2011 at the Box Office (2 Viewers)

[vercieL]

I have to see most of these movies.

 

[Pete-D]

Originally Posted by TerryRL

I think the Pirates movies benefited from the massive popularity of Jack Sparrow. I agree that the all the movies are mediocre (the first being the best). The Fast & the Furious series has always been a head-scratcher for me in terms of its popularity. The shocker with that franchise is that the last two films have been the biggest hits (films 4 and 5). "Fast Five" is already the biggest hit of the series and has tallied more than $500 million worldwide thus far, "Fast & Furious" (film 4), which had been the biggest hit, topped out at just over $363 million globally.


Of the 27 franchises I listed, I can name only 7 that yielded more than one truly great movie (IMO), while the rest ranged from decent, mediocre, or god-awful.


Batman, Harry Potter, Indiana Jones, James Bond, The Lord of the Rings, Star Trek, and Star Wars. Again, just my opinion.

The Fast franchise taps into a life style young men like -- fast cars, good looking women, and the lure of money. Plus Vin Diesel and Paul Walker are pretty likeable in their roles.

Fast Five is actually fairly well written for what it is. In a world full of CGI movies, I think people still respond to this more old school style of summer movie with "real" people in it.

 

[TerryRL]

The industry is expecting a monster showing this weekend from both "The Hangover Part II" and "Kung Fu Panda 2". Some are even expecting 'Hangover' to challenge the $91.8 million debut of "The Matrix Reloaded" to become the biggest R rated opening in history.

This could also end up being the first $200 million-plus three-day finish since the first weekend of January back in 2010 (when "Avatar" was dominating the box office). This could also become the first $200 million-plus performing Memorial Day holiday period since '09 ("Night at the Museum II" and "Terminator Salvation" were the top two openers). '07 currently ranks as the top grossing Memorial Day period ($199.2 mil over the three-day period/ $246.4 million during the four-day holiday) when "Pirates of the Caribbean: At World's End" hit theaters.


What is the biggest weekend in history? The final weekend of December of '09 (Christmas) earned a staggering $259.9 million behind the strength of "Avatar" (second weekend), "Sherlock Holmes" (opening weekend), "Alvin & the Chipmunks the Squeakquel" (opening weekend), and "It's Complicated" (opening weekend).


In any event, this weekend is expected to be one of the top 2 or 3 Memorial Day holiday frames in history. We'll see what happens.

 

[TerryRL]

Looks like the slump is (hopefully) over.


http://www.deadline.com/2011/05/hangover-part-2-opens-with-9m-10m-thursday-midnight-screenings-on-its-way-to-125m/


[COLOR= #000000]I'm telling you to Memorial-ize this weekend because the 2011 North American box office slump is officially over and 2011 Summer Box Office has come on strong. So much so that this could be a record-breaker of $260M overall for the 4-day holiday. Which if it holds will beat [/COLOR]2007 as the biggest Memorial Day weekend ever when Pirates Of The Caribbean 3, and Shrek 3, and Spider-Man 3 ran 1-2-3 for $254M. It beats last year's $189M by a whopping +35%. YOWZA! Here are early North American box office numbers for the Top 10 movies Friday with 3-day weekend and Memorial holiday estimates. Full analysis and refined numbers in the morning:


1. The Hangover Part 2 (Legendary/Warner Bros) NEW [3,615 Theaters]
Thursday $31.6M, Friday $30M, Est 3-day Weekend $90M
Est 4-day Memorial Holiday $110M, Est 5-Day Cume $135M


2. Kung Fu Panda 2 3D (DWA Animation/Paramount) NEW [3,925 Theaters]
Thursday $5.8M, Friday $13.5M, Est 3-Day Weekend $46M
Est 4-Day Memorial Holiday $56M, 5-Day Cume $66M


3. Pirates Of The Caribbean 4 3D (Disney) Week 2 [4,164 Theaters]
Friday $11M (-68%), Est 3-Day Weekend $42M
Est 4-Day Memorial Holiday $55M, Est Cume $166M


4. Bridesmaids (Universal) Week 3 [2,958 Theaters]
Friday $4.4M, Est 3-Day Weekend $15.5M
Est 4-Day Memorial Holiday $20M, Est Cume $88.6M


5. Thor 3D (Marvel/Disney/Paramount Week 4 [3,296 Theaters]
Friday $2.7M, Est 3-Day Weekend $8.5M
Est 4-Day Memorial Holiday $12M, Est Cume $162.7M


6. Fast Five (Universal) Week 5 [2,982 Theaters]
Friday $1.8M, Est 3-Day Weekend $5.8M
Est 4-Day Memorial Holiday $8.5M, Est Cume $197.9M


7. Priest 3D (Screen Gems/Sony) Week 3 [1,918 Theaters] Friday $700K, Est 3-Day Weekend $2M
Est 4-Day Memorial Holiday $2.8M, Est Cume $28.3M


8. Something Borrowed (Warner Bros) Week 4 [1,440 Theaters]
Friday $550K, Est 3-Day Weekend $1.8M
Est 4-Day Memorial Holiday $2.3M, Est Cume $35.2M


9. Midnight In Paris (Sony Classics) Week 2 [58 Theaters]
Friday $500K, Est 3-Day Weekend $1.7M
Est 4-Day Memorial Holiday $2.2M, Est Cume $3.1M


10. Rio 3D (Blue Sky Studio/Fox) Week 7 [1,672 Theaters]
Friday $475K, Est 3-Day Weekend $1.8M
Est 4-Day Memorial Holiday $2.5M, Est Cume $135.5M

---Nikki Finke

 

[Brandon Conway]

I'm pretty shocked at the low turnout for Kung Fu Panda 2. Maybe it'll make a notable jump for Sat-Mon once kids are out of school, but making the same over 5 days as the first one did can't be seen as what DreamWorks wanted, especially when the first one was well liked and this one got really good reviews overall. And it's not like the audience is the same necessarily for The Hangover Part II.

 

[Malcolm R]

Originally Posted by Brandon Conway

I'm pretty shocked at the low turnout for Kung Fu Panda 2. Maybe it'll make a notable jump for Sat-Mon once kids are out of school, but making the same over 5 days as the first one did can't be seen as what DreamWorks wanted, especially when the first one was well liked and this one got really good reviews overall. And it's not like the audience is the same necessarily for The Hangover Part II.

Aside from the Shrek films, $40-50 million seems to be the opening weekend ceiling for Dreamworks Animation. Then it depends on whether the film has long legs (How to Train Your Dragon) or not (Megamind).


I'm sure the 3D backlash isn't helping it either. I'll be interested to see the percentages of 3D vs. 2D next week. Theaters around here are making a point of offering both formats, whereas last summer 3D was always the big marketing push.

 

[TerryRL]

Brandon, the lower-than-expected Thursday-Friday turnout is a bit of a surprise, but what DreamWorks hopes what they don't attain in a massive opening will be made up for in longevity, especially considering that the movie's reviews are so strong. As you pointed out, the movie will probably do stronger business today, tomorrow and on the Monday holiday, but you are also right that the studio expected bigger numbers.

Still, at the end of the day, the movie is off to a good start and the studio is seeing signs that this one will be one of the summer's leggier hits. It also helps that KF2 will seemingly have the family audience all to itself until the June 17th launch of "Mr. Popper's Penguins". The sequel won't see any CG animated competition until the June 24th debut of "Cars 2". All in all, I think KF2 will (ultimately) earn close to the numbers that DreamWorks wanted (i.e. enough to warrant doing a third movie).

 

[Brandon Conway]

Oh, I'm sure it'll be OK in the long run. But when the 1st film made $60 mil. in 3 days in 2008 and the sequel makes $55-60 mil. in 5 days in 2011 with higher ticket prices and 3D it's gotta be a disappointment. Especially since you have most sequels with good video sales/word of mouth of the first film having grown the audience for the theatrical release of Part 2 (Pirates, Hangover, Batman, etc.).

 

[TerryRL]

You're right, the opening is disappointing, but the studio will be satisfied if the movie has strong enough legs to come close to or match the original's $215.4 million domestic mark. The real litmus test will be how the sequel does overseas, especially since it's far more important for the movie to do well in the global market instead of just domestically. The first movie pulled in a whopping $416.3 million internationally, giving it a worldwide tally of $631.7 million. At a cost of $150 million (not counting marketing costs), DreamWorks is expecting major results overseas.


Long story short, the studio will be fine with the sequel not doing as well as the original domestically, if it tallies major grosses overseas. After all, the international run of Pirates 4 will likely end up being the chief reason Disney goes ahead with a fifth (and possibly sixth) movie.

 

[TerryRL]

http://www.deadline.com/2011/05/hangover-part-2-opens-with-9m-10m-thursday-midnight-screenings-on-its-way-to-125m/#more-135324


[COLOR= #000000]I'm telling you to Memorial-ize this holiday because the 2011 North American box office slump is officially over now that the start of the 2011 Summer Movie Season has set a record for the biggest Memorial Weekend box office ever. This could be a record-breaker of $270M overall for the 4-day holiday. Which will easily beat [/COLOR]2007 as the highest grossing when Pirates Of The Caribbean 3, and Shrek 3, and Spider-Man 3 ran 1-2-3 for $254M. And it's beating last year's overall total by a whopping +50%. YOWZA! Here are North American box office numbers for the Top 10 movies Friday and Saturday with 3-day weekend and 4-day Memorial holiday estimates. Full analysis and refined numbers in the morning:


1. The Hangover Part 2 (Legendary/Warner Bros) NEW [3,615 Theaters]
Thursday $31.6M, Friday $30M, Saturday $29M, 3-day Weekend $85M
Estimated 4-day Memorial Holiday $105, Estimated 5-Day Cume $137M


This sequel is shattering all R-rated comedy records. The previous largest first week for an R-rated comedy was Sex And The City was $79M. Overseas, Hangover 2 opened bigger than the original in 30 markets including Australia and the UK, where it is dominating with 60+% market share. The sequel's opening day is bigger than the entire opening weekend of Hangover 1.

2. Kung Fu Panda 2 3D (DWA Animation/Paramount) NEW [3,925 Theaters]
Thursday $5.8M, Friday $13.1M, Saturday $18.5M, 3-Day Weekend $47.5M
Estimated 4-Day Memorial Holiday $62M, Estimated 5-Day Cume $68M


3. Pirates Of The Caribbean 4 3D (Disney) Week 2 [4,164 Theaters]
Friday $10.8M, Saturday $16.2M, Estimated 3-Day Weekend $42M
Estimated 4-Day Memorial Holiday $53M, Estimated Cume $166.5M


Pirates Of The Caribbean 4 just crossed the $500M global threshhold in only 10 days, which the studio says is matching the industry speed record set by Pirates Of The Caribbean 3 back in 2007. With a domestic cume of $124.4M so far and an international tally of $378.4M, the actual worldwide total is now $502.8M and growing. It's the biggest installment of the Pirates franchise in 17 territories already.


4. Bridesmaids (Universal) Week 3 [2,958 Theaters]
Friday $4.6M, Saturday $6.5M, Est 3-Day Weekend $16.2M
Estimated 4-Day Memorial Holiday $21.5M, Estimated Cume $90M


5. Thor 3D (Marvel/Disney/Paramount Week 4 [3,296 Theaters]
Friday $2.4M, Saturday $3.6M, Est 3-Day Weekend $8.5M
Estimated 4-Day Memorial Holiday $11M, Estimated Cume $161.3M


6. Fast Five (Universal) Week 5 [2,982 Theaters]
Friday $1.8M, Saturday $2.6M, Est 3-Day Weekend $5.8M
Estimated 4-Day Memorial Holiday $9M, Estimated Cume $198.4M


Overseas, Fast Five grossed an estimated $2.8M at 7,700 dates in 61 territories on Friday for a total international take of $337.1M so far. Universal's weekend estimate is $11.9M, which will raise the international total to $344.6M on Sunday. Combined with the domestic estimate of $197.8M, the worldwide total will reach $542.4M tomorrow. International will cross $350M and domestic will cross $200M next week.


7. Midnight In Paris (Sony Classics) Week 2 [58 Theaters]
Friday $474K, Saturday $775K, Est 3-Day Weekend $1.7M
Estimated 4-Day Memorial Holiday $2.6M, Estimated Cume $3.5M


8. Jumping The Broom (TriStar/Sony) Week 4 [939 Theaters]
Friday $475K, Saturday $800K, Est 3-Day Weekend $1.8M
Estimated 4-Day Memorial Holiday $2.5M, Estimated Cume $34.8M


9. Rio 3D (Blue Sky Studio/Fox) Week 7 [1,672 Theaters]
Friday $420K, Saturday $750K, Est 3-Day Weekend $1.8M
Estimated 4-Day Memorial Holiday $2.5M, Estimated Cume $135.5M


10. Priest 3D (Screen Gems/Sony) Week 3 [1,918 Theaters] Friday $500K, Saturday $700K, Est 3-Day Weekend $2M
Estimated 4-Day Memorial Holiday $2.3M, Estimated Cume $27.8M


Fox Searchlight's Cannes Film Festival Palme D'or winner The Tree Of Life from Terrence Malick opened Friday and grossed $115,311 from 4 theaters for a per screen average of $28,828.---Nikki Finke

 

[Jose Martinez]

So if figures are correct, Kung Fu Panda 2 made 55% of its box office from the 2D presentations. When are producers going to wake up and smell the coffee?

 

[Don Solosan]

Quote:

Originally Posted by Jose Martinez

So if figures are correct, Kung Fu Panda 2 made 55% of its box office from the 2D presentations. When are producers going to wake up and smell the coffee?

What's the percentage of screens showing it in 3D vs. 2D? At least in the past, there were fewer 3D screens producing a larger amount of the revenue, and that drove the push to get more theaters 3D equipped.

 

[TerryRL]

Of the 3,925 theaters KF2 opened in 2,707 of them are showing it in 3D.

 

[Don Solosan]

Quote:

Originally Posted by TerryRL

Of the 3,925 theaters KF2 opened in 2,707 of them are showing it in 3D.

Thanks, Terry. Then Jose is right that 55% of the revenue from 2D shows a definite trend among viewers on this title. So the question is: where is the breaking point where it stops being feasible to release in 3D?

 

[TravisR]

So if figures are correct, Kung Fu Panda 2 made 55% of its box office from the 2D presentations. When are producers going to wake up and smell the coffee?

When it stops making them money. Since they made an extra $3 or $4 for 45% of every ticket that was sold, it isn't that time yet. Clearly, you hate 3-D but do you really think companies would turn down 'free' money?

 

[Malcolm R]

If they're limiting attendance and losing potential 2D sales for the sake of a few "make-up" 3D tickets, that does not seem like good business.

 

[Jose Martinez]

I don't hate 3D. I loved Avatar because James Cameron knew what 3D could give the audience. The 3D movies coming out now were decided by money hungry producers who want to make that "extra" buck knowing that audiences might be suckered into paying the extra service charge for 3D that really isn't there. There is a difference when a filmmaker decides to make it in 3D to give the audience something to enjoy and from those who just do it for money.

Quote:

Originally Posted by TravisR

When it stops making them money. Since they made an extra $3 or $4 for 45% of every ticket that was sold, it isn't that time yet. Clearly, you hate 3-D but do you really think companies would turn down 'free' money?

 

[Chuck Anstey]

Originally Posted by TravisR

So if figures are correct, Kung Fu Panda 2 made 55% of its box office from the 2D presentations. When are producers going to wake up and smell the coffee?

When it stops making them money. Since they made an extra $3 or $4 for 45% of every ticket that was sold, it isn't that time yet. Clearly, you hate 3-D but do you really think companies would turn down 'free' money?[/QUOTE]

I believe that is incorrect math. KFP2 only made 45% of its revenue in 3D with the $3-$4 surcharge, not a 45%/55% ticket sales split.. That means ticket sales were more like 38% 3D, 62% 2D. I saw KFP2 in 2D and it looked great. Very bright colors and high resolution, much better than most movies I see at the theater. I'm not sure exactly how much the 3D would degrade the look and if the loss of brightness, color, and resolution would be more than made up for the 3D effect.


We may soon see the 3D version of a movie become "special" again by having only one screen and fewer showing compared to the 2D version. The latest numbers seem to indicate more people are choosing 2D over 3D for most movies and only the surcharge is keeping 3D in the running. The other option is to drop the surcharge to $1 if you recycle the glasses or bring your own.

 

[Adam Lenhardt]

NY Times: 3-D Starts to Fizzle, and Hollywood Frets

 

[TerryRL]

Overseas box office report...


http://www.hollywoodreporter.com/news/box-office-report-pirates-beats-192955


DreamWorks Animation’s Kung Fu Panda and Warner Bros.’ Hangover sequels opened strongly the foreign theatrical circuit but the weekend’s No. 1 box office crown went once again to Disney’s Pirates of the Caribbean: On Stranger Tides.


The fourth sequel in producer Jerry Bruckheimer’s fantasy-action franchise captured $122.8 million – a 48% drop from the film’s record-setting opening surge ($260.4 million) last round. Total foreign box office so far comes to $470.8 million, more than three times its domestic gross ($152.9 million).


The Hangover Part II, the sequel to 2009’s comedy original (which grossed $191.6 million on the foreign circuit), opened at 5,170 screens in 40 territories for $59 million, which Warners said is three times higher than the comparable opening gross of Hangover in the same markets. It finished second overall on the weekend.

For its part, Kung Fu Panda 2 in 3D opened in just 11 markets (29% of the international marketplace and about a tenth of the number of territories played on the weekend by Pirates), and drew $57 million from 8,023 locations. It ranks No. 3 on the weekend.


On Stranger Tides reached the $600 million worldwide box office mark in just 12 days with a accumulated total of $623.7 million, making the sequel 2011’s biggest-grossing title globally.
The film’s foreign gross total has already surpassed that of the franchise original, 2003’s Pirates of the Caribbean: The Curse of the Black Pearl, which racked up $352.9 million.


Hangover 2 drew huge numbers from its No. 1 UK bow ($16.4 million from 920 screens, the biggest market opening for a U.S. comedy) and from Australia ($11.6 million from 424 screens). A first place debut in France kicked in $5.8 million from 445 screens, which Warners calculates was 154% higher the comparable market opening gross for the original. Germany and Russia will open this week.


The sequel to 2008’s Kung Fu Panda -- which grossed a total of $416 million overseas -- finished in the top spot in nine of its debut territories with China, Russia and South Korea leading the list. Paramount is the distributor in almost all markets.


In China the weekend threw off a humongous $18.5 million from 5,540 situations. Russia came up with $15 million from 700 sites while Korea (via C.J. Entertainment) chipped in $13 million from 1,080 venues. All-time opening box office records for an animation title were set in Singapore, the Philippines, Malaysia and in India.


This week will see Kung Fu Panda 2 opening in another 11 markets as it rolls out gradually over the summer month to capitalize on school holidays, topped by a Japan bow on Aug. 19.

No. 4 on the weekend was Fast Five, which grossed $13.3 million on the weekend at 7,700 situations in 61 territories, pushing its foreign box office cume to $346 million. In China, Universal’s turbo-charged car action title pulled in $2.2 million from 1,000 locations for a market cume of $24.7 million. Venezuela opens June 3 with the Japan date set for October.


Fifth was Fox’s family animation title Rio, which drew $3.8 million from 4,057 venues in 37 markets for an overseas gross total of $321.9 million. Same distrib’s Water For Elephants, a Depression-era drama costarring Reese Witherspoon and Robert Pattinson, grossed $3.1 million from 2,508 situations in 41 territories, lifting its overseas cume to $50.7 million.


Fox’s Diary of a Wimpy Kid 2 opened No. 3 in the U.K., and drew $2.36 million on the weekend overall from 522 locations in five markets, pushing its overseas cume to $9.1 million. Same distrib’s Black Swan continues strongly in Japan, drawing $2.1 million in its third market round at 327 spots. Japan cume stands at $16.8 million while the overall foreign gross total stands at $209.7 million.


Universal’s The Adjustment Bureau opened No. 3 in Japan with an estimated $2.3 million from 218 sites. Overall weekend for the action drama starring Matt Damon came to $2.6 million from 428 locations in 11 territories, pushing the overseas cume to $56.9 million.


Cannes Festival Palme d’Or winner Tree of Life is holding well in France via Europa Film, finishing No. 4 in the market by nabbing $1.3 million in its third round 303 screens, an increase of 10% from the prior weekend. Who says Festival awards don’t count at the box office? Market cume stands at $3 million.


Woody Allen’s Midnight in Paris, which opened out-of-competition in Cannes, took a 36% box office hit in its third weekend in France via Mars Distribution, but still ranked No. 3 in the market. Weekend registered $1.4 million from 450 sites for a cume of $8.4 million.


Other international cumes: Sony’s Priest, $40.7 million (after a $1.6 million weekend at 1,845 screens in 50 markets); Universal’s Hop, $65.4 million; Gaumont’s La conquete (The Conquest), $3.3 million in two rounds in France only; Universal’s Paul, $52.5 million; and Fox’s Big Mommas: Like Father, Like Son, $45.7 million.