Weekend Box-Office: November 12-14, 2010

WEEKEND BOX-OFFICE

Megamind
beats all newcomers…

Despite 3 new films
opening this weekend, it was last week’s #1 movie, MEGAMIND, which
managed to remain in the top spot. The majority of our readers had
forecast SKYLINE as the first place movie in last
week’s poll, but even then it was by a slim margin over
MEGAMIND. One thing everyone was right about was how badly
MORNING GLORY would fare (only 2% of you had predicted it to be
the #1 movie this weekend), as it opened in 5th place with less
than $10M despite starring Harrison Ford, Rachael McAdams and
Diane Keaton (not to mention, mostly
decent reviews).

MEGAMIND is going strong due to
a couple of factors including the lack of family films in theaters
these days, as well as the positive word of mouth among
movie-goers. The film had the smallest drop from last weekend,
losing only 35% of its audience. The two biggest drops in this
week’s top 10 were for Tyler Perry’s FOR COLORED GIRLS and the
"last" SAW film, SAW 3D, both of which lost
approximately 65% of their audiences from last week.

Tony Scott’s latest
collaboration with actor Denzel Washington, UNSTOPPABLE, managed
their greatest tally of positive reviews from film critics, with 86%
of them agreeing that it was a great movie to check out
according to Rotten Tomatoes. The film managed only a 2nd place
opening, but considering the great word of mouth, it might have
"legs" all the way through Thanksgiving. Surprisingly
for me, it was Tony Scott’s 2nd-highest opening ever behind
1987’s BEVERLY HILLS COP 2 ($26.3). I’m surprised because I always
thought that Scott’s flicks opened well, but I’m even more
surprised that Tony Scott directed BEVERLY HILLS COP 2??!?! 

Despite SKYLINE only opening in 4th place with
$11.7M, the folks behind the movie are probably stoked as pigs in
shit as the two brothers behind the production, the Brothers
Strause, apparently brought the film in for under $10M, so one can
assume that the film is going to be profitable and then some.
Amazing since only about 10%
of critics thought it was worth paying for, which was only
slightly less than their previous directing gig, ALIEN
VS PREDATOR: REQUIEM (12%). Apparently these guys made cheap
(but shit) movies.

The 3 films to get booted from the top 10 this
week included SECRETARIAT ($55M), HEREAFTER ($31M) and THE SOCIAL
NETWORK ($88M) after 6 weeks in the top 10.

Next weekend sees the release of a "little
movie" entitled HARRY
POTTER AND THE DEATHLY HALLOWS (PART 1) featuring the first
part of the last two parts of the popular fantastical wizard
franchise. Part 2 of the finale will open next summer, July 15,
2011. In terms of counter-programming, Lionsgate will also be
releasing the latest Russell Crowe thriller, THE
NEXT THREE DAYS, featuring Elizabeth Banks as Crowe’s wife
being held in jail for a murder she might not have committed.
Crowe’s last 2 thrillers didn’t fare so well at the box-office
with BODY OF LIES scoring only $39M, while STATE OF PLAY made only
$37M. That aside, the big question this weekend is about how much
$$$ you think the latest HARRY POTTER installment will open with
next weekend? VOTE
NOW!!!

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