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SUNDAY AM: Feel that heat? It's another hot weekend at the box office, +40% over last year for $140 million in overall grosses. And it's mostly due to the blistering North American performance of 3-D blockbuster Monsters vs Aliens. Despite so-so elite reviews, the pic totalled $58.2M this weekend, performing almost as huge as producer DreamWorks dared to hope, but better than distributor Paramount thought possible. (See below) It was the biggest pic of the year so far, and blasted through the record for a 3-D opening (held by Spy Kids 3-D) and RealD estimated it contributed $25M of the gross. Also, 9% of the box office came from 143 IMAX screens. Monsters vs Aliens debuted to $16.8 million Friday and then soared to $24.3 million Saturday and an estimated $17 million Sunday thanks to crowded kiddie matinees in the widest release yet of a 3-D title -- 4,104 theaters, including 1,550 3-D venues which had $3 to $4 premiums. This was almost the biggest non-sequel toon opening for DWA, behind 2008 summer hit Kung Fu Panda, but also one of the top non-sequel animation openings of all time. So 3-D is paying off for DWA chief Jeffrey Katzenberg (who's constantly preaching about the technology's superiority after pledging to make all future toons in 3-D).
As for Lionsgate's The Haunting in Connecticut, it's overperforming. The horror flicks' late shows really picked up Friday night with $9.5 million Friday and $8.7 million Saturday and an estimated $4.7 million Sunday for a $23M debut weekend and 2nd place. As expected, the Fox-distributed WWE's 12 Rounds starring John Cena was knocked out with a pathetic $5.3M opening weekend and #7. There also were strong holdovers:
1. Monsters vs Aliens (DWA/Par) OPENER, [4,104], Wkd $58.2M
2. Haunting in Connecticut (LG) OPENER [2,732], Wkd $23M
3. Knowing (Summit) Week 2 [3,337], Wkd $14.7M (-40%), Cume $46.2M
4. I Love You Man (Par) Week 2, [2,717], Wkd $12.6M, Cume $37M
5. Duplicity (Uni) Week 2, [2,579], Wkd $7.5M, Cume $25.6M
6. Witch Mountain (Dis) Week 3, [3,268], Wkd $5.6M, Cume $53.2M
7. 12 Rounds (WWE/Fox) OPENER, [2,331], Wkd $5.3M
8. Watchmen (WB) Week 4, [2,010], Wkd $2.7M, Cume $103.2M
9. Taken (Fox) Week 9, [1,961], Wkd $2.7M, Cume $137M
10. Last House (Rogue/Uni) Week 3 [2,251], Wkd $2.6M, Cume $28.4M
FRIDAY AM: This is certainly a rarity in the run-up to movie openings recently -- a Hollywood studio that's trying to raise expectations for how its film will perform. I'm told that distributor Paramount behind-the-scenes is trying to lower producer DreamWorks Animations' forecast that its Monsters vs Aliens will do $60 million at this box office this weekend. ("You have no idea how many conversations we've had with them about how aggressive they are," one Paramount exec told me.) The distributor thinks a more realistic number is around $50 million. It's got the widest opening yet for a 3-D title. But even so, DWA's Jeffrey Katzenberg and company still thought there'd be more 3-D screens up and running by now. But the economic crisis put a big dent in the theater chain and studio plans.
Also, it's not summer. Kung Fu Panda set a non-sequel DWA record of $60M by opening in June. And with Jack Black starring, it played more like a non-family film. But Monsters vs Aliens doesn't have a big celebrity draw beyond Reese Witherspoon (and her girl power is wobbly...) So most kids will be in school Friday instead of sitting in matinees. And Spring Break isn't a factor because Easter is April 12th. So it's $50M, not $60M -- got it? UPDATE: Now rival studios are saying it'll be $60M.
I haven't seen a single TV ad for Lionsgate's The Haunting In Connecticut, even though I do sneak peeks at Gossip Girl whose young female viewers are the target audience for these fright films. But I'm told Lionsgate was aggressive buying time during March Madness basketball. In any case, they must be out there because the horror pic is tracking better than last week's Last House On The Left. Then again, Haunting is PG-13, and Last House was R-rated. Expect around $19M from 2,732 plays. And even my box office gurus were barely aware of the WWE/Fox's 12 Rounds. Fox thinks it makes $7M-$8M from 2,331 theaters. Sorry, but John Cena ain't no Rock/Dwayne Johnson.
The Top 5 should be:
1. Monsters vs Aliens (Dreamworks Animation/Paramount)
2. Haunting In Connecticut (lionsgate)
3. Knowing (Summit Entertainment)
4. I Love You, Man (DreamWorks/Paramount)
5. 12 Rounds (WWE/Fox)
Not only does Hollywood think Universal's Duplicity will fall to 6th place, but Julia Roberts' appeal has evaporated overseas where the pic is doing poorly, too.
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The NY Times seemed to like it, sorta. It really does not look funny to me. I’ll guess, 45. 43 million. It could go higher with the extra 3-D charge. But I really didn’t realize it was a 3-D pic until I read this article. People may think that unless they go to a 3-D theatre, they shouldn’t see it. That could bring the total down somewhat. Whatever. I’m rather tired of movies with that Seth Rogan guy. Are there any other actors out there? And can we please do something with our oscar winning actresses other than cartoons and comics?
What?!? You mean “The Haunting in Connecticut” won’t finish in first? I thought the previews showing that giant turd coming out that dude’s mouth would’ve vaulted every loser teenage boy to the theaters this weekend. Oh, I still hope it does well enough to warrant more production of PG-13 horror flicks.
Spring break is actually on for a lot of kids next week–it’s not always the week preceding easter as commonly thought.
50-60–either number is huge, actually and if it falls between these goal posts I would think they’d be thrilled.
Nikki – I guess you don’t watch NCAA basketball – they’ve been running commercials for this film non-stop for the past week!
Nikki-
I guess you have not been watching the NCAA tournament or ESPN. Lionsgate has been VERY agressive with commercials during the tourney on CBS, seemingly showing a commercial for The Haunting of Connecticut every break! Also, it’s been all over Sportscents on ESPN.
Solid campaign, and i’m sure it will do very well.
I am in the wheelhouse for this movie (mid-20s) but i hate these crappy horror movies…they are all so bad!
I don’t see ‘12 Rounds’ getting past the $5M mark
12 Rounds will bomb for sure….Nikki is giving it way too much credit.
I’m somewhere between Big John’s and Nikki’s predictions for ‘12 Rounds’. WWE has a huge, loyal audience that they know how to move, but the marketing for this one has seemed non-existent. ‘Haunting’ on the other hand… I cannot escape their ads. Everywhere.
Renny Harlin is still alive?
‘Haunting’ has been pumped hard on Twitter. Smart strategy to
reach kids and it’s free. As for ‘Duplicity’, the dialog is awful, very
very stock and wooden, Julia deserves better D-execs
Well, finally the pressure is off Julia and she can do more interesting films, even smaller films, when and if she wants to. That pressure of everyone breathless panting will she or won’t she has to be just silly. She’s had a very, very long run at the top, will remail somewhere near there always but won’t have to be the standard bearer anymore. Bravo to her.
Perhaps “Duplicity” isn’t doing as hoped because Clive Owen dragged her down, or the script, or the director, or any number of intangibles that play into box office success. Maybe people are fed up with the topic of corporate shenanigans. To simply write off Julia Roberts on this one film plays into the narrow sexist trap. The screeching headlines have been that Roberts hit 40 and is finished which is absurd. The media always has to manufacture artificial landmarks and headlines. The collective energy seemed to be rooting for her to fail. Men are gifted with a wide leeway for repeat box office failures until one comes up a hit.
Sucks for Julia but she was good in stuff like charlie Wilson’s War and Closer…she should stick to smaller films. She’s not worth 15-20 million anymore. Angelina, Cameron and Reese have replaced her, even Meryl Streep belongs in that group.
I have seen some TV ads for Connecticut; also I saw a lot of ads watching shows online.
Still, I doubt it’ll do well, just throwing out what I’ve observed in my own viewing time.
This is sad for Julia but good for Tony Gilroy who is a collossal PRICK!
Haunting looks horrible in every way possible. Don’t know marketing budget, but looks like LG spent a few dollars too much. 12 Rounds appears to be at least palatable compared to other stuff from WWE. Trailer and commercials look decent.
Goodness, ABC Family never shuts up about “Haunting.” All they ever play is that darned commercial.
Have to agree with Nonsense about all the talk about Julia Roberts being over because she’s (gasp) 41. How about Steve Carell, Will Ferrell, Jason Bateman, Adam Sandler, Ben Stiller, Johnny Depp, Robert Downey Jr., George Clooney, Brad Pitt and Will Smith who are all at least 40 and Paul Rudd, who supposedly showed her how the young folks do it, turns 40 next week.
Plus, Duplicity was universally reviewed as being too complicated, and opened on less screens.
You know what it is concerning Julia Roberts. Audiences see her as the same person over and over again. She needs to do roles where her persona takes a back seat and disappear into the character of whoever she plays. She’s done the same shit and people are tired.Now’s her chance to start her second act and become a full fledge character actor.
And this isn’t only limited to Julia. Nic Cage is about to experience a downturn as well. Every major star will unless they venture out of their safety zone and bring something new to the table.
I think Duplicity will hold stronger than you think Nikki.
It’s not Nic Cage’s fault KNOWING sucks. It’s bad script, bad script and bad script along with a few other problems. Nic needs to go back home to the Coen’s for a little fun.
Renee everyone you mentioned is a man, and men 40 and over do better than women of the same age. That is history and may change but it won’t with Julia Roberts.
I’m expecting Monsters to do better than $50m, somewhere between 55 and 60, because of parents needing a break from the stress of this economy and job losses in their own personal lives.
Don’t be surprised if Witch Mountain still comes in 5th or better.
Alboone hit the nail on the head…How many times can we see Julia play Julia? It’s been nearly two decade now, try doing more “Charlie Wilson Wars” and less “My Best Friends Weddings”.
And to “Anonymous”, Nicholas Cage acting was bad as always, so he has something in common with the script.Like Julia, Cage has been playing himself for nearly two decades.Unlike Julia, Cage stars in movie after movie after movie, making the whole one facial expression clueless looking routine more tiresome. Sometimes it works, Matchstick man, other times it doesn’t,Lord Of War, The Weatherman,Bangkok Dangerous,Next,etc,etc,etc..
I’m sorry, but what kind of idiot thinks Julia Roberts has appeal. She hasn’t had a hit movie in ages that she carried. If you’d get out of Hollywood once in a while and actually talk to the audience you’d know that Roberts hasn’t been a draw in years.
To Jimmy James: “Tony Gilroy is a prick” ???
I guess I got lucky working with him because I found him a great guy and has more talent in his little finger that 95 percent of any other writer or director in this business.
The only thing I took out of that whole post was a funny “squee” feeling that you have even looked at Gossip Girl. I am a serious tv watcher generally – you know the kind the head honchos hate…I only watch on dvd so that I know the show is at least lasting a season. But Gossip Girl is my crack and it’s fun to know that you are aware of it! Hey – even Barak Obama mentioned it the other day when a gorgeous guy asked him a question – Barak replied “Are you from Gossip Girl or something?” (Paraphrased)
Caught ‘The Haunting in Connecticut’ and must say, there were some chilling moments. Good stuff. Last time I got the ebby-jeebies was watching ‘6th sense’
Go watch this movie people!
If you’re a horror fan and visit any of the news sites, you’ve been literally bombarded with ads for Haunting. I was half-keen on the film at first, but after all this saturation, I’ve lost interest. I saw one TV ad last night around 11pm as well.
It’ll be in my Netflix, queue, though.
KNOWING was an awesome movie and Nic Cage DID NOT suck in it. The small ensemble of actors in the film did a realistic job portrayal of each role, from concerned friends & relatives, to longing for loved ones who were dead or gone away, and a parents undying love for their children. This was a nice update to the type of 1950s sci-fi disaster movies that had heart, that is so missing from today’s movies, even those which are not sci-fi….also the ending is one you do not see typically in a movie these days.
lame cheap negative comments are disgusting. I noticed not one example from the movie was used to say why it supposedly “SUCKED”…
I bet alot of other stars wish their movies “sucked” as “bad” as KNOWING did…
Was FOX or WWE responsible for marketing ‘12 Rounds’? Or should I say lack of marketing? I don’t know anyone who knew that film even existed. Bad.
TOLDJYA! Duplicity wouldn’t fall to #6… come on. People aren’t avoiding it because of Julia Roberts, they’re avoiding it because they’re idiot friends are saying it’s too confusing to follow. Roberts and Owen have amazing chemistry together (see Closer) and the movie is pretty solid.
Why are we beating around the bush about Julia Roberts?
Nikki time and time again has shown how misogynist this business is. But it’s more than Hollywood. The U.S has a deep and socially accepted denigration of women.
When actresses turn 40 have babies or get married it ruins the fantasies of men and women!
We treat them like walking sex toys ans then throw them away. The women in the biz could stop this but when they get power they act just like men.
I dream of the day when women in Hollywood come together and demand their place to get old and fat and still have careers like the gas bags running around with 20 year olds.
So, what’s the final word on “Watchmen”? Hit? Disappointment? Flop*?
*Negative cost + advertising x expectations – box office ÷ catty entertainment media
Seventeen million dollars on opening night is huge for any film. But for an animated 3-d film, opening in late March, the disdain of many movie critics, and amid a harsh economy, demonstrates the name recognition of Dreamworks animation and the savy of Paramount marketing. Seventeen million is actually nothing compared to what it is going to do the rest of the way. Its biggest days will be Saturdays and Sundays when the matinees will be sold out in addition to the night crowds. I would guess 60 million is right in the ballpark of where this is headed for the first weekend; with strong legs carrying it through April and into the first official summer box office weekend in May.
I liked “The Haunting in Connecticut” the first time I saw it when it was a low-budget episode from the Discovery Channel TV show “A Haunting.” Now THAT was spooky. I’m sure the movie is lame.
Monsters V. Aliens was sold out where I saw it on Texas…. Saw KNOWING… Much to my surprise, it’s not your typical Nic Cage piece of crap. I thought it was pretty good sci-fi stuff handled thoughtfully.
The music that plays when the President, played by Stephen Colbert, meets the aliens for the first time is a version of the B-52’s “Planet Claire”.
The “Peter Gunn”-styled theme (Mancini is listed as a co-writer on the track) is performed by Les Deux Love Orchestra, which features members of Henry Mancini’s original “Peter Gunn” orchestra.
That’s pretty retro-cool.
Check it out.
I saw the haunting in Connicecut today and I was pleased the director used elements from the Japanese to create thrills. No jive. It made me jump. Here’s some background:I saw a documentry on real haunting on the Discovery Channel; it ran for two hours and to hear the real family tell the story is compelling. I compared them both and I spotted the fiction from the fact. Now one fact that wasn’t used was the Warrens who investigated the controversial Amytivelle Horror;another fact that wasn’t used was that demon in the basement scared one of the paranormal investigators. He’s in this Discovery Channel documentry. Still I had fun watching this movie. And Elias Koteas had a cool role. Just thought I add background on this film since it’s based on a true story.
so sick of people saying CONNECTICUT overperformed. Did anyone look at the tracking? It was tracking to open in the mid-20’s.
come on folks, do your homework.
Maybe Julia Roberts should join the hoard of other over-40 female Oscar winners/nominees who are doing some of their best work ever on TV: Holly Hunter, Glenn Close, Mary Louise Parker, Julia Louis-Dreyfuss, Sally Field, most of the Desperate Housewives, to name a few. Also, I don’t see age being a problem for actresses like Meryl Streep, Laura Linney, Frances McDormand, and Catherine Keener, to name a few others, who can all play more than one character. Julia Roberts is beautiful but has very little range, and when she is paired with a leading man who hasn’t had stellar box office performance (maybe people were put off by Clive Owens? I know I don’t like him.), her movies don’t open well. I’d love to see her try something more that the same old types she always plays. Right now her movies don’t appeal to me at all. I’m a 40-ish character actress who loves movies of all kinds but mostly I find her unwatchable.
I was conned into seeing “Haunting in Connecticut” and wow, was it lame. If I was 12 and had never seen a horror movie before, maybe it would have worked better, but there’s not a single frame of it that hasn’t been done somewhere else first and better. Felt very cobbled together.
What??! Monsters v Aliens is a big hit??
But where’s the FUR?? I thought only animated movies with furry characters made big bucks??!!
I’m not surprised Duplicity isn’t putting up boffo numbers because it wasn’t dumbed down per hack rom-com guidelines. It was a really clever corporate subterfuge yarn with sexiness aplenty provided by the two attractive leads that should’ve been seen by people who whine about how most Hollywood movies released between January and October don’t respect audience intellect. Tony Gilroy movies must just be a really tough sell since the Michael Clayton advertising didn’t do it any justice either.
Monsters vs.Aliens was pretty good took my 5 year old,did not see it in 3D.The theater i saw it in Plymouth Meeting,PA. asked if i was aware that my viewing was “not in 3D”.They had two screens showing it but i chose the 2D for time reasons.
I am sure the viewing is 100 times better in 3D.
You guys are being hard on Julia. This is her comeback movie, her first after many years being away. The audience needs time to welcome her back. Give her a good script and with that superb acting, she will be huge again. Remember, this is Julia that we all love when she was making tons of movies in the 90s and some good ones as well.
So don’t write off her just yet.
CineFileX,
“we treat them like walking sex toys and then throw them away…”
Are you serious?! Well Julia, Roberts got “thrown away” after making herself about 100 or so million bucks. Boo fucking hoo. This is show business you moron. Grow up.
Am I the only one who confuses “12 rounds” with “17 again” (almost with Seven Pounds)?
The McDonald’s toys made for Monsters are pretty cute, if I could only be a child again.
I don’t want to pay to see Julia Roberts…I’m fed up with her. BESIDES SHE’S NO MERYL STREEP. In the passage of time she didn’t become better. She stayed the same. Why is this misogynism? That’s the nature of of seventh art and show business. She’s still getting paid millions as a fee to play herself…
BTW Cage is also boring. Doesn’t worth my 12 bucks, if you count in parking, popcorn, refreshments that’s 25 dollars per person. An awful lot of money…for formulaic movies and mediocre actors…
Saw “Monsters” today and enjoyed it. Especially the inside jokes. It wasn’t a side-splitting comedy, but it was nice and a good way to relax. Certainly right for these times.
This time I get to say, “Toldya!” about it hitting around $57!
MONSTERS WINS BIG IN A ROUT.
HAUNTING’S A HORROR WITH CLOUT.
KNOWING’S STILL A HOT HAND,
WE STILL LOVE YOU, MAN.
AND 12 ROUNDS GOT KNOCKED THE FUCK OUT!
‘Haunting In Ct’ is a mediocre horror film.. and this is coming from a horror guy. The movie’s ruined by its happy ending. Still, good showing for Lionsgate. $23 mil is very respectable. It could have been much worse.
I got beat on “monsters”. I predicted 45. 58 is good. But considering it was in 100 billion theaters, I’d expect it to do 60 plus. But, either way, it’s good for Hollywood.
I really don’t get putting “name” actors in these movies.Is it to draw the adults? No kid knowS who the hell Reese Witherspoon is. Waste of money.
“Peggy”: it’s about getting the best people to do the voices, it’s about industry relationships, it’s about having star power to promote the film internationally on every media putlet…that’s the value for starters. Also, a cursory look at the audience feedback for MvA had a lot of moviegoers really loving “Reese” in her starring role. Hardly a waste of money.
And finally–it wasn’t made not was it strictly aimed at a “kiddie” audience. It’s a smartass, fun, actionpacked film made by adults for an ADULT(i.e. the crucial 18-35 year old demo)audience. A parody and homage to 50s monster films. It’s not meant to be a little kid movie just because it’s animated. Seriously, critics and some of you pundits have to get over that mindset. In fact, NONE of Dreamwork’s films are “aimed” at children, although they certainly want kids to be able to enjoy them and not be bored. But to succeed they have to appeal to everyone.
FYI those Bugs Bunny cartoons of the 30s-50s were shown in front of hardcore fare like “High Sierra”–for adults–long before they were on Saturday mornings-which is when animation began to be perceived as purely a kids’ medium.
Peggy,
1. You can’t predict $45 million and then claim $58 million wasn’t good enough. (Especially since it may actually do closer to $60 when the actuals come in — $17 mil on Sunday seems a little too low). The film did as well as “Kung Fu Panda” and that came out in June vs. this film which came out in March. As of right now, it’s the HIGHEST GROSSING 3D film of all time, and the third HIGHEST GROSSING March opening ever.
Now you have the March Break, followed by Easter Weekend, and finally a longer 3D run (which amounted to 58% of its totals to begin with). This film will probably make $500+ million worldwide when all is said and done.
2. Getting Reese Witherspoon to voice the title role had nothing to do with her name-id among kids, as children don’t have any money to buy movie tickets in the first place, their parents do. I bet you $1,000,000 that the “kiddies” parents know exactly who Reese Witherspoon is, especially the mamas. That’s why they had Reese sell the movie and not, say, Seth Rogen.
The studio here was appealling to mothers, in order to have them bring their children for a nice weekend getaway at the cinema. The strategy seems to have worked.
The reason that Monsters vs Aliens did extremely well at the box office is that g-rated films like this do well with kids and families. U know somoe of the family oriented films in the past have been box officer grosses over thier R-rated counterparts. I’d like to see Monsters vs Aliens myself.
Still I found the Haunting in CT an interesting film though the filmmakers took liberty with the facts. Beside horror it was a drama too.
Monsters vs. Aliens actual numbers exceede projections:
It did $59.3 million for the weekend.
@peggy wha?
It’s perfectly fine to say that 58 wasn’t that great. Considering they’ve been talking about this movie for months. When I first heard about it I thought it was some sort of break through film. The ads treated it as such. When I saw that it was just a “not funny” cartoon with a 3-D gimmick, I down graded it. 58 is good, but they were acting like this was going to be a blockbuster. 58 or 60 is not a blockbuster. Especially after it drops to 3rd or something next week.
Can we just admit that there does not need to be another G**D*mned film titled “A/The Exorcism/Haunting in/of ______?”
peggy,
Please stop.
This is the highest grossing 3D film of ALL TIME. This is the third highest opening for March of ALL TIME. Plus, it’s expected to have “legs.”
It did well. Accept it.
Because you didn’t like it, doesn’t mean others didn’t.
@peggy wha?
I’ve got nothing against the movie. There should be more kids films made (One problem I do have is that most or all of these movies seem to be diversity challenged – minorities are kept off the screen, relegated to voicing non-humans)I’m just saying the movie didn’t seem to be very funny and the studio flogged it as the “second coming”. Then it did well for the weekend so everybody (mostly you) is creaming all over it. I’m just saying it’ll be forgotten by next week. Until it’s on DVD, which will probably be the week after that.