July 29, 2007
Weekend Estimates
Domestic Market Share

“Why,” asks Homer Simpson rhetorically, “would anyone go to the theater to see something they could see on TV?” Answer (diplomatically): Because it’s bigger, man.

The Simpsons Movie earned its big screen stripes with an estimated $71.2 million, roughly 40% of all ticket sales in the domestic marketplace. The unlikely American sweethearts created a sizeable boost in movie going leaving a trio of other national debuts scurrying for spill over business.

The kitchen romantic comedy No Reservations basted together a respectable $11.5 million to rank sixth but other newcomers suffered from the competition. The Lindsay Lohan chiller I Know Who Killed Me (why would anyone go to the theater to see something they could see on TV) eked out $3.4 million and the golf comedy Who’s Your Caddy? nipped into the top 10 with $2.8 million.

The frame also saw a torrent of limited releases including good results of $30,400 for French import Moliere in six venues and a single screen gross of $17,100 for This is England. The frame was heavy with non-fiction fare that ranged from Iraq (No End in Sight) and Darfur (The Devil Came on Horseback) to Vietnam protest (The Camden 28), ecology (Arctic Tale) and a bygone Hollywood scandal (Girl 27).

It was clear that The Simpsons Movie would be the top ranked film in the marketplace but none of the industry’s tracking services saw a top end of more than $55 million and most predicted about $10 million lower. Obviously its considerable fan base couldn’t wait to see the yellow-faced clan and put down enough change to generate the third highest opening gross for an animated feature behind the second and third installments of Shrek.

And if there was any question of the series’ global reach, its launch in 71 international territories silenced that discussion. Sunday estimates are projecting a $96 million gross with record-breaking animation openings in Germany and Australia and not too shabby returns in England, France, Spain and Korea.

Marking on the curve, both I Now Pronounce You Chuck & Larry and Hairspray‘s second weekend’s held well. The overall weekend total approached $180 million for a 17% hike from the immediate prior frame. It exceeded the 2006 tally by 39% when Miami Vice debuted to $25.7 million. The current season has evidenced a strong second wind that should continue with upcoming third installments of Rush Hour and Bourne in the wings.

No Reservations, based on the German film Mostly Martha, positioned itself as an adult alternative to The Simpsons and audiences decided to nibble on its modest offerings. However, Sony approached I Know Who Killed Me like a hot potato when its headliner Lindsay Lohan received a harsh media spotlight for her extracurricular activity.

There was also scant interest for Who’s Your Caddy?, an unofficial update of Caddyshack with the country club intruder coming from the ranks of rap music.

The session also saw good but not great expansions for both Rescue Dawn and Sunshine. In the present crowded marketplace it’s unlikely either of the highly lauded pictures has a chance of upping the ante as high as 1,000 playdates.

In the niches there were a number of surprises that included a potent single screen gross of $23,600 for the American indie Transformation and the aptly titled Iraq war documentary No End in Sightgenerating a roughly $15,000 screen average from two venues.

– Leonard Klady

Weekend Estimates – July 27-29, 2007

Top Domestic Grossers: To July 26, 2007

Domestic Market Share: To July 26, 2007

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