There are definite signs of life at the box office this weekend, thanks to continued good numbers for Oz the Great and Powerful, an above-expected debut for The Call and a gigantic performance in limited release for Spring Breakers. Those three bright spots do something to compensate for a horrible $10 million opening for The Incredible Burt Wonderstone, which might have fared better with a Summer release, but still casts some doubt on the star power of Steve Carell and Jim Carrey.

Oz remains comfortably on top this weekend with a projected $42.2 million, down a creditable 47% from last weekend. The Call opens with about $17.1 million from 2,507 theaters for an impressive average of $6,800, and in retrospect it's a surprise Halle Berry hasn't starred in more thrillers. Her agent will have a lot of voicemails on Monday morning, no doubt.

Meanwhile, in limited release, Spring Breakers is 2013's best debutant so far with a stellar average of $90,000 in three theaters for a $270,000 weekend. The film widens next weekend, sensibly coinciding with Spring Break, and while huge box office numbers in wide release remains a wildcard, cult status is already assured.

A24 is having a particularly good weekend, with Ginger & Rosa joining Spring Breakers in the $10,000 club with a projected $45,000 in three venues. The weekend's other confirmed $10,000 films so far are Oz the Great and Powerful, which will just top the $10,000 average, and Somebody Up There Likes Me, which is set for $12,240 in a single LA theater. It moves to San Francisco next weekend.

- Weekend Estimates

Bruce Nash bruce.nash@the-numbers.com

Date posted: 2013-03-17