Warner Bros.' The Hangover imbibes another $33.4 million in alcohol-crazed excess as audiences just can’t get enough of this R-rated comedy romp. With huge mid-week daily figures in the $6 million range, it is no wonder that the film crossed the $100 million mark in just 10 days of release. Not only that, but a second weekend drop of 26 percent is almost unfathomably low and reflects the great word-of-mouth and repeat business that the film is inspiring. This is literally the first “sleeper” hit of the summer and with a budget in the $35 million range, one of the most profitable films of the summer.In second place is the audience favorite Up which continues the Disney/Pixar tradition of killing it at the box office and engendering praise from critics and love from the audience. With $30.5 million in its third weekend and a mere 31 percent drop, the film is closing in on the $200 million mark in domestic helium-charged dollars. How amazing is this idea: “Ed Asner, Box-office Star?” Enough said.
Debuting with $25 million is Sony’s excellent remake of the 1974 classic The Taking of Pelham 123, starring Denzel Washington and John Travolta. This is the most successful opening for a Denzel Washington/Tony Scott collaboration besting Crimson Tide ($18.6M) Man on Fire ($22.7M) and Déjà Vu ($20.5M). Obviously a great pairing, the two have created some indelible images and characters together over the years.
At number four is Ben Stiller in Fox’s Night at the Museum: Battle of the Smithsonian with $9.6 million in its fourth weekend of release and a cumulative gross approaching $145 million. A 34 percent drop shows the impressive staying power of this PG-rated family-friendly juggernaut.
Rounding out this week’s top five is Universal’s Land of the Lost which grabbed $9.1 million in its second weekend against a 51 percent drop and a domestic total of $35 million for the Will Ferrell PG-13 rated comedy.
A good weekend for The Hangover, but another down weekend for the industry as this becomes the third consecutive frame with revenues down from the same period a year ago. Nonetheless, we are enjoying an 11 percent revenue advantage over last year when the box office was down about a quarter percent vs. 2007. So it’s really the best of times and the worst of times at the nation’s theaters as we continue the summer movie season of 2009.
THREE-DAY ESTIMATES:
1. The Hangover (Warner Bros.) - $33.4M; 3355 theaters; $9,960 PTA; -26%; $105.3M cume
2. Up (Disney) - $30.5M; 3886 theaters; $7,853 PTA; -31%; $187.1M cume
3. NEW! The Taking of Pelham 123 (Sony) - $25M; 3074 theaters; $8,133 PTA
4. Night at the Museum: Battle of the Smithsonian (Fox) - $9.6M; 3365 theaters; $2,853 PTA; -34%; $143.4M cume
5. Land of the Lost (Universal) - $9.1M; 3534 theaters; $2,590 PTA; -51%; $34.9M cume
6. NEW! Imagine That (Paramount) - $5.7M; 3008 theaters; $1,895 PTA
7. Star Trek (Paramount) - $5.6M; 2638 theaters; $2,123 PTA; -33%; $232M cume
8. Terminator Salvation (Warner Bros.) - $4.6M; 2650 theaters; $1,772 PTA; -43%; $113.8M cume
9. Angels & Demons (Sony/Columbia) - $4.2M; 2436 theaters; $1,724 PTA; -36%; $123.3M cume
10. Drag Me to Hell (Universal) - $3.8M; 2273 theaters; $1,700 PTA; -45%; $35.1M cume
MORE BOX OFFICE:
LAST WEEK'S B.O.: Up Overcomes The Hangover ...Oh, Wait