Steve Mason is the first with the estimates tonight and he brings word of an estimated $25 million opening day for Roland Emmerich’s 2012, which he believes may translate into upwards of $60 million for the weekend. He even cites anonymous sources predicting the film could reach $150 million domestically (no surprise) and when all things are said and done, $500 million worldwide. Yikes!
In what I think is rather interesting, A Christmas Carol is showing signs of only dropping 32% from last weekend with an estimated $5.5 million on Friday. But even if it hits Mason’s estimated $20.4 million for the weekend it will have done in ten days what Emmerich’s film looks to do in three.
Precious is the big and exciting news, as my favorite drama of the year thus far follows up its impressive $1.8 million opening weekend with an estimated $1.75 million on Friday. Mason predicts it will finish with $5.3 million for the weekend and a fifth place finish. Last weekend the critically acclaimed feature made a whopping $104k per theater after playing in only 18 theaters. This weekend it add 156 more, which means it’s still looking at a $30k per theater return. It could be the start of big, big things for the potential Oscar powerhouse.
The only other new release this week in more than four theaters was Focus’s Pirate Radio, which is much better than so many have led on, but it looks like it is going to disappoint as it brought in an estimated $1 million on Friday on its way to a potential $2.9 million for the weekend.
I have listed Mason’s numbers below and Nikki Finke is reporting similar numbers with only subtle differences right here. Stay tuned as Laremy will be Sunday morning with a complete wrap-up.
- 2012 (Sony) – $25 million
- A Christmas Carol (Disney) – $5.5 million
- The Men Who Stare At Goats (Overture) – $2 million
- The Fourth Kind (Universal) – $1.9 million
- Precious: Based on the novel “Push” by Sapphire (Lionsgate) – $1.75 million
- Paranormal Activity (Paramount) – $1.5 million
- Pirate Radio (Focus) – $1 million
