Monday, August 1, 2011

Box Office Mystery?

In a refreshing take on the usual weekend box office analysis that comes on week after week, we experience a draw.  Both Sony and Universal are reporting that their respective opening films-- The Smurfs and Cowboys & Aliens are on top with $36.2 million.  Naturally, something will go up or down when the final results and receipts are counted, but for now, and the first time in many moons (especially in the age of the pre-determined blockbuster), we have a tie.  The unfortunate thing is that this draw is between two poorly reviewed and lame looking projects.  The Smurfs in general confounds me, not just because of its irritating trailer and nauseating presence, but my question is who was this movie really for?  Does anyone under the age of 30 even have any recollection of the cheesy cartoon, and doesn't the film seem to kiddie-lame to appeal to nostalgia-seeking now adults?  Cowboys & Aliens should be a more enticing with it's mash-up of westerns and science-fiction, but the film, based on an obscure graphic novel, has appeared almost invisible in its marketing and nondescript from even reviews and those you've seen it.
1. Cowboys & Aliens \ The Smurfs- $36.2- Who will win?
3. Captain America- Dropping a steep 61% in it's second weekend, this year's second big budget commercial for next years The Avengers has made $116 million so far.
4. Harry Potter & the Deathly Hallows: Part 2- The fuss has settled in its third weekend, and the finale has made $318 million so far, but the bigger story is that internationally the film has crossed the $1 billion mark, the first film in the Harry Potter canon to do so.
5. Crazy, Stupid, Love- The romantic ensemble comedy grossed $19 million in its first weekend...its strong reviews and glittery and pretty cast should keep it afloat for a while.
6. Friends with Benefits- The second film this year chronicling sex over relationships dropped 50% in weekend number two for $38 million total cum so far...which film will be the champ...this Mila Kunis starrer or her Black Swan's counterpoint, No Strings Attached which grossed $70 million last winter.
7. Horrible Bosses- The black comedy has $96 million after four weekends in release.
8. Transformers: Dark of the Moon- Down 50% in its fifth weekend, the Hasbro brand has amassed $337 million, making it the top grossing film of the 2011 so far, though Harry Potter will beat it soon enough.  Internationally, the film took a back seat to Potter as it will have to wait (albeit not too long) to cross the $1 billion mark (it's currently at $982 million.)
9. Zookeeper- $68 million in four weeks.
10. Cars 2- $182 million in six weeks, and it's last in the top ten...YAY!
11. Winnie the Pooh- $22 million in three weeks.
12. Midnight in Paris- With $46 million in the back, it's Woody Allen's highest (unadjusted for inflation) grossing film to date.

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