2009 at the Box Office

 Can't agree with 1991 as a bad summer year.  It had Terminator 2: Judgment Day, which is better than most summers all by itself.  I also enjoyed Robin Hood as a nice adventure, much in the same way I enjoyed Star Trek this year.  But T2 alone makes it better than most, since that film is STILL the modern template for summer blockbuster (if you consider Jaws the "classic" template).

The top 10 hits from every summer since 1980.

1980
#1 "The Empire Strikes Back"
#2 "Airplane!"
#3 "Smokey & the Bandit II"
#4 "The Blue Lagoon"
#5 "The Blues Brothers"
#6 "Urban Cowboy"
#7 "The Shining"
#8 "Cheech & Chong's Next Movie"
#9 "Caddyshack"
#10 "Friday the 13th

1981
#1 "Raiders of the Lost Ark"
#2 "Superman II"
#3 "Arthur"
#4 "Stripes"
#5 "The Cannonball Run"
#6 "For Your Eyes Only"
#7 "The Four Seasons"
#8 "Clash of the Titans"
#9 "The Fox & the Hound"
#10 "Tarzan, the Ape Man"

1982
#1 "E.T. The Extra-Terrestrial"
#2 "An Officer and a Gentleman"
#3 "Rocky III"
#4 "Star Trek II: The Wrath of Khan"
#5 "Poltergeist"
#6 "The Best Little Whorehouse in Texas"
#7 "Annie"
#8 "Firefox"
#9 "Conan the Barbarian"
#10 "Friday the 13th Part III"

1983
#1 "Return of the Jedi"
#2 "Trading Places"
#3 "WarGames"
#4 "Octopussy"
#5 "Staying Alive"
#6 "Mr. Mom"
#7 "Risky Business"
#8 "National Lampoon's Vacation"
#9 "Superman III"
#10 "Jaws 3D"

1984
#1 "Ghostbusters"
#2 "Indiana Jones and the Temple of Doom"
#3 "Gremlins"
#4 "The Karate Kid"
#5 "Star Trek III: The Search for Spock"
#6 "Purple Rain"
#7 "Tightrope"
#8 "The Natural"
#9 "Revenge of the Nerds"
#10 "Breakin'"

1985
#1 "Back to the Future"
#2 "Rambo: First Blood Part II"
#3 "Cocoon"
#4 "The Goonies"
#5 "Fletch"
#6 "A View to a Kill"
#7 "European Vacation"
#8 "Pale Rider"
#9 "Pee Wee's Big Adventure"
#10 "Brewster's Millions"

1986
#1 "Top Gun"
#2 "The Karate Kid Part II"
#3 "Back to School"
#4 "Aliens"
#5 "Ruthless People"
#6 "Ferris Beuller's Day Off"
#7 "Stand by Me"
#8 "Legal Eagles"
#9 "Cobra"
#10 "Poltergeist II: The Other Side"

1987
#1 "Beverly Hills Cop II"
#2 "The Untouchables"
#3 "Stakeout"
#4 "The Witches of Eastwick"
#5 "Dirty Dancing"
#6 "Predator"
#7 "Dragnet"
#8 "La Bamba"
#9 "RoboCop"
#10 "The Living Daylights"

1988
#1 "Who Framed Roger Rabbit"
#2 "Coming to America"
#3 "Big"
#4 "Crocodile Dundee II"
#5 "Die Hard"
#6 "Cocktail"
#7 "A Fish Called Wanda"
#8 "Willow"
#9 "Rambo III"
#10 "Bull Durham"

1989
#1 "Batman"
#2 "Indiana Jones and the Last Crusade"
#3 "Lethal Weapon 2"
#4 "Honey, I Shrunk the Kids"
#5 "Ghostbusters II"
#6 "Parenthood"
#7 "Dead Poets Society"
#8 "When Harry Met Sally..."
#9 "Turner & Hooch"
#10 "Uncle Buck"

1990
#1 "Ghost"
#2 "Total Recall"
#3 "Die Hard 2: Die Harder"
#4 "Dick Tracy"
#5 "Back the Future Part III"
#6 "Presumed Innocent"
#7 "Days of Thunder"
#8 "Another 48 Hrs."
#9 "Bird on a Wire"
#10 "Flatliners"

1991
#1 "Terminator 2: Judgment Day"
#2 "Robin Hood: Prince of Thieves"
#3 "City Slickers"
#4 "Naked Gun 2 1/2: The Smell of Fear"
#5 "Backdraft"
#6 "Hot Shots!"
#7 "What About Bob?"
#8 "101 Dalmatians" (Re-issue)
#9 "Boyz N the Hood"
#10 "Doc Hollywood"

1992
#1 "Batman Returns"
#2 "Lethal Weapon 3"
#3 "Sister Act"
#4 "A League of Their Own"
#5 "Unforgiven"
#6 "Patriot Games"
#7 "Boomerang"
#8 "Far and Away"
#9 "Honey, I Blew Up the Kid"
#10 "Housesitter"

1993
#1 "Jurassic Park"
#2 "The Fugitive"
#3 "The Firm"
#4 "Sleepless in Seattle"
#5 "In the Line of Fire"
#6 "Cliffhanger"
#7 "Free Willy"
#8 "Dave"
#9 "Rising Sun"
#10 "Rookie of the Year"

1994
#1 "Forrest Gump"
#2 "The Lion King"
#3 "True Lies"
#4 "The Flinstones"
#5 "Clear and Present Danger"
#6 "Speed"
#7 "The Mask"
#8 "Maverick"
#9 "The Client"
#10 "Wolf"

1995
#1 "Batman Forever"
#2 "Apollo 13"
#3 "Pocahontas"
#4 "Casper"
#5 "Die Hard with a Vengeance"
#6 "Crimson Tide"
#7 "Waterworld"
#8 "Dangerous Minds"
#9 "Congo"
#10 "Braveheart"

1996
#1 "Independence Day"
#2 "Twister"
#3 "Mission: Impossible"
#4 "The Rock"
#5 "The Nutty Professor"
#6 "A Time to Kill"
#7 "Phenomenon"
#8 "Eraser"
#9 "The Hunchback of Notre Dame"
#10 "The Cable Guy"

1997
#1 "Men in Black"
#2 "The Lost World: Jurassic Park"
#3 "Air Force One"
#4 "My Best Friend's Wedding"
#5 "Face/Off"
#6 "Batman & Robin"
#7 "George of the Jungle"
#8 "Con Air"
#9 "Contact"
#10 "Hercules"

1998
#1 "Saving Private Ryan"
#2 "Armageddon"
#3 "There's Something About Mary"
#4 "Dr. Dolittle"
#5 "Deep Impact"
#6 "Godzilla"
#7 "Lethal Weapon 4"
#8 "The Truman Show"
#9 "Mulan"
#10 "The Mask of Zorro"

1999
#1 "Star Wars: Episode I- The Phantom Menace"
#2 "The Sixth Sense"
#3 "Austin Powers: The Spy Who Shagged Me"
#4 "Tarzan"
#5 "Big Daddy"
#6 "The Mummy"
#7 "Runaway Bride"
#8 "The Blair Witch Project"
#9 "Notting Hill"
#10 "Wild Wild West"

2000
#1 "Mission: Impossible 2"
#2 "Gladiator"
#3 "The Perfect Storm"
#4 "X-Men"
#5 "Scary Movie"
#6 "What Lies Beneath"
#7 "Dinosaur"
#8 "Nutty Professor II: The Klumps"
#9 "Big Momma's House"
#10 "The Patriot"

2001
#1 "Shrek"
#2 "Rush Hour 2"
#3 "The Mummy Returns"
#4 "Pearl Harbor"
#5 "Jurassic Park III"
#6 "Planet of the Apes"
#7 "American Pie 2"
#8 "The Fast & the Furious"
#9 "Lara Croft: Tomb Raider"
#10 "Dr. Dolittle 2"

2002
#1 "Spider-Man"
#2 "Star Wars: Episode II- Attack of the Clones"
#3 "Signs"
#4 "Austin Powers in Goldmember"
#5 "Men in Black II"
#6 "Scooby Doo"
#7 "Lilo & Stitch"
#8 "XXX"
#9 "Minority Report"
#10 "Mr. Deeds"

2003
#1 "Finding Nemo"
#2 "Pirates of the Caribbean: The Curse of the Black Pearl"
#3 "The Matrix Reloaded"
#4 "Bruce Almighty"
#5 "X2: X-Men United"
#6 "Terminator 3: Rise of the Machines"
#7 "Bad Boys II"
#8 "Hulk"
#9 "2 Fast 2 Furious"
#10 "Seabiscuit"

2004
#1 "Shrek 2"
#2 "Spider-Man 2"
#3 "Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban"
#4 "The Day After Tomorrow"
#5 "The Bourne Supremacy"
#6 "I, Robot"
#7 "Troy"
#8 "Van Helsing"
#9 "Fahrenheit 9/11"
#10 "DodgeBall: A True Underdog Story"

2005
#1 "Star Wars: Episode III- Revenge of the Sith"
#2 "War of the Worlds"
#3 "Wedding Crashers"
#4 "Charlie & the Chocolate Factory"
#5 "Batman Begins"
#6 "Madagascar"
#7 "Mr. & Mrs. Smith"
#8 "The Longest Yard"
#9 "Fantastic Four"
#10 "The 40-Year-Old Virgin"

2006
#1 "Pirates of the Caribbean: Dead Man's Chest"
#2 "Cars"
#3 "X-Men: the Last Stand"
#4 "The Da Vinci Code"
#5 "Superman Returns"
#6 "Over the Hedge"
#7 "Talladega Nights: The Ballad of Ricky Bobby"
#8 "Click"
#9 "Mission: Impossible III"
#10 "The Devil Wears Prada"

2007
#1 "Spider-Man 3"
#2 "Shrek the Third"
#3 "Transformers"
#4 "Pirates of the Caribbean: At World's End"
#5 "Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix"
#6 "The Bourne Ultimatum"
#7 "Ratatouille"
#8 "The Simpsons Movie"
#9 "Knocked Up"
#10 "Rush Hour 3"

2008
#1 "The Dark Knight"
#2 "Iron Man"
#3 "Indiana Jones and the Kingdom of the Crystal Skull"
#4 "Hancock"
#5 "Wall-E"
#6 "Kung Fu Panda"
#7 "Sex & the City"
#8 "Mama Mia!"
#9 "The Chronicles of Narnia: Prince Caspian"
#10 "The Incredible Hulk"

what about lotr series terry. it seems to be missing from 2001-2003?

Jacob

Jacob, those are 'summer' movie hits.

Love those lists Terry, fascinating how many summer no.1s ended up being the years no.1. People like escapism.

2002 was a disappointment for George Lucas, the first time a Star Wars film wasn't the years biggest film, and all the proof he needed that Phantom Menace was not well recieved by the fans. Still, despite clunky dialogue Clones is my personal favourite of the 3 prequels.

not to worry, on 8/14, Miyazaki's PONYO IS HERE!

http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0876563/

PS Up has been the best summer flick so far. quite possibly the year's best. for me, it's the best release of this year so far.

I'm sure the movie earning more than $300 million made him feel better.  It was also the 11th highest grossing hit of all time (as of 2002) so I don't think dissapointment is a word that can be applied to it.

The LOTR films came out in December.

Wow, okay. At least I know where we stand. And how long is this going to go on for?

Ponyo? Miyazaki? I saw that a year ago, is it still getting a US cinema release? I remember not liking it much. Loved his last few films but Ponyo was a let down.

May we all have disappontments the way Lucas had in 2002!

$300 million instead of $400 million, damn! Number 2 instead of number 1, damn, damn!

It's a wonder Lucas wasn't institutionalized that year for severe depression!

I didn't say it wasn't successful, but beaten to no.1 by a Sam Raimi film must have been a bit of a shocker for Lord Lucas, previously each Star Wars film was no.1 in their... oh why am I repeating myself?

That's it I'm outta here.

I know that the lotr movies were released in december. I didn't know that the list was for the summer movies. I think he should have added christmas movies.

I saw your list of recommendations to see.. but I am still not that interested. I like watching movies on the big screen. when there is something good to watch. I did miss zodiac and underworld 1 in the theatre. I wish I had seen them in the theatre.

my favorite summer was 1989. when I would see a better movie then the last one that I had seen. during that summer.

I like the terminator movies. the first 2 a least. I like the se of t2 the best. the blu ray skynet kicks ass.

I had written something before.. but it never got posted. I didn't feel like rewriting it again.

Jacob

I think 2009 is having a great year overall at the box office, despite a tough recession. Take a look at Star Trek, Transformers, Wolverine, Hangover was a big surprise. Dillinger is coming out, the Harry Potter movie. So there are some big movies this year bringing in a lot of revenue, so I think 2009 is doing pretty well.

The recession is probably helping the theaters this year. People can't afford actual vacations, so they go to the movies for a bunch of "mini-vacations" more often.

Weekend Estimates

#1 "Ice Age: Dawn of the Dinosaurs" $42.5 million ($67.5 million)
#2 "Transformers: Revenge of the Fallen" $42.5 million ($293.5 million) -61%
#3 "Public Enemies" $26.2 million ($41.0 million)
#4 "The Proposal" $12.8 million ($94.3 million) -31%
#5 "The Hangover" $10.4 million ($204.2 million) -39%
#6 "Up" $6.6 million ($264.9 million) -50%
#7 "My Sister's Keeper" $5.3 million ($26.0 million) -58%
#8 "The Taking of Pelham 1 2 3" $2.5 million ($58.5 million) -54%
#9 "Night at the Museum: Battle of the Smithsonian" $2.1 million ($167.8 million) -42%
#10 "Year One" $2.1 million ($38.1 million) -65%
#11 "Star Trek" $1.8 million ($249.8 million) -51%
#12 "Away We Go" $1.1 million ($6.1 million) -36%

Earning the fourth biggest opening July weekend mark in history, the industry enjoyed brisk business at the box office this holiday session as nearly $156 million was spent on the top 12 films.  Business was up about 2% compared to last year, but off about 5% compared to this frame in '07.  Overall, 2009's massive year-to-date domestic tally now stands at $5.477 billion, representing an 11% jump over last year ($4.916 billion), up 13% compared to '07 ($4.854 billion), 18% stronger than '06 ($4.636 billion), and 23% more potent than '05 ($4.452 billion). 

Fox's "Ice Age: Dawn of the Dinosaurs" and DreamWorks/Paramount's "Transformers: Revenge of the Fallen" looked to have tied for the top spot this weekend as both films pulled in $42.5 million.  'Ice Age' has so far tallied $67.5 million since opening on Wednesday.  The $42.5 million debut ranks as the lowest of the franchise thus far ("Ice Age" opened with $46.2 million in '02 and "Ice Age: The Meltdown" debut with $68.0 million in '06).  The animated sequel had a stellar average of $10,368 from its 4,099 theaters, which was the best of the top 12.  With a budget of $90 million, Fox expects this one to end up having a very healthy run in theaters.

'Revenge of the Fallen' took a 61% hit in business this weekend and has now earned a whopping $293.5 million.  DreamWorks and Paramount are now speculating that the movie will end up fliring with a final domestic haul in the neighborhood of $400 million.  Worldwide, the movie has earned close to $600 million already and will very likely end its run with a global haul north of the $900 million mark.

Universal's "Public Enemies" performed to expectations this weekend as it earned more than $26 million, it has tallied $41 million since opening on Wednesday.  The movie's per-theater average of $7,850 from its 3,334 locations, which was the third best of the top 12.  With a budget of about $100 million, this one will need to show strong legs in the coming weeks if the studio is to see any sort of return on their investment.

Disney's "The Proposal" is about a week away from passing the century mark.  WB's "The Hangover" continues to show very sturdy legs as it passed the double-century mark this weekend.  The comedy now looks poised to become the biggest R rated comedy hit in history, "Beverly Hills Cop" ($234.8 million) currently holds that title.  Pixar/Disney's "Up" has now earned just under $265 million.  WB's "My Sister's Keeper" took a steep 58% hit and is fading fast.  Sony's "The Taking of Pelham 1 2 3" is nearing the $60 million.  Fox's 'Night at the Museum' sequel and Sony's "Year One" both took in $2.1 million this weekend.  'Museum' has tallied close to $168 million, while "Year One" was off a disastrous 65%.  Paramount's "Star Trek" is days away from topping the $250 million plateau.  Focus Features' "Away We Go" rounds out the top 12 as it has now pulled in $6 million.

Next weekend will see the releases of Universal's "Bruno" and Fox's "I Love You Beth Cooper".  "Bruno" is expected to take the top spot next weekend, while 'Beth Cooper' should see decent results.

 Terry, what is the early tracking on August's Inglorius Bastards.

Greg, the early tracking has "Inglorious Bastards" opening in the area of $25 million.  Out of the six films that Quentin Tarantino has helmed, two of them were able to open north of the $20 million mark, "Kill Bill: Volume One" ($22.1 million) and "Kill Bill: Volume Two" ($25.1 million).  'Bastards' is (so far) expected to launch in the same neighborhood of those two movies.  The Weinstein Co. is banking on Brad Pitt's immense star power to turn Tarantino's $70 million budgeted flick into a big hit.

So much for the bad reviews or word of mouth hurting Transformers: Revenge of the Fallen.  Sounds like most of the movie going audience just wanted to see a bunch of action with giant robots and the hell with a good script.

I think it did hurt Transformers ROTF, as a 61 percent drop is a terrible hold for the second weekend out. I think it's a case of a film being so succesful on the front end that no matter how fast it fades it's guaranteed to be one of (if not the) biggest hit of the year. I don't think Harry Potter 6 will be able to challenge it in the opening weekend, but it might just outlast it if it gets solid word-of-mouth.

Thanks, Terry

No problem.

As for 'Transformers', audiences pretty much knew what they were getting.  And yes, they essentially wanted to turn their brains off and enjoy the FX, because at the end of the day, the real star of the movie is ILM.  A 61% decline is steep, but as Adam pointed out the movie's first five days in theaters all but guaranteed a final domestic haul of $350-$400 million. 

In terms of being the biggest hit of the year, the only thing I can see challenging 'Transformers' is Jim Cameron's upcoming "Avatar".  He'll be facing a great deal more pressure than Bay faced because much more is expected of Cameron given his track-record, as well as being an Oscar-winning director.  Bay stuck to his strengths and delivered a loud, mindless, popcorn flick that is making an absolute killing at the box office.  Anything short of "Avatar" being a visually stunning cinematic masterpiece and some will see it as a disappointment.

The latest Harry Potter flick will more than likely end up as the overseas box office champ this year, especially considering that the last two movies both ended up topping the $600 million mark internationally.  'The Prisoner of Azkaban' remains the only Potter flick that didn't earn at least $600 million overseas, it "only" brought in $546 mil.  With early buzz on the latest Potter flick being very high, look for a final global haul of no less than $875 million.


Edited by TerryRL - 7/6/2009 at 02:30 am GMT

I think we can all agree that cameron is a better film maker then michael bay will ever be.

cameron works with story and characters over blowing shit up. that is the only useless talent that bay has.

Jacob

http://www.hollywoodreporter.com/hr/content_display/news/e3if52b9a5b28d70b33c8a1dfdecf232772

Gotta admit I'm surprised that The Proposal is doing so well.  It looks like a by the numbers romantic comedy, and it's not like Bullock and Reynolds are huge box office draws.  Never saw that one passing $100m!  

Don't discount the popularity of Betty White!   That's really the only reason I might eventually see it.

I love Betty White! Everyone I've run into that has mentioned the movie mentioned her "like hunting for easter eggs in there" line.

Yeah, I admit.. my wife & I are also huge betty white fans. She watches Golden Girls every day, and I loved everything Betty did in "Boston Legal", and if you've never seen her (uncensored) roast William Shatner..

http://www.comedycentral.com/videos/index.jhtml?videoId=73131&title=betty-white-uncensored

Good lord.

61% isn't that bad after such a huge opening. Hell The Dark Knight had a 52.5% drop the second weekend and that had stellar reviews.

Second weekend drops for $100 million-plus opening films...

#1 "The Dark Knight" -52%
#2 "Spider-Man 3" -62%
#3 "Pirates of the Caribbean: Dead Man's Chest" -54%
#4 "Shrek the Third" -56%
#5 "Spider-Man" -38%
#6 "Pirates of the Caribbean: At World's End" -62%
#7 "Transformers: Revenge of the Fallen" -61%
#8 "Star Wars: Episode III- Revenge of the Sith" -49%
#9 "Shrek 2" -33%
#10 "X-Men: The Last Stand" -67%
#11 "Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire" -47%
#12 "Indiana Jones and the Kingdom of the Crystal Skull" -55%

Of the 12 films to open with more than $100 million domestically, only "Shrek 2", Spider-Man", 'Goblet of Fire', and Episode III avoided having second weekend declines of more than 50%.  The 'Transformers' sequel, Spidey 3, Pirates 2, and X3 are the only $100 million-plus openers to suffer sophomore falls of more than 60%.  The remaining third of the movies all had 50-56% dips.

Actual numbers appear to show Transformers 2 winning the weekend by about $600,000.

http://www.comingsoon.net/news/movienews.php?id=56927