http://www.boxofficemojo.com/weekend...wknd=14&p=.htm

Hellboy opened with an estimated $23.5 million to take the number one slot, while Walking Tall, Scooby-Doo 2, and Home on the Range all got around around $15 million to take the next 3 slots.

Looks like the two action films and two kids films cancelled each other out. If Hellboy and Walking Tall had opened on different weekends, they probably would have had much stronger debuts since they both have similar markets. Ditto for Scooby 2 and Home on the Range opening within a week of each other.

And with that Passion of the Christ moves into top 10 grossing movies of all time passing Forest Gump. Wow!

I wonder if next weekend will see a bump for Passion since it's Easter?

While not that much compared to other debuts, $23.5 is impressive for Hellboy considering it didn't have much to play to other than comic geeks and didn't boast much star power. I hope that good reviews and word of mouth will help it make more money, but I have a feeling Hellboy isn't the kind of movie to get great word of mouth from the general public.

I wouldn't be surprised if it did all week long(starting today). Today was Palm Sunday mass - they went through a shorter version of the Passion like they always do. That might spurn more interest for certain church-going people.

$23 mil. for 1st for HELLBOY with a huge dropoff for this upcoming weekend because of religious hoiliday looks like HELLBOY bombed. So no sequals.

Wow, I didn't know Miss Cleo posted on our board!

Didn't know it was possible to debut at #1 with little appeal and stars for PR purposes and be labeled a bomb just because it debuted a week before a religious holiday.

Unless you get church groups booking theaters in the load full I really doubt you will see passions get much more than a position up.

Calling Hellboy a bomb? HA! considerings SONY and REVOLUTIONS past, this is already well beyond a success so far. I wouldn't be surprised if there is a sequal. Infact, I'm hoping there is. Besides that, HELLBOY is getting good reviews. I really don't see a huge drop off next week regardless of the religious back ground to it. Maybe a split in the competition since Fox's GIRL NEXT DOOR finally gets released, but not simply because it's a religious holiday.

I cant believe people are still going to see that pile of cow dung Passion...but oh well...success make a good movie it does not...

Glad to see Jersey Girl have a pretty small dip...

And kudos to Hellboy...awesome picture!

I don't know what makes less sense, this above statement or the kid that called "Passion of Christ" "cow dung" with no explanation.

As for the above dumb comment, how on earth is this a bomb? It opened at #1 with absolutely none, zero star power & starred an actor that 9out of 10 people have never heard of, about a comic book that 10 out of 10 people have never heard of & beat out a movie starring the Rock, that like him or not (personally I hate him) everybody has heard of. The movie cost only $60 million to make which it will easily make that alone domestically in theaters. As Jack mentioned, it has been getting good reviews & despite the vast hatred that seems to be popping up for this movie at DVD talk, word of mouth in the real world seems to be pretty good. So again, I ask, how is this movie a bomb?

I think this is just a sad example of the mainstream media & it's mindless influence on people. I know this drives some people nuts, but it's sadly true. Nowadays if movies don't open up to $40+ million dollars, you see comments like this calling the movie a bomb.

Nice observation Sessa. While I do not know if Hellboy will make $100 million, it pretty much is guaranteed a profit for a variety of reasons.

-Strong reviews and word of mouth will boost it to a somewhat healthy take.
-It is almost a guarantee that everyone who is a fan of the movie will buy the DVD.
-Those who are not a fan of the movie will buy the DVD. (Strange occurance, but you know it happens all the time.)
-With the rumor of a super set complete with a SideShow figurine all over the place, it is a guaranteed double-dip for some fans, and pretty much sold to the comic fans already (put my name on that list!)

Overall, Hellboy has many avenues to make its money back, and they are all pretty much going to work.

When does " The Alamo" come out??

That trailer rocks!

I especially have to question how some folks can expect PASSIONS, that was 6th this weekend to be #1 again next week when you have the titles that obviously beat it and not to mention the new releases next week. Can it bump back on the top five? Maybe, but it sure as hell wont in the #1 spot.

04-09-04

I never in a million years would have expected this response from you.

Anyway, I agree with what you said. I was talking with a guy at work who has read lots of comics and he didn't even know this was based on one.

riiiiight Mr. Jedi

A bold statement to make from someone who takes his name from a Star Wars character...

Don't knock the geeks, man!

that's because unlike passion, star wars has real emotional appeal, quality acting, great script etc.

[QUOTE]Originally posted by QuiGonJosh
I cant believe people are still going to see that pile of cow dung Passion...[/QUO TE]

Not everone had an opportunity to see it before now, as you did ...

I mean, you did see it, right?

You wouldn't be one of those people who bashes sonething they haven't seen, I'm sure.

I base that opinion on the eloquence of your critique.

If the Passion is cow dung then here's hoping it's smashing success results in more bovine shitburgers reaching the masses.

I think we should give wm lopez and QuiGonJosh their own "Hellboy vs Passion" thread and let them duke it out for our amusement.

That's gott be the funniest joke I've heard all week.......maybe all month!!

Thanks al, I needed that! :wipes tears from eyes:

After seeing Star Wars I felt guilty and started going to the Jedi ACademy again. I should really be a good force user you know. Look how Yoda disappeared for our sins.