Box-Office Benjamin$: UP Is WuzUP
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What what did you think was going to happen? IT’S PIXAR!!! Of course UP would be on top. After the bombardment of sci-fi action movies thus far in May, it appears America was in the mood for some Diseny action. With the combination of near flawless reviews, 3D and the Disney-Pixar stamp, UP was #1 at the box-office this weekend taking in just over $68 million. It was pretty much expected because everything that studio touches turns to gold (i.e. Toy Story, Finding Nemo, The Incredibles, Wall-E, etc.). So it’s safe to assume that every film they put out will send families running to the multiplexes.
What’s sad and disappointing is the second straight blockbuster bomb that Warner Bros. has pumped out this year. After Watchmen was unsuccessful at the box-office back in March, WB was banking on Christian Bale and the Terminator loyals to storm to theaters in droves for Terminator Salvation. Last weekend Salvation raked in a disappointing $53.8 million. This weekend it dropped off a WHOPPING 61.4% coming in 3rd with an embarrassing $16.4 million and a $90 million domestic total after two weeks. McG and the WB suits have to be eating Ben & Jerry’s and sobbing as they’re looking at these receipts after all the promotion and expectations; not to mention the massive success of Star Trek, which pulled in a another $12 million, bringing its domestic total to $209 million. It’ll get to $250M, you’ll see.
Things aren’t going to get any easier this Friday, as two more epic comedies hit the already crowded multiplexes with Warner Bros.’ The Hangover and Will Ferrell’s Land of the Lost. The Hangover could be WB’s box-office “salvation” as it’s the latest comedy from Todd Phillips, the comedic genius behind Old School and Road Trip. With a much smaller budget than Watchmen and Terminator Salvation, WB could have the best chance to gain a significant profit with The Hangover, due to it’s R-rated raunchy appeal. It’s the first of its kind this summer season and has proved successful in the past, i.e. Knocked Up, Superbad, etc.
Here’s a breakdown of the rest of the Top 5 at the Box-Office this weekend.
CHAMP: UP %68.2 million
2) Night at the Museum: Battle of the Smithsonian $25.5 million
3) Drag Me To Hell $16.6 million
4) Terminator Salvation $16.1 million
5) Star Trek $12.8 million
What Do You Think? Discuss
