Easter Helps Passion Stay on Top

April 13, 2004

It was hardly a surprise that The Passion of the Christ was able to take top spot over Easter weekend. What is a surprise is the amount; just $26 million is barely an increase from last weekend. There was only one new opening, but it was in Italy, one of the most staunchly Catholic nations. The film did cross $100 million internationally some time during the mid-week, but a serious post-Easter drop-off is expected.

Scooby Doo: Monsters Unleashed may have tanked domestically compared to the original, earning less than half its numbers. However, while its international numbers are still down, they are not off by nearly as much. Adding another $15 million pushed its international total to nearly $50 million. $100 million isn't out of the question, but it will need strong holdovers to do that.

50 First Dates opened in second place in the U.K. with an unimpressive $3 million. It was enough to help push the film into the top five with $6.2 million.

The Australian opening for Starsky and Hutch represented slightly more than half its $5.0 million international weekend. It also represents the last major English speaking market for the film.

Brother Bear stuck around in the top five for one more week with $4.9 million. That left its international total at $149.8 million and with a strong boost from holidays in many international markets its final goal of $250 million is still within reach..


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Source: Variety

Filed under: International Box Office, The Passion of the Christ, 50 First Dates, Starsky & Hutch, Brother Bear, Scooby-Doo 2: Monsters Unleashed