Weekend Box-Office: ‘The Hunger Games’ is Now Eying First #1 Fourpeat Since ‘Avatar’
By
Brad Brevet
The Hunger Games took to the arena again and outlasted and outmatched all newcomers yet again, making for its third straight week at the top of the box-office. Can it make it four in a row next week? Let’s break this Easter weekend down and see if we can figure it out…
Laremy predicted the #1 movie correctly 6 Weeks In A Row
Laremy was spot on with the #1 pick for his sixth weekend in a row as The Hunger Games bested American Reunion and Titanic 3-D, enjoying only a satisfying 42.7% dip as it now becomes the sixth fastest film to cross the $300 million mark where it is tied with Star Wars: Episode III – Revenge of the Sith.
Interestingly enough, when Revenge of the Sith finished its theatrical run it ended just over $380 million. Should Hunger Games follow the same path it could potentially make enough to beat the highest grossing film of 2011, Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows: Part 2. Considering it’s only April that’s quite amazing.
Weekend: $33.5 million (42.7% drop) Cummulative Total: $302.8 million RottenTomatoes Score:85% Laremy’s rank: Laremy picked it to finish #1 and his prediction of $30.5 million was $3m off for a percentage error of 8.96%.
I made a little more than the American Pie original back in 1999, but I don’t expect this to follow the recipe set forth by its three predecessors as $100 million seems a bit out of reach. It would need a little more than the B+ CinemaScore it received for me to think audiences are going to show it any kind of major support over the coming weeks. After all, American Wedding opened with $33.3 million in 2003 and just barely crossed $104 million.
When it comes to predictions, Laremy had the placement correct, but overshot by almost $8 million. Looking over reader predictions it’s “gripmonster” with a $21.4m prediction that takes home this win.
Weekend: $21.5 million / RottenTomatoes:44% Laremy’s rank: Laremy picked it to finish #2 with $29.4 million, which is $7.9m off for a 36.74% error.
It cost Fox and Paramount $18 million to convert Titanic into 3-D and since opening on Wednesday the film has grossed $25.7 million domestically and brought in another $35.5 million internationally.
The film’s overall domestic cume is now at $626.4 million and its worldwide number sits at $1.9 billion, all before inflation is factored in. Amazing.
Weekend: $17.3 million / Cume: $25.7 million / RottenTomatoes:87% Laremy’s rank: Laremy picked it to finish #3 with $24.1 million, which is $6.8m off for a 39.31% error.
If this was the third weekend for Wrath of the Titans I would say things were looking good with a 55% dip, but considering it is only the second weekend and it still hasn’t managed to top its predecessor’s $61 million opening things don’t look so rosy. However, I’m sure Warner Bros. is quite pleased to add the $76 million it has earned internationally as of publishing.
Weekend: $15 million (-55.1% drop) / Cume: $58.8 million / RottenTomatoes:23% Laremy’s rank: Laremy picked it to finish #4 with $14.7 million, which is $0.3m off for a 2% error.
The story for Mirror Mirror is similar to Wrath as it didn’t enjoy the most electric of openings, but fortunately we’re looking at a family film that will likely do just as well on home video as it will in theaters. Yet, that $85 million budget is still extremely high.
Weekend: $11 million (-39.2% drop) / Cume: $36.4 million / RottenTomatoes:48% Laremy’s rank: Laremy picked it to finish #6 with $7.7 million, which is $3.3m off for a 30% error.
21 Jump Street is now the fifth 2012 release to cross $100 million and on a $42 million budget no less.
Weekend: $10.2 million (-31.1% drop) / Cume: $109.5 million / RottenTomatoes:85% Laremy’s rank: Laremy picked it to finish #5 with $13.6 million, which is $3.4m off for a 33.33% error.
Just shy of $200 million. Maybe they’ll make a sequel and The Lorax can tackle global warming next, or the benefits of recycling or maybe tell us how bad sugar is, or tackle the oil crisis or maybe just become the United States’ first animated President. The sky is the limit for what Americans will accept apparently.
Weekend: $5 million (-35.1% drop) / Cume: $198.2 million / RottenTomatoes:58% Laremy’s rank: Laremy picked it to finish #7 with $3.9 million, which is $1.1m off for a 22% error.
Now we’re in the trenches with the films that couldn’t manage to hit $1 million.
Weekend: $0.975 million (-18.8% drop) / Cume: $4.6 million / RottenTomatoes:68% Laremy’s rank: Laremy picked it to finish #8 with $0.95 million, which is $0.025m off for a 2.56% error.
I have a hard time imagining the folks at Disney green lighting a film with a $200+ million budget and expecting it to end its days in the box-office top ten bringing in less than $1 million and coming up shy of $70 million overall. Yet, there is a bright side to this story in that the film has brought in $188.3 million internationally as of publishing.
Weekend: $0.82 million (-59% drop) / Cume: $67.9 million / RottenTomatoes:50% Laremy’s rank: Laremy picked it to finish #9 with $0.6 million, which is $0.22m off for a 26.83% error.
Nine weeks later and lackluster finishes at the bottom of the top ten give Safe House one last moment to shine in the sun as the film with an $85 million budget managed almost $200 million worldwide so far.
Weekend: $0.581 million / Cume: $124.7 million / RottenTomatoes:54% Laremy’s rank: Not Ranked
So now for the big question, will The Hunger Games become the first film since Avatar to top the box-office four weekends in a row? Let’s say it drops 48% next weekend, that would mean it would finish with approximately $17.4 million. Now, do you see The Cabin in the Wood or The Three Stooges besting that number?
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