It was a solid Wednesday start for the Thanksgiving holiday 5-day frame with Summit’s “Twilight: Breaking Dawn, Part 1” in 4,061 theaters earning around $12.5 million for the day to take the top spot. The film has earned around $171.5 million in North American since its debut on the 18th and should have well over $200 million in the blood bank by Sunday night.
In second is newcomer “The Muppets” from Disney with a first day tally of $6.6 million in 3,440 theaters and an expected $40 plus million for 5 days. Jason Segal’s delightful love letter to The Muppets should be a solid choice for families this weekend and should hold great nostalgia for the parents.
Third place belongs to Warner Bros.’ “Happy Feet Two” which earned $2.915 million in its fifth day of release, thus bringing its total to $28.318 million and providing another great family alternative. The film should earn around $20 million for five days and a total closing in on $50 million by Sunday night.
At number four for Wednesday is Sony’s magical “Arthur Christmas” with around $2.4 million in Christmas cheer for the day in 3,376 theaters. The film was created by Aardman, the British animation house and with its 3-D imagery will bring in about $15 million plus for the 5-day period. The PG-rated film should play well throughout the holidays with its Christmas theme.
Rounding out the Top Five is Sony’s Adam Sandler comedy “Jack and Jill” which will enter its third weekend on Friday and earned about $1.93 million on Wednesday. The PG-rated comedy will play well with entire families looking for a live action comedy for the Thanksgiving frame. With $11 million plus for the 5-days the film should have a total of around $55 million by the end of Sunday.
Outside of the Top 5, Relativity Media’s “Immortals” which starts its third weekend on Friday earned around $1.8 million on Wednesday, while Paramount’s newcomer “Hugo” in just 1,277 theaters is neck and neck with their own “Puss in Boots” (which enters weekend 5 on Friday) with both in the $1.65 million to $1.66 million range. Universal’s “Tower Heist” earned about $1.3 million on Wednesday and nearly $57 million to date.
Other notable films include Warner Bros.’ “J. Edgar” with $840,000 on Wednesday in 1,947 theaters with nearly $23 million in Federal Reserve notes to date. Fox Searchlight’s acclaimed “The Descendants” (which enters weekend 2 on Friday) inherited $985,000 on Wednesday as it expanded into 390 theaters and its total nears $2.5 million to date.
Weinstein Co.’s excellent “My Week with Marilyn” seduced about $155,000 from audiences in 123 theaters in its first day on Wednesday as it starts its holiday run while Sony Classic’s “A Dangerous Method” on its first day takes off with $30,000 in four theaters.
This should be a solid Thanksgiving weekend with a plethora of family films, blockbusters and Oscar contenders to please virtually every audience for this week and beyond.
