Weekend Box-Office

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by: JoBlo Dec. 6, 2009


WEEKEND BOX-OFFICE

"You're money and you know it!"

This is Sandra Bullock's year and we're just sitting around watching her movies, apparently. After posting the biggest opening weekend of her career with THE PROPOSAL this past summer with $33.6M (which ended up being her highest grossing film to boot with $164M), Bullock beat that mark with the opening for THE BLIND SIDE three weeks ago, $34.1M, and appears to be headed to yet another personal best, as the film just moved from 2nd place for the past two weeks (behind NEW MOON, of course) into 1st place in its third week of release and has already earned $129M -- not to mention being the major surprise hit of the season!

I'm not sure if I'm reading too much into the film's success, but could it be possible that audiences are dying for a fuckin' happy-go-lucky movie amongst all of the horrid news on TV these days, not to mention the umpteen apocalyptic flicks out there like 2012, THE ROAD and THE BOOK OF ELI to be released in January? Just a thought.

On the other side of the spectrum, this weekend's 3 new releases didn't fare too well with BROTHERS scoring the highest with a 3rd place opening and about $10M in returns, despite its three high-profile young stars. ARMORED did about as well as you would expect for a thriller starring Matt Dillon, as it opened in 6th place and about $7M bucks, while Robert DeNiro doing his best "Jack Nicholson in ABOUT SCHMIDT" impression for EVERYBODY'S FINE, tanked in 10th place and about $4M. A lot of previous releases also dropped like crazy this weekend, with NEW MOON, 2012 and NINJA ASSASSIN losing over 60% of their respective audiences from last weekend.

The three films to drop out of the top 10 this week were limited releases including THE FANTASTIC MR. FOX ($14M), PRECIOUS ($36M) and THE ROAD ($3M). Other limited releases made waves this past weekend, including George Clooney's UP IN THE AIR which despite only being released in 15 theaters, grossed over $1M, which averaged about $77,000 per theater, which is a massive figure (THE BLIND SIDE averaged about $6,000 in first place). Also, in case anyone gives a shit, TRANSYLMANIA bombed in 1,000 theaters, making $250,000, which is an average of $250 per theater (that's like 25 people per theater, right?).

It's also interesting to note that BOONDOCK SAINTS 2 is still in the top 15 (14th place to be exact), but sticking around despite having been released 6 weeks ago. The film apparently cost $8M to produce, and has made $7M back so far. NEW MOON, on the other hand, is closing in on the $300M mark, although it doesn't look like it will break the $400M mark, despite opening with $143M. The film has grossed over $570M around the world though. That's a lot of sparkles.

Next week sees the expansion of Disney's return to 2D animation with THE PRINCESS AND THE FROG, as well as the expansion of the "it movie" of the season in UP IN THE AIR, as well as the release of Clint Eastwood's latest shot at the Oscars with INVICTUS starring Morgan Freeman and Matt Damon with an accent. How much $$$ do you think THE PRINCESS AND THE FROG will make during its entire theatrical run? VOTE HERE.

1. The Blind Side $ 20.4 Million $ 129.3 Million
2. New Moon $ 15.7 Million $ 255.6 Million
3. Brothers $ 9.7 Million
NEW
4. A Christmas Carol $ 7.5 Million $ 115 Million
5. Old Dogs $ 6.9 Million $ 33.9 Million
6. Armored $ 6.6 Million
NEW
7. 2012 $ 6.6 Million $ 148.8 Million
8. Ninja Assassin $ 5 Million $ 29.8 Million
9. Planet 51 $ 4.3 Million $ 33.9 Million
10. Everybody's Fine $ 4 Million
NEW

ACCESS BOX-OFFICE ARCHIVES  HERE

Source: BoxOfficeMojo.com

14 discussions Expand all
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+3
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SuperMarcey
5:33AM on 12/07/2009 Add as a friend | MFC profile
I'm just glad New Moon wasn't number 1
I'm just glad New Moon wasn't number 1
 
+0
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Snafu
5:11AM on 12/07/2009 Add as a friend | MFC profile
Wha
I'm still trying to come to terms with the words '2D' and 'animation' being used in the same sentence.
I'm still trying to come to terms with the words '2D' and 'animation' being used in the same sentence.
 
+3
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Brer B8a
9:18PM on 12/06/2009 Add as a friend | MFC profile
crazy dud I believe what you are saying is absolutely true. If a great movie was released the day after the Oscars it would not even be thought of for the following year.
crazy dud I believe what you are saying is absolutely true. If a great movie was released the day after the Oscars it would not even be thought of for the following year.
 
+1
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Alejandro27
8:46PM on 12/06/2009 Add as a friend | MFC profile
Had to go see New Moon with the wife this weekend, and it's a major improvement over the first movie. Wouldn't see it again, but it's entertaining for what it is.
Had to go see New Moon with the wife this weekend, and it's a major improvement over the first movie. Wouldn't see it again, but it's entertaining for what it is.
 
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razgriz21
8:31PM on 12/06/2009 Add as a friend | MFC profile
Well, the only thing I'm interested in is Ninja Assassin.
Well, the only thing I'm interested in is Ninja Assassin.
 
+4
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Crazy Dud
7:50PM on 12/06/2009 Add as a friend | MFC profile
Zera is absolutely on the money. The catch 22 is that, for your heavy drama to receive Oscar consideration, they have to release near the end of the year, yet that is also the time of the year when people are least likely to see those types of movies, so if anybody's to blame, it's the Academy's piss poor memory of the year in movies.
Zera is absolutely on the money. The catch 22 is that, for your heavy drama to receive Oscar consideration, they have to release near the end of the year, yet that is also the time of the year when people are least likely to see those types of movies, so if anybody's to blame, it's the Academy's piss poor memory of the year in movies.
 
+3
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AwesomeZara
7:04PM on 12/06/2009 Add as a friend | MFC profile
While not a perfect movie (I caught TBS over the weekend), it delivers a message that a lot of people want to hear around this time of year. Xmas season is not holly-jolly as the corporate world would like us to believe. For most, it's depressing and lonely. The movie details a story where kindness and selflessness lead to at least one success story in a world where most slip through the cracks...
While not a perfect movie (I caught TBS over the weekend), it delivers a message that a lot of people want to hear around this time of year. Xmas season is not holly-jolly as the corporate world would like us to believe. For most, it's depressing and lonely. The movie details a story where kindness and selflessness lead to at least one success story in a world where most slip through the cracks. PRECIOUS (I haven't seen it yet), most undoubtedly is a great movie, but it has been made clear that it is about the dirty, depressing underbelly that exists far too prevalently for most people to have to come to terms with. Yes, most people are not blessed with the wealth that the real-life family in TBS detail that allowed them the easier access to helping a poor soul, but it uplifting to know that in a world where most choose to ignore, they really did do a good thing and were good people. Nothing wrong with that message, and definitely something to help a great deal of our nation get through this time of year.
 
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RoyMantooth
6:44PM on 12/06/2009 Add as a friend | MFC profile
good gravy
i think people need some escapism with movies like blindside. at least that guy succeeded against odds, because they won't.
it sucks that these movies are taking over the top ten when, like j-hern and barfly mentioned, all the good flicks are getting limited releases. i await next week when i can't see the new releases because of finals.
i think people need some escapism with movies like blindside. at least that guy succeeded against odds, because they won't.
it sucks that these movies are taking over the top ten when, like j-hern and barfly mentioned, all the good flicks are getting limited releases. i await next week when i can't see the new releases because of finals.
 
+6
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connect42
6:43PM on 12/06/2009 Add as a friend | MFC profile
I don't see how this is a shitty year for movies. The year gave us Fanboys, Coraline, Watchmen, State of Play, Star Trek, Up, The Hangover, Zombieland, District 9, Inglourious Basterds, Couple's Retreat, Paranormal Activity and Where the Wild Things Are. We will get Avatar before the year is up. That doesn' even count the huge success films that I don't really care about, but I am glad they are...
I don't see how this is a shitty year for movies. The year gave us Fanboys, Coraline, Watchmen, State of Play, Star Trek, Up, The Hangover, Zombieland, District 9, Inglourious Basterds, Couple's Retreat, Paranormal Activity and Where the Wild Things Are. We will get Avatar before the year is up. That doesn' even count the huge success films that I don't really care about, but I am glad they are hits - like New Moon and Harry Potter. Sure, there were a few duds (GI Joe), but it was a good year for the movies!
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Rizwan Khalil
7:42PM on 12/06/2009 Add as a friend | MFC profile
Are you counting New Moon as a HUGE SUCCESS and G.I. Joe as a dud?? I mean sure, NM is a massive hit, but that doesn't make it a CRITICAL success as well. With that reasoning, Transformer 2 is also an even bigger "success". I'll take GIJOE (even TF2) over New Moon anyday. BTW what the fuck is Couple's Retreat doing with all these other great movies man? Just sayin'.
Are you counting New Moon as a HUGE SUCCESS and G.I. Joe as a dud?? I mean sure, NM is a massive hit, but that doesn't make it a CRITICAL success as well. With that reasoning, Transformer 2 is also an even bigger "success". I'll take GIJOE (even TF2) over New Moon anyday. BTW what the fuck is Couple's Retreat doing with all these other great movies man? Just sayin'.
 
-12
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ginopags
6:16PM on 12/06/2009 Add as a friend | MFC profile
barf...
seriously, what a shitty year for movies. mass audiences are making it hard to justify making anything good when they support mediocre to shitty movies. fuck.
seriously, what a shitty year for movies. mass audiences are making it hard to justify making anything good when they support mediocre to shitty movies. fuck.
 
+8
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teenkiller
5:34PM on 12/06/2009 Add as a friend | MFC profile
Nothin in the top ten is really interesting me right now. The Blind Side might be alright but everything else is looking mediocre. Twilight crossing the $300 million mark is a joke. I remember when that milestone actually meant something. Now it seems there's a movie doing it every month.
Nothin in the top ten is really interesting me right now. The Blind Side might be alright but everything else is looking mediocre. Twilight crossing the $300 million mark is a joke. I remember when that milestone actually meant something. Now it seems there's a movie doing it every month.
 
+10
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barfly126
5:23PM on 12/06/2009 Add as a friend | MFC profile
THE ROAD
The Road was the movie I've been waithing for this year, and I can't even see it in theater ! Fuck The Weinsteins for not having push this one in more screens ! ! !
The Road was the movie I've been waithing for this year, and I can't even see it in theater ! Fuck The Weinsteins for not having push this one in more screens ! ! !
 
+0
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j-hern
4:45PM on 12/06/2009 Add as a friend | MFC profile
Good for the Blind Side
I'm sure more people would be willing to support films like Precious, The Road, and Fantastic Mr. Fox if they weren't limited releases. I wanted to see all of them except that they aren't playing near me and I'm not going to go out of my way to see them.
I'm sure more people would be willing to support films like Precious, The Road, and Fantastic Mr. Fox if they weren't limited releases. I wanted to see all of them except that they aren't playing near me and I'm not going to go out of my way to see them.