Weekend Estimates: Taken Tops $40 Million
January 11, 2015
A lukewarm critical reception hasn’t deterred movie fans from embracing the (possibly) final installment in the Taken franchise this weekend, with Taken 3 enjoying a $40.4 million debut, according to Fox’s Sunday estimate. That’s down somewhat from the $49.5 million posted by Taken 2 on its debut, but a theater average of $11,200 speaks for itself.
Second place in the chart this weekend goes to Selma, which expanded into 2,179 theaters and will post around $11.2 million. A $5,140 theater average suggests further expansion is unlikely, but the film will have an excellent weekend next weekend thanks to the MLK Holiday, aided further by top notch reviews.
The other notable performer in the top 10 is The Imitation Game, which expanded into 1,566 locations and will post $7.6 million for the weekend. The film has topped $40 million now, and will probably retain a position towards the top of the chart as Awards Season gathers pace.
Just outside the top 10, Inherent Vice will pick up $2.9 million from 645 venues. That corresponds to a slightly disappointing $4,496 theater average, although it should be another film with good legs.
Finally, American Sniper will post its third successive weekend with an average over $100,000 as it continues in four theaters and will earn $555,000. It becomes the first film ever to earn an average over $100,000 on three separate weekends.
Bruce Nash bruce.nash@the-numbers.com
Filed under: Weekend Estimates, Selma, Inherent Vice, Taken 3, The Imitation Game, Taken