By Leonard Klady Klady@moviecitynews.com
Transformulaic!
July 8, 2007
Weekend Finals
Domestic Market Share
Transformulaic!
Shape shifting the box office, Transformers led weekend ticket sales with an estimated $67.8 million, more than doubling its closet rival Ratatouille. Anticipated as a major summer attraction, the film was given a wide berth save for the counter-programmed comedy License to Wed that ranked fourth overall with $10.3 million.
Additionally several films fared well in exclusive debuts including the psychological thriller Joshua and Australian human comedy Introducing the Dwights. Flag waiver Rescue Dawn proved perfectly timed for Independence Day with an opening weekend of $104,000 from six venues.
Hasbro’s venerable toy chest creation Transformers staked out prime summer box office real estate and dared anyone to deny its viability as a seasonal franchise. Nonetheless, following initial trade and press screenings, the verdict was that beneath the sound and fury it was a one quadrant movie confined to young males with a domestic ceiling that would struggle to reach $200 million.
Instead, since its Monday evening bow it’s grossed in access of $150 million domestically. According to Paramount exit polls show the audience to be split almost evenly between males and females and that it’s also 50/50 for above/below 25 year olds. Its momentum has propelled the studio to the top of the domestic market share chart that Sony had held since mid-April.
Also opening mid-week was License to Wed, a comedy about a marital boot camp directed by a rather intense Protestant minister. The picture opened to just fair business in a season that’s been light on humor withKnocked Up dominating the conversation.
The frame generated slightly more than $170 million in revenues for a 9% upturn from seven days earliier. It was however 22% behind 2006 when the second installment of Pirates of the Caribbean entered the marketplace at $135.6 million followed by a $21.8 million second weekend gross for Superman Returns. The drop is nonetheless deceptive as a result of the Independence Day holiday falling on Wednesday. Mid-week business soaked up some of the current weekend’s potency and July 4, traditionally not a big movie going day, was uncharacteristically strong in movie attendance.
The temper of the season is bucking the traditional trend of big grossing films creating a snowballing effect for box office of other films in the marketplace. Rather the tent poles are experiencing steeper declines and skittering off screen at an accelerated rate. Last weekend’s freshmen Ratatouille and Live Free or Die Hardat best experienced typical declines and certainly the former had a less resilient hold than previous Pixar movies.
The oft-delayed release of Rescue Me received a last minute push with a vigorous campaign for the true life saga of a downed fighter pilot’s imprisonment and escape during the Vietnam War. Playing on bygone patriotism translated into an impressive $17,330 theater average that bodes well for the films expansion.
Weekend Finals – July 6-8, 2007
| Title |
Distrib
|
Weekend
|
% Chang
|
Theaters
|
Cume
|
Wks
|
||
|
1
|
New
|
Transformers |
Par
|
70,502,384
|
–
|
4011
|
155,405,412
|
1
|
|
2
|
1
|
Ratatouille |
BV
|
29,014,293
|
-38%
|
3940
|
109,531,598
|
2
|
|
3
|
2
|
Live Free or Die Hard |
Fox
|
17,730,149
|
-47%
|
3411
|
84,424,123
|
2
|
|
4
|
New
|
License to Wed |
WB
|
10,422,258
|
–
|
2604
|
17,838,076
|
1
|
|
5
|
3
|
Evan Almighty |
Uni
|
8,719,135
|
-42%
|
3460
|
78,706,785
|
3
|
|
6
|
4
|
1408 |
MGM
|
7,088,979
|
-33%
|
2631
|
53,738,325
|
3
|
|
7
|
6
|
Knocked Up |
Uni
|
5,222,680
|
-28%
|
2213
|
132,089,425
|
6
|
|
8
|
5
|
Fantastic Four: Rise of Silver Surfer |
Fox
|
4,239,993
|
-54%
|
2618
|
123,881,586
|
4
|
|
9
|
9
|
Sicko |
LGF/Alliance
|
3,600,179
|
-20%
|
702
|
11,452,560
|
3
|
|
10
|
7
|
Ocean’s Thirteen |
WB
|
3,525,366
|
-42%
|
2102
|
109,145,316
|
5
|
|
11
|
8
|
Pirates of Caribbean: At World’s End |
BVI
|
3,008,962
|
-39%
|
1869
|
301,725,691
|
7
|
|
12
|
10
|
Evening |
Focus
|
2,374,904
|
-32%
|
979
|
8,378,433
|
2
|
|
13
|
11
|
Shrek the Third |
Par
|
1,537,841
|
-42%
|
1421
|
316,740,255
|
8
|
|
14
|
12
|
Surf’s Up |
Sony
|
991,175
|
-59%
|
1458
|
56,042,318
|
5
|
|
15
|
13
|
Nancy Drew |
WB
|
912,495
|
-51%
|
1124
|
23,247,916
|
4
|
|
16
|
14
|
A Mighty Heart |
Par Vantage
|
647,288
|
-59%
|
651
|
8,404,897
|
3
|
|
17
|
16
|
La Vie en Rose |
TVA/Picturehou
|
604,478
|
-1%
|
163
|
5,872,544
|
17
|
|
18
|
20
|
Once |
Fox Searchlight
|
439,648
|
15%
|
132
|
4,563,755
|
8
|
|
19
|
15
|
Nitro |
Alliance
|
418,625
|
-52%
|
122
|
1,905,863
|
2
|
|
20
|
18
|
Waitress |
Fox Searchlight
|
387,020
|
-17%
|
227
|
17,447,571
|
10
|
|
21
|
17
|
Spider-Man 3 |
Sony
|
303,553
|
-50%
|
310
|
334,344,283
|
10
|
|
22
|
23
|
Disturbia |
Par
|
302,010
|
51%
|
283
|
79,305,519
|
13
|
|
23
|
21
|
Wild Hogs |
BV
|
250,034
|
-12%
|
284
|
167,402,930
|
19
|
|
24
|
25
|
You Kill Me |
IFC
|
246,501
|
61%
|
63
|
828,994
|
3
|
|
25
|
22
|
Paris je t’aime |
First Look
|
206,052
|
1%
|
103
|
4,176,797
|
10
|
|
26
|
19
|
Mr. Brooks |
MGM
|
145,780
|
-66%
|
218
|
28,019,651
|
6
|
|
27
|
28
|
Deep Sea 3-D |
WB
|
142,455
|
10%
|
35
|
29,358,239
|
71
|
|
28
|
24
|
Blades of Glory |
Par
|
140,803
|
-21%
|
234
|
118,153,533
|
15
|
|
29
|
New
|
Rescue Dawn |
MGM
|
110,326
|
–
|
6
|
167,872
|
1
|
|
30
|
31
|
Are We Done Yet? |
Sony
|
98,144
|
-8%
|
174
|
49,811,781
|
14
|
|
31
|
26
|
Apne |
Shemaroo
|
82,544
|
-43%
|
43
|
327,516
|
2
|
|
32
|
30
|
The Invisible |
BV
|
80,376
|
-28%
|
151
|
20,436,987
|
11
|
|
33
|
44
|
Broken English |
Magnolia
|
75,390
|
114%
|
16
|
231,821
|
3
|
|
34
|
62
|
Delta Farce |
Lions Gate
|
73,686
|
396%
|
143
|
8,345,200
|
8
|
|
35
|
36
|
Golden Door |
Miramax
|
70,928
|
11%
|
28
|
601,816
|
7
|
|
36
|
33
|
Hot Fuzz |
Focus
|
68,566
|
-20%
|
140
|
23,472,882
|
11
|
|
37
|
34
|
Sivaji |
Ayngaran
|
53,619
|
-32%
|
10
|
614,183
|
4
|
|
38
|
32
|
Meet the Robinsons |
BV
|
51,675
|
-46%
|
71
|
96,697,389
|
15
|
|
39
|
New
|
Joshua |
Fox Searchlight
|
51,233
|
–
|
6
|
51,233
|
1
|
|
40
|
39
|
Dinosaurs: Giants of Patagonia |
Sky High
|
46,177
|
-20%
|
10
|
554,261
|
14
|
|
41
|
29
|
28 Weeks Later |
Fox
|
43,474
|
-38%
|
98
|
28,472,453
|
9
|
|
42
|
40
|
Wild Safari 3-D |
nWave
|
41,950
|
-10%
|
10
|
14,034,204
|
118
|
|
43
|
45
|
Fracture |
New Line
|
40,812
|
17%
|
104
|
38,932,038
|
12
|
|
44
|
41
|
Paprika |
Sony Classics
|
40,519
|
-8%
|
33
|
642,641
|
6
|
|
45
|
35
|
300 |
WB
|
36,337
|
-47%
|
70
|
210,592,590
|
18
|
|
46
|
59
|
Gypsy Caravan |
Shadow
|
34,953
|
131%
|
14
|
98,882
|
4
|
|
47
|
38
|
Away from Her |
Lions Gt/Mongr
|
34,645
|
-41%
|
56
|
5,549,589
|
10
|
|
48
|
48
|
The Lives of Others |
Sony Classics
|
33,172
|
13%
|
25
|
10,814,343
|
22
|
|
49
|
37
|
Ensemble, c’est tout |
Christal
|
32,582
|
-46%
|
14
|
403,927
|
4
|
|
50
|
46
|
Georgia Rule |
Uni
|
32,345
|
2%
|
77
|
19,015,109
|
9
|
|
51
|
43
|
Magnificent Desolation |
Imax
|
31,868
|
-17%
|
6
|
19,981,126
|
93
|
|
52
|
42
|
Black Book |
Sony Classics
|
31,585
|
-26%
|
30
|
4,296,532
|
14
|
|
53
|
27
|
Hostel Part II |
Lions Gate
|
30,919
|
-78%
|
68
|
17,640,371
|
5
|
|
54
|
53
|
Next |
Par
|
30,127
|
32%
|
45
|
18,228,211
|
11
|
|
55
|
47
|
Roving Mars |
BV
|
28,662
|
-5%
|
8
|
7,646,975
|
76
|
|
56
|
New
|
Introducing the Dwights |
WIP
|
27,734
|
–
|
4
|
43,085
|
1
|
|
57
|
57
|
Eagle vs. Shark |
Miramax
|
22,168
|
34%
|
17
|
142,513
|
4
|
|
58
|
50
|
Bridge to Terabithia |
BV
|
20,349
|
-24%
|
61
|
82,344,637
|
21
|
|
59
|
56
|
Lady Chatterley |
Kino
|
19,806
|
7%
|
4
|
107,689
|
3
|
|
60
|
55
|
Firehouse Dog |
Fox
|
17,404
|
-6%
|
36
|
13,881,654
|
14
|
|
Source: Nielsen EDI; MCN
|
||||||||
Estimates – July 6-8, 2007
| Title | Distributor |
Gross (averag
|
% change *
|
Theater
|
Cume
|
| Transformers | Par |
67.8 (16,910)
|
–
|
4011
|
152.7
|
| Ratatouille | BV |
29.6 (7,520)
|
-37%
|
3940
|
110.1
|
| Live Free or Die Hard | Fox |
17.5 (5,120)
|
-48%
|
3411
|
84.2
|
| License to Wed | WB |
10.3 (3,970)
|
–
|
2604
|
17.7
|
| Evan Almighty | Uni |
8.2 (2,370)
|
-46%
|
3460
|
78.2
|
| 1408 | MGM |
7.2 (2,730)
|
-33%
|
2631
|
53.8
|
| Knocked Up | Uni |
5.1 (2,320)
|
-30%
|
2219
|
132
|
| Fantastic Four: Rise of Silver Surf | Fox |
4.1 (1,560)
|
-55%
|
2618
|
123.7
|
| Ocean’s Thirteen | WB |
3.6 (1,700)
|
-41%
|
2102
|
109.2
|
| Sicko | LGF/Alliance |
3.3 (4,740)
|
-26%
|
702
|
11.2
|
| Pirates of Caribbean: At World’s | BV |
3.0 (1,590)
|
-40%
|
1869
|
301.7
|
| Evening | Focus |
2.3 (2,340)
|
-35%
|
979
|
8.3
|
| Shrek the Third | Par |
1.3 (900)
|
-52%
|
1421
|
316.5
|
| Surf’s Up | Sony |
.88 (600)
|
-64%
|
1458
|
55.9
|
| Nancy Drew | WB |
.85 (760)
|
-55%
|
1124
|
23.2
|
| A Mighty Heart | Par Vantage |
.65 (1,000)
|
-59%
|
651
|
8.4
|
| Nitro | Aliance |
.63 (5,480)
|
-42%
|
115
|
2.1
|
| La Vie en Rose | TVA/Pictureho |
.59 (3,550)
|
-4%
|
166
|
5.9
|
| Spider-Man 3 | Sony |
.41 (1,320)
|
-32%
|
310
|
334.4
|
| Weekend Total ($500,000+ Films) |
$166.90
|
–
|
–
|
–
|
|
| % Change (Last Year) | – |
-22%
|
–
|
–
|
–
|
| % Change (Last Week) | – |
9%
|
–
|
–
|
–
|
| Also debuting/expanding | |||||
| You Kill Me | IFC |
.24 (3,840)
|
58%
|
63
|
0.82
|
| Rescue Dawn | MGM |
.10 (17,330)
|
–
|
6
|
0.16
|
| Joshua | Fox Searchligh |
47,800 (7,970)
|
–
|
6
|
0.05
|
| Introducing the Dwights | WIP |
24,200 (6,050)
|
–
|
4
|
0.03
|
| The Method | Palm |
1,710 (1,710)
|
–
|
1
|
0.01
|
Domestic Grossers: To June 28, 2007
| Title |
Distrubutor
|
Gross
|
| Spider-Man 3 |
Sony
|
333,091,273
|
| Shrek the Third |
Par
|
311,065,826
|
| Pirates of the Caribbean: At World |
BV
|
290,742,707
|
| 300 |
WB
|
210,447,211
|
| Wild Hogs |
BV
|
166,659,593
|
| Night at the Museum * |
Fox
|
125,041,114
|
| Blades of Glory |
Par
|
117,702,519
|
| Ghost Rider |
Sony
|
117,257,346
|
| Knocked Up |
Uni
|
114,989,430
|
| Fantastic Four: Rise of the Silver Surf |
Fox
|
105,800,808
|
| Meet the Robinsons |
BV
|
96,438,208
|
| Ocean’s Thirteen |
WB
|
96,034,578
|
| Norbit |
Par
|
95,908,391
|
| Bridge to Terabithia |
BV
|
82,272,442
|
| Disturbia |
Par
|
78,601,385
|
| Dreamgirls * |
Par
|
66,370,036
|
| The Pursuit of Happyness * |
Sony
|
65,771,807
|
| Stomp the Yard |
Sony
|
61,591,536
|
| TMNT |
WB
|
54,149,098
|
| Surf’s Up |
Sony
|
51,313,901
|
| * does not include 2006 box office | ||
Domestic Market Share: To June 21, 2007
| Distributor (Releases) |
Gross
|
Market Share
|
| Sony (17) | 871.7 | 19.30% |
| Paramount (13) | 840.4 | 18.60% |
| Buena Vista (13) | 681.5 | 15.10% |
| Warner Bros. (19) | 580.8 | 12.90% |
| Fox (15) | 401.4 | 8.90% |
| Universal (11) | 381.9 | 8.50% |
| MGM (13) | 139.1 | 3.10% |
| New Line (6) | 108.8 | 2.40% |
| Lions Gate (12) | 102.1 | 2.30% |
| Fox Searchlight (9) | 78.2 | 1.70% |
| Miramax (6) | 43.8 | 1.00% |
| Picturehouse (3) | 42.2 | 0.90% |
| Focus (2) | 39.7 | 0.90% |
| Sony Classics (10) | 32.1 | 0.70% |
| Par Vantage (4) | 30.8 | 0.70% |
| Weinstein Co. (6) | 26.9 | 0.60% |
| Other * (132) | 109.6 | 2.40% |
| * none greater than 0.5% | 4511 | 100.00% |
