The debut of rom-com He’s Just Not That Into You led the frame with an estimated $27.9 million. Three other films bowed this weekend to varying results including a sturdy start for the 3-D animated Coraline of $16.3 million that ranked third overall. There was OK response of $9.9 million for the thriller Push but in light of cost and awareness, The Pink Panther 2gross of $11.8 was viewed as disappointing.
Among regional and niche newcomers the Quebec political thriller Polytechnique got off to a fast start with a $400,000 box office from 42 venues while the geek comedy Fanboys had just fair response of $173,000 in 44 engagements. The Oscar nominated shorts package generated $112,000 in 22 exposures.
Overall business saw significant expansion; recording a record gross for the weekend between the Super Bowl and the upcoming President’s Day holiday session.
The star-studded He’s Just Not That Into You was tracking considerably ahead of the pack going into its Friday launch. Exit polls indicated a stronger than usual 80% female audience and in light of such recent distaff tilting fare as Sex and the City and Mamma Mia!, the prospects for commercial legs are excellent.
The rather unsettling Coraline tapped into a considerably broader audience than the typical animated film. It also buttressed the commercial magnetism of the revived 3D effect with 44% of its playdates in that format generating more than 70% of its opening box office.
The sci-fi tinged thriller Push provided something for the young male audience while The Pink Panther 2 split its audience 55%-45% in favor of women. The second Steve Martin Panther had an opening salvo that was 40% lower than the 2006 installment and that’s likely to put the future of the franchise under the bean counter’s microscope.
Weekend revenues approached $155 million for a 21% boost from last weekend’s Super Bowl weekend. It was also up a sizeable 41% from 2008 when openings of Fool’s Gold and Welcome Home Roscoe Carmichael topped the chart with respective grosses of $21.6 million and $16.2 million.
Holdovers were also unusually resilient with last weekend’s chart topper Taken just 18% diminished, Gran Torino down 13% and Paul Blart: Mall Cop a mere 20% off its game. Blart could cross the $100 million threshold as early as Friday.
With Oscar two weeks in the offing, only Slumdog Millionaire is drawing in audiences among contenders in wide release. Its status as the “picture to beat” has propelled it along to what will be a domestic box office of more than $100 million. Niche beneficiaries of award largesse include The Class and Waltz with Bashir — both competing in the foreign-language category.
– Leonard Klady
Weekend Finals – February 6-8, 2009
|
|
Title |
Distrib |
Weekend |
% Change |
Theaters |
Cume |
Wks |
1 |
New |
He’s Just Not That Into You |
WB |
27,785,487 |
– |
3175 |
27,785,487 |
1 |
2 |
1 |
Taken |
Fox |
20,547,346 |
-17% |
3184 |
53,610,944 |
2 |
3 |
New |
Coraline |
Focus |
16,849,640 |
– |
2299 |
16,849,640 |
1 |
4 |
New |
The Pink Panther 2 |
Sony |
11,588,150 |
– |
3243 |
11,588,150 |
1 |
5 |
2 |
Paul Blart: Mall Cop |
Sony |
10,884,825 |
-21% |
3169 |
96,886,687 |
4 |
6 |
New |
Push |
Summit |
10,079,109 |
– |
2313 |
10,079,109 |
1 |
7 |
6 |
Slumdog Millionaire |
Fox Searchlight |
7,177,270 |
-6% |
1724 |
77,203,055 |
13 |
8 |
5 |
Gran Torino |
WB |
7,155,339 |
-13% |
2705 |
120,195,197 |
9 |
9 |
3 |
The Uninvited |
Par |
6,262,651 |
-39% |
2344 |
18,242,141 |
2 |
10 |
4 |
Hotel for Dogs |
Par |
5,711,229 |
-34% |
2734 |
55,125,062 |
4 |
11 |
7 |
Underworld: Rise of the Lycans |
Sony |
4,083,369 |
-46% |
2042 |
39,841,908 |
3 |
12 |
8 |
New in Town |
Lions Gate |
3,228,190 |
-52% |
1941 |
11,856,481 |
2 |
13 |
11 |
Curious Case of Benjamin Button |
Par |
2,302,188 |
-35% |
1478 |
119,950,285 |
7 |
14 |
15 |
The Reader |
Weinstein Co. |
2,275,489 |
-4% |
862 |
16,033,070 |
9 |
15 |
16 |
The Wrestler |
Fox Searchlight |
2,207,555 |
-5% |
754 |
16,170,788 |
8 |
16 |
9 |
My Bloody Valentine 3D |
Lions Gate |
1,856,829 |
-58% |
671 |
48,182,383 |
4 |
17 |
13 |
Revolutionary Road |
Par Vantage |
1,670,594 |
-37% |
935 |
18,738,643 |
7 |
18 |
12 |
Bride Wars |
Fox |
1,500,029 |
-57% |
1097 |
56,244,349 |
5 |
19 |
14 |
Defiance |
Par Vantage |
1,393,322 |
-44% |
858 |
25,196,967 |
6 |
20 |
10 |
Inkheart |
WB |
1,231,458 |
-67% |
1175 |
14,885,535 |
3 |
21 |
18 |
Milk |
Focus |
1,125,312 |
-24% |
601 |
25,257,922 |
11 |
22 |
19 |
Frost/Nixon |
Uni |
771,985 |
-45% |
478 |
15,651,111 |
10 |
23 |
23 |
Doubt |
Miramax |
722,534 |
-14% |
401 |
29,103,495 |
9 |
24 |
17 |
Notorious |
Fox Searchlight |
628,621 |
-63% |
440 |
36,214,659 |
5 |
25 |
20 |
Last Chance Harvey |
Overture |
576,363 |
-53% |
448 |
12,796,195 |
7 |
26 |
24 |
Twilight |
Summit |
480,388 |
-23% |
326 |
187,748,420 |
12 |
27 |
22 |
Marley and Me |
Fox |
455,301 |
-53% |
450 |
140,548,943 |
7 |
28 |
21 |
The Unborn |
Uni |
393,830 |
-68% |
388 |
42,005,890 |
5 |
29 |
33 |
Yes Man |
WB |
368,395 |
77% |
345 |
96,302,759 |
8 |
30 |
26 |
The Dark Knight |
WB |
353,826 |
-19% |
188 |
532,831,967 |
30 |
31 |
New |
Polytechnique |
Alliance |
286,944 |
– |
35 |
286,944 |
1 |
32 |
29 |
Madagascar: Escape to Africa |
Par |
247,079 |
-24% |
240 |
179,606,381 |
14 |
33 |
25 |
Bedtime Stories |
BV |
244,664 |
-56% |
265 |
108,927,068 |
7 |
34 |
30 |
The Tale of Despereaux |
Uni |
223,560 |
-3% |
276 |
50,176,530 |
8 |
35 |
27 |
Valkyrie |
MGM |
206,382 |
-49% |
258 |
82,019,420 |
7 |
36 |
28 |
Not Easily Broken |
Sony |
184,751 |
-50% |
148 |
10,572,742 |
5 |
37 |
36 |
Entre les murs (The Class) |
Sony Classics |
180,590 |
16% |
27 |
575,846 |
4 |
38 |
New |
Fanboys |
Weinstein Co. |
171,533 |
– |
44 |
171,533 |
1 |
39 |
New |
2008 Academy Awards Shorts |
Magnolia |
150,203 |
– |
41 |
150,203 |
1 |
40 |
37 |
The Day the Earth Stood Still |
Fox |
147,608 |
15% |
196 |
78,980,521 |
9 |
41 |
35 |
Waltz with Bashir |
Sony Class/E1 |
137,749 |
-12% |
46 |
1,216,131 |
7 |
42 |
31 |
Rachel Getting Married |
Sony Classics |
133,042 |
-40% |
95 |
11,892,890 |
19 |
43 |
34 |
Australia |
Fox |
127,375 |
-26% |
178 |
49,181,873 |
11 |
44 |
New |
Konchem Ishtam Konchem Kashtam |
Lorve/Sri Films |
123,942 |
– |
18 |
123,942 |
1 |
45 |
38 |
Bolt |
BVI |
111,175 |
-9% |
132 |
113,120,614 |
12 |
46 |
32 |
Lucky by Chance |
Adlabs |
78,787 |
-64% |
49 |
326,187 |
2 |
47 |
42 |
Che |
IFC |
76,313 |
-3% |
24 |
1,146,142 |
9 |
48 |
39 |
Quantum of Silence |
Sony |
67,433 |
-40% |
131 |
168,677,105 |
13 |
49 |
40 |
Seven Pounds |
Sony |
52,182 |
-46% |
72 |
70,239,318 |
8 |
50 |
46 |
Wendy and Lucy |
Oscilloscope |
44,501 |
-2% |
20 |
309,349 |
9 |
51 |
43 |
Beverly Hills Chihuahua |
BV |
43,605 |
-35% |
97 |
94,558,007 |
19 |
52 |
51 |
I’ve Loved You So Long |
Sony Classics |
42,575 |
33% |
28 |
2,714,372 |
21 |
53 |
44 |
Transporter 3 |
Lions Gate |
40,769 |
-33% |
113 |
32,180,954 |
11 |
54 |
45 |
Arundhati |
Ficus |
33,333 |
-42% |
10 |
282,543 |
3 |
55 |
41 |
Four Christmases |
WB |
33,156 |
-61% |
87 |
120,136,047 |
11 |
56 |
49 |
Let the Right One In |
Magnolia |
32,333 |
-15% |
28 |
1,882,159 |
16 |
57 |
52 |
Sea Monsters: A Prehistoric Adventure |
NatGeo |
30,747 |
2% |
15 |
20,773,585 |
71 |
58 |
54 |
Dolphins and Whales 3D |
3D Entertainment |
30,578 |
8% |
10 |
5,409,382 |
52 |
59 |
53 |
Fly Me to the Moon |
Summit |
30,460 |
4% |
11 |
12,832,745 |
26 |
60 |
RE |
Frozen River |
Sony Classics |
29,439 |
– |
25 |
2,385,656 |
28 |
61 |
58 |
Magnificent Desolation |
Imax |
27,325 |
49% |
7 |
27,424,922 |
177 |
62 |
47 |
Role Models |
Uni |
27,103 |
-38% |
59 |
67,387,671 |
14 |
63 |
55 |
Synedoche, New York |
Sony Classics |
26,745 |
3% |
25 |
3,010,278 |
16 |
64 |
50 |
Happy-Go-Lucky |
Miramax |
25,120 |
-31% |
26 |
3,683,593 |
18 |
65 |
59 |
Space Station 3D |
Imax |
24,459 |
36% |
7 |
77,549,492 |
256 |
66 |
57 |
Roving Mars |
BV |
19,798 |
8% |
7 |
9,986,412 |
159 |
67 |
56 |
Vicky Christina Barcelona |
Weinstein Co. |
17,743 |
-13% |
15 |
23,191,990 |
26 |
Source: EDI/MCN |
Estimates – February 6 – 8, 2009
Title |
Distributor |
Gross (avera |
% change |
Theaters |
Cume |
He’s Just Not that Into You |
WB |
27.9 (8,790) |
– |
3175 |
27.9 |
Taken |
Fox |
20.3 (6,380) |
-18% |
3184 |
53.4 |
Coraline |
Focus |
16.3 (7,090) |
– |
2298 |
16.3 |
The Pink Panther 2 |
Sony |
11.8 (3,640) |
– |
3243 |
11.8 |
Paul Bart: Mall Cop |
Sony |
11.1 (3,510) |
-20% |
3169 |
97.1 |
Push |
Summit |
9.9 (4,290) |
– |
2313 |
9.9 |
Slumdog Millionaire |
Fox Searchlight |
7.3 (4,250) |
-4% |
1724 |
77.4 |
Gran Torino |
WB |
7.2 (2,660) |
-13% |
2705 |
120.2 |
The Uninvited |
Par |
6.3 (2,700) |
-39% |
2344 |
18.3 |
Hotel for Dogs |
Par |
5.7 (2,080) |
-34% |
2734 |
55.1 |
Underworld 3 |
Sony |
3.8 (1,850) |
-50% |
2042 |
39.5 |
New in Town |
Lions Gate |
3.2 (1,660) |
-52% |
1941 |
11.9 |
Curious Case of Benjamin Button |
Par |
2.4 (1,610) |
-33% |
1478 |
120 |
The Reader |
Weinstein Co. |
2.2 (2,580) |
-7% |
862 |
16 |
The Wrestler |
Fox Searchlight |
2.1 (2,800) |
-8% |
756 |
16.1 |
My Blood Valentine 3D |
Lions Gate |
1.8 (2,700) |
-60% |
671 |
48.1 |
Revolutionary Road |
Par Vantage |
1.6 (1,760) |
-39% |
935 |
18.7 |
Bride Wars |
Fox |
1.5 (1,350) |
-58% |
1097 |
56.2 |
Defiance |
Par Vantage |
1.3 (1,500) |
-48% |
858 |
25.1 |
Inkheart |
WB |
1.2 (990) |
-69% |
1175 |
14.8 |
Milk |
Focus |
1.0 (1,730) |
-30% |
601 |
25.2 |
Frost/Nixon |
Uni |
.74 (1,550) |
-47% |
478 |
15.6 |
Doubt |
Miramax |
.71 (1,770) |
-15% |
401 |
29.1 |
Notorious |
Fox Searchlight |
.61 (1,390) |
-64% |
440 |
36.2 |
Last Chance Harvey |
Overture |
.54 (1,210) |
-56% |
448 |
12.8 |
Weekend Total ($500,000+ Films) |
– |
$148.50 |
– |
– |
– |
% Change (Last Year) |
– |
41% |
– |
– |
– |
% Change (Last Week) |
– |
21% |
– |
– |
– |
Also debuting/expanding |
Polytechnique |
Alliance |
.40 (9,620) |
– |
42 |
0.4 |
Fanboys |
Weinstein Co. |
.17 (3,930) |
– |
44 |
0.17 |
The Class |
Sony Class/E1 |
.17 (7,210) |
12% |
24 |
0.56 |
Waltz with Bashir |
Sony Class/E1 |
.14 (1,960) |
-10% |
48 |
1.2 |
Academy Award Shorts |
Magnolia |
.11 (5,090) |
– |
22 |
0.11 |
Chocolate |
Magnolia |
3,100 (1,550) |
– |
2 |
0.01 |
Absurdistan |
First Run |
1,400 (1,400) |
– |
1 |
0.01 |
Domestic Market Share – January 1 – 29, 2009
Distributor (releases) |
Gross |
Mrkt Share |
Fox (5) |
170.9 |
15.90% |
Warner Bros. (11) |
165.8 |
15.40% |
Sony (6) |
160.3 |
14.90% |
Paramount (5) |
130.4 |
12.10% |
Fox Searchlight (4) |
96.4 |
8.90% |
Universal (5) |
69.4 |
6.40% |
Lionsgate (4) |
62.2 |
5.80% |
Buena Vista (5) |
61.6 |
5.70% |
MGM (3) |
41.1 |
3.80% |
Paramount Vantage (2) |
40.5 |
3.80% |
Miramax (3) |
17.4 |
1.60% |
Summit (2) |
16.9 |
1.60% |
Weinstein Co. (4) |
12.8 |
1.20% |
Overture (2) |
12.3 |
1.10% |
Focus (1) |
9.5 |
0.90% |
Other * (31) |
10.2
|
0.90% |
* none greater than 0.35% |
1077.7 |
100.00% |
Top Domestic Grossers – January 1 – February 5, 2009
Title |
Distributor |
Gross |
Gran Torino * |
WB |
107,158,765 |
Paul Blart: Mall Cop |
Sony |
86,001,862 |
Marley and Me * |
Fox |
67,649,571 |
The Curious Case of Benjamin Button * |
Par |
64,981,949 |
Bride Wars |
Fox |
54,744,320 |
Bedtime Stories * |
BV |
51,981,492 |
Hotel for Dogs |
Par |
49,413,833 |
Slumdog Millionaire * |
Fox Searchlight |
47,798,423 |
My Bloody Valentine 3D |
Lionsgate |
46,325,554 |
The Unborn |
Uni |
41,612,060 |
Valkyrie * |
MGM |
40,911,180 |
Yes Man * |
WB |
35,904,774 |
Notorious |
Fox Searchlight |
35,586,038 |
Underground: Rise of the Lycans |
Sony |
35,758,539 |
Taken |
Fox |
33,063,598 |
Seven Pounds * |
Sony |
24,248,151 |
Defiance |
Par Vantage |
23,803,645 |
Revolutionary Road * |
Par Vantage |
16,754,580 |
Twilight * |
Summit |
16,595,056
|
Doubt * |
Mrmx |
16,570,206 |
* does not include 2008 box office |