Australian Box Office Report (26th - 28th December 2003) + Best of 2003

[FilmBuff84]

Here's the Top 20 films sitting at the Oz Box Office for the weekend Friday the 26th to Sunday the 28th of December 2003.

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Ring franchise returns to the top

(1) (Debut) THE LORD OF THE RINGS: RETURN OF THE KING
(2) (Debut) LOVE ACTUALLY
(3) (1) PETER PAN
(4) (3) MASTER AND COMMANDER: THE FAR SIDE OF THE WORLD
(5) (Debut) BROTHER BEAR
(6) (2) SCARY MOVIE 3
(7) (7) S.W.A.T.
(8) (Debut) LOST IN TRANSLATION
(9) (5) ELF
(10) (6) LOONEY TUNES: BACK IN ACTION
(11) (8) SCHOOL OF ROCK
(12) (9) MYSTIC RIVER
(13) (12) THE SPANISH APARTMENT
(14) (Debut) GOOD BYE, LENIN!
(15) (Debut) BRIGHT YOUNG THINGS
(16) (Re-Entry) TITANIC 3D - GHOSTS OF THE ABYSS
(17) (18) SANTA VS SNOWMAN 3D
(18) (10) THE MATRIX: REVOLUTIONS
(19) (13) THE TEXAS CHAINSAW MASSACRE
(20) (Re-Entry) GETTIN' SQUARE

Unsurprisingly, the latest LORD OF THE RINGS installment, THE RETURN OF THE KING, took to the top with a hefty $12,731,703 (US $138,583,437), the highest opening weekend for this year. Despite the film being hailed as the best of the series, it's debut couldn't equal or improve that of its predecessor The Two Towers, which last year earned $14,115,394. Debuting at #2 was the ultimate romantic comedy LOVE ACTUALLY which saw $2,987,214 added to its name. After 2 consecutive Advance Screening weekends, the well cast Richard Curtis flick has totalled $4,904,431 (US $53,384,288). After its less than eventful debut last week, it was a surprise to see PETER PAN only drop off 28% in its second week. The big budget family flick took in a further $1,082,735, taking it to $3,776,954 (US $41,111,803). I suppose not a bad total after all. Continuing to bring in impressive amounts of cash, Golden Globe hopeful MASTER AND COMMANDER earned $1,076,430 in its 4th week. The Russel Crowe epic now has $9,934,534 (US $108,136,505) to its name. Disney's latest BROTHER BEAR was welcomed by families over the weekend with $1,032,933 (US $11,243,382), whilst fellow new Top 10 entry LOST IN TRANSLATION averaged an impressive 10,843 per screen, to total (including its two week advance weekends) $635,368 (US $6,915,923). Taking its biggest drop since its release 5 weeks ago, comedy fave ELF was off 62% with $363,601. Will Ferrell and his flattering tights have racked up a very nice $7,511,068 (US $81,757,297). Smaller released pictures GOOD BYE, LENIN and BRIGHT YOUNG THINGS doubled up at the #14 and #15 positions on their first week in with $191,423 (US $2,083,622) and $117,807 (US $1,282,318) respectively. With Lord Of The Rings making its entrance, fellow big budget flick THE MATRIX: REVOLUTIONS is on its way out, and this week it was out 73%. After 8 weeks, the sci-fi Keanu Reeves starrer will bow out with $17,927,972 (US $195,144,356).

THIS WEEK (January 1st): The first day of the new year welcomes a triple play of entertainment that covers enough audience ground for everyone to enjoy something. COLD MOUNTAIN kicks things off with Jude Law, Nicole Kidman and Renee Zellweger in tow. The Rock and Seann William Scott team up for laughs and action in Welcome To The Jungle (aka The Rundown), whilst another sequel is on hand with Antonio Banderas and Carla Gugino returning in SPY KIDS 3D:GAME OVER.

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HAPPY NEW YEAR everybody

The Top 10 Highest Grossing Films of 2003
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#1 FINDING NEMO $37,034,121
#2 THE MATRIX: RELOADED $33,217,632
#3 PIRATES OF THE CARRIBEAN: THE CURSE OF THE BLACK PEARL $24,918,905
#4 BRUCE ALMIGHTY $20,397,703
#5 TERMINATOR 3: RISE OF THE MACHINES $18,940,017
#6 CHARLIE'S ANGELS: FULL THROTTLE $18,774,156
#7 CHICAGO $18,648,751
#8 THE MATRIX: REVOLUTIONS $17,927,972
#9 8 MILE $16,401,081
#10 X-MEN 2 $16,292,706

The Top 10 Highest Opening Weekends of 2003
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#1 LORD OF THE RINGS: THE RETURN OF THE KING $12.732
#2 THE MATRIX: RELOADED $11.093
#3 FINDING NEMO $8.039
#4 THE MATRIX: REVOLUTIONS $8.034
#5 TERMINATOR 3: RISE OF THE MACHINES $7.309
#6 X-MEN 2 $6.009
#7 CHARLIE'S ANGELS: FULL THROTTLE $5.844
#8 2 FAST 2 FURIOUS $5.724
#9 8 MILE $5.170
#10 PIRATES OF THE CARRIBEAN: THE CURSE OF THE BLACK PEARL $5.165

[FilmBuff84]

Just thought i'd show how the US equivalent numbers for the Big Hits at the Aus B.O.

Totals
#1 FINDING NEMO $403,113,063
#2 THE MATRIX: RELOADED $361,570,925
#3 PIRATES OF THE CARRIBEAN: THE CURSE OF THE BLACK PEARL $271,240,031
#4 BRUCE ALMIGHTY $222,027,155
#5 TERMINATOR 3: RISE OF THE MACHINES $206,160,375
#6 CHARLIE'S ANGELS: FULL THROTTLE $204,354,993
#7 CHICAGO $202,989,971
#8 THE MATRIX: REVOLUTIONS $195,144,356
#9 8 MILE $178,524,286
#10 X-MEN 2 $177,344,633

Opening Weekends
#1 LORD OF THE RINGS: THE RETURN OF THE KING $138,583,437
#2 THE MATRIX: RELOADED $120,743,832
#3 FINDING NEMO $87,502,276
#4 THE MATRIX: REVOLUTIONS $87,449,669
#5 TERMINATOR 3: RISE OF THE MACHINES $79,562,344
#6 X-MEN 2 $65,412,135
#7 CHARLIE'S ANGELS: FULL THROTTLE $63,606,819
#8 2 FAST 2 FURIOUS $62,307,835
#9 8 MILE $56,274,460
#10 PIRATES OF THE CARRIBEAN: THE CURSE OF THE BLACK PEARL $56,223,443

[Unicron]

Fantastic Stuff Filmbuff!

2003 was a great year for the Australian BoxOffice.
4 films (so far) over $20million is amazing!

Your weekly reports have been top notch all year.

KUDDO's to you dude

$12million opening for Return of the King is still extreamly impressive dispite not doing better then Last Years The Two Towers

[FilmBuff84]

Thanks very much Unicron. Hope to hear from you throughout 2004.

[mofopott]

Thanks filmbuff,
It is great to see some Aus box office takings being posted, now I never have to leave this site!!


keep up the good work:D