Re: 2008 at the Box Office
Weekend Estimates
#1 "National Treasure: Book of Secrets" $20.2 million ($171.0 million) -45%
#2 "I Am Legend" $16.4 million ($228.7 million) -40%
#3 "Juno" $16.2 million ($52.0 million) +53%
#4 "Alvin & the Chipmunks" $16.0 million ($176.7 million) -45%
#5 "One Missed Call" $13.5 million
#6 "Charlie Wilson's War" $8.2 million ($52.6 million) -32%
#7 "P.S. I Love You" $8.0 million ($39.4 million) -14%
#8 "The Water Horse: Legend of the Deep" $6.3 million ($30.9 million) -31%
#9 "Sweeney Todd: The Demon Barber of Fleet Street" $5.4 million ($38.5 million) -34%
#10 "Atonement" $5.1 million ($19.2 million) +64%
The industry earned the biggest first-weekend haul ever for the month of January as business was up an impressive 21% compared to this frame in '07. Compared to '06, business was up 18%. The top twelve movies pulled in nearly $124 million, which is up from the previous record mark of $120.2 million held by the first frame of '04.
2008 is now sitting on an impressive domestic haul of $238.3 million, representing a 13% bump over last year ($210.2 million), up 34% from '06 ($178.3 million), a massive 60% increase over '05 ($149.3 million), and a 10% improvement over '04 ($217.1 million).
This is exactly the kind of start to the year that the studios were hoping for. The holdovers are (mostly) showing extremely strong legs and the lone new release, "One Missed Call", got off to a stronger than expected start. This bodes well for the rest of January.
Disney's "National Treasure: Book of Secrets" became the first movie since "Disturbia" to hold the top spot at the box office for three weeks. The film was off a moderate 45% and has so far tallied $171 million. A final haul north of the double-century mark is now a lock.
Reclaiming the second slot this weekend was WB's blockbuster "I Am Legend". The move has netted close to $230 million and a final mark of more than $250 million (the third such hit for star Will Smith) looks to be a sure thing. WB is currently looking into sequel (or prequel) possibilities.
Fox Searchlight's Oscar hopeful/indie smash "Juno" saw a huge 53% increase in business as it expanded to 906 more locations. The comedy has now earned just over $52 million and will not only soon pass "Sideways" ($71.5 million) as the biggest hit ever for Fox Searchlight, but will also become 28th release of '07 to top the century mark. The film's average of $8,428 from its 1,925 theaters was the second best of the top ten.
Fox's "Alvin & the Chipmunks" continues to perform way above expectations as it saw its earnings climb to nearly $177 million. I don't know anyone that suspected this one would end up grossing more than $200 million, but that's what's going to happen. Fox is looking to have a sequel in theaters for the holiday season of '09.
WB's "One Missed Call" had a solid debut as it pulled in $13.5 million. The horror flick earned an impressive per-theater average of $6,037 from its 2,240 locations, which was the third best of the top ten. The movie isn't expected to have the strongest legs, but the studio has got to be happy with this start.
Universal's "Charlie Wilson's War" is sitting on a solid mark of $52.6 million. WB's "P.S. I Love You" continues to show extremely strong legs as it has now pulled in $39.4 million. Sony's 'The Water Horse' is sitting on a haul of about $31 million. DreamWorks/Paramount's 'Sweeney Todd' has so far earned $38.5 million. Focus Features' "Atonement" continues to impress in limited play. The film expanded to 273 more theaters, bringing its count to 583 locations. The movie enjoyed a per-theater average of $8,789, which was the best of the top ten.
Next weekend will see three new releases hit theaters, as well as four limited playing features expand further. Freestyle Releasing's "In the Name of the King: A Dungeon Siege Tale", Sony's "First Sunday", and Universal's "The Pirates Who Do Anything" all debut next week.
WB's "The Bucket List" goes into wide release, hitting more than 2,800 theaters. Paramount Vantage's "The Kite Runner" expands to 600 more locations. Picturehouse's "The Orphanage" enters 500 more locations, while Paramount Vantage's "There Will Be Blood" expands to 125 more theaters.
Next week 'National Treasure' will attempt to become the first movie since 2004's "The Passion of the Christ" to hold the top spot for four weeks, but don't be surprised if "The Bucket List" puts up a strong challenge for the top spot. Also expect a solid showing from "First Sunday".
Just two weeks to go before the year's first "event" flick ("Cloverfield") hits theaters.
.
