“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

First Look~ Mariah Carey is “Almost Home”

It’s been around 5 years or more since I really loved a Mariah Carey song, but her latest, “Almost Home”, has brought me back for some Mimi love. The new track is from the big hit movie spectacle Oz the Great and Powerful and the video for “Home” just hit the web. Check it out below. The American Idol judge looks beautiful and the video shows some great footage from the film. For more on Mariah, head here, get the new song at all digital outlets now and watch her Wednesday night on Idol on Fox.

Mariah Carey “Almost Home”

First Listen~ Mariah Carey “Almost Home”

Fresh from her new gig as an American Idol judge, Grammy winner Mariah Carey doesn’t want fans to forget her primary job~ that of an iconic pop star. To wit, this week she release a brand new single, “Almost Home”, that also serves as the anthem to the big new Disney adventure Oz the Great and Powerful. The single is hopeful and contemporary and showcases more of her lovely middle register without all of her crazy high octaves. Don’t worry, you won’t miss them as this is arguably her best song in several years. “Home” is available now at digital outlets now while Oz the Great and Powerful starring Oscar nominees James Franco and Michelle Williams, Golden Globe nominee Mila Kunis and Oscar winner Rachel Weisz hits theaters on March 8…. Check out Mariah’s latest below and let me know if you love it and how you think she’s doing on Idol. (By the by, I’m enjoying her quite a bit in her full divalicious mode.)

Mariah Carey “Almost Home”

Get Ready to Return to “Oz”

As you all know, The Wizard of Oz is an iconic and incredibly beloved film. It’s been a touchstone in filmmaking for the ages and has inspired tons of books, works of art and a Tony Award winning musical, Wicked…. Now, Hollywood is ready to take us back to Oz with a new spin on the classic tale. This one is called Oz: The Great and Powerful and stars Oscar nominee James Franco, Oscar winner Rachel Weisz, three time Oscar nominee Michelle Williams and Golden Globe nominee Mila Kunis. Spider-man director Sam Raimi directs this adventure which could be considered a prequel to the original film as it follows a magician (Franco) who is flown away to the fantastical world of Oz during a tornado, and there he meets the three witches played by Weisz, Williams and Kunis. The first trailer for Oz just hit the web and it looks pretty fantastic. Check it out below and watch for the film to hit theaters next March.

Oz: The Great and Powerful