It’s sort of painful to see Taken 2 open with so much money and the “B+” Cinemascore is staggering considering how bad the film is and considering Looper only received a “B” from moviegoers. With $18.6 million in the bank on opening day, Taken 2 is now looking at almost $50 million for its opening weekend and recognition as one of the top 15 openers of 2012. Oh well, that’s the way this world works now.
Taken brought in $24.7 million on its opening weekend back in 2009, but its strength was in its legs, dropping only 16.9% and 7.6% in its second and third weekends respectively. Will Taken 2 be able to do the same?
Tim Burton’s Frankenweenie is off to a bit of a slow start, but may be able to pick up some steam over the weekend. With $3.2 million on Friday, I imagine it may be able to end somewhere around $13.5 million for the weekend, but the fact it isn’t necessarily a kids’ film given the scary imagery in the latter third, it may prevent families from embracing it fully.
Sony’s Hotel Transylvania also isn’t helping Frankenweenie as both films carry a Halloween vibe, but one is clearly more for the kiddies. The Adam Sandler-voiced monster hotel movie is holding on nicely with $6.5 million on Friday and a potential drop of under 40% from its box-office topping opening weekend.
Also, Pitch Perfect expanded this weekend after a limited release last weekend that saw it playing in only 335 theaters and pulling in $15,371 per. This weekend it’s in 2,770 theaters and pulled in $4.9 million on Friday and is looking at a $14 million weekend, not exactly blowing the doors off, but respectful enough for the modestly budgeted $17 million film.
I’ll be back on Sunday with a complete wrap-up of the weekend, but for now here’s the Friday top ten.
- Taken 2 – $18.6 million
- Hotel Transylvania – $6.5 million
- Pitch Perfect – $4.9 million
- Looper – $3.5 million
- Frankenweenie – $3.2 million
- End of Watch – $1.17 million
- Trouble with the Curve – $1.145 million
- House at End of Street – $1.14 million
- The Master – $498,000
- The Perks of Being Wallflower – $482,000
