Well, it appears The Hunger Games is just too strong. The film is set to become the first of 2012 to three-peat at the top of the box-office and the first since The Twilight Saga: Breaking Dawn – Part 1 back in December.
While most of the recent talk surrounding The Hunger Games has been Catching Fire, the fact the film currently stands at over $282 million domestically and will cross the $300 million mark by the end of the weekend is big news.
The biggest film at the 2011 domestic box-office was Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows: Part 2 with $381 million. With a lot of room to roam throughout the month of April, Hunger Games could threaten that number and with films such as The Avengers, Brave, The Amazing Spider-Man and The Dark Knight Rises still on the way, 2012 could have several films crushing the highest earning pics from last year.
With an estimated $12.9 million on Friday, The Hunger Games could be looking at a $38 million weekend, which would signal only a 35% drop from its second weekend where the fall-off was a given considering the film’s massive opening.
In second is Universal’s return to the American Pie franchise, American Reunion, bringing in an estimated $9.2 million on Friday, which isn’t too shabby and should result in a $25 million weekend. The film was made on a $50 million budget, but given this is a franchise that has turned largely to the direct-to-DVD market I have to say this was a film made just as much for a theatrical release as it was for home video.
Coming up third is the week’s second journey back to the 1990s as James Cameron has gone and given his Oscar-dominating Titanic a 3-D facelift. The film is playing in 2-D, 3-D and IMAX 3-D and brought in an estimated $7.1 million after opening in limited theaters on Wednesday night. I actually thought this one might have a shot at the #1 spot, but with what looks like a likely $21 million weekend I guess third will have to do.
As for last week’s new releases, Wrath of the Titans opened with a rather disappointing $33.4 million last week, which makes what is looking like a 52% drop this weekend look less than impressive. Tarsem’s Mirror Mirror is holding on a little better considering it’s less than stellar $18.1 million opening. After $4.5 million on Friday the film is looking at a potential $13.5 million weekend, which would mean only a 25% dip, but when you open as low as this one did it’s hard to find your balance. However, considering it is a film largely for a family audience its home video numbers should help with that $85 million budget.
I have included Friday’s estimated top ten directly below and will be back on Sunday morning with a complete wrap-up.
- The Hunger Games – $12.9 million
- American Reunion – $9.2 million
- Titanic 3-D – $7.1 million
- Wrath of the Titans – $5.4 million
- Mirror Mirror – $4.5 million
- 21 Jump Street – $3.6 million
- Dr. Seuss’ The Lorax – $2.3 million
- Salmon Fishing in the Yemen – $320,000
- John Carter – $291,000
- Safe House – $212,000
