Weekend Estimates: Nightmare Reboot Earns Big Bucks

May 2, 2010

A Nightmare on Elm Street continued what is now practically a tradition of impressive performances for franchise reboots by opening with $32.2 million this weekend, according to Warner Bros.' Sunday estimate. That's the second-best opening performance for a movie in the franchise, behind only the franchise-crossover Freddy vs. Jason. It also helped shake up the market a little after a few sluggish weeks.

How to Train Your Dragon stayed in the top three for a sixth weekend, dropping 30% this time around to $10.8 million. The Back-up Plan was surprisingly robust in it second weekend, falling just 24% to $9.2 million. Furry Vengeance was soft on debut with $6.5 million for 5th place.

In limited release, Please Give stood out with a $25,739 per theater average for Sony Pictures Classics, while Exit Through the Gift Shop continued its remarkable run with another $182,855 from 20 venues -- it has now earned almost $650,000 in very limited release.

Harry Brown also made a decent start with an estimated $180,957 in 19 theaters.

- Weekend Estimates

Filed under: Weekend Estimates, Please Give, A Nightmare on Elm Street, The Back-up Plan, How to Train Your Dragon, Furry Vengeance, Harry Brown, Exit Through the Gift Shop