The Weekend Report: March 25, 2012

The Hunger Games set a slew of records and debuted to a jaw dropping estimated $153.6 million. Nuff said. The competition decided there was little point to even consider a counter-programmer. But in the niches Bollywood offered Agent Vinod that bowed to an OK $440,000 at 121 venues.

The Weekend Report: March 18, 2012

The reinvention of the bygone TV show was the sole new wide release while other freshmen aimed for niche crowds in hopes of building to bigger platforms. However, the prospects for expansion weren’t bountiful for either the comedic spin on Latin machismo in Casa de mi Padre or the sophisticated slackerisms of Jeff Who Lives at Home. The former grossed $2.2 million at 382 locations while the couch potato mashed $820,000 from 254 ovens.

The Weekend Report: March 11, 2012

Like a hideous car accident all eyes were on John Carter. Or, at the very least there was the prospect of the anticipated catastrophe that a calculated franchise title would come crashing down to earth (or Mars).

The film proved to be somewhat of a split decision. Its opening estimated gross of $30.1 million ranked it second to Dr. Seuss’ The Lorax’s second weekend of $39 million. So, while the hero of the pulps and pecs was not a flame out neither did he flex the sort of commercial heft that would anticipate sequels.

The Weekend Report: March 4, 2012

Clearly no one saw The Lorax coming with so much force though pundits predicted a sizeable opening pegged between $45 million and $50 million. It was the highest opening for an original animated picture ever and ranked third best all-time March opener. But just 52% of ticket buyers opted for 3D engagements suggesting that audiences still have a recession attitude toward stereoscopic films.

Not surprisingly the audience was 68% families though its gross clearly indicated considerable business beyond matinees. There was also a 60% tilt toward female viewers.

Project X also hit a bull’s eye with its targeted young male crowd. Its exit demos identified a 58% swing toward the boys and 67% of viewers aged 25 years and younger. Generally positive reviews helped the picture exceed high end projections of $18 million.