By Leonard Klady Klady@moviecitynews.com
Wardrobe Challenge …
July 15, 2007
Weekend Finals
Domestic Market Share
I Now Pronounce You Chuck and Larry celebrated an estimated $34.7 million to take a closely contested box office weekend. Also in the fray were the second weekend gross of $32.4 million for Harry Potter & the Order of the Phoenix and a debut frame of $28.2 million for the musical hijinx of Hairspray.
The session also included good returns of $370,000 for the Bollywood circuit entry Partner and a potent gross for the science-fiction rumination Sunshine of $223,000 from 10 venues. There was just OK response for the historical dramaGoya’s Ghosts of $150,000 and, in Canada, the comedy My Crazy Aunt tallied up $140,000.
Overall box office experienced a slight upturn from 2006 that was just enough to push seasonal revenues ahead of last year’s pace.
Entering the frame industry expectations were predicting that Harry Potter would prevail with Chuck and Larryclocking in with between $25 million and $30 million and Hairspray pushing hard to gross $20 million. Friday matinees tipped a far different result with the musical taking an early lead that began to dissipate as evening patrons began buying tickets.
Though there was initial concern that the two premiering pictures would appeal to similar parts of the audience and eat into each other box office, the reality proved far different. Chuck and Larry was the clear choice for young males whileHairspray drew predominantly a distaff crowd. Both films had strong opening day response and experienced slight drops on Saturday.
Meanwhile the fifth screen installment of the Harry Potter series saw its business decline by a larger than expected 58%; considerably more precipitous than it’s experienced in the past. The publication of the seventh and final book in the series likely drew away devotees and one will have to wait a week to see whether faster readers will return to the multiplex for a refresher course.
Weekend ticket sales approached $155 million that translated into a 16% rollback from seven days earlier. However, it stilled exceeded the 2006 frame when Pirates 2 held for a third weekend with $35.2 million and debuts of Monster House and Lady in the Water entered distribution with grosses of $22.2 million and $18 million.
The current weekend pushed seasonal box office to $2.62 billion compared to last year’s $2.61 billion for the same period. While the promise of a huge boost in movie going was predicted that clearly hasn’t occurred though continued incremental weekly tallies could ultimately result in a slight boost in admissions by the Labor Day deadline.
It’s premature to give Fox Searchlight the hat trick though there’s little question it’s propelled Sunshine to a hot start following of the heels of its niche successes Waitress and Once. Certainly no company can claim such terrific mileage this season on films with single word titles.
Weekend Finals – July 20-22, 2007
| – | – | Title |
Distrib
|
Weekend
|
% Chan
|
Theaters
|
Cume
|
Wks
|
|
1
|
New
|
I Now Pronounce You Chuck & Larry |
Uni
|
34,233,750
|
–
|
3495
|
34,233,750
|
1
|
|
2
|
1
|
Harry Potter & the Order of Phoenix |
WB
|
32,511,350
|
-58%
|
4285
|
207,866,865
|
2
|
|
3
|
New
|
Hairspray |
New Line
|
27,476,745
|
–
|
3121
|
27,476,745
|
1
|
|
4
|
2
|
Transformers |
Par
|
20,514,497
|
-45%
|
3762
|
262,978,000
|
3
|
|
5
|
3
|
Ratatouille |
BV
|
10,899,179
|
-39%
|
3402
|
165,519,955
|
4
|
|
6
|
4
|
Live Free or Die Hard |
Fox
|
7,101,638
|
-37%
|
2727
|
116,267,866
|
4
|
|
7
|
5
|
License to Wed |
WB
|
3,577,230
|
-51%
|
2525
|
38,495,133
|
3
|
|
8
|
6
|
1408 |
MGM
|
2,621,194
|
-47%
|
1451
|
67,453,524
|
5
|
|
9
|
7
|
Evan Almighty |
Uni
|
2,552,890
|
-48%
|
1779
|
93,567,015
|
5
|
|
10
|
8
|
Knocked Up |
Uni
|
2,292,640
|
-38%
|
1288
|
142,698,885
|
8
|
|
11
|
9
|
Sicko |
LGF/Alliance
|
1,945,723
|
-25%
|
1117
|
19,185,853
|
5
|
|
12
|
10
|
Ocean’s Thirteen |
WB
|
1,012,427
|
-49%
|
750
|
114,533,366
|
7
|
|
13
|
11
|
Fantastic Four: Rise of Silver Surfer |
Fox
|
751,826
|
-54%
|
601
|
128,879,368
|
6
|
|
14
|
13
|
Pirates of Caribbean: At World’s End |
BVI
|
730,059
|
-48%
|
517
|
306,034,458
|
9
|
|
15
|
New
|
Partner |
Eros
|
584,285
|
–
|
58
|
584,285
|
1
|
|
16
|
17
|
La Vie en Rose |
TVA/Pictureho
|
405,474
|
-25%
|
179
|
7,427,625
|
18
|
|
17
|
14
|
Evening |
Focus
|
397,034
|
-66%
|
396
|
12,004,435
|
4
|
|
18
|
15
|
Shrek the Third |
Par
|
384,110
|
-42%
|
408
|
318,937,940
|
10
|
|
19
|
19
|
Talk to Me |
Focus
|
355,680
|
-11%
|
36
|
909,289
|
2
|
|
20
|
21
|
Rescue Dawn |
MGM
|
349,842
|
-4%
|
57
|
1,117,279
|
3
|
|
21
|
12
|
Captivity |
FreeStyle
|
318,545
|
-78%
|
754
|
2,423,760
|
2
|
|
22
|
18
|
Spider-Man 3 |
Sony
|
315,483
|
-38%
|
318
|
335,625,539
|
12
|
|
23
|
16
|
You Kill Me |
IFC
|
306,609
|
-48%
|
252
|
2,064,987
|
5
|
|
24
|
22
|
Once |
Fox Searchlight
|
288,087
|
-12%
|
112
|
5,541,181
|
10
|
|
25
|
New
|
Sunshine |
Fox Searchlight
|
242,964
|
–
|
10
|
242,964
|
1
|
|
26
|
62
|
Meet the Robinsons |
BV
|
220,955
|
1266%
|
231
|
97,002,175
|
17
|
|
27
|
23
|
Surf’s Up |
Sony
|
190,516
|
-38%
|
241
|
57,329,096
|
7
|
|
28
|
New
|
Ma Tante Aline |
Alliance
|
182,288
|
–
|
65
|
182,288
|
1
|
|
29
|
31
|
Deep Sea 3-D |
WB
|
171,636
|
4%
|
30
|
30,159,876
|
73
|
|
30
|
20
|
Nancy Drew |
WB
|
171,076
|
-56%
|
225
|
24,654,006
|
6
|
|
31
|
24
|
Waitress |
Fox Searchlight
|
167,923
|
-38%
|
165
|
18,223,592
|
12
|
|
32
|
New
|
Goya’s Ghosts |
IDP
|
159,671
|
–
|
49
|
159,671
|
1
|
|
33
|
29
|
Wild Hogs |
BV
|
157,456
|
-18%
|
221
|
168,005,066
|
21
|
|
55
|
The Lives of Others |
Sony Classics
|
153,721
|
487%
|
253
|
11,032,457
|
24
|
|
|
35
|
25
|
Nitro |
Alliance
|
127,041
|
-43%
|
74
|
2,850,690
|
4
|
|
36
|
27
|
Disturbia |
Par
|
115,691
|
-42%
|
190
|
79,886,463
|
15
|
|
37
|
34
|
Broken English |
Magnolia
|
89,940
|
6%
|
39
|
490,890
|
4
|
|
38
|
30
|
Paris je t’aime |
First Look
|
89,163
|
-39%
|
64
|
4,608,310
|
11
|
|
39
|
43
|
My Best Friend |
IFC/Christal
|
84,728
|
87%
|
13
|
152,858
|
2
|
|
40
|
28
|
A Mighty Heart |
Par Vantage
|
75,817
|
-62%
|
107
|
9,016,723
|
5
|
|
41
|
33
|
Introducing the Dwights |
WIP
|
72,458
|
-23%
|
70
|
263,040
|
3
|
|
42
|
32
|
Blades of Glory |
Par
|
66,046
|
-33%
|
139
|
118,425,692
|
17
|
|
43
|
RE
|
Hostel Part II |
Lions Gate
|
65,634
|
–
|
149
|
17,657,661
|
7
|
|
44
|
36
|
Lady Chatterley |
Kino
|
62,293
|
-14%
|
22
|
296,266
|
5
|
|
45
|
35
|
Golden Door |
Miramax
|
57,174
|
-27%
|
33
|
799,673
|
9
|
|
46
|
48
|
Interview |
Sony Classics
|
55,612
|
36%
|
19
|
119,282
|
2
|
|
47
|
40
|
Dinosaurs: Giants of Patagonia |
Sky High
|
52,158
|
-1%
|
9
|
760,147
|
17
|
|
48
|
37
|
Are We Done Yet? |
Sony
|
50,502
|
-30%
|
102
|
50,105,631
|
16
|
|
49
|
41
|
Magnificent Desolation |
Imax
|
47,520
|
3%
|
7
|
20,260,872
|
95
|
|
50
|
45
|
Wild Safari 3-D |
nWave
|
43,350
|
0%
|
10
|
14,103,937
|
120
|
|
51
|
26
|
Joshua |
Fox Searchlight
|
41,456
|
-81%
|
47
|
442,201
|
3
|
|
52
|
38
|
Mr. Brooks |
MGM
|
33,498
|
-46%
|
78
|
28,211,852
|
8
|
|
53
|
RE
|
Day Watch |
Fox Searchlight
|
24,459
|
–
|
21
|
428,837
|
8
|
|
54
|
46
|
Hot Fuzz |
Focus
|
21,682
|
-49%
|
51
|
23,618,786
|
14
|
|
55
|
47
|
28 Weeks Later |
Fox
|
20,960
|
-51%
|
39
|
28,655,532
|
11
|
|
56
|
57
|
Paprika |
Sony Classics
|
19,938
|
-20%
|
32
|
720,502
|
9
|
|
57
|
53
|
Sivaji |
Ayngaran
|
19,845
|
-27%
|
6
|
701,864
|
6
|
|
58
|
61
|
Gypsy Caravan |
Shadow
|
18,072
|
8%
|
8
|
164,096
|
6
|
|
59
|
54
|
Black Book |
Sony Classics
|
17,105
|
-35%
|
18
|
4,358,593
|
16
|
|
60
|
60
|
Roving Mars |
BV
|
16,853
|
-4%
|
9
|
7,697,434
|
78
|
| Source: Nielsen EDI; MCN | ||||||||
Estimates – July 20-22, 2007
| Title |
Distributor
|
Gross (average)
|
% chan
|
Theaters
|
Cume
|
| I Now Pronounce You Chuck & Larry |
Uni
|
34.7 (9,930)
|
–
|
3495
|
34.7
|
| Harry Potter & the Order of the Phoenix |
WB
|
32.4 (7,560)
|
-58%
|
4285
|
207.7
|
| Hairspray |
New Line
|
28.2 (9,040)
|
–
|
3121
|
28.2
|
| Transformers |
Par
|
20.4 (5,410)
|
-45%
|
3762
|
262.8
|
| Ratatouille |
BV
|
10.9 (3,210)
|
-39%
|
3402
|
165.6
|
| Live Free or Die Hard |
Fox
|
7.2 (2,640)
|
-36%
|
2727
|
116.4
|
| License to Wed |
WB
|
3.7 (1,450)
|
-50%
|
2525
|
38.6
|
| Evan Almighty |
Uni
|
2.5 (1,390)
|
-49%
|
1779
|
93.5
|
| 1408 |
MGM
|
2.4 (1,660)
|
-51%
|
1451
|
67.3
|
| Knocked Up |
Uni
|
2.2 (1,270)
|
-41%
|
1715
|
142.6
|
| Sicko |
LGF/Alliance
|
1.8 (1,640)
|
-30%
|
1117
|
19.1
|
| Ocean’s Thirteen |
WB
|
1.0 (1,360)
|
-49%
|
750
|
114.5
|
| Pirates of Caribbean: At World’s End |
BV
|
.72 (1,390)
|
-48%
|
517
|
306
|
| Fantastic Four: Rise of Silver Surfer |
Fox
|
.68 (1,130)
|
-58%
|
601
|
129.8
|
| Evening |
Focus
|
.42 (1,060)
|
-64%
|
396
|
12
|
| Partner |
Eros
|
.37 (6,320)
|
–
|
58
|
0.37
|
| Rescue Dawn |
MGM
|
.35 (6,100)
|
-4%
|
57
|
1.1
|
| Shrek the Third |
Par
|
.34 (840)
|
-48%
|
644
|
318.3
|
| Talk to Me |
Focus
|
.33 (9,250)
|
-17%
|
36
|
0.88
|
| Captivity |
Lions Gate
|
.33 (360)
|
-77%
|
917
|
2.4
|
| Weekend Total ($500,000+ Films) |
$148.80
|
–
|
–
|
–
|
|
| % Change (Last Year) |
–
|
3%
|
–
|
–
|
–
|
| % Change (Last Week) |
–
|
-16%
|
–
|
–
|
–
|
| Also debuting/expanding | |||||
| You Kill Me |
IFC
|
.29 (1,162)
|
-50%
|
253
|
2
|
| Sunshine |
Searchlight
|
.22 (22,340)
|
–
|
10
|
0.22
|
| Goya’s Ghosts |
IDP
|
.15 (3,020)
|
–
|
49
|
0.15
|
| My Crazy Aunt |
Odeon
|
.14 (4,030)
|
–
|
35
|
0.14
|
| Cashback |
Magnolia
|
12,800 (1,420)
|
–
|
9
|
0.01
|
| David & Layla |
D & L
|
11,500 (1,640)
|
–
|
7
|
0.01
|
| Falling for Grace |
Slow Hand
|
3,800 (3,800)
|
–
|
1
|
0.01
|
Top Limited Grossers: To July 19, 2007
| Title |
Distributor
|
Gross
|
| Waitress |
Fox Searchlig
|
18,055,669
|
| Sicko |
Lions Gt/Allia
|
17,240,130
|
| Notes on a Scandal |
Fox Searchlig
|
16,889,774
|
| The Last King of Scotland |
Fox Searchlig
|
13,987,084
|
| The Namesake |
Fox Searchlig
|
13,548,912
|
| The Lives of Others |
Sony Classic
|
10,878,736
|
| Volver |
Sony Class/S
|
8,667,708
|
| Deep Sea 3-D |
WB
|
7,844,640
|
| The Painted Veil |
WIP
|
7,552,537
|
| La Vie en Rose |
TVA/Pictureh
|
7,022,151
|
| Away from Her |
Mongrel/Lions
|
5,639,584
|
| Once |
Fox Searchlig
|
5,253,094
|
| Curse of the Golden Flower |
Sony Classic
|
5,046,481
|
| Paris je t’aime |
First Look
|
4,519,147
|
| Black Book |
Sony Classic
|
4,353,361
|
| Magnificent Desolation |
Imax
|
3,492,133
|
| Venus |
Mrmx
|
3,233,893
|
| Little Children |
NLC
|
2,987,970
|
| Miss Potter |
MGM
|
2,978,905
|
| Peaceful Warrior (reissue) |
Uni
|
2,941,659
|
| * none greater than 756 playdates | ||
Domestic Market Share: To July 19, 2007
| Distributor (Releases) |
Gross
|
Market Share
|
| Paramount (14) | 1092.3 |
20.00%
|
| Sony (17) | 880.4 |
16.20%
|
| Buena Vista (14) | 852.8 |
15.60%
|
| Warner Bros. (21) | 814.9 |
14.90%
|
| Fox (15) | 518.3 |
9.50%
|
| Universal (11) | 453.1 |
8.30%
|
| MGM (14) | 175.9 |
3.20%
|
| Lions Gate (12) | 117.9 |
2.20%
|
| New Line (6) | 108.9 |
2.00%
|
| Fox Searchlight (10) | 82.3 |
1.50%
|
| Focus (4) | 52.2 |
1.00%
|
| Picturehouse (3) | 45.2 |
0.80%
|
| Miramax (6) | 44.2 |
0.80%
|
| Par Vantage (4) | 34.3 |
0.60%
|
| Sony Classics (12) | 32.7 |
0.60%
|
| Other * (151) | 149.9 |
2.80%
|
| * none greater than 0.5% | 5455.3 |
100.00%
|
