March 10th, 2010
There were plenty of new releases spread throughout the top 30 on this week's sales chart. Leading the way was Couples Retreat with 1.36 million units sold, generating $21.79 million in opening week sales.
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March 3rd, 2010
New releases were able to take four of the top five spots on this week's sales chart. This includes Zombieland, which took the top spot with 975,000 units and $16.15 million in opening week consumer spending at retail.
Michael Jackson's This Is It was pushed into second place with a solid weekly total of 562,000 units, to lift its total to 2.08 million units and $33.22 million. Love Happens opened in third place with a mere 236,000 units for a total of $4.72 million during its opening week. Amelia also struggled with debut sales of just 205,000 units ($3.69 million). The direct-to-DVD release Planet Hulk opened in fifth place with 153,000 units / $2.32 million, which is strong for this type of release.
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February 2nd, 2010
It's still a slow time of year for home market releases. It's too late for the Christmas shopping rush, while it is still too early for Awards Season releases to come out. There are a few limited releases, direct-to-DVD releases, TV on DVD releases, and catalogue titles that are of interest, but the best of the best is Zombieland. While both formats are worth checking out, the Blu-ray is the Pick of the Week.
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December 20th, 2009
Arthur And The Revenge Of Maltazard fell out of the top five, but still did relatively well, earning $8.14 million on 2,198 screens in 19 markets for an early total of $23.58 million. In its native France it added $6.27 million on 925 screens over the weekend for a total of $17.57 million after two. This is not that much weaker than the original, which at this point had made just over $20 million in France.
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December 13th, 2009
A number of international releases reached the top 30 this week, including Zweiohrkuken, a.k.a. The Chicken With Two Ears, from Germany, which placed sixth with $10.72 million on 839 screens in 3 markets.
It made $9.39 million on 714 screens in its native market, which was easily enough for first place and more than twice what the original,Keinohrhasen, a.k.a., No Ear Hare, opened with in 2007.
Keinohrhasen went on to earn $74 million worldwide, of which more than $60 million was earned in Germany.
However, I don't think this film will have the same legs.
That said, since it was written, directed, and stars Til Schweiger who was recently in Inglourious Basterds, it could earn see releases in more markets.
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October 25th, 2009
District 9 returned to sixth place with $6.20 million on 2233 screens in 44 markets for a total of $77.12 million international and $192.36 million. The film opened in first place in South Korea with $1.60 million on 287 screens over the weekend and $1.88 million in total. On the other hand, it had to settle for second place in Brazil with $865,000 on 204 screens over the weekend for a total of $968,000 and Mexico wasn't as strong with $666,000 on 250 screens, but that was still enough for second place. The film still has a couple markets left to open in, but none are major markets. This will make it hard to reach $100 million internationally, but it could make to $200 million worldwide by this time next week.
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October 19th, 2009
Agora opened in first place in Spain and sixth place internationally with $7.90 million on 462 screens. This is great news, as the film cost $70 million to make and it will need a massive run to break even. It won't have to earn all of it in Spain, on the other hand, and should perform well throughout Europe and when it opens here.
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October 15th, 2009
There are a trio of three wide releases this week, including one opening in close to 4,000 theaters.
This time last year there were four wide releases, but none were sizable hits, which gives 2009 a great chance for expanding its lead over 2008 at the box office race.
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October 12th, 2009
There was only one new release coming out this weekend, but it topped expectations, and there was a surprise film in the top five, and both these events helped the market as a whole earn $110 million over the weekend.
This was 2.9% higher than last weekend and 7.7% higher than the same weekend last year.
Year to date, 2009 has now brought in $8.10 billion so far, which is 7.5% higher than the same pace last year.
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October 11th, 2009
The Columbus Day holiday weekend produced two big winners, according to studio estimates released on Sunday.
At the top of the chart, Couples Retreat exceeded expectations with $35.3 million.
A per theater average of nearly $12,000 for the poorly-reviewed comedy is a testament to Universal's marketing campaign and the box office power of its ensemble cast.
A great marketing campaign from Paramount can also be attributed to the success of the weekend's other big success: Paranormal Activity, which jumped into the top 5 with an estimated $7.066 million in just 159 theaters.
That's the smallest number of theaters for a movie to hit the top five ever, beating the performance of Platoon, which hit 4th place the weekend of January 16, 1987 playing in 174 theaters.
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October 8th, 2009
There is only one wide release coming out this week, but at least it's a saturation level release, so it should be a major player. In fact, it could make more than the two biggest releases this week last year made combined, which could help 2009 end its mini-slump on the year-over-year comparison.
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October 8th, 2009
The winners of our Christmas Comes Early contest were determined and they are...
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October 5th, 2009
October started on a mixed note. While it was better than expected at the top, overall the box office was a little weak pulling in a total of $107 million. Granted, this was 10.7% higher than last week, this was 5.9% lower than the same weekend last year. Year-to-date 2009 has now earned $7.96 million, which is still 7.5% higher than last year's pace.
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October 1st, 2009
There should be six new films in the top ten this weekend, or rather three new films, two re-releases, and one film expanding into the top ten. However, while there is a lot of activity, only one of these films is opening in more than 3,000 theaters while the others are opening in less than 2,000.
Because of this, there's not much doubt about which film will top the chart, but there is a question of by how much.
There is also a question of when the overall box office will be able to keep up with last year.
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October 1st, 2009
September ended with a thud, but at least there's good news. September has finally ended. Last month more movies missed expectations that topped them, which has put a cooling effect on the overall box office and that could hurt the business going into this month. October should still be stronger than last month, and since October of last year wasn't particularly great, 2009 should at least maintain its lead over 2008 going into the holiday season, even if it isn't as strong every single week.
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September 25th, 2009
October is about to start and we have some holiday prizes... No, not that holiday. Even though the only film that could open at saturation level theater count is called Zombieland, we don't have Halloween prizes, but Christmas prizes. In order to win, one must simply predict the opening weekend box office of Zombieland.
Whoever comes the closest to predicting the film's opening 3-day weekend box office (Friday to Sunday), without going over, will win a copy of Mickey's Christmas Carol on DVD, as well as Bonanza - Season One - Volume One and Volume Two.
Meanwhile, whoever comes the closest to predicting the film's opening 3-day weekend box office (Friday to Sunday), without going under, will also win a copy of Mickey's Christmas Carol on DVD, as well as Bonanza - Season One - Volume One and Volume Two.
Entries must be received by 10 a.m., Pacific Time on Friday to be eligible, so don't delay!
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