It was the biggest opening weekend of the year… $130m for the top twelve films, to what can we attribute this? I’d say the Thursday holiday made people stir-crazy by the time the weekend rolled around. It couldn’t have been the movies, could it? Nah. So how is it possible this is the biggest opening weekend of 2009? Baffling…
#1 movie predicted correctly: 1 Week In A Row
It was second to Slumdog Millionaire in per theater average. So clearly the people have spoken, and they’ve said “Give us more dog movies. NOW!”
Result: 24.0 million (My rank: #1, $5.5m off)
Budget was $80m, and it just passed $80m this weekend. So clearly they have a lot of work to do given the theater/studio split.
Result: 20.3 million (My rank: #2, $5.6m off)
Unlike Button where the budget was $150m. What the hell did they spend the money on? Were there Transformers in it that I missed? This one is going to need bigtime Academy love to make its money back.
Result: 18.4 million (My rank: #3, $3.8m off)
4. Valkyrie
If you’re curious this is one is being released in Germany in late January. It should rule the box office there, they can’t get enough of WWII films.
Result: 14.0 million (My rank: #4, $2.5m off)
5. Yes Man
Have you seen the schedule this weekend? Bride Wars, The Unborn, and something else that has 600 theaters. But my real question is this: How can you be Unborn? Isn’t that the same as being… nonexistent?
Result: 13.8 million (My rank: #5, $5.4m off)
6. Seven Pounds
This was the only movie I’ve ever screened that made me sign something saying I wouldn’t talk about it early. That’s never a good sign.
Result: 10.0 million (My rank: #6, $3.3m off)
Hey, I’m seven for seven in placement! As it turns out I can predict 2nd weekends a hell of a lot better than opening weekends.
Result: 7.0 million (My rank: #7, $2.2m off)
8. Doubt
I’m glad it did better than my projection. It’s not a happy film, but it is a good one.
Result: 5.0 million (My rank: #9, $1.3m off)
Know what’s missing from this list? The Spirit. I miss that one already.
Result: 4.8 million (My rank: #8, $.7m off)
The fact that this beat out Twilight for 10th place is a hopeful sign. It’s going to win Best Picture, so why not a little box office love?
Result: 4.7 million (My rank: Not Ranked)
