The Weekend Report

Wooly Bully    

It was clear sailing for The Wolverine as he clawed to the top of weekend movie going with an estimated $54.3 million.

With but a single new national release the field was wide open for niche players to get a toe-hold in the marketplace. The coming-of-ager The To Do List ticked off $1.5 million in a limited wide opening.

Exclusives were generally soft including Chinese megahit Tiny Times that grossed $12,100 at three theaters. The huge exception was Woody Allen’s Blue Jasmine that grossed $593,000 at a mere six venues. Among new Indian imports the growing Punjabi audience registered a solid $133,000 for Best of Luck from 33 locations while the Hindi Bhajathe Raho failed to click with a $35,400 tally in 44 encounters.

Revenues for the session edged toward $175 million for a 13% decline from the prior weekend. But it was 27% improved from 2012 when the second weekend of The Dark Knight Rises ruled with a $62.1 million box office.

There was absolutely no doubt that The Wolverine would be the top draw in its debut and semi-official estimates pegged its opening at $60 million domestically. Still based on tracking and the absence of fresh competition, industry pundits anticipated an even bigger debut of at least $70 million that proved to be far too much in a season where high hopes have translated into punishing returns. And with a gruelingly competitive multiplex, the prospects for strong holds have generally been quite grim.

Internationally, Wolverine blitzed the globe with an estimated $86 million box office from 101 territories. On the national side, studio exit demos identified the opening crowd as 58% male and ditto 58% aged 25 and older.

With rare exception Blue Jasmine received “money” reviews and that translated into gold for the bespectacled filmmakers’ spin on “A Streetcar Named Desire.” The vet has emerged as the surprise summer alternative hit maker and with some careful massaging his new effort could well emerge as one of his biggest grossing efforts.

Also expanding well this weekend were Fruitvale Station and The Way, Way Back (considerable opposites) and another unexpected niche success, the doc Blackfish on captured, performing killer whale Tilikum.

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