Weekend Estimates: Transformers and Ice Age Tie at the Top

July 5, 2009

This weekend's box office race looked close, but how close only became apparent on Sunday morning when Fox and Paramount announced their weekend estimates. For the first time that we know of, the estimates have the two top movies in a tie, with each movie estimated to have earned $42.5 million over the weekend. Final numbers on Monday are virtually guaranteed to break the tie one way or the other, but the larger point is that both movies had strong weekends. (For the record, the closest weekend result in history was a virtual tie between CB4 and Fire in the Sky back in March, 1993. On that occasion, just $6,000, or less than 0.1% separated the two top movies.)

Transformers: Revenge of the Fallen is now the top-grossing movie in 2009, and could well top $300 million at the US box office by close of business on Monday. Ice Age: Dawn of the Dinosaurs had the weakest opening for a movie in the franchise, but that was at least partly the result of opening on a Wednesday. Both movies performed spectacularly overseas, with Revenge of the Fallen now within touching distance of $600 million worldwide and Dawn of the Dinosaurs posting $148 million internationally -- the best international opening for a animated movie.

Behind the two juggernauts, Public Enemies slotted in with a creditable $26 million, and will be looking for strong legs over the next few weeks as we move into the second half of the Summer Season.

- Weekend Estimates

Filed under: Weekend Estimates, Transformers: Revenge of the Fallen, Ice Age: Dawn of the Dinosaurs, Public Enemies