The Weekend Report, December 18, 2011

Squeakel … Schmeakel

The industry adhered to Bert Lance’s admonishment that “if it ain’t broke don’t fix it” with a trio of sequels on the cusp of holiday movie going. Sherlock Holmes: A Game of Shadows led with an estimated $39.3 million followed by Alvin and the Chipmunks: Chip-Wrecked grossing $23.3 million and Mission Impossible – Ghost Protocol in caboose position at $13.1 million.

Additionally a couple of awards contenders opened in exclusives including Oscar doc short listed dance profile Pina that tripped a light fantastic $16,200 at two venues. The screen adaptation of (Gods of) Carnage bowed at five sites with an OK $85,200.

Weekend revenues ballooned 61% from last weekend to roughly $122 million but continued to lag behind the comparable 2011 session by 12%. A year ago the frame was led by new releases Tron: Legacy and Yogi Bear with respective box office bows of $44 million and $16.4 million.

Domestic box office year to date is approaching $9.7 billion which translates into roughly 4.5% less stamina than last year. With 13 viewing days left in 2011 the prospects of making up an additional $400 million to bridge the gap are, well, impossible to be blunt.

Pundits anticipated considerably stronger openings for both Sherlock and Alvin than transpired. Sherlock, the sequel, was spit-balled at between $50 million and $55 million while the Chipmunks were predicted with a curtain raiser somewhere around $30 million and $35 million. In the rear view mirror it’s easy to say that ticket buyers continue to be more hesitant to plunking down $25 plus for a night at the flickers.

Sherlock skewed older and male with 68% of the crowd 25 years and old and 59% guys according to studio exit polls while the Alvin gang was 54% female with 53% of the audience 25 years and younger.

The weekend puzzler was the decision to platform the fourth Mission Impossible installment prior to a Dec. 21 national release. The generally best reviewed of the series had strong per screens but hardly seemed in need of a word-of-mouth campaign. Last weekend Paramount bowed The Adventures of Tintin in Quebec to great response. The character is well known in the province and wound up the top grossing film in Canada but the studio for some odd reason didn’t report grosses or send out a press release to tub thump its boffo biz. Incidentally Paramount is nonetheless the domestic market share champion two years running.

On the awards front The Descendants remains the sole contender in wide release. The likes of still in the game picture prospect The Artist and major category possibilities Shame, My Week with Marilyn and Tinker Tailor Soldier Spy remain stronger as everyone girds for the final spate of Oscar hopefuls in the coming fortnight.

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