Weekend Wrap-Up: Colorful Results over the Weekend
January 30, 2012
January completed the sweep this weekend, despite slipping 6% from last weekend to $126 million over the weekend. This was still 16% higher than the same weekend last year, meaning three out of the four weekends in January saw double-digit gains over 2011 and by the end, 2012's lead over 2011 was 12% at $812 million to $726 million. I'm starting to get a little optimistic and hopefully this trend will continue next month.
Liam Neeson is quickly becoming Mr. January, as The Grey was his third early year release to become a sizable hit. The Grey won with a surprisingly robust opening of $19.67 million over the weekend. This was even higher than our prediction, which was higher than the industry average. Additionally, with 77% positive reviews, it could have excellent legs and easily pay for its $25 million production budget. If it can find a similar audience internationally, it will break even before the home market.
Underworld: Awakening fell just over 50% to $12.35 million over the weekend for a total of $44.98 million after two. It is already in a virtual tie with Rise of the Lycans, and by the time it ends its theatrical run, it could top Evolution for the biggest hit of the franchise. It was also the most expensive film in the franchise with a production budget of $70 million, so it will need help to break even.
One for the Money was a surprise hit thanks to a Groupon special. It seems people were willing to overlook what will likely be some of the worst reviews of 2012, if tickets were only half price. Not including the discounts, the film managed $11.52 million over the weekend, putting it in third place. However, this is still the worst opening in Katherine Heigl's career since Zyzzyx Rd., and given those reviews, I doubt it will stick around for long.
Red Tails matched expectations, more or less, with $10.37 million over the weekend for a total of $33.75 million after two. It cost more than $90 million in combined production and P&A budgets, so it will need to be a strong hit internationally and on the home market to break even.
Rounding out the top five was Man on the Ledge with just $8.00 million during its opening weekend. Its bad reviews and weak per theater average will likely add up to a fast exit from theaters. Its production budget was reported at $42 million dollars, which makes profitability very unlikely. Not unless the movie is a huge hit internationally.
Looking in on the sophomore class, Extremely Loud and Incredibly Close fell to sixth place with $6.98 million over the weekend for a total of $20.94 million after two. Its Oscar nods clearly helped. Haywire barely hung onto a spot in the top ten with $4.00 million over the weekend, while its running tally of $15.28 million is really disappointing. That said, everyone involved in making the movie should be proud of the end result, even if not as many people saw it as they would have liked.
One final note, Mission: Impossible: Ghost Protocol reached $200 million over the weekend. If Paramount isn't scrambling to make a sequel, they are crazy. Likewise, if studios aren't trying to hire Brad Bird to direct their next blockbuster, live action or animated, they are crazy as well.
Filed under: Weekend Estimates, Red Tails, Underworld: Awakening, One for the Money, Man on a Ledge, Mission: Impossible—Ghost Protocol, The Grey, Extremely Loud and Incredibly Close, Haywire