Weekend Estimates
#1 "District 9" $37.0 million
#2 "G.I. Joe: The Rise of Cobra" $22.5 million ($98.8 million) -59%
#3 "The Time Traveler's Wife" $19.2 million
#4 "Julie & Julia" $12.4 million ($43.7 million) -38%
#5 "G-Force" $6.9 million ($99.0 million) -30%
#6 "The Goods: Live Hard, Sell Hard" $5.4 million
#7 "Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince" $5.2 million ($283.9 million) -42%
#8 "The Ugly Truth" $4.5 million ($77.5 million) -33%
#9 "Ponyo" $3.5 million
#10 "(500) Days of Summer" $3.025 million ($18.0 million) -19%
#11 "Funny People" $3.023 million ($47.9 million) -62%
#12 "A Perfect Getaway" $2.8 million ($11.5 million) -53%
Moviegoers spent more than $125 million on the top 12 films this weekend as business was up 12% compared to this frame last year, as well as being 10% stronger than this period in '07. This year's massive year-to-date tally now stands at $6.905 billion, marking a 6% improvement over both last year ($6.487 billion) and '07 ($6.460 billion), up 14% over '06 ($6.041 billion), and 21% stronger than '05 ($5.698 billion). Next weekend will see this year pass the $7 billion mark in total ticket sales, snagging yet another speed record for '09. An estimated 961 million tickets have been sold thus far, representing the strongest year of ticket sales since 2004.
Sony's "District 9" blew away industry expectations and took the top spot at the box office this weekend with a much better-than-expected haul of $37 million, marking the 12th best August opening in history. The movie marks the impressive debut of director Neil Blomkamp, as well as giving Oscar-winning producer Peter Jackson yet another big hit genre film to add to his impressive resume. With a cost of only $30 million, this one is going to end up being hugely profitable as it will more than likely end its domestic run well north of the century mark. The sci-fi actioner earned a stellar per-theater average of $12,135 from its 3,049 locations, which was easily the best of the top 12. Armed with fantastic reviews, as well as an impressive A grade from exit polling, look for this one to be a big late summer hit.
After a nearly 70% Friday-to-Friday dip, Paramount's "G.I. Joe: The Rise of Cobra" rebounded on Saturday and Sunday to claim the #2 slot this weekend (giving it a 59% decline for the weekend), indicating that the film is doing very good business with the family demo. The action flick has now tallied nearly $99 million and will become the fourth consecutive $100 million-plus domestic performer for director Stephen Sommers. A final haul in the neighborhood of $160-$170 million is now expected, which would make this the second biggest hit for Sommers (behind "The Mummy Returns").
New Line/WB's "The Time Traveler's Wife" got off to a good start as it pulled in just over $19 million, giving it a solid average of $6,427 from its 2,988 theaters, which was the second best of the top 12. Next weekend's tally will determine how far this one will go at the box office.
Sony's "Julie & Julia" was off by only 33% this weekend (the third best hold of the top 12) and has so far tallied just under $44 million. With Oscar buzz being generated by two-time winner Meryl Streep, look for this one to have a very leggy run in theaters. A final tally north of the $75 million is now expected.
Disney's "G-Force" had the best hold of the top 12 as it lost only 30% of its business from last week. The movie is now sitting on a domestic haul of $99 million. During the next couple of days, the movie will become the 17th film of the year to pass the century mark.
Paramount Vantage's "The Goods: Live Hard, Sell Hard" received a lukewarm reception from moviegoers this weekend as it took in close to $5.4 million, giving it only a per-theater average of $2,911 from its 1,838 locations. This one will more than likely fade quickly from theaters.
WB's "Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince" has now taken in just under $284 million. Sony's "The Ugly Truth" is now sitting on a cume of $77.5 million. Disney's "Ponyo" got off to a so-so start as it took in $3.5 million, giving it an average of $3,782 from its 927 theaters. Fox Searchlight's indie hit "(500) Days of Summer" has now earned about $18 million. Universal/Sony's "Funny People" continues its fast fade as it was off by 62% this weekend, marking the worst hold of the top 12. The dramedy has now pulled in close to $48 million and looks headed for a final haul in the area of $55 million, making it one of the summer's biggest box office disappointments (especially it cost more than $75 million to make). Universal's "A Perfect Getaway" rounds out the top 12 as it has now scored $11.5 million. A final tally of about $15 million is expected. Summit's "Bandslam" failed to make it in the top 12, even armed with a new trailer for the 'Twilight' sequel attached, as only managed a $2.3 million opening, giving it a pathetic average of $1.061 from its 2,121 theaters.
Next weekend will see the releases of the Weinstein's "Inglorious Bastards", WB's "Shorts", Fox's "Post Grad", and Disney's "X Games 3D: The Movie". "Inglorious Bastards", which is the latest from Oscar-winner Quentin Tarantino, is expected to top the box office next weekend. The film stars box office heavyweight Brad Pitt, who has seen six of his last eight films turn into big studio hits, five of which topped the century mark. 'Bastards' boasts a budget of $70 million ($20 of which going to Pitt and $5 mil going to Tarantino), marking the most expensive movie of Tarantino's career as a director. The two 'Kill Bill' movies cost a combined $60 million to produce.
