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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.
Editor-in-Chief Nikki Finke - tip her here.
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“HaHa, Angels & Demons continues to make more than Trek worldwide!”
JT.
Angels and Demon’s WW take SO FAR
$199,020,465
Star Trek’s WW take SO FAR
$292,365,069
Oh..Wait..You meant the fact that A/D is only up by 10 million over seas over Star Trek, didn’t you? Hmm….well..Let me know when A/D bridges the domestic gap with Star Trek of 100 million. And, it only opened ONE.WEEK.LATER.
Star Trek is a hit. Bigger than A/D. Critically acclaimed instead of critically panned.
I could go on, but I think I made my point.
For Paul.
You need to learn to comprehend what you read. I only commented on what I have read from critics and those parents that have seen the film so if you feel you need to come on here and be an idiot of sorts based on your digressive comments….go for it. On the other hand if you have seen the film and didn’t see these attributes…well..maybe you are the one who is truly confused.
Looking forward to seeing both “Up” and “Drag Me to Hell.” Quality films have returned to the multiplex!
Nikki, are you going to be writing a special post regarding the summer movie season and what’s tracking well and what’s not?
I agree with everyone about “Drag Me To Hell.” It was a fun movie– not overly scary, but what is nowadays? I loved every minute of it and would recommend it to everyone. I also liked how it was PG-13 and avoided the torture porn of the average modern horror film.
@Steve & J.T.:
What separates ST from AD (besides what will be a final difference of $150-200 mil in WW gross) is that ST will actually be profitable on domestic gross alone; AD probably won’t break even at the American BO.
AD is a successful film, but its domestic gross is disappointing.
UP was terrific! The matinee I took my 3 daughters (ages 2-7) to was packed by a family audience, and everyone was clearly into it, laughing, sobbing at the sad moments, scared and cheering for the heroes, and the like. It was a movie that kids can definitely enjoy for the laughs and hi-jinks, bu it also had a great moral story that one could discuss with their children. Yes, it had it’s intense and and dark moments, but, what isn’t nowadays whether it be film, tv, comics, and other forms of entertainment. The film ended in a joyous note and it drew a crescendo of applause from everyone, and you could see how happy and upbeat everyone is as we exited into the lobby
I brought my 2.5 year old to UP today and was taken back by the movie. It was not what I was expecting at all, especially after bring my son to his first ever movie Monsters vs. aliens which captivated him the entire time. Up had several moments that made him jump out of his seat and move uncomfortably. Much of it was probably way over his head. I was really enjoying it, however, but had to leave about an hour and twenty minutes into it because he was not really engaged. I cannot wait to see the rest on DVD though!
Is this a ripoff of “The Twenty One Balloons”? I read that in elementary school. I adored it.
I have to agree with the others here; unless you have smart kids, I don’t think they would enjoy Up.
For those warning parents not to take young kids to see Up, keep in mind it’s rated PG. Take this opportunity to talk to your kids about the important subjects. You’ll be surprised at how much the little ones are capable of grasping. This movie is great!
I still laugh everytime I read about how “great” the latest Star Trek movie was…God…it’s like the cast came from Beverly Hills 90210….wonder how hard it was to tax the script writer to come up with the scence where Kirk is rockets from the Enterprise – and crashes within a few hundred yards of the original Spock…man! what writing!….I had a LOL at that moment at the moment!…
We just came from Up! 3D with a 3 1/2 year old. It was charming. However, I think it’s more for the 8yr+ crowd. It wasn’t as dark to me as some are making it out, but just really more of an adult movie with the emotional themes and drama vs action.
Boy, am I tired of hearing how Up is not for little kids. Do any of these idiot parents see the rating? It’s PG – not G. Best popular film of the year by far – if you love movies Pixar seems to be the only studio that faces summer with an original idea.
Of course, up next, Toy Story 3!
Just back from an enjoyable double feature.
DRAG was fun, not great, but good enough. A must for horror and Raimi fans, of course.
And maybe because my expectations were lowered, but I enjoyed THE BROTHERS BLOOM. Yes, a little too Wessy but stylish and Ms. Rachel W has never looked better. Gorgeous!
Saw UP today and really liked it. The first 5 minutes of this movie does a better job in creatively telling a story you can connect with than any movie I’ve seen in a long time (and they did it without using any words!). While some of the themes were a bit over our 6 and 4 year old’s heads, they thoroughly enjoyed it as well.
jdls08:
Sorry we’re not seeing what you want us to see. Try watching it yourself, first. Death, Greed, and everything else you mentioned are parts of life, and kids have to live through that. Relax.
My two kids loved UP. I’ll have to get a copy, seeing as how my local Movie Theater was using a projector from Edison’s workshop.
Talk about scary! No, not a movie. We have nukes and kooks in both North Korea and Iran, and a teleprompter for the leader of the free world. Somebody should make a movie about THAT scary situation and let me know how it turns out. In the meantime, I’m going to go hide in a theatre for a few hours. This may be our last summer of movies. Tick tock, tick tock.
Saw Up with the kids earlier, and they were completely immersed with it. It definitely caught their attention and kept it all through out. Even my 2 yr old didn’t get queasy at the rather perilous moments. My 5 and 6 yr olds were equally into it as well. Wall-E couldn’t hold their attention for the entire movie, but UP sure did.
I saw UP today with the family, and with my two children, ages 12 and 10. UP definitely had its mature moments, but as some have already mentioned, no more disturbing or frightening than Bambi, Cinderella, Snow White, etc., of old, or cartoons like the more “recent” Nemo, etc. As is usual in cartoons, there was stuff for the young kids, older kids, and adults. It was a wonderfully crafted film, and I (along with the family) absolutely adored it. The other Pixar films are so cute and entertaining, but this one was so meaningful.
It is a bit on the mature side, but I think there is enough for smaller kids, too.
The primarily family audience in the sold-out show of UP I caught this evening applauded at film’s end. They were silent and sad at the melancholy parts, but everyone was laughing like crazy at the action, the dogs, kevin, and the classic comedic exchanges between Carl and Russell. My 3yr old niece was somewhat scared at the mean dogs, but she loved it and couldn’t contain her laughter for the most part. She was more terrified whenever we watch the Finding Nemo DVD of the opening scene when the barracuda attacked Marlin, his wife, and the fish eggs.
Sheesh. You cannot shelter your kids from the realities of life forever people. I guess for some parents, they want nothing but animation with animals vomiting all over the place and running their heads through a wall over and over. But when an animated film comes that tries to convey the realities of life as well as a worthy message, they are up in arms.
I took my kids and their cousins, ages range from 2.5-9yrs old, and they all had a blast. Some were even touched to tears over the melancholy parts. However, they were laughing like crazy at the comedic action and gags. They were bouncing off the wall and giddy as we left the theater asking to see it again.
“Up” is doing pretty weak business compared to its predecessor Pixar movies. It’s pretty remarkable that it hasn’t matched the Friday gross for Wall-E even though 40% of Up’s screens are 3D with its premium pricing. Writing from Manhattan, EVERY single screen in the borough is 3D and the asking price is $16.50 versus a regular $12.50. With that kind of price inflation, Up still can’t build on past grosses? No doubt Disney will put a positive spin on it but if the pattern holds through the weekend, it’s gonna be pretty disappointing.
Up was amazing. The entire family saw it earlier along with the grandparents, and we all had a tremendous time. It was touching that it drove many of us and the others in the theater to tears, but when the laughs and adventure came, boy, it was nonstop. The audience greeted it with a strong round of applause afterwards.
As for the darkness that some complain about? It was no more darker/intense than what was in Nemo, Lion King, Bambi, Wall-E, and other animation of present time and yesteryear. The film had a great message that we don’t usually get from animated films from other studios.
UP was an endearing film that my family enjoyed, including my 2 and 4 yr old son and daughter. I don’t think it’s as dark as some are saying, I mean, it really is no different from most animation. The thing is, UP dealt with rather heavy themes, and I don’t think that’s a bad thing at all. Some parents just don’t give their kids the benefit of the doubt so they try and shelter them as long as they can from the realities of life.
Overall, the film has it all for both the young and the old. It has action, comedy, heart, and a poignant message that everyone should take to heart. Hats of to Pixar for daring to do things that others nowadays won’t even think of.