Weekend Estimates
#1 "Paranormal Activity" $22.0 million ($62.5 million) +12%
#2 "Saw VI" $14.8 million
#3 "Where the Wild Things Are" $14.4 million ($54.0 million) -56%
#4 "Law Abiding Citizen" $12.7 million ($40.3 million) -40%
#5 "Couples Retreat" $11.1 million ($78.2 million) -36%
#6 "Astro Boy" $7.1 million
#7 "The Stepfather" $6.5 million ($20.4 million) -44%
#8 "Cirque du Freak: The Vampire's Assistant" $6.3 million
#9 "Cloudy with a Chance of Meatballs" $5.6 million ($115.2 million) -30%
#10 "Zombieland" $4.3 million ($67.3 million) -44%
#11 "Amelia" $4.0 million
#12 "A Serious Man" $1.1 million ($3.2 million) +34%
Moviegoers shelled out $109.9 million on the top 12 films in the land this weekend, but business was off 10% compared to last year, while being 29% stronger than this frame in '07. 2009's domestic year-to-date gross now stands at a towering $8.429 billion, maintaining a 7% increase over last year ($7.856 billion), up 8% over '07 ($7.794 billion), 15% stronger than '06 ($7.364 billion), and a 21% bump over '05 ($6.976 billion).
Continuing its phenomenal run, Paramount's "Paranormal Activity" ascended to the top spot this weekend with a $22 million haul, giving it a domestic total of more than $62 million. The movie cost only $15K to make, Paramount then bought the distribution rights for only $300K and spent about $10 million on prints and advertising. Once again the movie easily had the strongest per-theater marks with a $11,311 average from its still modest 1,945 locations. The film will be going ultra-wide next weekend (Halloween) as it will be playing in more than 3,000 theaters. Paramount execs are now expecting a final domestic tally well north of the century mark, making 'Activity' one of the most profitable movies in Hollywood history.
Lionsgate's 'Saw' franchise may finally be running out of steam as this weekend witnessed "Saw VI" debut with the worst opening of the series. "Saw VI" opened with $14.8 million, giving it a decent average of $4,875 from its 3,036 theaters. Following the $18.3 million opening of the original film of the franchise, the last four 'Saw' flicks all debuted with more than $30 million. Given this weekend's much lower than expected performance, Lionsgate may be ready to put this series to bed.
WB execs are none too pleased today as their $100 million-plus family flick, "Where the Wild Things Are", took a much steeper than expected 56% hit in business. With about $54 million taken in so far, the movie looks headed for a final haul in the neighborhood of $85 million, about $40 million short of the studio's "bottom number" for the movie. WB will look to recoup their losses from the overseas markets as well as the DVD release.
Overture's "Law Abiding Citizen" looks to be holding up well and could find its way to a final mark in the area of $70-$80 million. Universal's "Couples Retreat" still looks to be on course to top out with more than $100 million. Summit Entertainment's "Astro Boy" barely drew interest from movie patrons this weekend. The same can also be said for Universal's "Cirque du Freak: The Vampire's Assistant" and Fox Searchlight's Oscar hopeful "Amelia". Focus Features' Oscar hopeful, "A Serious Man", continues to earn solid marks in limited release as it rounds out the top 12. The latest flick from the Oscar-winning Coen brothers earned $1.1 million from only 176 theaters, giving it a solid average of $6,415, which was the second best of the top 12.
Next weekend will see the release Sony's "Michael Jackson's This It It", which opens on Wednesday. Tickets are selling very well and the studio is expecting a very solid opening for this one. Will it have enough juice to top "Paranormal Activity"? We'll see.
