By Leonard Klady Klady@moviecitynews.com
The Day the Box Office Stood Still
A sturdy debut estimated at $31.4 million for The Day the Earth Stood Still wasn’t enough to stave an overall box office downturn as 2008 creeps toward closure. The session also featured an okay bow of $3.7 million for the seasonal Nothing Like the Holidays, which ranked sixth in the lineup. However, it was no show for the animated Delgo as it squeaked to a $470,000 gross from 2160 theaters.
With Christmas looming the action was centered on niche and platform releases keyed to the award season. One of the most anticipated titles on the Bollywood scene — Rab Ne Bana di Jodi — did not disappoint with an opening salvo of $1.1 million.
Similarly, a clutch of pedigree titles displayed potent initial strength. On a per engagement basis, Clint Eastwood’s “Geezer Harry” in Gran Torino was tops with a $45,300 average at six shootouts; the guilt-laden Doubt registered a $33,800 average from 15 confessionals; Che revolutionized $28,150 each at two venues and The Reader parsed a $21,500 average gross at eight sittings. Even in this crowded field the independent drama Wendy and Lucy managed a respectable $17,200 from two exclusive engagements.
But overall weekend revenues of roughly $92 million translated into a 44% decline from 2007 when the openings of I Am Legend and Alvin and the Chipmunks generated industry smiles with respective debuts of $77.2 million and $44.3 million. The year-to-date maintains a slim 0.8% edge from last year and the possibility that economic malaise could translate into annual box office that’s flat with admissions declining by at least 5%.
The remake of the 1951 science-fiction classic The Day the Earth Stood Still had shown considerable interest in tracking studies in the past month. Online advance ticketing on Fandango had the cautionary tale dominating with 51% of sales leading up to opening day and its appeal to young males was seen as a contributing factor in the push-back of the Will Smith vehicle Seven Pounds.
TDTEST also bowed internationally to an estimated $39 million tally including openings in 11 major countries where it ranked first in the marketplace.
Providing a Hispanic twist to seasonal cheer in Nothing Like the Holidays didn’t quite provide the intended crossover boost but the film could benefit from word of mouth in the coming weeks. Delgo — a rather adult tale of urban justice — simply failed to reach any sort of audience.
Once again Milk and Slumdog Millionaire — both recent award winners from critics groups — added theaters and maintained strong interest. They were joined by Frost/Nixon, which has also been enlivened by early kudos.
And that upscale field has ballooned in the current session with entries from Eastwood, Soderbergh, John Patrick Shanleyand Stephen Daldry. The quartet of freshmen entries all posted better-than-encouraging returns but each faces considerable hurdles in the weeks ahead and the odds of all of them successfully platforming into mainstream successes is, frankly, unlikely. In addition to upcoming mainstream competition, the films will be butting heads with other demanding niche titles including Revolutionary Road and The Wrestler, as well as such straddlers as Valkyrie and The Curious Case of Benjamin Button.
Weekend Finals – December 12-14, 2008
Title | Distrib | Weekend | % Change | Theaters | Cume | Wks | ||
1 | New | The Day the Earth Stood Still | Fox | 30,480,153 | – | 3560 | 30,480,153 | 1 |
2 | 1 | Four Christmases | WB | 13,074,470 | -22% | 3540 | 87,775,974 | 3 |
3 | 2 | Twilight | Summit | 7,951,131 | -39% | 3649 | 150,045,826 | 4 |
4 | 3 | Bolt | BVI | 7,464,282 | -24% | 3133 | 88,849,005 | 4 |
5 | 4 | Australia | Fox | 4,169,277 | -41% | 2703 | 37,767,253 | 3 |
6 | 5 | Quantum of Solace | Sony | 3,715,522 | -45% | 2635 | 157,583,232 | 5 |
7 | New | Nothing Like the Holidays | Overture | 3,531,664 | – | 1671 | 3,531,664 | 1 |
8 | 6 | Madagascar: Escape 2 Africa | Par | 3,181,231 | -37% | 2768 | 169,937,394 | 6 |
9 | 11 | Milk | Focus | 2,598,638 | 42% | 328 | 7,590,976 | 3 |
10 | 7 | Transporter 3 | Lions Gate | 2,351,229 | -50% | 2541 | 29,377,088 | 3 |
11 | 12 | Slumdog Millionaire | Fox Searchlight | 2,175,518 | 55% | 169 | 8,048,764 | 5 |
12 | 9 | Cadillac Ranch | Sony | 1,585,407 | -54% | 688 | 5,909,492 | 2 |
13 | 10 | Role Models | Uni | 1,543,625 | -40% | 1328 | 64,133,465 | 7 |
14 | 8 | Punisher: War Zone | Lions Gate | 1,383,898 | -68% | 2508 | 7,011,427 | 2 |
15 | New | Rab Ne Bana di Jodi | Yash Raj | 911,711 | – | 83 | 911,711 | 1 |
16 | 13 | The Boy in the Striped Pajamas | Miramax | 685,465 | -33% | 679 | 7,763,062 | 6 |
17 | 23 | Frost/Nixon | Uni | 626,377 | 247% | 39 | 873,836 | 2 |
18 | New | Delgo | FreeStyle | 511,920 | – | 2160 | 511,920 | 1 |
19 | New | Doubt | Miramax | 507,226 | – | 15 | 507,226 | 1 |
20 | New | Gran Torino | WB | 271,720 | 6 | 271,720 | 1 | |
21 | 14 | Changeling | Uni | 256,840 | -49% | 393 | 35,161,607 | 8 |
22 | 17 | Rachel Getting Married | Sony Classics | 221,323 | -22% | 151 | 9,560,874 | 11 |
23 | 25 | The Polar Express (reissue) | WB | 198,404 | 27% | 26 | 720,745 | 4 |
24 | 30 | Eagle Eye | Par | 198,135 | 75% | 320 | 100,639,704 | 12 |
25 | 16 | Babine | Alliance | 179,016 | -44% | 74 | 1,231,645 | 3 |
26 | New | The Reader | Weinstein Co. | 168,051 | – | 8 | 179,970 | 1 |
27 | 18 | Fireproof | IDP | 147,543 | -41% | 346 | 32,938,242 | 12 |
28 | 21 | The Secret Life of Bees | Fox Searchlight | 114,061 | -48% | 271 | 37,208,667 | 9 |
29 | 22 | The Dark Knight | WB | 112,253 | -40% | 205 | 530,723,626 | 22 |
30 | 24 | Synecdoche, New York | Sony Classics | 104,777 | -36% | 97 | 2,430,402 | 8 |
31 | 26 | I’ve Loved You So Long | Sony Class/Metro | 102,590 | -29% | 46 | 1,842,789 | 13 |
32 | 19 | High School Musical 3: Senior Year | BV | 101,527 | -58% | 260 | 89,302,354 | 8 |
33 | 20 | Zack and Mira Make a Porno | Weinstein Co. | 100,786 | -55% | 163 | 31,047,926 | 7 |
34 | 27 | Happy-Go-Lucky | Mrmx | 86,872 | -38% | 144 | 3,014,482 | 10 |
35 | 31 | Let the Right One In | Magnolia | 76,549 | -27% | 53 | 1,132,898 | 8 |
36 | 29 | Beverly Hills Chihuahua | BV | 70,981 | -38% | 173 | 92,338,383 | 11 |
37 | 32 | A Christmas Tale | IFC | 61,982 | -32% | 43 | 719,193 | 5 |
38 | New | Che | IFC | 61,070 | – | 2 | 61,070 | 1 |
39 | 33 | Lakeview Terrace | Sony | 52,260 | -31% | 140 | 40,091,053 | 13 |
40 | 28 | Soul Men | MGM | 49,944 | -63% | 95 | 11,966,888 | 6 |
41 | 36 | Max Payne | Fox | 45,734 | -18% | 121 | 40,589,549 | 9 |
42 | 34 | Igor | MGM | 45,700 | -30% | 118 | 19,389,266 | 13 |
43 | 54 | Vicky Christina Barcelona | Weinstein Co. | 40,479 | 72% | 28 | 80,864 | 1 |
44 | 38 | Sea Monsters: A Prehistoric Adventure | nWave | 40,333 | -20% | 21 | 20,086,485 | 63 |
45 | 35 | Nick and Nora’s Infinite Playlist | Sony | 32,737 | -44% | 101 | 31,894,655 | 11 |
46 | 40 | Burn After Reading | Focus | 32,481 | -28% | 57 | 60,301,580 | 14 |
47 | RE | Santa vs. the Snowman (reissue) | Imax | 31,184 | – | 13 | 190,776 | 5 |
48 | 39 | Wall-E | BV | 30,820 | -34% | 123 | 223,749,872 | 25 |
49 | 53 | RockNRolla | WB | 28,624 | 14% | 123 | 5,665,302 | 10 |
50 | 48 | JCVD | Peace Arch | 27,441 | -47% | 26 | 382,923 | 6 |
51 | 44 | Body of Lies | WB | 24,176 | -35% | 37 | 39,015,553 | 10 |
52 | 45 | Religulous | Lions Gate | 21,664 | -39% | 42 | 12,995,673 | 11 |
53 | 41 | The Duchess | Par Vantage | 20,169 | -55% | 66 | 13,859,147 | 13 |
54 | 46 | The Family That Preys | Lions Gate | 19,742 | -44% | 62 | 37,599,924 | 14 |
55 | 57 | Magnificent Desolation | Imax | 19,543 | -5% | 5 | 26,706,092 | 169 |
56 | 60 | Deep Sea 3-D | WB | 19,374 | 4% | 10 | 37,085,889 | 146 |
57 | 43 | Appaloosa | WB | 18,789 | -53% | 65 | 20,030,803 | 13 |
58 | 61 | My Name is Bruce | Image Ent. | 18,238 | 6% | 2 | 173,064 | 7 |
59 | New | Wendy and Lucy | Oscilloscope | 18,218 | — | 2 | 25,443 | 1 |
60 | 51 | City of Ember | Fox | 16,760 | -40% | 63 | 7,807,276 | 10 |
61 | 15 | Nobel Son | FreeStyle | 16,603 | -95% | 99 | 529,934 | 2 |
Source: MCN/EDI |
Estimates – December 12-14, 2008
Title | Distributor | Gross (averag | % chan | Theate | Cume |
The Day the Earth Stood Still | Fox | 31.4 (8,820) | – | 3560 | 31.4 |
Four Christmases | WB | 13.1 (3,690) | -33% | 3540 | 87.8 |
Twilight | Summit | 7.8 (2,130) | -40% | 3649 | 149.9 |
Bolt | BV | 7.6 (2,430) | -22% | 3133 | 89 |
Australia | Fox | 4.2 (1,540) | -41% | 2703 | 37.8 |
Nothing Like the Holidays | Overture | 3.7 (2,240) | – | 1671 | 3.7 |
Quantum of Solace | Sony | 3.7 (1,400) | -46% | 2635 | 157.6 |
Madagascar: Back 2 Africa | Par | 3.2 (1,160) | -37% | 2768 | 170 |
Milk | Focus | 2.5 (7,620) | 36% | 328 | 7.5 |
Transporter 3 | Lions Gate | 2.2 (860) | -53% | 2541 | 29.2 |
Slumdog Millionaires | Fox Searchlight | 2.1 (12,480) | 50% | 169 | 8 |
Cadillac Records | Sony | 1.5 (2,230) | -56% | 688 | 5.8 |
Role Models | Uni | 1.5 (1,130) | -41% | 1328 | 64.1 |
Punisher: War Zone | Lions Gate | 1.3 (510) | -70% | 2508 | 6.9 |
Rab Ne Bana de Jodi | Yash Raj | 1.1 (10,760) | – | 105 | 1.1 |
Boy in the Striped Pajamas | Miramax | .69 (1,020) | -33% | 679 | 7.8 |
Frost/Nixon | Uni | .63 (16.050) | 246% | 39 | 0.88 |
Doubt | Miramax | .51 (33,800) | – | 15 | 0.51 |
Delgo | FreeStyle | .47 (220) | – | 2160 | 0.47 |
Weekend Total ($500,000+ Films) | – | $88.70 | – | – | – |
% Change (Last Year) | – | -44% | – | – | – |
% Change (Last Week) | – | 13% | – | – | – |
Also debuting/expanding | |||||
Gran Torino | WB | .27 (45,330) | – | 6 | 0.27 |
Rachel Getting Married | Sony Classics | .22 (1,460) | -59% | 151 | 9.6 |
The Reader | Weinstein Co. | .17 (21,500) | – | 8 | 0.17 |
Che | IFC | 56,300 (28,150) | – | 2 | 0.06 |
Wendy and Lucy | Oscilloscope | 17,200 (8,600) | – | 2 | 0.02 |
Dark Streets | IDP | 9,600 (530) | – | 18 | 0.01 |
What Doesn’t Kill You | Yari | 5,100 (2,550) | – | 2 | 0.01 |
Timecrimes | Magnolia | 3,900 (1,950) | – | 2 | 0.01 |
Where God Left His Shoes | IFC | 2,600 (2,600) | – | 1 | 0.01 |
While She Was Out | Anchor Bay | 2,400 (480) | – | 5 | 0.01 |
Domestic Market Share – To December 4, 2008
Distributor (releases) | Gross | Mrkt Share |
Warner Bros. (27) | 1660.8 | 18.40% |
Paramount (16) | 1516.2 | 16.80% |
Sony (25) | 1215.9 | 13.50% |
Universal (21) | 1072.8 | 11.90% |
Buena Vista (17) | 929.8 | 10.30% |
Fox (22) | 862.8 | 9.60% |
Lions Gate (20) | 419.2 | 4.60% |
Summit (5) | 197.7 | 2.20% |
Fox Searchlight (8) | 196.8 | 2.20% |
Focus (7) | 130.1 | 1.40% |
MGM (16) | 119.3 | 1.30% |
Overture (6) | 95.7 | 1.10% |
Paramount Vantage (11) | 86.8 | 1.00% |
Miramax (9) | 68.1 | 0.70% |
Picturehouse (7) | 63.3 | 0.70% |
New Line (4) | 61.8 | 0.70% |
Other * (312) | 324.6 | 3.60% |
* none greater than 0.5% | 9021.7 | 100.00% |
Top Limited Grossers – To December 11, 2008
Title | Distributor | Gross |
Vicky Christina Barcelona | MGM | 22,524,653 |
Sea Monsters: A Prehistoric Adventure | nWave | 14,360,905 |
Religulous | Lions Gate | 12,974,009 |
Under the Same Moon | Weinstein Co. | 12,590,147 |
Miss Pettigrew Lives for a Day | Focus | 12,413,165 |
Fly Me to the Moon | Summit | 12,385,637 |
U2 3D | nWave | 9,642,039 |
The Visitor | Overture | 9,427,089 |
Rachel Getting Married | Sony Classics | 9,339,551 |
In Bruges | Focus | 7,800,824 |
The Boy in the Striped Pajamas | Mrmx | 7,077,597 |
The Orphanage | Picture/Christal | 6,894,612 |
Tell No One | Music Box/E1 | 6,468,156 |
Brideshead Reisited | Mrmx | 6,448,127 |
Slumdog Millionaire | Fox Searchlight | 5,873,246 |
Mongol | Picturehouse | 5,705,761 |
The Counterfeiters | Sony Classics | 5,488,570 |
Shine a Light | Par Vantage | 5,421,098 |
Dolphins and Whales 3D | 3D Entertainme | 5,163,693 |
The Diving Bell and the Butterfly | Mrmx | 5,064,793 |
Milk | Focus | 4,992,338 |