By Leonard Klady Klady@moviecitynews.com
Boffo!
The opening shot of 2010 began with the biggest first weekend of any year ever with box office expansion of 46% from last year alone.
And with audiences in a spirited holiday mood the last few weeks of 2009 provided a tremendous closing surge. Initial estimates peg domestic revenues at just shy of $10.7 billion that translates into a 10% improvement from the prior benchmark calendar. It also appears that admissions improved by as much as 2% – an amazing feat in a recessionary environment where other entertainments have failed to tread water. Not unexpectedly the industry mood is beyond buoyant.
Avatar held top spot on the charts for the third consecutive weekend with an estimated $67.8 million and a $351.6 million cume. It will unquestionably become the second biggest grossing film of all time.
The frame provided no new national releases or significant expansions but holdovers proved remarkably resilient with the indomitable The Blind Side experiencing a slight b.o. upturn in its seventh week in theaters. Other holdovers that maintained or improved included Up in the Air, Invictus, The Young Victoria, A Single Man and Crazy Heart.
The sole new entries were both launched in exclusives. Cannes prize winner The White Ribbon opened to an impressive $61,200 from three venues and the Tennessee Williams’ adaptation The Loss of a Teardrop Diamondwas disappointing with a $20,700 tally at six screens.
Weekend revenues generated about $222 million for an 18% diminution from 2009’s last gasp. However they were 46% greater than one year ago when the top dog was appropriately Marley and Me with a $24.3 million box office and Bedtime Stories had the Miss Congeniality spot with $20.5 million.
The last spate of 2009 titles now enter awards season with just two end year titles straddling the popular/critical divide. Avatar should prove strong across all categories save for acting slots whileThe Blind Side ought to be able to secure an acting nomination for Sandra Bullock. But it looks like slim pickings on the ballot for the likes of Invictus and Nine that have failed to galvanize commercially.
The remaining question marks surround films such as A Single Man and Crazy Heart that appear likely to secure at least a couple of high profile nominations. Will either receive additional traction that could translate into sleeper success? Stay tuned.
Weekend Estimates: January 1 – 3, 2010
Title | Distributor | Gross (averag | % change | Theaters | Cume |
Avatar | Fox | 67.8 (19,590) | -10% | 3461 | 351.6 |
Sherlock Holmes | WB | 38.2 (10,540) | -39% | 3626 | 140.5 |
Alvin & the Chipmunks: The Squeak | Fox | 35.9 (9,580) | -27% | 3747 | 157.2 |
It’s Complicated | Uni | 18.6 (6,410) | -16% | 2897 | 59 |
The Blind Side | WB | 12.2 (4,220) | 7% | 2897 | 208.8 |
Up in the Air | Par | 11.1 (5,880) | -1% | 1895 | 44.8 |
The Princess and the Frog | BV | 10.1 (3,040) | 12% | 3328 | 86.2 |
Did You Hear About the Morgans? | Sony | 5.0 (1,850) | 1% | 2718 | 25.4 |
Invictus | WB | 4.0 (1,870) | 0% | 2160 | 30.7 |
Nine | Weinstein Co. | 4.0 (2,860) | -26% | 1412 | 13.8 |
Twilight: New Moon | Summit | 3.4 (2,110) | 12% | 1627 | 287.6 |
3 Idiots | Big Pictures | 1.5 (11,590) | -7% | 132 | 5.1 |
Brothers | Lions Gate | 1.2 (1,360) | -3% | 858 | 27.4 |
2012 | Sony | 1.1 (1,360) | 11% | 800 | 163.5 |
The Young Victoria | Apparition/Allianc | .94 (5,030) | 28% | 187 | 2.9 |
Precious | Lions Gate | .84 (1,340) | -3% | 629 | 43.4 |
Old Dogs | BV | .73 (1,180) | 12% | 620 | 47.2 |
The Road | Weinstein Co. | .55 (1,800) | 22% | 306 | 6.8 |
A Christmas Carol | BV | .53 (540) | -59% | 981 | 137.4 |
A Single Man | Weinstein Co. | .51 (11,090) | 44% | 46 | 1.7 |
The Fantastic Mr. Fox | Fox | .47 (1,740) | 37% | 271 | 19.1 |
Weekend Total ($500,000+ Films) | – | $218.20 | – | – | – |
% Change (Last Year) | – | 46% | – | – | – |
% Change (Last Week) | – | -18% | – | – | – |
Also debuting/expanding | |||||
Broken Embraces | Sony Classics | .42 (5,490) | 21% | 77 | 2 |
Imaginarium of Dr. Parnassus | E1/Sony Classic | .38 (7,790) | 22% | 49 | 0.94 |
Crazy Heart | Fox Searchlight | .22 (18,670) | 40% | 12 | 0.71 |
The Lonely Bones | Par | 64,300 (21,430) | 53% | 3 | 0.38 |
The White Ribbon | Sony Classics | 61,200 (20,400) | New | 3 | 0.09 |
The Loss of a Teardrop Diamond | Palladin | 20,700 (3,450) | New | 6 | 0.02 |
Domestic Market Share: To December 27, 2009
Distributor (releases) | Gross (in millio | Market Share |
Warner Bros. (34) | 2042.8 | 19.60% |
Paramount (15) | 1468.1 | 14.10% |
Sony (24) | 1453.1 | 13.90% |
Fox (18) | 1271.7 | 12.20% |
Buena Vista (22) | 1219.1 | 11.70% |
Universal (21) | 872.2 | 8.30% |
Summit (11) | 480.1 | 4.60% |
Lions Gate (14) | 406.1 | 3.90% |
Fox Searchlight (13) | 263.2 | 2.50% |
Weinstein Co. (11) | 201.1 | 1.90% |
Focus (10) | 161.6 | 1.50% |
Overture (8) | 157.6 | 1.50% |
Paramount Vantage (4) | 67.6 | 0.70% |
MGM (4) | 64.8 | 0.60% |
Miramax (8) | 62.2 | 0.60% |
Other * (336) | 248.7 | 2.40% |
10440 | 100.00% |
Top Domestic Releases – To December 20, 2009
Title | Distributor | Gross |
Transformers: Revenge of the Falle | Par | 402,195,608 |
Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Pri | WB | 301,959,197 |
Up | BV | 293,283,811 |
The Hangover | WB | 277,334,275 |
The Twilight Saga: New Moon | Summit | 274,598,319 |
Star Trek | Par | 257,807,784 |
Monsters vs. Aliens | Par | 198,377,900 |
Ice Age: Dawn of the Dinosaurs | Fox | 196,624,037 |
X-Men Origins: Wolverine | Fox | 179,883,157 |
Night at the Museum 2 | Fox | 177,245,443 |
The Blind Side | WB | 164,725,525 |
The Proposal | BV | 163,958,031 |
2012 | Sony | 159,028,696 |
Fast & Furious | Uni | 155,239,768 |
G.I. Joe: The Rise of Cobra | Par | 150,329,089 |
Paul Blart: Mall Cop | Sony | 146,777,505 |
Taken | Fox | 145,000,989 |
Gran Torino * | WB | 142,251,852 |
Angels & Demons | Sony | 133,859,408 |
A Christmas Carol | BV | 130,813,354 |