,855,000 – 3
6 3 21 and Over Rela. $5,056,000 -42.2% 2,771 – $1,825 $16,840,000 $13 2
7 7 Safe Haven Rela. $3,800,000 -39.5% 2,541 -410 $1,495 $62,884,000 $28 4
8 8 Silver Linings Playbook Wein. $3,745,000 -34.6% 1,727 -109 $2,169 $120,749,000 $21 17
9 6 Escape From Planet Earth Wein. $3,207,000 -51.6% 2,549 -561 $1,258 $47,832,000 $40 4
10 5 The Last Exorcism Part II CBS $3,120,000 -59.6% 2,700 – $1,156 $12,083,000 $5 2