I try not to make sweeping generalizations about a large group of people. However this weekend was damaging to my psyche because I think it proves something terrible about the American box office. What? Just read on my friend.
#1 movie predicted correctly: Zero Weeks In A Row
Wow. This is shocking. What this proves is that there are more indiscriminate family dollars available than there are dollars available for what looked like a pretty good movie (The Kingdom). That’s truly a depressing thought as it means we’re doomed going forward. Well, I guess there is one other theory…
Result: $22.6 million (My rank: #2, $6.4m off)
2. The Kingdom
Is it the Middle East guys? Are we so fatigued that we’re punishing a film that’s pretty much apolitical? Because I think the trailers were decent. And they were sure as hell better than The Game Plan.
Result: $17.6 million (My rank: #1, $5.8m off)
Wow, that’s a nasty result for Resident Evil. A 66 percent drop is nothing to scoff at. I tried to scoff. It didn’t take. Why not? Because that was one giant drop.
Result: $8.0 million (My rank: #3, $3.3m off)
This was what we thought it was and Dane Cook’s string of financial bombs continues. He’s not on fire.
Result: $6.3 million (My rank: #4, $.3m off)
5. 3:10 to Yuma
Well at least I’m getting better at these bottom titles. Yuma is still a monetary loser, but you have to admire Lionsgate for not failing as hard with this as they normally do.
Result: $4.1 million (My rank: #5, $.2m off)
Boom, shake the room, because I am lighting it up with picks like this. The Brave One is loving it too because it’s set to release internationally in a few weeks and you know the international folk eat up revenge films about Americans. Hmm, I may rethink that last part.
Result: $3.7 million (My rank: #6, Dead On)
7. Mr. Woodcock
I had Eastern Promises here, I was .3m away from pulling that off. Take a lap.
Result: $3.0 million (My rank: #8, $.3m off)
It sits at $11.2m overall but this smells like an Oscar DVD sales special. Every year they take two or three films that gross under $25m and give them a free pass with a few Oscar nominations. It’s The Academy’s little way of saying “Thanks for funding us.”
Result: $2.8 million (My rank: #7, $.5m off)
9. Sydney White
It will crack double digits within the next seven days. So if you had the under ten million dollar bet down you’re losing. You should have checked your history; modern spins on folk tales geared towards teens always eat pavement.
Result: $2.6 million (My rank: #10, $.2m off)
Across the Universe slipped in the back door when Feast of Love completely collapsed. Now I wish I would have screened Feast because it will become a badge of honor among critics to even remember it. Back to Across the Universe, I wonder what they paid for the song rights here? I certainly hope they gave them a break because this is around $5m in total box office right now.
Result: $2.0 million (My rank: #, $m off)
