Matthew Chmiel

To refresh everyone's memory, here's the biggest opening weekends we've encountered so far:

1. Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows - Part 2: $169 million opening weekend. (2011; 45% total gross.)
2. The Dark Knight: $158 million opening weekend. (2008; 30% total gross.)
3. Spider-man 3: $151 million opening weekend. (2007; 45% total gross.)
4. The Twilight Saga: New Moon: $143 million opening weekend. (2009; 49% total gross.)
5. The Twilight Saga: Breaking Dawn - Part 1: $139 million opening weekend. (2011; 50% total gross)
6. Pirates of the Caribbean: Dead Man's Chest: $136 million opening weekend. (2006; 32% total gross.)
7. Iron Man 2: $128 million opening weekend. (2010; 41% total gross.)

... and the biggest single days:

1. Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows - Part 2: $91 million. (2011)
2. The Twilight Saga: New Moon: $72 million. (2009)
3. The Twilight Saga: Breaking Dawn - Part 1: $72 million. (2011)
4. The Twilight Saga: Eclipse: $69 million. (2010)
5. The Dark Knight: $67 million. (2008)
6. Transformers: Revenge of the Fallen: $62 million. (2009)
7. Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows - Part 1: $62 million. (2010)
8. Spider-man 3: $60 million. (2007)
9. Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince: $59 million. (2009)
10. Pirates of the Caribbean: Dead Man's Chest: $56 million. (2006)

The Hunger Games will end up somewhere sandwiched on that list and will give Lionsgate (unofficially) three of the biggest opening weekends of all time and four of the biggest single days of all time. It's good to see their purchase of Summit Entertainment finally pay off.

There's no news on the other films currently playing in theaters. However, I heard Taylor Kitsch is mopping a floor somewhere at Disney before he has to clean up Universal.

Dr. DVD

Dude, that's cruel. FWIW, I saw him outside the theater at Universal Citywalk in Orlando, and he seemed somewhat happy with his new career.

Does this mean Hunger Games will have the largest opening weekend for something that isn't a sequel?

Matthew Chmiel

Yes.

However, it's still an adaptation meaning that an original idea has not done gangbusters on its opening day or weekend.

Unless your James Cameron, then you reap the benefits long term.

islandclaws

I knew this would open big, but these are huge numbers. Hell, I even have interest in seeing it after hearing the good WOM, and the fact that my mom wants to check it out.

Taylor Kitsch has the Spring and Summer bombs wrapped up. Has he got anything on tap for Fall to complete the hat trick? Poor guy.

Dr. DVD

If they bump Oliver Stone's Savages to Fall, he very well might.

islandclaws

From Deadline:

1. The Hunger Games (Lionsgate) NEW [4,137 Theaters] PG13-rated
Est Friday $68.2M, Est Weekend $140.0M

2. 21 Jump Street (Sony) Week 2 [3,121 Theaters] R-rated
Est Friday $6.4M, Est Weekend $20.0M (-52%), Est Cume $70.0M

3. Dr. Seuss’ The Lorax (Universal) Week 4 [3,677 Theaters] PG-rated
Est Friday $3.2M, Est Weekend $13.0M, Est Cume $175.0M

4. John Carter (Disney) Week 3 [3,212 Theaters) PG13-rated
Est Friday $1.5M, Est Weekend $5.5M, Est Cume $63.0M

5. Project X (Warner Bros) Week 4 [2,065 Theaters] R-rated
Est Friday $700K, Est Weekend $1.8M, Est Cume $51.6M

6. October Baby (IDP/SGF) NEW [398 Theaters] PG13-rated
Est Friday $600K, Est Weekend $1.8M

7. Act Of Valor (Relativity) Week 5 [2,219 Theaters] R-rated
Est Friday $550K, Est Weekend $1.9M, Est Cume $65.8M

8. A Thousand Words (DWorks/Par) Week 3 [1,787 Theaters] PG13-rated
Est Friday $500K, Est Weekend $1.7M, Est Cume $14.8M

9. Safe House (Universal) Week 7 [1,330 Theaters] R-rated
Est Friday $475K, Est Weekend $1.5M, Est Cume $122.8M

10. Journey 2 (Warner Bros) Week 7 [1,340 Theaters] PG-rated
Est Friday $400K, Est Weekend $1.3M, Est Cume $97.0M

TomOpus

Safe House $122 million? Damn, didn't realize it was doing that well.

Solid Snake

wtf is October Baby?

Matthew Chmiel

An anti-abortion drama from those nutballs who gave us Fireproof and Courageous.

PenguinJoe

I never see big movies the weekend they come out, I learned this the hard way when all we wanted to do is see Spider-Man 2. I always wait two or three weeks, but I plan on seeing Hunger Games.

Artman

Gotta love the progressive mindset...

Matthew Chmiel

Okay, let me fix that.

Ahem.

An anti-abortion drama from those crazy Christian cocksuckers with not a single ounce of talent who gave us Fireproof and Courageous.

Is that better? Am I doing it right?

If anything, that entire studio should be burned to the ground for allowing Kirk Cameron to still have some relevancy in today's society.

Solid Snake

I'm agreeing w/ MC here. I'd rather watch a bad Bay film over the best of those films.

auto

It's crazy, but I agree.

TimeandTide

My Other Self

This Hunger Games stuff has taken me by surprise. I had never heard of the books or anything until earlier this week. Never saw a trailer, or commercial, or anything. Now it's taking in $140 Mill this weekend. That's insane.

Does the source material appeal mainly to younger kids?

TimeandTide

About a third of my 9th graders have either read the series or are currently reading it and nearly all of them have expressed interest in the films. (Quite a few even braved four-hour lines and attended the midnight screenings a couple of evenings ago.) But my 32-year old gf loves it too. Definitely one of those rare books that appeals to all ages and both genders. As I mentioned in the HG thread, the last time I've seen this kind of massive interest in a book was when when Harry Potter debuted.

islandclaws

Finally moved up the age bracket, eh?

Solid Snake

Deftones

I posted something similar on opening weekend for that movie, but thanks for doing it again.

JumpCutz

Matthew Chmiel

I'd rather just stand next to a doctor and watch an actual abortion take place than ever sit through Fireproof, Courageous, October Baby, Left Behind, so on and so on and so on.

And thanks for everyone bringing up Act of Valor again for the third time during a weekend box office thread.

However, I'd like to point out, that the film is flopping overseas. So there.

JumpCutz

Good to know.

Deftones

It's been released in Iceland, Lebanon, Malaysia, Singapore, South Korea, Thailand and United Arab Emirates. Not exactly worldwide coverage there.


http://www.boxofficemojo.com/movies/...actofvalor.htm

TimeandTide