Weekend Wrap-Up: Box Office was Left in the Dark

September 10, 2013

We have good news and bad news. Riddick only managed to reach the low end of expectations, while the overall box office was down nearly $40 million, or 32%, from last week. On the positive side, Instructions Not Included finished on the high end of expectations, while the overall box office was $85 million, which was 26% higher than the same weekend last year. Year-to-date, 2013 has earned $7.54 billion, or 1.2% higher than last year's pace.

Riddick's opening couldn't transcend its release date as it pulled in $19.03 million. This isn't bad for September and its reviews are better than you would expect for this time of year, but I'm still wary of its long-term potential. It should at least match its reported production budget, which is just under $40 million, but it will need help internationally and on the home market to break even.

Lee Daniels' The Butler remained in second place with about $8.40 million. It fell a little faster than expected, but with $91.40 million, it will get to $100 million sooner rather than later.

On the other hand, Instructions Not Included was better than expected earning $8.15 million in 717 theaters over the weekend for a total of $20.36 million after two. Its per theater average is over $10,000, $11,366 to be more accurate, which indicates it could expand some more. Its reviews are now at the overall positive level, while its audience reaction is a whole lot more positive at 96% on Rotten Tomatoes. It's not the biggest hit of the year so far, but it is one of the most surprising hits.

We're the Millers slipped a spot to fourth with $7.70 million over the weekend for a total of $123.61 million after more than a month in theaters. It is a widely successful movie and the studio should be ecstatic with these numbers.

Disney's Planes rounded out the top five, again, with $4.12 million over the weekend for a total of $79.12 million after a month of release. Its production budget was low for a digitally animated film at $50 million, but it hasn't made enough domestically to cover that figure. That said, adding in international numbers, there's a really strong chance it will earn a profit during its initial push into the home market, if not sooner.

The Sophomore Class was rather weak with One Direction: This is Us plummeting 74% down to just $4.05 million. After ten days of release, the film made made $23.94 million, which is still good for this type of film, but it will rapidly disappear from now on. Getaway held on better percentwise, down 51% to $2.19 million. Overall it has pulled in $8.68 million, but it needed to make that on its opening weekend to have a chance at breaking even. Closed Circuit didn't actually open wide, but there were some who thought it would earn mainstream success. That didn't really happen. It fell to just $938,000 over the weekend for a 12-day total of $5.02 million. It will be all but gone in a couple weeks.


-

Filed under: Weekend Estimates, We’re the Millers, Riddick, Lee Daniels' The Butler, One Direction: This is Us, Closed Circuit, Getaway, Disney Planes, No se Aceptan Devoluciones