Madea Goes to Jail was the overwhelming winner as it grossed an estimated $41.2 million in its debut weekend. In another record breaking session one of the few down notes came from the session’s other freshman release — the teen comedy Fired Up — that struggled to $5.9 million.
Niche openers ranged from good to strong including another potent Bollywood entry Delhi 6 that bowed to $660,000. Another Indian newcomer — the Punjabi Jag Jeondyan de Melle — set a record for films from the region with an $111,000 gross from just 10 screens. In Canada a pair of films repping the nation’s two solitudes faired well. Cadavres in Quebec grossed $132,000 and Stone of Silence that premed at the Toronto festival had a $68,400 box office from 18 screens. There was also a noteworthy $6,600 tally from the single screen bow of the documentary Must Read After My Death.
Combined with a number of firm holds from continuing titles and a bit of an Oscar boost weekend business pushed past $140 million for a 26% decline from the three-day portion of last weekend’s President’s holiday stanza. It was additionally 29% better (and all-time record gross) than 2008 when the premiere of Vantage Point bowed with a $22.9 million box office.
Reversing the trend of steady declines for his twice annual movie releases, filmmaker Tyler Perry set his popularity several notches higher. Of late his films have opened to roughly $25 million and Madea Goes to Jail wasn’t expected to shake up those expectations even though tracking reports clearly indicated it would lead in weekend ticket sales. However, Perry’s popular cable series have likely contributed to broadening his appeal from what’s been an entrenched core set of fans.
Also slowly expanding its appeal from a strict family crowd is the 3D animated Coraline. The film was always more adult than traditional cel movies but it’s taken several weeks for word-of-mouth to get that across and if it can maintain positive buzz, the film should tally up a domestic gross of better than $80 million.
With Oscar just hours away, virtually all the best picture and foreign-language nominees got at least slight box office boosts. Admittedly only Slumdog Millionaire is in wide release; adding about 600 theaters to the mix and pushing its domestic tally to $98 million. The film’s done an additional $70 million internationally with such key countries as Germany and Japan still to open.
Apart from the torrid overseas business already generated for The Curious Case of Benjamin Button, the rest of the contenders list including Milk, The Wrestler and The Reader are holding their breath in hopes of securing at least a single major win in the top eight categories to fuel some foreign commercial traction. And the one category that almost always benefits from Academy largesse — foreign-language — looks like a nail-biter between Waltz with Bashir and The Class (Entre les murs).
– Leonard Klady
Weekend Finals – February 20-22, 2009
|
|
Title |
Distrib |
Weekend |
% Change |
Theaters |
Cume |
Wks |
1 |
New |
Medea Goes to Jail |
Lions Gate |
41,030,947 |
– |
2032 |
41,030,947 |
1 |
2 |
5 |
Coraline |
Focus |
11,432,124 |
-23% |
2155 |
53,766,843 |
3 |
3 |
3 |
Taken |
Fox |
11,281,262 |
-41% |
3102 |
95,034,161 |
4 |
4 |
2 |
He’s Just Not That Into You |
WB |
8,558,225 |
-56% |
3050 |
70,100,901 |
3 |
5 |
9 |
Slumdog Millionaire |
Fox Searchlight |
8,384,680 |
15% |
2244 |
98,354,395 |
15 |
6 |
1 |
Friday the 13th |
WB |
7,942,472 |
-80% |
3105 |
55,119,663 |
2 |
7 |
6 |
Paul Blart: Mall Cop |
Sony |
6,821,377 |
-38% |
2835 |
121,200,930 |
6 |
8 |
4 |
Confessions of a Shopaholic |
BV |
6,742,778 |
-55% |
2507 |
27,378,049 |
2 |
9 |
New |
Fired Up |
Sony |
5,483,778 |
– |
1810 |
5,483,778 |
1 |
10 |
7 |
The International |
Sony |
4,463,916 |
-52% |
2364 |
17,031,200 |
2 |
11 |
8 |
The Pink Panther 2 |
Sony |
3,802,292 |
-55% |
2658 |
29,475,898 |
3 |
12 |
11 |
Gran Torino |
WB |
3,676,310 |
-43% |
2030 |
134,472,755 |
11 |
13 |
10 |
Push |
Summit |
3,119,656 |
-54% |
1882 |
24,752,472 |
3 |
14 |
15 |
The Reader |
Weinstein Co. |
2,642,770 |
20% |
962 |
23,011,596 |
11 |
15 |
12 |
Hotel for Dogs |
Par |
2,325,378 |
-47% |
1716 |
65,535,469 |
6 |
16 |
16 |
The Wrestler |
Fox Searchlight |
1,851,324 |
0% |
617 |
21,578,377 |
10 |
17 |
13 |
The Uninvited |
Par |
1,292,129 |
-70% |
1257 |
25,990,057 |
4 |
18 |
17 |
Curious Case of Benjamin Button |
Par |
1,232,517 |
-23% |
754 |
124,211,606 |
9 |
19 |
21 |
Milk |
Focus |
1,066,727 |
21% |
411 |
28,120,218 |
1 |
20 |
14 |
Underworld: Rise of the Lycans |
Sony |
778,822 |
-67% |
676 |
45,064,150 |
5 |
21 |
25 |
Doubt |
Miramax |
711,360 |
14% |
402 |
31,126,827 |
11 |
22 |
26 |
Frost/Nixon |
Uni |
653,580 |
27% |
381 |
17,386,586 |
12 |
23 |
New |
Delhi 6 |
UTV |
602,850 |
– |
90 |
602,850 |
1 |
24 |
24 |
Under the Sea 3D |
WB |
547,339 |
-17% |
50 |
1,697,679 |
2 |
25 |
20 |
Revolutionary Road |
Par Vantage |
546,034 |
-45% |
350 |
21,376,846 |
9 |
26 |
19 |
New in Town |
Lions Gate |
503,174 |
-66% |
505 |
15,299,806 |
4 |
27 |
23 |
Twilight |
Summit |
489,682 |
-29% |
406 |
189,443,645 |
14 |
28 |
22 |
Defiance |
Par Vantage |
484,134 |
-32% |
567 |
27,176,722 |
8 |
29 |
18 |
My Bloody Valentine 3D |
Lions Gate |
386,032 |
-75% |
355 |
51,290,643 |
6 |
30 |
30 |
Marley and Me |
Fox |
320,987 |
-18% |
304 |
141,545,861 |
9 |
31 |
31 |
Bolt |
BVI |
316,792 |
-17% |
280 |
114,053,579 |
14 |
32 |
37 |
Entre les murs (The Class) |
Sony Classics |
273,252 |
24% |
62 |
1,248,101 |
6 |
33 |
45 |
Rachel Getting Married |
Sony Classics |
204,246 |
64% |
264 |
12,354,351 |
21 |
34 |
28 |
Bride Wars |
Fox |
197,216 |
-60% |
240 |
57,485,994 |
7 |
35 |
33 |
Yes Man |
WB |
175,677 |
-39% |
222 |
97,021,369 |
10 |
36 |
29 |
Inkheart |
WB |
174,415 |
-62% |
211 |
16,034,054 |
5 |
37 |
32 |
Last Chance Harvey |
Overture |
157,078 |
-55% |
161 |
13,694,857 |
9 |
38 |
New |
Jag Jeondayan de Mele |
H & H |
147,499 |
– |
14 |
147,499 |
1 |
39 |
38 |
Bedtime Stories |
BV |
143,925 |
-28% |
145 |
109,424,707 |
9 |
40 |
34 |
Polytechnique |
Alliance |
134,161 |
-52% |
40 |
937,857 |
3 |
41 |
40 |
The Tale of Despereaux |
Uni |
130,395 |
-28% |
221 |
50,653,875 |
10 |
42 |
35 |
The Unborn |
Uni |
123,540 |
-48% |
174 |
42,497,050 |
7 |
43 |
39 |
Seven Pounds |
Sony |
121,768 |
-27% |
181 |
70,619,981 |
10 |
44 |
47 |
Waltz with Bashir |
Sony Class/E1 |
115,901 |
2% |
55 |
1,599,005 |
9 |
45 |
43 |
2008 Academy Awards Shorts |
Magnolia |
105,665 |
-18% |
60 |
522,624 |
3 |
46 |
New |
Cadavres |
Seville |
99,667 |
– |
56 |
99,667 |
1 |
47 |
41 |
Madagascar: Escape to Africa |
Par |
97,817 |
-37% |
151 |
179,982,968 |
16 |
48 |
44 |
The Dark Knight |
WB |
93,957 |
-26% |
55 |
533,184,219 |
32 |
49 |
27 |
Billu Barber |
Eros |
73,977 |
-86% |
70 |
698,910 |
2 |
50 |
New |
Stone of Destiny |
Alliance |
73,310 |
– |
20 |
73,310 |
1 |
51 |
54 |
I’ve Loved You So Long |
Sony Classics |
69,649 |
22% |
69 |
2,901,744 |
22 |
52 |
42 |
Valkyrie |
MGM |
66,385 |
-49% |
115 |
82,370,632 |
9 |
53 |
55 |
Che |
IFC/E1 |
66,245 |
26% |
17 |
1,323,633 |
10 |
54 |
52 |
Fanboys |
Weinstein Co. |
65,590 |
-12% |
34 |
398,301 |
3 |
55 |
51 |
Gomorrah |
IFC |
60,520 |
-22% |
6 |
204,810 |
2 |
56 |
49 |
Australia |
Fox |
56,850 |
-36% |
93 |
49,420,849 |
13 |
57 |
48 |
Two Lovers |
Magnolia |
55,379 |
-42% |
7 |
195,926 |
2 |
58 |
46 |
Not Easily Broken |
Sony |
55,344 |
-53% |
52 |
10,818,873 |
7 |
59 |
50 |
The Day the Earth Stood Still |
Fox |
54,662 |
-36% |
72 |
79,215,537 |
11 |
60 |
36 |
Notorious |
Fox Searchlight |
50,759 |
-78% |
67 |
36,748,176 |
7 |
61 |
59 |
Fly Me to the Moon |
Summit |
47,280 |
29% |
10 |
12,960,281 |
28 |
62 |
57 |
Wendy and Lucy |
Oscilloscope |
42,359 |
7% |
19 |
433,881 |
10 |
63 |
58 |
Magnificent Desolation |
Imax |
37,817 |
2% |
6 |
27,602,871 |
179 |
64 |
56 |
Dolphins and Whales 3D |
3D Entertainment |
34,873 |
-22% |
7 |
5,527,559 |
53 |
65 |
60 |
Space Station 3D |
Imax |
34,635 |
-5% |
7 |
77,741,909 |
358 |
66 |
66 |
Roving Mars |
BV |
24,373 |
7% |
6 |
10,070,884 |
161 |
67 |
61 |
Let the Right One In |
Magnolia |
24,333 |
-30% |
26 |
1,978,364 |
18 |
68 |
64 |
Sea Monsters: A Prehistoric Adventure |
NatGeo |
22,623 |
-8% |
15 |
20,850,999 |
73 |
69 |
63 |
Frozen River |
Sony Classics |
21,009 |
-21% |
24 |
2,459,187 |
30 |
Source: EDI/MCN |
Estimates – February 20 – 22, 2009
Title |
Distributor |
Gross (averag |
% change * |
Theaters |
Cume |
Madea Goes to Jail |
Lionsgate |
41.2 (20,290) |
– |
2032 |
41.2 |
Taken |
Fox |
11.4 (3,670) |
-40% |
3102 |
95.1 |
Coraline |
Focus |
10.9 (5,050) |
-26% |
2155 |
53.2 |
He’s Just Not That Into You |
WB |
8.6 (2,810) |
-56% |
3050 |
70.1 |
Slumdog Millionaire |
Fox Searchlight |
8.0 (3,550) |
9% |
2244 |
98 |
Friday the 13th |
WB |
7.8 (2,520) |
-81% |
3105 |
55 |
Confessions of a Shopaholic |
BV |
6.9 (2,750) |
-54% |
2507 |
27.5 |
Paul Blart: Mall Cop |
Sony |
6.7 (2,370) |
-39% |
2835 |
121.1 |
Fired Up |
Sony |
5.9 (3,250) |
– |
1810 |
5.9 |
The International |
Sony |
4.4 (1,840) |
-53% |
2364 |
16.9 |
Gran Torino |
WB |
3.6 (1,790) |
-44% |
2030 |
134.4 |
The Pink Panther 2 |
Sony |
3.6 (1,370) |
-57% |
2658 |
29.3 |
Push |
Summit |
3.0 (1,600) |
-56% |
1882 |
24.6 |
The Reader |
Weinstein Co. |
2.7 (2,770) |
21% |
962 |
23 |
Hotel for Dogs |
Par |
2.2 (1,260) |
-50% |
1716 |
65.4 |
The Wrestler |
Fox Searchlight |
1.8 (2,930) |
-2% |
617 |
21.5 |
The Uninvited |
Par |
1.3 (1,040) |
-70% |
1257 |
26 |
Curious Case of Benjamin Button |
Par |
1.2 (1,650) |
-23% |
754 |
124.2 |
Milk |
Focus |
1.0 (2,410) |
13% |
411 |
28 |
Underworld 3 |
Sony |
.75 (1,110) |
-69% |
676 |
45 |
Doubt |
Miramax |
.71 (1,770) |
14% |
402 |
31.1 |
Delhi 6 |
UTV |
.66 (7,210) |
– |
92 |
0.66 |
Frost/Nixon |
Uni |
.65 (1,710) |
26% |
381 |
17.4 |
Under the Sea |
WB |
.57 (11,400) |
– |
50 |
1.7 |
Revolutionary Road |
Par Vantage |
.55 (1,570) |
-42% |
350 |
21.4 |
New in Town |
Lions Gate |
.51 (1,010) |
-51% |
505 |
14.9 |
Weekend Total ($500,000+ Films) |
$136.60 |
– |
– |
– |
% Change (Last Year) |
– |
29% |
– |
– |
– |
% Change (Last Week) |
– |
-26% |
– |
– |
– |
Also debuting/expanding |
The Class |
Sony Class/E1 |
.27 (5,130) |
24% |
53 |
1.2 |
Cadavres |
Seville |
.13 (2,328) |
– |
55 |
0.13 |
Waltz with Bashir |
Sony Class/E1 |
.12 (2,230) |
4% |
53 |
1.6 |
Jag Jeondyan de Mele |
H & H |
.11 (11,100) |
– |
10 |
0.11 |
Stone of Destiny |
Alliance |
68,400 (3,800) |
– |
18 |
0.07 |
Must Read After My Death |
Gigantic |
6,600 (6,600) |
– |
1 |
0.01 |
Eleven Minutes |
Regent |
4,200 (1,050) |
– |
4 |
0.01 |
Domestic Market Share – January 1 – February 19, 2009
Distributor (releases) |
Gross |
Mrkt Share |
Warner Bros. (14) |
297.2 |
19.40% |
Sony (8) |
236.3 |
15.50% |
Fox (5) |
225.9 |
14.80% |
Paramount (5) |
162.8 |
10.60% |
Fox Searchlight (4) |
123.3 |
8.10% |
Buena Vista (6) |
83.7 |
5.50% |
Lionsgate (4) |
72.9 |
4.80% |
Universal (5) |
72.6 |
4.80% |
Focus (2) |
54.8 |
3.60% |
Paramount Vantage (2) |
47.2 |
3.10% |
MGM (3) |
41.6 |
2.70% |
Summit (3) |
40.4 |
2.60% |
Weinstein Co. (5) |
19.8 |
1.30% |
Miramax (3) |
19.5 |
1.30% |
Overture (2) |
13.7 |
0.90% |
Other * (36) |
15.5 |
1.00% |
* none greater than 0.35% |
1527.2 |
100.00% |
|