TheChez.net

by ssjrem

As you can see by the title, this was a pretty crazy weekened. And I mean crazy in a good way. Nothing disappointed and all the new films this weekend did quite well.

Where the Wild Things Are

Where the Wild Things Are opens to a solid 32.5 million, easily leading the box office. This falls pretty much right in line with expectations. I loved the book and I’m happy that this did well. Depending on how well received it is, it has a pretty good shot at 100 million. I haven’t seen this yet, but I really, really want to. I loved the book and the trailer for this was downright magical. But this is just the story of the success stories this weekend.

Law-Abiding Citizen

Surprisingly opening in second place is Law-Abiding Citizen, starring Jamie Foxx and the sexiest man alive, Gerard Butler. Both of these actors have had some trouble finding success at the box office lately and this is a pleasant surprise here. Law-Abiding Citizen debuted to a solid 21.3 million, about eight million more than I had predicted. Anyway, I saw this last night and it was a solid flick. Not great, but definitely a shitload better than Gamer. Hard to tell at this point, but I’d give this a total of around 55 million or so.

Paranormal Activity

Now, ordinarily, I don’t do this, give three movies a poster, but I feel as though this one deserved it. Paranormal Activity expanded its theatre account and continues to amaze. This weekend improved on the last one’s take of 6.7 million, now pulling in an incredible 20.2 million dollars. This is just crazy. All the hype and the slow expansion of the film has made it an event picture that no one saw coming. With a total now of about 34 million and likely more expansions to come, I wouldn’t be surprised to see if this could exceed 100 million. That’s just incredible considering it took $11,000 to make. I saw this on Friday (yes, I went to the movies on both Friday and Saturday; my friends and I never have anything to do….) and it definitely is rather unsettling. Perhaps I’ll get around to a review. We’ll see.

Couples Retreat takes a sizable hit, falling 47% to about 18 million. I’m actually surprised this managed a drop under 50% considering the reviews for it. Anyway, the total’s up to 63 million now and I don’t see this hitting 100 million anymore. Oh well.

In fifth, we have The Stepfather, one of the most idiotic looking horror movies of all time and that’s saying a lot. Somehow, don’t ask me, this didn’t get destroyed by Paranormal Activity. I predicted like four or five million, yet this somehow manages 12.3 million. I’m really, really hoping for an abysmal drop next weekend. Saw VI (is that what one they’re on? I don’t even know anymore) should do this in.

Cloudy With a Chance of Meatballs breaks through the 100 million barrier reaching 108 million with an 8.1 million weekend. Pretty damn solid for this movie, but in some way, I was expecting a little more considering the critical praise and all that. Oh well.

Zombieland kind of takes a hit, falling 47% to 7.8 million. The total’s at 60 million now and that’s good enough to make Zombieland the highest grossing zombie move of all time. I find that sad. Don’t get me wrong, I thought Zombieland was funny and all, but the fact that it’s the highest grossing zombie movie ever is kind of sad. I’d really rather the title go to a serious movie. If I had it my way, 28 Days Later would take the crown, but I’m not a god of the box office and I can’t change these things, so I’ll live with it.

The Toy Story double feature finishes in eighth with 3 million for a total of 28.6 million. This was just a great way to build anticipation for Toy Story 3. That movie is going to be fucking huge. I don’t think it’ll quite be Iron Man 2 huge, but it’ll be up there.

Surrogates: 1.9 million. Total: 36 million. Don’t give enough of a shit to say anything.

The Invention of Lying: 1.9 million. Total: 15.5 million. See above.

So, yeah, this was a huge weekend. My predictions for Paranormal Activity (Christ, that’s a mouthful of a title) and Where the Wild Things Are were pretty much spot on, but I was way off on Law-Abiding Citizen and The Stepfather. Regardless, this was a bountiful weekend. Next weekend brings us another crowded frame with Amelia, Cirque du Freak: The Vampire’s Assistant, Saw VI, and Astro Boy. A very difficult to predict weekend, so it should be very interesting. Until we meet again.