JamesG
10-26-2009, 12:06 AM
Weekend Report: Paranormal Rages, Saw Dulls
by Brandon Gray
October 25, 2009
As a new horror sensation rose, another fell over the weekend.
Paranormal Activity rolled out into more theaters and claimed the top spot, in part because the new releases were non-starters, including the latest movie in the usually reliable Saw franchise. Overall business was down 11 percent from last year, which featured the one-two punch of High School Musical 3: Senior Year and Saw V, but was still solid for the timeframe.
Jumping to approximately 2,500 screens at 1,945 sites (more than doubling last weekend's counts), Paranormal Activity raked in an estimated $22 million, and its total grew to $62.5 million in 31 days.
While still far from The Blair Witch Project, the supernatural horror movie is on track to becoming one of the higher grossing entries in its sub-genre and has already surpassed the final tallies of White Noise and The Haunting in Connecticut.
Saw VI had by far the most anemic start of its franchise, drawing an estimated $14.8 million on around 4,000 screens at 3,036 sites.
The previous low was the first movie, which opened at $18.3 million five years ago. The series has been on the wane since the peak of Saw II, but the latest movie still marks a dramatic fall from the previous one, Saw V, which debuted to $30.1 million.
At this point in the series, it's strictly for the fans, and the marketing, which simply announced the new movie with no new hooks or even a taste of the story, did Saw VI no favors in the face of the budding new competition for the fickle horror audience from Paranormal Activity.
The three other new nationwide releases fared worse than Saw VI.
Astro Boy mustered a mere estimated $7 million at 3,014 sites
Cirque du Freak: The Vampire's Assistant notched an estimated $6.3 million at 2,754 sites
and Amelia was grounded at an estimated $4 million at 818 sites.
Meanwhile, Where the Wild Things Are tumbled an alarming 56 percent, though Law Abiding Citizen and Couples Retreat held relatively steady.
Wild Things rustled up an estimated $14.4 million, lifting its total to $54 million in ten days, but its drop was much steeper than Bridge to Terabithia and other similar titles.
Law Abiding Citizen posted an estimated $12.7 million, down 40 percent for a $40.3 million tally in ten days, while Couples Retreat drew an estimated $11.1 million, off 36 percent for a $78.2 million tally in 17 days.
Yet again, Cloudy with a Chance of Meatballs had the smallest drop among non-expanding nationwide releases, easing 30 percent to an estimated $5.6 million for a Fall season-leading $115.2 million tally in 38 days.
http://www.boxofficemojo.com/news/?id=2621&p=.htm
USA Weekend Box-Office Summary
week of 23 October 2009
1. Paranormal Activity $22,000,000 / $62,477,000
2. SAW VI $14,800,000
3. Where the Wild Things Are $14,420,000 / $53,960,000
4. Law Abiding Citizen $12,713,000 / $40,318,000
5. Couples Retreat $11,097,000 / $78,213,000
6. Astro Boy $7,017,000
7. The Stepfather $6,500,000 / $20,352,000
8. Cirque du Freak: The Vampire's Assistant $6,348,000
9. Cloudy with a Chance of Meatballs $5,600,000 / $115,204,000
10. Zombieland $4,300,000 / $67,308,000
by Brandon Gray
October 25, 2009
As a new horror sensation rose, another fell over the weekend.
Paranormal Activity rolled out into more theaters and claimed the top spot, in part because the new releases were non-starters, including the latest movie in the usually reliable Saw franchise. Overall business was down 11 percent from last year, which featured the one-two punch of High School Musical 3: Senior Year and Saw V, but was still solid for the timeframe.
Jumping to approximately 2,500 screens at 1,945 sites (more than doubling last weekend's counts), Paranormal Activity raked in an estimated $22 million, and its total grew to $62.5 million in 31 days.
While still far from The Blair Witch Project, the supernatural horror movie is on track to becoming one of the higher grossing entries in its sub-genre and has already surpassed the final tallies of White Noise and The Haunting in Connecticut.
Saw VI had by far the most anemic start of its franchise, drawing an estimated $14.8 million on around 4,000 screens at 3,036 sites.
The previous low was the first movie, which opened at $18.3 million five years ago. The series has been on the wane since the peak of Saw II, but the latest movie still marks a dramatic fall from the previous one, Saw V, which debuted to $30.1 million.
At this point in the series, it's strictly for the fans, and the marketing, which simply announced the new movie with no new hooks or even a taste of the story, did Saw VI no favors in the face of the budding new competition for the fickle horror audience from Paranormal Activity.
The three other new nationwide releases fared worse than Saw VI.
Astro Boy mustered a mere estimated $7 million at 3,014 sites
Cirque du Freak: The Vampire's Assistant notched an estimated $6.3 million at 2,754 sites
and Amelia was grounded at an estimated $4 million at 818 sites.
Meanwhile, Where the Wild Things Are tumbled an alarming 56 percent, though Law Abiding Citizen and Couples Retreat held relatively steady.
Wild Things rustled up an estimated $14.4 million, lifting its total to $54 million in ten days, but its drop was much steeper than Bridge to Terabithia and other similar titles.
Law Abiding Citizen posted an estimated $12.7 million, down 40 percent for a $40.3 million tally in ten days, while Couples Retreat drew an estimated $11.1 million, off 36 percent for a $78.2 million tally in 17 days.
Yet again, Cloudy with a Chance of Meatballs had the smallest drop among non-expanding nationwide releases, easing 30 percent to an estimated $5.6 million for a Fall season-leading $115.2 million tally in 38 days.
http://www.boxofficemojo.com/news/?id=2621&p=.htm
USA Weekend Box-Office Summary
week of 23 October 2009
1. Paranormal Activity $22,000,000 / $62,477,000
2. SAW VI $14,800,000
3. Where the Wild Things Are $14,420,000 / $53,960,000
4. Law Abiding Citizen $12,713,000 / $40,318,000
5. Couples Retreat $11,097,000 / $78,213,000
6. Astro Boy $7,017,000
7. The Stepfather $6,500,000 / $20,352,000
8. Cirque du Freak: The Vampire's Assistant $6,348,000
9. Cloudy with a Chance of Meatballs $5,600,000 / $115,204,000
10. Zombieland $4,300,000 / $67,308,000