One thing to consider when you look at this week’s numbers: Rise of the Planet of the Apes earned $54 million WITHOUT higher-priced 3D screenings. It seemed weird that they wouldn’t make it in 3D, but nice that I didn’t have to watch it in 3D (Captain America‘s 3D was like wearing sunglasses at night — sucked). But if you compare ROTPOTA to higher-grossing movies like Thor ($61 million with 60% of that from 3D) and Captain America ($65 million with 40% 3D), it was actually better attended. And it was better. I don’t know how it came to be that Fox made two of the best blockbusters this summer (ROTPOTA and X-Men: First Class), but it’s weirding me out. I want my country back. Okay, they also made Mr. Popper’s Penguins. Phew. For a second there, I thought I was going to have to put a cat pillow in the dog house.
Oh, and The Change-Up bombed. Shocking, right? Seemed like such a fresh concept, and everyone seemed to love it.
| This Week |
Last Week |
Title |
Weekend Gross | % Change | Theater Count / Change | Average | Total Gross | Budget* | Week # | ||
| 1 | N | Rise of the Planet of the Apes | $54,000,000 | – | 3,648 | – | $14,803 | $54,000,000 | $93 | 1 | |
| 2 | 2 | The Smurfs | $21,000,000 | -41.0% | 3,395 | – | $6,186 | $76,202,000 | $110 | 2 | |
| 3 | 1 | Cowboys & Aliens | $15,748,000 | -56.8% | 3,754 | +4 | $4,195 | $67,368,000 | $163 | 2 | |
| 4 | N | The Change-Up | $13,502,000 | – | 2,913 | – | $4,635 | $13,502,000 | $52 | 1 | |
| 5 | 3 | Captain America: The First Avenger | $13,000,000 | -49.1% | 3,620 | -95 | $3,591 | $143,182,000 | $140 | 3 | |
| 6 | 4 | Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows Part 2 | $12,160,000 | -44.7% | 3,175 | -970 | $3,830 | $342,801,000 | – | 4 | |
| 7 | 5 | Crazy, Stupid, Love. | $12,100,000 | -36.7% | 3,020 | – | $4,007 | $42,185,000 | $50 | 2 | |
| 8 | 6 | Friends with Benefits | $4,700,000 | -49.3% | 2,398 | -528 | $1,960 | $48,538,000 | $35 | 3 | |
| 9 | 7 | Horrible Bosses | $4,620,000 | -35.7% | 2,025 | -485 | $2,281 | $105,162,000 | $35 | 5 | |
| 10 | 8 | Transformers: Dark of the Moon | $3,015,000 | -50.5% | 1,854 | -750 | $1,626 | $344,173,000 | $195 | 6 | |
[via BoxOfficeMojo]
After the jump: FANTASY SUMMER BOX OFFICE standings.
Fantasy Box Office Standings:
Vince’s Picks:
1. Harry Potter ($168.5 million opening)
2. X-Men: First Class ($55.1 million)
3. Green Lantern ($53 million)
4. Rise of the Planet of the Apes ($54 million)
BOMB PICK: The Change Up ($52 million budget minus $13.5 million opening = $38.5 million)
Running Total: $369.1 million
Ben’s (The Ear Rapist) Picks:
1. Cars 2 ($66 million)
2. Super 8 ($35.45 million)
3. Zookeeper ($21 million)
4. Friends with Benefits ($18.6)
BOMB PICK: The Smurfs ($110 million budget minus $36.2 million = $73.8 million)
Running Total: $214.85
Brendan’s (Human Giant) Picks:
1. Transformers 3 ($98 million)
2. Captain America ($65 million)
3. Bad Teacher ($31 million)
4. Mr. Popper’s Penguins ($18.2 million)
BOMB PICK: Green Lantern ($200 million production budget minus $53 million gross = $147 million)
Running Total: $359.2 million
Bret’s (Grumpiest Man Alive) Picks:
1. Cowboys and Aliens ($36.2 million)
2. Smurfs ($36.2 million)
3. Spy Kids 4
4. Horrible Bosses ($28 million)
BOMB PICK: Transformers 3 ($195 million budget minus $98 million opening = – $97 million. A surprisingly decent pick).
Running Total: $197.4 million
Well unless Spy Kids makes like $200 in its opening weekend, it seems I have prevailed. I’d brag more, but last week I think I said I expected ROTPOTA to do between $30 and $40 million. Of course, that was before it turned out to be a dumb-but-fun movie. Who knows what it could’ve done if Fox hadn’t embargoed all the reviews until the night before the release. They treated it like a movie they didn’t expect anyone to like.