By Leonard Klady Klady@moviecitynews.com
The Weekend Report
Firepower prevailed as 2 Guns shot to the top of session movie going with an estimated $27.3 million. The frame’s other national newcomer was infamous blue man group The Smurfs 2, slotting third overall with $18 million.
There was no significant activity in the niches but exclusive debuts included a potent bow of $184,000 for well-reviewed coming-of-ager The Spectacular Now at four sites. Flying solo in Manhattan was the Lindsay Lohan vehicle The Canyons with $17,100.
Overall weekend revenues were roughly $140 million that translated into a 20% dip from seven days back. But it was 13% improved from 2012 when the third weekend of The Dark Knight Rises prevailed over newcomers Total Recall and Diary of a Wimpy Kid: Dog Days with a $35.7 tally. The freshmen opened respectively to $25.6 million and $14.6 million.
Tracking had both incoming entries performing marginally better than their ultimate box office reflected. The translation may have been over-confident in regard to the holiday Monday upcoming in Canada.
2 Guns was blasting on star power; a shaggy doggish yarn of rival pistols thrust together by circumstance. Studio exit polling revealed a virtual tie between the sexes with women edging ahead with 51% of the total. It was a predominantly older crowd with 77% of viewers aged 25-years and older. African Americans accounted for 28% of the opening weekend crowd.
No one anticipated much commercially when the once popular Smurfs were resurrected for the big screen back in 2011. But they proved to be a global box-office sensation that generated more than $560 million theatrically around the globe and a sequel was in order.
The new entry got a head start on the weekend with a Wednesday opening that generated $9.6 million pre-weekend. The domestic start proved slow and cast beside an estimated $52 million international bow was weaker than the original’s ultimate performance. Unsurprisingly, exit polls revealed that 80% of the audience identified as families (57% of which were children 12-years and younger). Overall 63% of viewers were women and 63% of were aged 25-years and younger.
In the niches, Blue Jasmine continued to expand to dynamic results and the stealth success on the scene is Louis Cyr, a biopic of the 19th century Canuck strongman that’s been rock steady over the course of four weekends with a gross to date of $2.6 million.
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