'Sex' Sells: Women Give Carrie & Co. 55.7M Debut - Sitcoms Online Message Boards

comedyfreak · 06-02-2008, 04:31 PM

LOS ANGELES (AP) Sarah Jessica Parker and her gal pals have not lost their sex appeal. The big-screen " Sex and the City " reuniting Parker and TV co-stars Kim Cattrall, Kristin Davis and Cynthia Nixon strutted to a $55.7 million opening weekend, far exceeding Hollywood's box office expectations.

That was nearly twice the forecast by distributor Warner Bros., whose head of distribution, Dan Fellman, said he had hoped the movie might deliver a $30 million debut.

"Women power," Fellman said. "It was outstanding this weekend."

Analysts had figured Paramount's "Indiana Jones and the Kingdom of the Crystal Skull" might stay atop the box office heap, but it slipped to second place with $46 million in its second weekend. "Indiana Jones" raised its 11-day domestic total to $216.9 million.

"Sex and the City" put up numbers never before seen for a movie aimed mainly at women, who do not tend to rush out in huge numbers for opening weekends the way males do.

"Sex and the City," released under Warner's New Line Cinema banner, had the best debut ever for an R-rated comedy, topping the $45.1 million opening of "American Pie 2."

The movie landed at No. 5 on the all-time list among R-rated films, behind "The Matrix Reloaded" ($91.8 million), "The Passion of the Christ" ($83.8 million), "300" ($70.9 million) and "Hannibal" ($58 million).

"This is a blockbuster for women. This was to women what `Indiana Jones' and `Star Wars,' let's say, are to men," said Paul Dergarabedian, president of box office tracker Media By Numbers.

The movie picks up four years after the series finale, in which Parker's Carrie Bradshaw and her Manhattan buddies left behind their randy ways to settle into monogamous relationships. In the film, they deal with family and commitment issues while still flaunting their bawdy humor and trendy sense of style.

Hollywood skeptics had doubted the commercial prospects for a movie adaptation of "Sex and the City," which ended its six-year run in 2004. Originally airing on premium cable channel HBO, the show had a loyal but limited fan base and held little appeal for young males, the backbone of the box office.

However, "Sex and the City" mania grew as the movie's release approached, with many women organizing girls-night-out parties to see it with friends on opening day Friday.

"That's why Friday was quite a frenzy," Fellman said. "There were women that came in and bought out entire theaters in advance and invited all their friends."

Women made up 85 percent of the audience on Friday, Fellman said.

The movie pulled in $26.9 million on Friday. On Saturday, however, it took a steep drop with ticket sales dwindling to $17.7 million. Most big films take in more money on Saturday than Friday, so the decline was a sign that the audience for "Sex and the City" could dry up quickly.

Still, the film was on its way to becoming a $100 million hit that could spawn more sequels.

The weekend's other new wide release, Universal's fright flick "The Strangers" debuted solidly at No. 3 with $20.7 million. It stars Liv Tyler and Scott Speedman as a couple terrorized by masked invaders at their vacation home.

Weekend Box Office Estimates (U.S.)
This Wk Last Wk Title Dist. Weekend Gross Cumulative
Gross Rlse
Wks # of
Theaters
1 - Sex and the City New Line Cinema, Warner Bros. Pictures Distribution $55,740,000 $55,740,000 1 3285
2 1 Indiana Jones and the Kingdom of the Crystal Skull Paramount Pictures $46,000,000 $216,881,000 2 4264
3 - The Strangers N/A $20,707,000 $20,707,000 1 2467
4 3 Iron Man Paramount Pictures $14,000,000 $276,625,000 5 3650
5 2 The Chronicles of Narnia: Prince Caspian Buena Vista Pictures Distribution $13,016,000 $115,674,000 3 3801
6 4 What Happens in Vegas 20th Century Fox Distribution $6,850,000 $66,074,000 4 3086
7 6 Baby Mama Universal Pictures Distribution $2,221,000 $56,145,000 6 1784
8 5 Speed Racer Warner Bros. Pictures Distribution $2,140,000 $40,558,000 4 2070
9 7 Made of Honor Sony Pictures Releasing $2,000,000 $42,965,000 5 1905
10 8 Forgetting Sarah Marshall Universal Pictures Distribution $1,044,000 $60,471,000 7 768
11 10 The Visitor Overture Films $603,000 $5,372,000 8 270
12 9 Harold and Kumar Escape From Guantanamo Bay New Line Cinema, Warner Bros. Pictures Distribution $475,000 $36,955,000 6 474

AB · 06-02-2008, 06:41 PM

I'm glad the movie is doing so well.

comedyfreak · 06-03-2008, 12:13 AM

I'd like to see that and The Strangers.

AB · 06-03-2008, 05:03 PM

^ Me too!

InspectorExstead · 06-03-2008, 11:43 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by comedyfreak

I'd like to see that and The Strangers.

i want to see the strangers as well, but i know i'll have nightmares for weeks! so i'm thinking of just waiting until it comes out on dvd & renting it. that way, i can mute & pause it when i start freaking out. lol.

comedyfreak · 06-04-2008, 09:46 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by InspectorExstead

i want to see the strangers as well, but i know i'll have nightmares for weeks! so i'm thinking of just waiting until it comes out on dvd & renting it. that way, i can mute & pause it when i start freaking out. lol.

LOL. I also still have to see Prince Caspian, haven't had the chance to see it yet, hopefully tomorrow.

06-02-2008, 04:31 PM	#1
comedyfreak Cheers! Forum Fanatic Join Date: Dec 14, 2005 Location: Sunny California Posts: 11,060	'Sex' Sells: Women Give Carrie & Co. 55.7M Debut LOS ANGELES (AP) Sarah Jessica Parker and her gal pals have not lost their sex appeal. The big-screen " Sex and the City " reuniting Parker and TV co-stars Kim Cattrall, Kristin Davis and Cynthia Nixon strutted to a $55.7 million opening weekend, far exceeding Hollywood's box office expectations. That was nearly twice the forecast by distributor Warner Bros., whose head of distribution, Dan Fellman, said he had hoped the movie might deliver a $30 million debut. "Women power," Fellman said. "It was outstanding this weekend." Analysts had figured Paramount's "Indiana Jones and the Kingdom of the Crystal Skull" might stay atop the box office heap, but it slipped to second place with $46 million in its second weekend. "Indiana Jones" raised its 11-day domestic total to $216.9 million. "Sex and the City" put up numbers never before seen for a movie aimed mainly at women, who do not tend to rush out in huge numbers for opening weekends the way males do. "Sex and the City," released under Warner's New Line Cinema banner, had the best debut ever for an R-rated comedy, topping the $45.1 million opening of "American Pie 2." The movie landed at No. 5 on the all-time list among R-rated films, behind "The Matrix Reloaded" ($91.8 million), "The Passion of the Christ" ($83.8 million), "300" ($70.9 million) and "Hannibal" ($58 million). "This is a blockbuster for women. This was to women what `Indiana Jones' and `Star Wars,' let's say, are to men," said Paul Dergarabedian, president of box office tracker Media By Numbers. The movie picks up four years after the series finale, in which Parker's Carrie Bradshaw and her Manhattan buddies left behind their randy ways to settle into monogamous relationships. In the film, they deal with family and commitment issues while still flaunting their bawdy humor and trendy sense of style. Hollywood skeptics had doubted the commercial prospects for a movie adaptation of "Sex and the City," which ended its six-year run in 2004. Originally airing on premium cable channel HBO, the show had a loyal but limited fan base and held little appeal for young males, the backbone of the box office. However, "Sex and the City" mania grew as the movie's release approached, with many women organizing girls-night-out parties to see it with friends on opening day Friday. "That's why Friday was quite a frenzy," Fellman said. "There were women that came in and bought out entire theaters in advance and invited all their friends." Women made up 85 percent of the audience on Friday, Fellman said. The movie pulled in $26.9 million on Friday. On Saturday, however, it took a steep drop with ticket sales dwindling to $17.7 million. Most big films take in more money on Saturday than Friday, so the decline was a sign that the audience for "Sex and the City" could dry up quickly. Still, the film was on its way to becoming a $100 million hit that could spawn more sequels. The weekend's other new wide release, Universal's fright flick "The Strangers" debuted solidly at No. 3 with $20.7 million. It stars Liv Tyler and Scott Speedman as a couple terrorized by masked invaders at their vacation home. Weekend Box Office Estimates (U.S.) This Wk Last Wk Title Dist. Weekend Gross Cumulative Gross Rlse Wks # of Theaters 1 - Sex and the City New Line Cinema, Warner Bros. Pictures Distribution $55,740,000 $55,740,000 1 3285 2 1 Indiana Jones and the Kingdom of the Crystal Skull Paramount Pictures $46,000,000 $216,881,000 2 4264 3 - The Strangers N/A $20,707,000 $20,707,000 1 2467 4 3 Iron Man Paramount Pictures $14,000,000 $276,625,000 5 3650 5 2 The Chronicles of Narnia: Prince Caspian Buena Vista Pictures Distribution $13,016,000 $115,674,000 3 3801 6 4 What Happens in Vegas 20th Century Fox Distribution $6,850,000 $66,074,000 4 3086 7 6 Baby Mama Universal Pictures Distribution $2,221,000 $56,145,000 6 1784 8 5 Speed Racer Warner Bros. Pictures Distribution $2,140,000 $40,558,000 4 2070 9 7 Made of Honor Sony Pictures Releasing $2,000,000 $42,965,000 5 1905 10 8 Forgetting Sarah Marshall Universal Pictures Distribution $1,044,000 $60,471,000 7 768 11 10 The Visitor Overture Films $603,000 $5,372,000 8 270 12 9 Harold and Kumar Escape From Guantanamo Bay New Line Cinema, Warner Bros. Pictures Distribution $475,000 $36,955,000 6 474
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06-02-2008, 06:41 PM	#2
AB Member Eternal Member Forum Icon Join Date: Dec 26, 2006 Location: The South Posts: 59,428	I'm glad the movie is doing so well.

06-03-2008, 12:13 AM	#3
comedyfreak Cheers! Forum Fanatic Join Date: Dec 14, 2005 Location: Sunny California Posts: 11,060	I'd like to see that and The Strangers.

06-03-2008, 05:03 PM	#4
AB Member Eternal Member Forum Icon Join Date: Dec 26, 2006 Location: The South Posts: 59,428	^ Me too!