The Weekend Report

Carrie On Screaming  

Gravity continued to spin in a high orbit with an estimated $31.1 million to top session movie going. The industry had to be thankful for the film’s momentum as a trio of new national releases failed to reach their presumed apex. The re-imagined Carrie bowed to $16.4 million and slotted third behind Captain Phillips. The combo of Stallone and Schwarzenegger provided Escape Plan with a tepid $9.7 million and the ripped from the headlines The Fifth Estate grossed a WeakiLeaks $1.7 million.

A flood of exclusives provide only a couple of bright spots including the stranded at sea All is Lost with Robert Redford not such a victim to the elements on a box office of $94,400 from six steamers. But the big noise was the phenomenal $960,000 launch of 12 Years a Slave from 19 screens.

In the niches the mélange of rom-com and inspiration provided I’m in Love with a Church Girl with a $1 million opening while the Colombian tale of the drug trafficking The Snitch Cartel laundered $193,000. Indian imports saw soft response for the Hindi Boss of $184,000 and dull response for the Telugu Doosukeltha of $38,800 at 41 venues.

Weekend revenues generated roughly $110 million for a 9% tumble from last weekend and descended -18% from 2012. A year back the debut of Paranormal Activity 4 topped the charts with a $29 million opening and Argo held fast with $16.4 million.

The industry was initially skeptical about dusting off the 1976 horror classic Carrie but an inspired marketing campaign elevated expectations of a $20 million plus debut. The film fell shy of that bar but might benefit from Halloween interest next week. Those that did show skewed 54% female with 56% aged 25-years and younger; so there are hopes for the audience that enjoyed the original going forward.

The combo of Sly and Arnie escaping from a hi-tech lockup seemed oddly novel and familiar and it was unsurprising that Escape Plan generated middling returns. The audience tilted 55% male and was 61% aged 30-years old and beyond with dim prospects of bringing in a new generation.

The saga of Julian Assange and WikiLeaks already spawned a theatrical documentary and the current The Fifth Estate has spawned considerable award buzz for actor Benedict Cumberbatch. However, its dismal debut has spawned a significant rethink. Opening studio exit demos revealed that viewers were 90% aged 25-years and older with a 54%/46% split between men and women. Though early in the season the film is shaping up as the first kudos casualty.

Conversely, the torrid start for 12 Years a Slave maintains the promise the historic drama has cultivated since winning the audience award at the Toronto festival. It will expand to six additional markets next weekend and continue a slow, steady expansion in what promises to be a long, long campaign to a final destination at the Dolby Theater.

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