

By Leonard Klady Klady@moviecitynews.com
Witch Way to the Front
Race to Witch Mountain ambled to the top of weekend ticket sales with an estimated $24.8 million. The frame’s other national debuts also showed predictable potency. The horror remake Last House on the Left ranked third with a $14.6 million gross and the twenty-something comedy Miss March mustered $2.3 million.
Additionally there were a slew of limited releases entering the fray; most noticeably a sturdy $211,000 bow for the Sundance-preemed Sunshine Cleaning at four venues. Also upbeat was the two-screen, $25,200 box office for Tokyo Sonata and a $36,300 tally for the doc Brothers at War from seven screens.
Coupled with the sizeable sophomore drop of Watchmen it added up to overall average returns and that, unfortunately, translated into the first comparable box office drop in three months. The industry has been justly touting the vigor of movie going while quietly fretting over perceived commercial weakness of the second quarter release schedule. Barring the unexpected, mavens are hunkering down for trying times through May.
The sequel to Disney’s 1975 programmer, Race to Witch Mountain, turned out surprisingly better artistically than anyone could have predicted. While that didn’t appreciably alter its opening weekend strength, it could pay off in handsome dividends in subsequent weeks even with the release of Monsters vs. Aliens in the offing. Witch Mountain now has the potential to cross over from family viewing to appeal to the young adult crowd. Exit polling indicated 45% of its initial audience was younger than 17 years of age.
Last House on the Left — also a remake of a bygone cult horror favorite — hit its audience target but doesn’t appear to have enduring stamina. Miss March also looks like a short-timer and the lineup for the next four weeks seems to populated with largely fungible fare.
Weekend business clocked in just shy of $100 million in sales that translated into a 15% decline from seven days earlier. It was a slightly steeper 18% erosion from 2008 when the opening of Horton Hears a Who grossed $45 million.
The 68% decline of Watchmen domestically wasn’t quite as dire as some pundits predicted but it’s hardly a cause for rejoicing. Considering the opportunity potential, a break-even scenario and few future exploitable components, this is money ill spent that sucks up the unanticipated rewards of Gran Torino and He’s Just Not That Into You.
Sunshine Cleaning’s opening salvo bodes well for the wry tale of young women in transition and has taken on unexpected resonance since its festival bow 13 months back. Plans for a ramped up expansion are already being considered but the fragility of the yarn may require considerable nurturing.
Weekend Finals: March 13-15, 2009
Title | Distrib | Weekend | % Change | Theaters | Cume | Wks | ||
1 | New | Race to Witch Mountain | BV | 24,402,214 | – | 3187 | 24,402,214 | 1 |
2 | 1 | Watchmen | WB | 17,817,301 | -68% | 3611 | 55,214,334 | 2 |
3 | New | The Last House on the Left | Uni | 14,118,685 | – | 2401 | 14,118,685 | 1 |
4 | 3 | Taken | Fox | 6,568,651 | -10% | 2858 | 126,752,054 | 7 |
5 | 2 | Medea Goes to Jail | Lions Gate | 5,108,532 | -40% | 2203 | 83,187,594 | 4 |
6 | 4 | Slumdog Millionaire | Fox Searchlight | 5,002,777 | -26% | 2578 | 132,602,820 | 18 |
7 | 5 | Paul Blart: Mall Cop | Sony | 3,119,151 | -25% | 2281 | 137,785,983 | 9 |
8 | 6 | He’s Just Not That Into You | WB | 2,939,484 | -27% | 1890 | 89,038,259 | 6 |
9 | 7 | Coraline | Focus | 2,718,231 | -16% | 1768 | 69,240,852 | 6 |
10 | New | Miss March | Fox Searchlight | 2,409,156 | – | 1742 | 2,409,156 | 1 |
11 | 8 | Confessions of a Shopaholic | BV | 1,941,638 | -37% | 1591 | 41,295,158 | 5 |
12 | 10 | Fired Up | Sony | 1,645,380 | -34% | 1518 | 15,430,103 | 4 |
13 | 11 | Gran Torino | WB | 1,505,408 | -26% | 1102 | 143,829,449 | 14 |
14 | 12 | The Reader | Weinstein Co. | 1,309,669 | -32% | 1002 | 31,887,248 | 14 |
15 | 9 | Jonas Brothers: 3D Concert Experience | BV | 940,270 | -67% | 968 | 18,241,586 | 3 |
16 | 15 | The International | Sony | 716,479 | -46% | 549 | 24,975,097 | 5 |
17 | 14 | Friday the 13th | WB | 595,165 | -59% | 780 | 64,361,909 | 5 |
18 | 18 | Hotel for Dogs | Par | 577,927 | -46% | 804 | 70,040,394 | 9 |
19 | 17 | Push | Summit | 539,468 | -53% | 615 | 30,564,529 | 6 |
20 | 16 | The Pink Panther 2 | Sony | 536,634 | -58% | 627 | 35,421,960 | 6 |
21 | 19 | The Wrestler | Fox Searchlight | 449,060 | -40% | 456 | 25,450,588 | 13 |
22 | 13 | Street Fighter: Legend of Chun-Li | Fox | 430,323 | -71% | 453 | 8,158,438 | 3 |
23 | 23 | Two Lovers | Magnolia | 403,154 | 5% | 134 | 1,632,251 | 5 |
24 | 24 | Bedtime Stories | BV | 384,016 | 4% | 295 | 110,485,991 | 12 |
25 | 21 | The Uninvited | Par | 352,095 | -22% | 411 | 28,133,091 | 7 |
26 | 27 | Entre les murs (The Class) | Sony Classics | 333,337 | 14% | 120 | 2,456,132 | 9 |
27 | New | Dede a travers les brumes | TVA | 313,188 | – | 72 | 313,188 | 1 |
28 | 31 | Under the Sea 3D | WB | 301,140 | 24% | 50 | 3,219,072 | 5 |
29 | 26 | Doubt | Miramax | 289,388 | -15% | 275 | 32,888,223 | 14 |
30 | 22 | Curious Case of Benjamin Button | Par | 270,835 | -38% | 281 | 126,532,358 | 12 |
31 | 25 | Twilight | Summit | 259,817 | -26% | 338 | 191,098,026 | 17 |
32 | 20 | Milk | Focus | 233,060 | -60% | 228 | 31,549,014 | 16 |
33 | New | Sunshine Cleaning | Overture | 219,190 | – | 4 | 219,190 | 1 |
34 | 32 | One Week | Mongrel | 205,414 | -9% | 64 | 596,847 | 2 |
35 | 29 | Marley and Me | Fox | 192,222 | -25% | 222 | 142,611,757 | 12 |
36 | 30 | Inkheart | WB | 187,856 | -25% | 289 | 16,840,355 | 8 |
37 | 28 | New in Town | Lions Gate | 187,336 | -31% | 239 | 16,554,406 | 7 |
38 | 36 | Underworld: Rise of the Lycans | Sony | 181,866 | -8% | 240 | 46,414,310 | 8 |
39 | 37 | Bolt | BV | 176,552 | -8% | 204 | 114,922,555 | 17 |
40 | 34 | Revolutionary Road | Par Vantage | 157,766 | -28% | 181 | 22,575,245 | 12 |
41 | 38 | Last Chance Harvey | Overture | 157,426 | -7% | 203 | 14,413,492 | 12 |
42 | 35 | Defiance | Par Vantage | 155,864 | -26% | 202 | 28,260,750 | 11 |
43 | 39 | Bride Wars | Fox | 149,771 | -2% | 186 | 58,134,881 | 10 |
44 | 33 | Frost/Nixon | Uni | 148,245 | -34% | 182 | 18,475,446 | 15 |
45 | 41 | Gomorrah | IFC | 141,383 | 6% | 39 | 776,006 | 5 |
46 | 44 | Che | IFC/E1 | 102,664 | 18% | 38 | 1,500,943 | 13 |
47 | 56 | Crossing Over | Weinstein Co. | 102,331 | 115% | 38 | 272,175 | 3 |
48 | 40 | Yes Man | WB | 82,141 | -43% | 102 | 97,554,197 | 13 |
49 | 42 | Valkyrie | MGM | 74,865 | -39% | 167 | 82,989,109 | 12 |
50 | 49 | The Unborn | Uni | 72,118 | -3% | 93 | 42,839,594 | 10 |
51 | 54 | Wendy and Lucy | Oscilloscope | 65,628 | 19% | 40 | 642,267 | 14 |
52 | 58 | Everlasting Moments | IFC | 56,947 | 41% | 13 | 113,767 | 2 |
53 | 46 | Jag Jeondayan de Mele | H & H | 56,259 | -31% | 15 | 504,264 | 4 |
54 | 43 | Waltz with Bashir | Sony Class/E1 | 52,317 | -40% | 82 | 2,126,007 | 12 |
55 | 55 | Fly Me to the Moon | Summit | 52,068 | -2% | 8 | 13,219,226 | 31 |
56 | 45 | The Tale of Despereaux | Uni | 50,924 | -39% | 118 | 51,031,214 | 13 |
57 | 53 | Je me souviens | Atopia | 40,343 | -35% | 18 | 137,203 | 2 |
58 | 48 | Polytechnique | Alliance | 38,899 | -49% | 36 | 1,334,594 | 6 |
59 | 52 | Rachel Getting Married | Sony Classics | 36,329 | -43% | 55 | 12,748,504 | 24 |
60 | New | Brothers at War | IDP | 33,142 | – | 7 | 33,142 | 1 |
61 | 70 | Deep Sea 3D | WB | 32,431 | 31% | 4 | 37,588,119 | 159 |
62 | 66 | Sea Monsters: A Prehistoric Adventure | NatGeo | 30,390 | 10% | 15 | 21,004,979 | 76 |
63 | 59 | Play the Game | Slow Hand | 30,052 | -35% | 16 | 163,372 | 3 |
64 | New | Tokyo Sonata | Regent | 28,345 | – | 2 | 28,345 | 1 |
65 | New | L’Empreinte de l’ange | Seville | 26,184 | – | 9 | 26,184 | 1 |
66 | 74 | Tokyo! | Liberation | 25,701 | 12% | 6 | 58,011 | 2 |
67 | 64 | Stone of Destiny | Alliance | 25,657 | -17% | 14 | 253,904 | 4 |
68 | 50 | Le Bonheur de Pierre | Alliance | 23,727 | -66% | 37 | 299,320 | 3 |
69 | 61 | Fanboys | Weinstein Co. | 23,727 | -29% | 27 | 585,604 | 6 |
70 | 63 | My Bloody Valentine 3D | Lions Gate | 23,235 | -28% | 55 | 51,569,187 | 8 |
71 | 69 | Magnificent Desolation | Imax | 21,019 | -20% | 5 | 27,807,536 | 182 |
72 | 68 | Madagascar: Escape to Africa | Par | 20,806 | -21% | 40 | 180,142,079 | 19 |
73 | 81 | Harvard Beats Yale 29-29 | Kino | 20,225 | 59% | 9 | 139,087 | 17 |
74 | 67 | Space Station 3D | Imax | 19,842 | -32% | 5 | 77,970,503 | 361 |
75 | 64 | Phoebe in Wonderland | Thinkfilm | 18,535 | -45% | 10 | 58,279 | 2 |
76 | 60 | Seven Pounds | Sony | 19,717 | -46% | 37 | 70,851,665 | 13 |
Source: EDI/MCN |
Estimates: March 13 – 15, 2009
Title | Distributor | Gross (avera | % chang | Theaters | Cume |
Race to Witch Mountain | BV | 24.8 (7,790) | – | 3187 | 24.8 |
Watchmen | WB | 17.6 (4,880) | -68% | 3611 | 85.6 |
Last House on the Left | Uni | 14.6 (6,080) | – | 2401 | 14.6 |
Taken | Fox | 6.6 (2,300) | -10% | 2858 | 126.8 |
Madea Goes to Jail | Lions Gate | 5.1 (2,320) | -40% | 2203 | 83.2 |
Slumdog Millionaire | Fox Searchlight | 5.0 (1,920) | -27% | 2578 | 132.6 |
Paul Blart: Mall Cop | Sony | 3.1 (1,350) | -26% | 2281 | 137.8 |
He’s Just Not That Into You | WB | 2.8 (1,490) | -30% | 1890 | 88.9 |
Coraline | Focus | 2.6 (1,460) | -20% | 1768 | 69.1 |
Miss March | Fox Searchlight | 2.3 (1,340) | – | 1742 | 2.3 |
Confessions of a Shopaholic | BV | 1.9 (1,210) | -38% | 1591 | 41.3 |
Fired Up | Sony | 1.7 (1,090) | -33% | 1518 | 15.4 |
Gran Torino | WB | 1.4 (1,310) | -29% | 1102 | 143.8 |
The Reader | Weinstein Co. | 1.3 (1,270) | -34% | 1002 | 31.9 |
Jonas Brothers: 3D Concert Experience | BV | .88 (910) | -69% | 968 | 18.2 |
The International | Sony | .72 (1,310) | -46% | 549 | 25 |
Friday the 13th | WB | .61 (780) | -58% | 780 | 64.4 |
Hotel for Dogs | Par | .56 (700) | -48% | 804 | 70 |
The Pink Panther 2 | Sony | .53 (840) | -59% | 627 | 35.4 |
Push | Summit | .50 (810) | -56% | 615 | 30.5 |
Weekend Total ($500,000+ Films) | $94.4 | – | – | – | |
% Change (Last Year) | – | -18% | – | – | – |
% Change (Last Week) | – | -15% | – | – | – |
Also debuting/expanding | |||||
The Wrestler | Fox Searchlight | .44 (960) | -41% | 456 | 25.4 |
Sunshine Cleaning | Overture | .21 (52,750) | – | 4 | 0.21 |
One Week | Mongrel | .20 (3,140) | -18% | 64 | 0.55 |
Brothers at War | IDP | 36,300 (5,180) | – | 7 | 0.04 |
Tokyo Sonata | Regent | 25,200 (12,600) | 2 | 1 | 0.03 |
Pontypool | Equinoxe | 11,400 (1,900) | – | 6 | 0.01 |
Z (reissue) | Rialto | 9,400 (9,400) | – | 1 | 0.01 |
Severed Ways | Magnolia | 6,700 (6,700) | – | 1 | 0.01 |
The Perfect Sleep | Cinema Epoch | 4,500 (4,500) | – | 1 | 0.01 |
Edge of Love | Capitol | 3,500 (3,500) | – | 1 | 0.01 |
Domestic Market Share – January 1 – March 12, 2009
Distributor (releases) | Gross | Market Shar |
Warner Bros. (15) | 421.4 | 21.10% |
Sony (9) | 293.7 | 14.70% |
Fox (6) | 272.3 | 13.60% |
Paramount (5) | 175.7 | 8.80% |
Fox Searchlight (4) | 166.3 | 8.30% |
Lionsgate (6) | 153.4 | 7.70% |
Buena Vista (7) | 121.6 | 6.10% |
Focus (2) | 83.2 | 4.10% |
Universal (5) | 75.1 | 3.80% |
Summit (3) | 50.9 | 2.50% |
Paramount Vantage (2) | 50.2 | 2.50% |
MGM (3) | 42.2 | 2.10% |
Weinstein (6) | 30.5 | 1.50% |
Miramax (3) | 21.7 | 1.10% |
Overture (2) | 14.4 | 0.70% |
Other * (56) | 27 | 1.40% |
* none greater than 0.35% | 1999.6 | 100.00% |