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SATURDAY PM / SUNDAY AM: Hollywood planned a 2nd straight weekend friendly for family filmgoers who have pent-up demand, and it was a wild success with the two top family films placing #1 and #2. With 20% of K-through-12 kids out of school Friday, Pixar/Disney’s 10th pic and first 3-D movie, Up, was able to get a jump on the domestic box office with busy matinees from 1,534 3-D theaters — a record – and a total of 3,766 theatres total. So the unusual toon starring the voice of Ed Asner and receiving rave revenues opened to around $21.4 million Friday and $26.5M Saturday for a $68.2M weekend with Sunday estimates of $20.3M. Hollywood estimates for its Fri-Sat-Sun grosses started at $55M, went up to $60M based on matinees, but didn’t expect it to top 2008 Wall-E’s $63M. Instead, Up finished as Pixar’s 3rd highest grossing film, close to the $70M opening weekends of the brand’s top 2 computer animation movies, 2004 The Incredibles and 2003 Finding Nemo. (Not adjusted for inflation or ticket prices or the 3-D premium prices.) Up also bested DreamWorks’ first 3-D film Monsters v Aliens which opened at $59.3M over 2009 Spring Break. Disney has been marketing Up as a four-quadrant movie that hits all bases — from comedy to adventure. It was the first film of 2009 to snag an A+ CinemaScore, and Disney considered it Pixar’s most emotional film thus far. It worked, although some parents are emailing me it’s too dark for young children. Exit polls showed 31% of the audience were kids aged 2 to 11, and the other 69% spread equally to all demos.
The other newcomer should come in 3rd: Universal’s subtly titled PG-13 horror pic Drag Me To Hell from Sam Raimi’s devilish direction debuted at $6.4M Friday and $5.7M Saturday for a $16.6M weekend from 2,508 venues. Despite its counter programming, the pic’s box office potential fell short of The Strangers which Uni opened to $20M last year on this date.
But 2nd place went to 20th Century Fox’s Night Of The Museum: Battle Of The Smithsonian which held well because of Friday’s big matinees and its still huge release into 4,101 theaters. It finished down only 53% from its #1 opening last weekend. The sequel starring Ben Stiller made $7.4M Friday and $10.5M Saturday plus a $7.5M Sunday estimate for a $25.5M weekend and a $105.2M cume.
Warner Bros’ disappointing Terminator 4: Salvation keeps sinking: it was #4 with $5.1M (-64%) and $6.5M Saturday from 3,602 dates for a $15.2M weekend (-64%) when analysts were expecting $20M.
Followed by Paramount’s Star Trek in No. 5 with $3.6M Friday and $5.3M Saturday from 3,507 plays for another $12.8M weekend. The JJ Abrams’ franchise reboot Friday night became the first movie of 2009 to pass $200M domestic. Its cume is now $209.5M.
Imagine/Sony’s Angels & Demons placed 6th with $3.4M Friday and $5M Saturday from 3,464 runs for another $11.2M weekend and a new domestic cume of $104.7M.
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“Up” will do better than $55 mil; not only are the reviews universally positive, but WOM is across-the-board fantastic, and the protagonist’s age will appeal to demos that would normally stay away from animated films. Legs for days, this one.
Just got back from seeing UP with my wife and 3.5 year-old and I am really disappointed in Pixar. Not that UP was a bad movie, it isn’t, but it is hardly on par for family viewing as other Pixar flicks. This has got to be the first time I’ve seen blood in a Pixar film, and my daughter was scared beyond belief of the dog chase scenes and the “antagonist” (won’t give any spoilers). Sad to say this won’t be making it into our home collection until my daughter gets to second or third grade. If you have a little one (under 7) that loves Woody, Buzz, Lighting McQueen, Nemo, et al, you might want to wait this one out.
Hmmm… $55 mil for “Up” doesn’t sound like what Pixar and Disney would want hear for opening weekend, especially for a film costing close to $200 mil. I guess “Transformers” is still 3 weeks away…
Watched Drag Me To Hell with my girlfriend and we both agreed it was one of the scariest movies we’ve seen in a long time. Great great date movie!
Really appreciate the fast info. Thanks!
Saw Up in 3D this afternoon. Fantastic movie but not really for little kids. The little ones behind me spend a good portion of the movie asking what was going on. And with about 15 minutes left in the movie one announced that he was ready to go. It’s definitely not your typical animated fare. It’s emotional and heartwarming and has more character development in the first 10 minutes than most movies have in two hours.
Peace.
I liked Drag Me to Hell ALOT! Very simple but “affective” flick.
funny yet scary in just the right doses. Haven’t seen this type of horror flick IN A WHILE.
I would not be surprised if DRAG ME TO HELL easily trumps that early estimate. Terrific movie and both showings tonight were jammed at my theater — the 7 show with teenagers (which was getting out when we got there), and the 10 show mostly with adults. Could also overhear people saying how much they enjoyed it on the way out.
Great to see a real throwback movie made “they used to”. I knew it was going to rock when Raimi opened up with the 1970s Universal logo as well! My only gripe — the climax was so predictable it kind of left a bad taste…but otherwise, good stuff!
I am sbsolutely excited to see DMTH. I hope WOM helps it make some money.
cant wait to see DMTH.
UP was excellent! Saw it at a packed theater filled with people of all ages, and everyone was riveted the whole time. Kids were well into it laughing their hearts out and crying in scenes such as Kevin being dragged off by the dogs and such. My 3, 5, and 8 year olds thoroughly loved it and can’t stop talking about it on the way home. Many adults were openly sobbing at the heartbreaking opening and the uplifting ending. It was excellent indeed. Kudos to Pixar
Up will do 20mil easily today.Tomorrow will be it’s biggest day, and will gross 60mil+ for the 3-day weekend. It’s opening earlier than recent Pixar films,Wall-E and Ratatouille, both of which opened late in late June. Since most schools nationwide are still in session today (fri), tomorrow’s gross will jump quite a bit, and Sunday will be pretty strong too.
As for the movie, my 2 and 4 year old daughters are already bugging me and the wife for a 2nd viewing.
I haven’t seen the film as yet, probably see it next week, but it seems like many parents are disappointed. DON’T TAKE YOUR KIDS TO SEE IT IS WHAT MANY ARE SAYING. It seems the parents are thinking this is a feel good movie for kids and are finding “UP” is a dark film filled with child cruelty, depression, greed, death and just too confusing for young children. Seems while the critics were patting themselves on the back when backing the film they forget it is an adult cartoon not a children Pixar movie that parents have come to know. Anyway, it will be interested to see if the current not so friendly WOM from parents override the hype from the critics who also went overboard on the overhyped environmental WallE.
I was dragged kicking and grumbling to Star Trek reboot. Sigh. I went to see Wolverine with some enthusiasm and was pleasantly vindicated. Went to see Terminator 4 and I don’t know what the fuss is about. Its a decent movie. It fills in gaps. It squares the circle. I’m glad this was made.
For those trek fans that went ga-ga over the reboot version, giving it great reviews, and then there are the fans of terminator that gave the movie a 3 tomato review, I’ve got to ask: WTF?
Terminator was a much better movie then Star Trek reboot version for dummies.
Yes, this is just in my opinion but at $9.75 a pop, I want some meat with the potatoes and Terminator gave it to us.
Admittedly, they used up a LOT of used junk cars to blow up to make their point, but that was the action scenes. Christian Bale was good. Everyone else was good (I’ll leave out Michael Ironsides because I like him, hate to ding him, but he’s getting to be a one note wonder).
Now I hear that they’re getting ready to do a remake of West World.
Oy vey.
I am now boycotting anything Stephen Speilberg. Please sir, move aside and let someone like Sam Rami, tell an original tale that hopefully has Bruce Campbell somewhere in it, maybe as a bartender or a delivery man (cameo appearances).
Stop making movies Speilberg! Go ride your horse at your ranch and be happy.
I’d like to see his 2008 tax returns and how much that guy gave to charity, how much he claimed to make vs. reality, and what his tax bill came to.
I somehow think that there are people in Hollywood that are not paying their fair share of taxes.
Death, depression, cruelty, and the like has always been a staple of animated films. Bambi, Mufasa falling to his death in the Lion King and little Simba desperately trying to wake his lifeless body, Finding Nemo wherein the barracuda kills/eats the mom and all but one of the fish eggs, and so on. (Granted, most of the tragic elements happen offscreen, but it is still there and resonated strongly with viewers). The current overwhelming positive word of mouth for UP will not be overcome by negatives from the minority.
The parents and their children in the sold out show we caught earlier were all cheerful, giddy, and smiling from ear to ear as they filtered out of the auditorium
While there were mature themes in the film, it was still far more kid-friendly than Wall-E imho. My kids reacted to it much more favorably and were by far more into UP than Wall-E (Though they liked Wall-E too). For the most part, the film will entertain the young and the old. Though it is animated, it’s a more human story than recent animated films for it reflects real life themes, which we have seen to varying degrees in previous films (Lion King, Nemo, etc…). The film is both hilarious, endearing, and melancholy, but ends on a most happy and uplifting note, that the majority of viewers should leave theaters with a smile and spring to their step.
Drag Me To Hell was pretty cool. Definitely a BOO rollercoaster ride in the vein of his earlier Evil Dead films. Its the type of movie where you have to see it with a sizable audience to feel its impact. Happy about Trek. Finally a reboot that deserves all of its success.
Saw Up with 2.5 year old daughter – some things were over her head, some scenes scared her but she loved the movie over all. Parents project way too much on their children and our generation is raising a crop of children way too sheltered. Our parents let us watch much worse and we made it through. Our cartoons were violent, sadistic and happy go lucky all at the same time. Up is a great film for both adults and young children. If your little one is scared during the film take time and talk to them. See it in a theater to increase the separation from reality.
James
Watched ‘Drag Me To Hell’ last night and it’s fantastic! The movie’s good, scary, and gross-out, campy fun. Sam Raimi’s directorial talents are in great display here. The audience was loving it–lots of people jumping, shrieking, swearing out loud and a lot of laughter. I think this one’s going to do well.
Poor Stephen Speilberg… I agree, what a hack!
At least Steven Spielberg can keep making movies:)
I’m a parent and my 3, 5, and 9 yr olds loved the film UP. Death, Loss, and peril has always been a part of animation. I recall that when the Lion King opened, some parents complained and argued that it was way to intense, perilous, and dark. I can see their point being the movie had murder, a wildebeast stampede that is pretty intense, and the very tragic death of the father and Simba tending to the dead body afterwards. However, I personally have no problem with it. I’d much rather them watch a movie like that and UP rather than the typical animation wherein all the characters just club each other over the head repeatedly, fart and vomit all over the place, and the like.
jdls08,
You haven’t seen the film UP yet, but you feel qualified to say that UP is “filled” with “child cruelty, depression, greed, death and just too confusing for young children”. I saw UP, and I agree the dogs are too intense for the youngest of children, but to say that the film is filled with child cruelty, depression, greed, death and is too confusing is so far off base that I have you question your motives for the posting. The movie is wonderful as was Ratatouille and the “overhyped” Wall-E. It is human nature for us to take jabs at Pixar because they are better filmmakers than all of us, but at least see a film before you start slandering it.
PAul
HaHa, Angels & Demons continues to make more than Trek worldwide! Since they mocked and ridiculed the Ron Howard Da Vinci sequel as a bomb, this must sting more than a little for the girlfriend-less Trekkie nerds who continue to glorify the financial success of the overrated, lens flare-riddled reboot as if it were the second coming of Titanic. Whenever you state the obvious about why the new Trek wasn’t the greatest thing since sliced bread, the fans who’ve deluded themselves into thinking it’s brilliant take offense on a level usually reserved for an attack against their faith or family. It’s actually kind of disturbing.
Also, I saw Drag Me to Hell and I thought it was a lot of fun. There’s lots of grossout moments that make you laugh while recoiling in terror. Definitely a great movie for crowded theatres. Sam Raimi’s still got it; I forgive him for Spider-man 3.
P.S. Hasta la vista, McG!
Not really sure why people think Up! is too intense for children… The kids in my showing absolutely loved it. Definitely no more ‘intense’ than half the crap that fills up the TV shows aimed at children these days. Then again, I remember people saying the rats in Ratatouille scared children, so perhaps another breed…