Weekend Estimates: Puss in Boots Opens with $34 Million

October 30, 2011

Although it's perhaps an exaggeration to call it the start of the Holiday Season, Puss in Boots' debut this weekend was intended to give Dreamworks Animation a head start on what will be a very competitive season, and it looks as though it can be called a moderate success. The Shrek spin-off will earn an estimated $34 million this weekend, which should put it on track to earn comfortably over $100 million during its run in domestic theaters. While that's a very respectable performance for October, it pales in comparison to other films in the franchise. Even Shrek Forever After more than doubled that number, and the original Shrek posted over $42 million in 2001. So it's far from certain that this will be the start of a long-lived offshot for the franchise.

Other openers this weekend are mostly disappointing. In Time will manage an estimated $12 million for third place behind Paranormal Activity 3, which will post around $18.5 million for a fall of 65% from last weekend. The Rum Diary will open with just over $5 million according to FilmDistrict and with a per theater average a shade over $2,000, it will struggle to hang around for any length of time.

Sony Pictures took a risk by opening Anonymous in just 265 theaters, and their bet looks as though it won't pay off. The historical thriller will post around $1 million this weekend, for a per theater average around $3,750, which won't be enough for a massive expansion, one suspects.

The big art house hit of the weekend is Like Crazy, which Paramount is projecting will hit $120,000 in just 4 theaters for a stellar $30,000 average. Also continuing good runs in limited release, Martha Marcy May Marlene will post about $240,000 in 32 theaters and Margin Call is headed for $710,000 or so in 140 venues. All three films are staking out early positions for recognition during Awards Season.

- Weekend Estimates
- Friday estimates
- Saturday estimates
- Sunday projections

Bruce Nash

Filed under: Weekend Estimates, The Rum Diary, Puss in Boots, Anonymous, Like Crazy, Margin Call, In Time, Paranormal Activity 3, Martha Marcy May Marlene