The Weekend Report: June 19, 2011

In Brightest Day … In Darkest Night

The emerald avenging Green Lantern debuted on top of weekend ticket sales with an estimated $52.4 million (including Thursday midnight shows). The session’s other wide national debut was the family targeted Mr. Popper’s Penguins that charted in position three with $18.2 million. The coming of age yarn The Art of Getting By opted for a medium wide launch that grossed $730,000 from 610 venues.

In the niches, the Tamil-language Avan Ivan generated a sturdy $81,100 from 18 screens while the Hindi Always Kabhi Kabhi fizzled with a $13,400 gross from 28 exposures. Another Hindi release, the comedy sequel Bheja Fry 2 was also disappointing with a $19,700 tally in 12 locations. In Quebec Gerry – the biopic of bygone rock ‘n roller Gerry Boulet – bowed with an impressive $363,000 following a Wednesday jump start that provided an $80,000 advance.

The noise among newcomers in exclusive release was all about non-fiction. The real horse whisper Buck had a $63,600 box office from four sites; hot off the presses Page One: Inside the New York Times grossed $29,200 from two engagements and the dance inspired Jig was up to $36,300, also at two theaters.

Overall sales bumped up 10% from last weekend with roughly $153 million in the till. However, it was also a 24% decline from 2010 when the debut of Toy Story 3 blasted the competition with an incoming $110.3 million.

The big push was on for Green Lantern, the DC superhero who received a successful comic book reboot more than a decade ago. His cinematic launch was more of a mixed result with tracking surveys anticipating an opening close to $60 million. Its debut once again reflected the season’s shifting, disturbing viewing trends. While Friday exits generated a not unexpected 64% male tilt, the crowd was only 37% under the age of 25.

Additionally its 3D engagements that represent 70% of all playdates only provided 45% of the box office. International openings _ where the character is largely unknown _ appear more upbeat. It opened at the top of the charts in the U.K., Russia and in a handful of Asian countries. (International estimates were unavailable at press time).

Mr. Popper’s Penguins also fell slightly below anticipated low $20 million projections. Its exit demos were more predictable with 58% of sales to under 25 year olds and a female skew of 56%.

Following its soft debut last weekend Super 8 had a better than anticipated hold of 58%. Pundits were expecting a best case scenario of its box office falling by half and many predicted a far worse outcome; so it could well out-live its namesake medium.

The weekend also continued strong for mature movies as Midnight in Paris, The Tree of Life and Beginners all added new engagements while maintaining strong per screens. Word is already circulating of a Tree of Life director’s cut running between five and six hours though how and whether that version will be exploited hasn’t officially been announced.

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