Pixar strikes again.
Here’s who and how much:
1. Brave (Pixar/Disney) 3D NEW [4,164 Theaters]
Friday $24.5M, Saturday $23.5M, Weekend $66.7M
2. Madagascar 3 3D (DreamWorks Anim/Paramount) Week 3 [3,920 Theaters]
Friday $6.1M, Saturday $7.7M, Weekend $20.2M, Cume $157.5M
3. Abraham Lincoln: Vampire Hunter 3D (Fox) NEW [3,108 Theater]
Friday $6.3M, Saturday $5.6M, Weekend $16.5M
4. Prometheus 3D (Fox) Week 3 [2,862 Theaters]
Friday $2.9M, Saturday $3.9M, Weekend $10.0M, Cume $108.5M
5. Snow White & The Huntsman (Universal) Week 4 [2,919 Theaters]
Friday $2.5M, Saturday $3.3M, Weekend $8.0M, Cume $137.0M
Anyone who thought that having a female heroine would limit the appeal of “Brave” either underestimated the power of Pixar or the power of a parent to say, “We’re ALL going to the movie, NOW, whether you want to see it or not.” The audience breakdown showed strength all over: 57% under age 25 and 43% over 25, males were 43%, females 57%. This was the 13th straight number one opening for Pixar.
As I noted with “Madagascar 3,” there haven’t been many kids’ movies this year, so pretty much any release that’s aimed at the younger set is going to be eagerly greeted by weary parents, especially during this time of year when school is ending and camp hasn’t yet started. Critics were mixed on “Brave,” but the audience critics, the ones who studios love this time of year, gave it an A Cinemascore.
Meanwhile, the other big new release this weekend fulfilled Fox’s worst fears–there may be a select audience who will read genre mashup books like “Pride and Prejudice and Zombies” and “Abraham Lincoln: Vampire Hunter,” but the wider audience isn’t willing to show up to see the movie, as proven with the latter. Lincoln’s fictional vampire slaying exploits didn’t sell to audiences, proving that like last year’ s flop “Cowboys & Aliens,” audiences like knowing what they’re getting. Seriously, a lot of people who weren’t familiar with the book or the jokiness involved probably looked at the title and said WTF rather than “That sounds like fun!” It also seemed like a bad summer movie idea. I have to think it would have done at least a little better in October or February. Well, anyway, I guess the producers who had planned to adapt Seth Grahame-Smith’s other mashup novel, “Pride and Prejudice and Zombies,” may now think they caught a break when they couldn’t find a director or star.
“Seeking a Friend for the End of the World” didn’t open wide and didn’t do well. With a C+ Cinemascore it has no chance of becoming a word of mouth success either.
Next week! We have a break from blockbusters with “Magic Mike,” “People Like Us,” and “Ted.” After that, the popcorn movies return.
