Meet The Spartans Edges Out Rambo For Box Office Win

[comedyfreak]

The epic spoof "Meet the Spartans" narrowly conquered "Rambo" to nab the top spot in the weekend box office, according to studio estimates Sunday.

The 20th Century Fox movie, which lampooned last year's epic blockbuster "300," took in an estimated $18.7 million in its weekend debut. It edged out "Rambo," a Lionsgate release starring and directed by Sylvester Stallone, which took in $18.2 million.

"This was a very tight race for the No. 1 spot," said Paul Dergarabedian, president of box office tracker Media By Numbers. "I think we tend to underestimate films like 'Meet the Spartans.' Fox has really locked onto something that's extremely popular."

"Spartans" tells the tale of hero Leonidas who leads a group of 13 Spartans to defend against the invading Persians including Rocky Balboa, Paris Hilton and other pop culture icons. It was directed by Jason Friedberg and Aaron Seltzer, who produced the parodies "Epic Movie" and "Date Movie."

"Spartans" was popular among teenagers and young adults, who made up about 75 percent of the audience. The film was rated PG-13, while R-rated "Rambo" was popular with older men.

"We are thrilled with the numbers," said Bert Livingston, senior vice president of distribution at Fox. "We made it for young people and they came."

Harvey Weinstein, co-chairman of the Weinstein Co., which co-distributed "Rambo," said he expected the film's mature audience to sustain its popularity at the box office.

"I think we'll have a great hold," Weinstein said.

"Rambo" is the fourth installment of the trademark franchise and stars Stallone as the eponymous Vietnam vet spending his retirement in Thailand when a group of missionaries enlists his help in aiding a village endangered by civil war in Myanmar.

The top 12 movies raked in $117.8 million, up 32 percent from the same weekend last year, when Fox's "Epic Movie" led the box office with $18.6 million.

Last weekend's monster hit, "Cloverfield," which set a January opening record with $41 million, was down steeply at No. 4 with $12.7 million, a 68 percent decline. "27 Dresses," starring Katherine Heigl as the perpetual bridesmaid was third with $13.6 million, and the new thriller "Untraceable," featuring Diane Lane as an FBI cybercrime investigator, rounded out the top five

Weekend Box Office Estimates (U.S.)
This Wk Last Wk Title Dist. Weekend Gross Cumulative
Gross Rlse
Wks # of
Theaters
1 - Meet the Spartans 20th Century Fox Distribution $18,725,000 $18,725,000 1 2605
2 - Rambo Lionsgate $18,150,000 $18,150,000 1 2751
3 2 27 Dresses 20th Century Fox Distribution $13,600,000 $45,347,000 2 3074
4 1 Cloverfield Paramount Pictures $12,700,000 $64,294,000 2 3411
5 - Untraceable Sony Pictures Releasing $11,200,000 $11,200,000 1 2368
6 4 Juno Fox Searchlight Pictures, 20th Century Fox International $10,300,000 $100,152,000 8 2426
7 3 The Bucket List Warner Bros. Pictures Distribution $10,210,000 $57,684,000 5 2915
8 11 There Will Be Blood Paramount Vantage, Miramax International $4,887,000 $14,764,000 5 885
9 7 National Treasure: Book of Secrets Buena Vista Pictures Distribution $4,664,000 $205,421,000 6 2154
10 6 Mad Money Overture Films $4,610,000 $15,284,000 2 2470
11 8 Alvin and the Chipmunks 20th Century Fox Distribution $4,550,000 $204,159,000 7 2430
12 - How She Move Paramount Vantage $4,158,000 $4,158,000 1 1531

[Dean Winchester]

I noticed Rambo didn't get a fraction of the promotion Rocky Balboa got when it came out

I didn't expect Cloverfield to drop as sharply as it did, the word of mouth is almost unanimously positive

[comedyfreak]

With all the new movies coming out, people seem to want to see the new releases.

[Dean Winchester]

yes, but 75% drops in the second weekends are usually reserved for movies like Halloween and I Now Pronounce You Chuck And Larry that everyone hated, with the raves Cloverfield has gotten, I would've expected a much smaller decrease, kinda like how Juno peaked two or three weeks back but is still holding on strong because it's gotten great reviews and word of mouth

[80sTrivia]

I was surprised that Cloverfield dropped off so much in its second week as well...