By Leonard Klady Klady@moviecitynews.com
Ghost Rider In The Sky …
February 19, 2007
Weekend Finals
Domestic Market Share
Despite a plethora of product, Ghost Rider ascended with a super heroic gross estimated at $53.2 million. The film shattered all previous Presidents Day holiday openings and propelled the frame to record revenues.
It was also generally upbeat news for a quartet of freshmen entries. The family themed Bridge to Tarabithiaexceeded expectations to rank second with a $28.8 million gross. And ranked fourth through sixth were Music and Lyrics with $16 million, Daddy’s Little Girl at $13.9 million and the intelligence meller Breach scoring with $12.3 million. Additionally new entries in the Bollywood circuit and a homegrown Quebec movie had impressive first forays.
The four day holiday session experienced a commercial jolt of about $190 million for a 61% boost from the prior weekend. It was also 22% better than last year’s performance when 8 Below and Date Movie led the charge with respectively $25 million and $21.8 million.
Ghost Rider debuted with the kind of numbers one associates with summer blockbusters. Its specter was the antithesis of pale at the box office with a truly rabid young male audience that greatly exceeded earlier comic book transplants such as Daredevil and Electra. The film also stepped out with vigor in a number of international territories including Australia with a $1.9 million gross, Spain tallying $3 million, Mexico at $2 million and Taiwan recording $500,000.
The kid lit fave Bridge to Tarabithia was only expected to rank fourth among the new openers by industry trackers who ignored past histories of declining stamina for titles that jumped the frame with Wednesday debuts. Its only competition for the family-youth audience was Night at the Museum in its ninth week. Obviously, there was a hunger for an alternative.
Both the romantic comedy and human dramas Music and Lyrics and Daddy’s Little Girls bowed Wednesday and entered the weekend with respective grosses of $5.5 million and $5.7 million. Both films performed to expectations or just slightly below them. Daddy’s Tyler Perry effectively shifted gears from broad comedy and the good will of past efforts carried over to a more sober view of urban America.
Breach, based upon the biggest intelligence leak in U.S. history, also fared better than expected. Targeted at an older crowd, it had a virtual clear field with the exception of the diminishing crowd of Oscar contenders.
The tidal wave of new movies saw most holdover titles experiencing 40% to 60% declines though in context Norbit‘s second weekend $20.7 million box office looked very impressive.
The fate of the slate of titles on the Oscar ballot was considerably less rosy. With the quintet of new titles capturing in excess of 13,300 playdates, the attrition rate for all continuing movies was considerable. The relative absence of frontrunners in major categories – apart from lead performances – has worked against most hopefuls; suggesting a possible second wind for Babel and/or Letters from Iwo Jima should they capture statuettes. The second year of a touring program of Oscar nominated shorts had a superior result of $157,000 from 39 venues.
The New Year saw a fast start for indigenous Quebec product with Ma Fille, Mon Ange grossing about $800,000 from 84 engagements. There was also a solid result of $560,000 for the Indian historical epic Eklavya the Royal Guard from 80 locations.
The new limited releases were generally unimpressive with the exception being French Oscar submission Avenue Montaigne that rang up $37,200 from two exposures. The film opened in Quebec last fall and earned about $200,000.
– Leonard Klady
Weekend Finals – February 16-19, 2007
–
|
–
|
Title |
Distrib
|
Weekend
|
% Chang
|
Theater
|
Cume
|
Wks
|
1
|
New
|
Ghost Rider |
Sony
|
52,022,908 | – | 3619 | 52,022,908 |
1
|
2
|
New
|
Bridge to Terabithia |
BV
|
28,536,717 | – | 3139 | 28,536,717 |
1
|
3
|
1
|
Norbit |
Par
|
19,929,662 | -42% | 3138 | 62,011,840 |
2
|
4
|
New
|
Music and Lyrics |
WB
|
15,875,471 | – | 2955 | 21,404,090 |
1
|
5
|
New
|
Daddy’s Little Girls |
Lions Gate
|
13,064,075 | – | 2111 | 18,757,324 |
1
|
6
|
New
|
Breach |
Uni
|
12,621,835 | – | 1489 | 12,621,835 |
1
|
7
|
2
|
Hannibal Rising |
MGM
|
6,255,564 | -52% | 3003 | 22,917,904 |
2
|
8
|
3
|
Because I Said So |
Uni
|
6,053,850 | -34% | 2446 | 34,311,515 |
3
|
9
|
5
|
Night at the Museum |
Fox
|
4,866,933 | -15% | 2042 | 238,500,531 |
9
|
10
|
4
|
The Messengers |
Sony
|
4,341,827 | -40% | 2183 | 31,050,332 |
3
|
11
|
8
|
Pan’s Labyrinth |
Picturehouse
|
2,639,431 | -26% | 905 | 30,486,056 |
8
|
12
|
9
|
Dreamgirls |
Par
|
1,967,359 | -34% | 1037 | 100,011,336 |
10
|
13
|
7
|
Smokin’ Aces |
Uni
|
1,771,180 | -57% | 1107 | 34,421,936 |
4
|
14
|
6
|
Epic Movie |
Fox
|
1,672,218 | -63% | 1426 | 38,268,898 |
4
|
15
|
10
|
The Queen |
Miramax
|
1,609,141 | -32% | 807 | 51,350,148 |
21
|
16
|
14
|
Letters from Iwo Jima |
WB
|
1,272,397 | -26% | 651 | 11,811,634 |
9
|
17
|
18
|
The Last King of Scotland |
Fox Searchlight
|
1,088,024 | -19% | 384 | 12,959,378 |
21
|
18
|
16
|
Notes on a Scandal |
Fox Searchlight
|
1,030,144 | -33% | 413 | 15,427,044 |
8
|
19
|
12
|
The Pursuit of Happyness |
Sony
|
883,814 | -62% | 690 | 162,140,234 |
10
|
20
|
New
|
Eklavya – The Royal Guard |
Eros
|
812,262 | – | 80 | 812,262 |
1
|
21
|
15
|
Babel |
Par Vantage
|
706,687 | -58% | 305 | 33,218,792 |
17
|
22
|
New
|
Ma Fille, Mon Ange |
Alliance
|
698,685 | – | 87 | 698,685 |
1
|
23
|
11
|
Stomp the Yard |
Sony
|
675,448 | -71% | 626 | 60,350,812 |
6
|
24
|
38
|
Factory Girl |
MGM
|
631,735 | 223% | 336 | 1,024,683 |
3
|
25
|
21
|
Blood Diamond |
WB
|
467,230 | -40% | 225 | 55,859,580 |
11
|
26
|
24
|
Volver |
Sony Class/Sevill
|
456,372 | -28% | 204 | 12,440,229 |
16
|
27
|
27
|
Venus |
Miramax
|
451,402 | -4% | 157 | 2,435,176 |
9
|
28
|
36
|
The Lives of Others |
Sony Classics
|
438,816 | 105% | 32 | 749,623 |
2
|
29
|
20
|
Children of Men |
Uni
|
435,745 | -46% | 210 | 34,609,898 |
9
|
30
|
25
|
Happy Feet |
WB
|
410,377 | -23% | 305 | 193,920,972 |
14
|
31
|
17
|
The Departed |
WB
|
407,187 | -70% | 320 | 131,498,360 |
20
|
32
|
30
|
Casino Royale |
Sony
|
374,125 | 25% | 318 | 166,720,794 |
14
|
33
|
26
|
The Painted Veil |
WIP
|
373,723 | -26% | 200 | 6,932,588 |
9
|
34
|
23
|
Charlotte’s Web |
Par
|
357,177 | -47% | 350 | 81,458,197 |
10
|
35
|
13
|
Catch and Release |
Sony
|
340,914 | -81% | 419 | 15,269,668 |
4
|
36
|
22
|
Arthur and the Invisibles |
MGM
|
271,205 | -62% | 437 | 14,118,082 |
6
|
37
|
35
|
Flushed Away |
Par
|
261,065 | 20% | 228 | 64,272,721 |
16
|
38
|
42
|
Deep Sea 3-D |
WB
|
253,830 | 65% | 37 | 23,514,962 |
51
|
39
|
29
|
Eragon |
Fox
|
244,718 | -24% | 302 | 74,393,494 |
10
|
40
|
37
|
We Are Marshall |
WB
|
213,459 | 7% | 355 | 43,311,884 |
9
|
41
|
31
|
Rocky Balboa |
MGM
|
206,672 | -27% | 266 | 70,001,560 |
9
|
42
|
34
|
Little Children |
New Line
|
179,025 | -22% | 90 | 4,955,940 |
20
|
43
|
19
|
Freedom Writers |
Par
|
177,832 | -82% | 232 | 36,267,856 |
7
|
44
|
48
|
Breaking and Entering |
Weinstein Co.
|
162,682 | 81% | 41 | 330,611 |
4
|
45
|
New
|
2006 Academy Awards Shorts |
Magnolia
|
128,569 | – | 38 | 128,569 |
1
|
46
|
43
|
Unaccompanied Minors |
WB
|
111,848 | -21% | 159 | 16,536,388 |
11
|
47
|
59
|
Work and the Glory III: A House |
Excel
|
101,147 | 128% | 36 | 1,098,062 |
13
|
48
|
55
|
Roving Mars |
BV
|
99,493 | 83% | 19 | 6,064,955 |
56
|
49
|
41
|
Apocalypto |
BV
|
89,141 | -44% | 140 | 50,772,724 |
11
|
50
|
57
|
Magnificent Desolation |
Imax
|
87,854 | 68% | 12 | 17,334,864 |
73
|
51
|
46
|
Borat |
Fox
|
70,425 | -43% | 94 | 128,387,996 |
16
|
52
|
40
|
Salaam-E-Ishq |
Eros
|
67,354 | -63% | 32 | 1,919,404 |
4
|
53
|
32
|
Happily Never After |
Lions Gate
|
65,108 | -74% | 116 | 15,654,501 |
7
|
54
|
39
|
The Good Shepherd |
Uni
|
53,205 | -69% | 80 | 59,839,040 |
9
|
55
|
47
|
The Holiday |
Sony
|
44,955 | -60% | 65 | 63,688,835 |
11
|
56
|
44
|
Alpha Dog |
Uni
|
43,120 | -69% | 69 | 15,229,325 |
6
|
57
|
50
|
Perfume: Story of a Murderer |
Par
|
42,902 | -36% | 26 | 2,170,346 |
8
|
58
|
RE
|
Avenue Montaigne (Orchestra Se |
Thinkfilm/Seville
|
37,677 | – | 2 | 266,879 |
22
|
59
|
49
|
Déjà vu |
BV
|
34,988 | -55% | 69 | 64,011,699 |
13
|
60
|
52
|
Sweet Land |
Libero
|
33,820 | -48% | 25 | 1,454,533 |
19
|
61
|
33
|
The Last Sin Eater |
Bigger Picture
|
32,830 | -87% | 116 | 379,643 |
2
|
62
|
45
|
Blood and Chocolate |
MGM
|
32,047 | -74% | 176 | 3,498,112 |
4
|
63
|
28
|
The Hitcher |
Focus
|
28,836 | -91% | 56 | 16,366,370 |
5
|
64
|
54
|
Partition |
Seville
|
28,319 | -49% | 18 | 216,207 |
3
|
65
|
53
|
Guru |
Adlabs
|
28,000 | -53% | 24 | 2,087,000 |
6
|
66
|
66
|
Inland Empire |
518 Media
|
27,236 | -25% | 10 | 623,960 |
11
|
67
|
New
|
Days of Glory (Indigenes) |
Weinstein Co.
|
25,521 | – | 3 | 25,521 |
1
|
68
|
70
|
Hurricane on the Bayou |
MacGillevry/Free
|
25,264 | 2% | 5 | 81,986 |
4
|
69
|
67
|
Little Miss Sunshine |
Fox Searchlight
|
24,504 | -16% | 23 | 59,758,048 |
30
|
70
|
56
|
The Good German |
WB
|
22,077 | -59% | 22 | 1,161,360 |
9
|
71
|
61
|
Code Name: The Cleaner |
New Line
|
21,879 | -25% | 41 | 8,275,895 |
7
|
72
|
62
|
Open Season |
Sony
|
20,787 | -46% | 48 | 86,509,597 |
21
|
73
|
64
|
The Italian |
Sony Classics
|
20,665 | -43% | 11 | 193,557 |
5
|
74
|
63
|
Stranger Than Fiction |
Sony
|
18,503 | -50% | 21 | 41,813,788 |
15
|
75
|
77
|
God Grew Tired of Us |
Newmarket
|
17,531 | 8% | 7 | 182,822 |
8
|
76
|
65
|
Miss Potter |
MGM
|
17,063 | -49% | 14 | 941,369 |
7
|
Source: Nielsen EDI; MCN |
Weekend Estimates – February 16-19, 2007
Title |
Distributor
|
Gross (avera
|
% chang
|
Theater
|
Cume
|
Ghost Rider |
Sony
|
53.2 (14,690)
|
–
|
3619
|
53.2
|
Bridge to Tarabithia |
BV
|
28.8 (9,190)
|
–
|
3139
|
28.8
|
Norbit |
Par
|
20.7 (6,590)
|
-43%
|
3138
|
62.7
|
Music and Lyrics |
WB
|
16.0 (5,420)
|
–
|
2955
|
21.6
|
Daddy’s Little Girls |
Lions Gate
|
13.9 (6,590)
|
–
|
2111
|
19.6
|
Breach |
Uni
|
12.3 (8,240)
|
–
|
1489
|
12.3
|
Hannibal Rising |
MGM
|
6.1 (2,020)
|
-56%
|
3003
|
22.7
|
Because I Said So |
Uni/TVA
|
5.9 (2,420)
|
-40%
|
2446
|
34.2
|
Night at the Museum |
Fox
|
4.8 (2,360)
|
-21%
|
2042
|
238.5
|
The Messengers |
Sony
|
4.4 (2,020)
|
-42%
|
2183
|
31.1
|
Pan’s Labyrinth |
Picturehouse
|
2.7 (2,950)
|
-31%
|
905
|
30.5
|
Smokin’ Aces |
Uni
|
1.7 (1,570)
|
-61%
|
1111
|
34.4
|
Epic Movie |
Fox
|
1.6 (1,130)
|
-67%
|
1426
|
38.2
|
The Queen |
Miramax
|
1.6 (1,970)
|
-38%
|
807
|
51.3
|
Dreamgirls |
Par
|
1.4 (1,380)
|
-55%
|
1037
|
99.5
|
Letter from Iwo Jima |
WB
|
1.2 (1,890)
|
-35%
|
651
|
11.8
|
Notes on a Scandal |
Fox Searchlig
|
1.1 (2,590)
|
-36%
|
413
|
15.5
|
The Last King of Scotland |
Fox Searchlig
|
1.0 (2,680)
|
-29%
|
384
|
12.9
|
Ma Fille, Mon Ange |
Alliance
|
.95 (11,180)
|
85
|
0.95
|
|
The Pursuit of Happyness |
Sony
|
.91 (1,320)
|
-64%
|
690
|
162.2
|
Babel |
Par Vantage
|
.73 (2,390)
|
-60%
|
305
|
33.2
|
Stomp the Yard |
Sony
|
.67 (1,070)
|
-73%
|
626
|
60.3
|
Factory Girl |
MGM
|
.63 (1,880)
|
197%
|
336
|
1
|
Eklavya – The Royal Guard |
Eros
|
.56 (6,960)
|
–
|
80
|
0.56
|
Blood Diamond |
WB
|
.51 (2,270)
|
-40%
|
225
|
55.9
|
Weekend Total ($500,000+ Films) |
$184.20
|
–
|
–
|
–
|
|
% Change (Last Year) |
–
|
22%
|
–
|
–
|
–
|
% Change (Last Week) |
––
|
61%
|
–
|
–
|
–
|
Also debuting/expanding | |||||
Venus |
Miramax
|
.44 (2,800)
|
-6%
|
157
|
2.4
|
The Lives of Others |
Sony Classics
|
.39 (13,000)
|
82%
|
30
|
0.7
|
2006 Academy Shorts |
Magnolia
|
.16 (4,050)
|
–
|
39
|
0.16
|
Avenue Montaigne (Orchestra S |
Thinkfilm/Sevill
|
37,200 (18,600)
|
–
|
2
|
0.04
|
Bamako |
New Yorker
|
22,600 (11,300)
|
–
|
2
|
0.02
|
Close to Home |
IFC
|
6,700 (3,350)
|
–
|
2
|
0.01
|
Antibodies |
Slow Hand
|
2,440 (1,220)
|
–
|
2
|
0.01
|
Domestic Market Share: Jan 1 – February 17, 2007
Distributor (releases) |
Gross
|
Percentage
|
Sony (9) |
192.7
|
19.10%
|
Fox (8) |
175.5
|
17.30%
|
Paramount (7) |
172.2
|
17.00%
|
Universal (5) |
131.6
|
13.00%
|
Warner Bros. (11) |
85.4
|
8.40%
|
MGM (8) |
62.5
|
6.20%
|
Picturehouse (1) |
27.3
|
2.70%
|
Miramax (2) |
23.4
|
2.30%
|
Buena Vista (8) |
23.2
|
2.30%
|
Fox Searchlight (4) |
23.1
|
2.30%
|
Lions Gate (4) |
21.9
|
2.20%
|
Focus (1) |
16.3
|
1.60%
|
Par Vantage (1) |
12.7
|
1.30%
|
New Line (3) |
12
|
1.20%
|
Sony Classics (4) |
11.8
|
1.20%
|
Warner Independent (2) |
6.2
|
0.60%
|
Other * (32) |
13
|
1.30%
|
* none greater than 0.4% |
1010.8
|
100.00%
|