'STAR TREK' Has Galactic $76.5M Opening!! - Sitcoms Online Message Boards

comedyfreak · 05-10-2009, 06:13 PM

LOS ANGELES – "Star Trek" beamed itself up to the top of the box office, earning $76.5 million in its opening weekend.

Paramount Pictures had estimated that the movie would make about $50 million for the weekend, but figured that strong reviews helped carry it to the bigger opening.

Director J.J. Abrams' reboot of the beloved sci-fi franchise made $72.5 million from Friday through Sunday, plus $4 million just in pre-midnight screenings Thursday, the studio said Saturday. That cumulative figure includes a record $8.2 million in IMAX showings.

"Star Trek," which reveals the back stories of Capt. Kirk, Mr. Spock and the rest of the crew of the U.S.S. Enterprise, is an unusual blockbuster that pleased critics, too, receiving 96 percent positive reviews on the Rotten Tomatoes Web site.

"Last year 'The Dark Knight' and 'Iron Man' both were embraced by critics as incredible filmmaking as well as big action-adventure movies. This one has been even better reviewed," said Paramount vice chairman Rob Moore. "You look at the level of critical response and the audience reaction, we definitely feel like the movie is set to play into Memorial Day and into the summer."

Moore said he expected the movie, which had a $140 million budget, should gross over $200 million total this summer, even with competition like "Terminator: Salvation" coming on May 21 and "Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince" arriving in theaters July 15.

Abrams got it right, he said, by appealing to both hardcore "Star Trek" fans as well as moviegoers who may not have been familiar with the 1960s television series and the many movies and TV spin-offs it spawned. It stars Chris Pine as Kirk and Zachary Quinto as Spock, and features an appearance by Leonard Nimoy as an older version of the half-Vulcan, half-human Spock.

"It just shows you how talented he is and what a great movie he made," Moore said.

"Star Trek" also beat the $6.3 million record "The Dark Knight" set in its opening weekend on IMAX screens last year.

"The DNA of this movie and the DNA of the `Star Trek' franchise work perfectly together and are very much a complement to what IMAX has accomplished," said Greg Foster, chairman and president of IMAX Filmed Entertainment. "IMAX was a company that had a sort of older-school, older-fashioned approach to things and we hipped it up and reinvented ourselves, if you will. That's precisely what J.J. Abrams and Paramount did with 'Star Trek.'"

The fact that the "Star Trek" haul improved from $26.8 million on Friday to $27.4 million on Saturday is a good sign, said Paul Dergarabedian, box-office analyst for Hollywood.com.

"Sometimes you will see a movie drop big-time," Dergarabedian said. "What this 'Star Trek' is going to have is legs, a rare commodity in this world where every week there's a new blockbuster."

As expected, last week's top film, "X-Men Origins: Wolverine," came in at No. 2 with $27 million. The prequel to the "X-Men" franchise, starring Hugh Jackman as the mutant who slices and dices his enemies with his metal claws, has made nearly $129.6 million in two weeks.

"It's the same weekend drop as ('X-Men: The Last Stand'), the last one. That tends to be what fan-based movies do," said Chris Aronson, senior vice president of domestic distribution for 20th Century Fox. "To have $130 million in the first 10 days is sensational. We think we withstood the attack of 'Star Trek,' if you will, and will settle into a long, successful run."

The week's other new wide release, the stoner comedy "Next Day Air," came in at sixth place with $4 million.

Weekend Box Office Estimates (U.S.)
This Wk Last Wk Title Dist. Weekend Gross Cumulative
Gross Rlse
Wks # of
Theaters
1 - Star Trek Paramount Pictures $72,500,000 $76,500,000 1 3849
2 1 X-Men Origins: Wolverine 20th Century Fox Distribution $27,000,000 $129,624,000 2 4102
3 2 Ghosts of Girlfriends Past Warner Bros. Pictures Distribution $10,450,000 $30,246,000 2 3175
4 3 Obsessed Sony Pictures Releasing $6,600,000 $56,247,000 3 2602
5 4 17 Again Warner Bros. Pictures Distribution $4,405,000 $54,167,000 4 2903
6 - Next Day Air Summit Entertainment, LLC $4,000,000 $4,000,000 1 1138
7 6 The Soloist Paramount Pictures, DreamWorks, Universal Pictures $3,605,000 $23,501,000 3 2090
8 5 Monsters vs. Aliens Paramount Pictures $3,379,000 $186,892,000 7 2185
9 7 Earth Disneynature $2,488,000 $26,086,000 3 1794
10 8 Hannah Montana The Movie Buena Vista Pictures Distribution $2,414,000 $74,083,000 5 2301
11 9 Fighting Universal Pictures $2,146,000 $20,589,000 3 1933
12 10 State of Play Universal Pictures $1,988,000 $34,056,000 4 1541

JamesG · 05-10-2009, 06:22 PM

$4 million from the "expected" $80 million isn't bad at all.

Star Trek was great.

comedyfreak · 05-10-2009, 06:38 PM

Yes it was!! I'd like to see it again. I thought you would have posted the totals already, LOL.

Nighthawk76 · 05-10-2009, 06:40 PM

I'm happy that the film is doing so well, but I still can't bring myself to see it. I've become one of those people who out right refused the ever watch TNG because it didn't have the original cast.

For my taste, you can't have Kirk and Spock unless they are being played by William Shatner and Leonard Nimoy. I'm glad that a lot of people are enjoying the film though. If nothing else, it proves that Star Trek still has plenty of life left in it.

JamesG · 05-10-2009, 06:43 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by comedyfreak

Yes it was!! I'd like to see it again. I thought you would have posted the totals already, LOL.

Since I did last week's I was waiting for you to do it.

comedyfreak · 05-10-2009, 06:47 PM

Abrams did so much justice to the original, he'd be my pick as director if they were ever to do another Lost In Space movie, which they won't since the last one bombed big time.

comedyfreak · 05-10-2009, 06:48 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by JamesG

Since I did last week's I was waiting for you to do it.

Gee, thanks.

I couldn't wait to post it I was so excited.

Jude The Obscure · 05-10-2009, 08:36 PM

I was expecting maybe $100 million--maybe I was overzealous

I haven't seen it, but I guess I will once it hits DVD.

Maybe the success of this will have others rethinking about JJ Abrams doing their franchise re-dos

comedyfreak · 05-10-2009, 09:57 PM

He certainly seems to know what he's doing.

steevo · 05-10-2009, 10:01 PM

I have seen it twice already and plan to see it a few more times. I loved it!!!!

This is great about the box office. It bodes well for a sequel.

JamesG · 05-10-2009, 10:04 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by steevo

I have seen it twice already and plan to see it a few more times. I loved it!!!!

This is great about the box office. It bodes well for a sequel.

The sequel is, according to reports, already in the works.

Jude The Obscure · 05-11-2009, 01:10 PM

This will already go on to be the most successful Star Trek movie so far. (Not counting previous films' b.o, readjusted for inflation, though).

browneyes106 · 05-11-2009, 08:34 PM

The movie was well made and will also do well in DVD sales.

05-10-2009, 06:13 PM	#1
comedyfreak Cheers! Forum Fanatic Join Date: Dec 14, 2005 Location: Sunny California Posts: 11,061	'STAR TREK' Has Galactic $76.5M Opening!! LOS ANGELES – "Star Trek" beamed itself up to the top of the box office, earning $76.5 million in its opening weekend. Paramount Pictures had estimated that the movie would make about $50 million for the weekend, but figured that strong reviews helped carry it to the bigger opening. Director J.J. Abrams' reboot of the beloved sci-fi franchise made $72.5 million from Friday through Sunday, plus $4 million just in pre-midnight screenings Thursday, the studio said Saturday. That cumulative figure includes a record $8.2 million in IMAX showings. "Star Trek," which reveals the back stories of Capt. Kirk, Mr. Spock and the rest of the crew of the U.S.S. Enterprise, is an unusual blockbuster that pleased critics, too, receiving 96 percent positive reviews on the Rotten Tomatoes Web site. "Last year 'The Dark Knight' and 'Iron Man' both were embraced by critics as incredible filmmaking as well as big action-adventure movies. This one has been even better reviewed," said Paramount vice chairman Rob Moore. "You look at the level of critical response and the audience reaction, we definitely feel like the movie is set to play into Memorial Day and into the summer." Moore said he expected the movie, which had a $140 million budget, should gross over $200 million total this summer, even with competition like "Terminator: Salvation" coming on May 21 and "Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince" arriving in theaters July 15. Abrams got it right, he said, by appealing to both hardcore "Star Trek" fans as well as moviegoers who may not have been familiar with the 1960s television series and the many movies and TV spin-offs it spawned. It stars Chris Pine as Kirk and Zachary Quinto as Spock, and features an appearance by Leonard Nimoy as an older version of the half-Vulcan, half-human Spock. "It just shows you how talented he is and what a great movie he made," Moore said. "Star Trek" also beat the $6.3 million record "The Dark Knight" set in its opening weekend on IMAX screens last year. "The DNA of this movie and the DNA of the `Star Trek' franchise work perfectly together and are very much a complement to what IMAX has accomplished," said Greg Foster, chairman and president of IMAX Filmed Entertainment. "IMAX was a company that had a sort of older-school, older-fashioned approach to things and we hipped it up and reinvented ourselves, if you will. That's precisely what J.J. Abrams and Paramount did with 'Star Trek.'" The fact that the "Star Trek" haul improved from $26.8 million on Friday to $27.4 million on Saturday is a good sign, said Paul Dergarabedian, box-office analyst for Hollywood.com. "Sometimes you will see a movie drop big-time," Dergarabedian said. "What this 'Star Trek' is going to have is legs, a rare commodity in this world where every week there's a new blockbuster." As expected, last week's top film, "X-Men Origins: Wolverine," came in at No. 2 with $27 million. The prequel to the "X-Men" franchise, starring Hugh Jackman as the mutant who slices and dices his enemies with his metal claws, has made nearly $129.6 million in two weeks. "It's the same weekend drop as ('X-Men: The Last Stand'), the last one. That tends to be what fan-based movies do," said Chris Aronson, senior vice president of domestic distribution for 20th Century Fox. "To have $130 million in the first 10 days is sensational. We think we withstood the attack of 'Star Trek,' if you will, and will settle into a long, successful run." The week's other new wide release, the stoner comedy "Next Day Air," came in at sixth place with $4 million. Weekend Box Office Estimates (U.S.) This Wk Last Wk Title Dist. Weekend Gross Cumulative Gross Rlse Wks # of Theaters 1 - Star Trek Paramount Pictures $72,500,000 $76,500,000 1 3849 2 1 X-Men Origins: Wolverine 20th Century Fox Distribution $27,000,000 $129,624,000 2 4102 3 2 Ghosts of Girlfriends Past Warner Bros. Pictures Distribution $10,450,000 $30,246,000 2 3175 4 3 Obsessed Sony Pictures Releasing $6,600,000 $56,247,000 3 2602 5 4 17 Again Warner Bros. Pictures Distribution $4,405,000 $54,167,000 4 2903 6 - Next Day Air Summit Entertainment, LLC $4,000,000 $4,000,000 1 1138 7 6 The Soloist Paramount Pictures, DreamWorks, Universal Pictures $3,605,000 $23,501,000 3 2090 8 5 Monsters vs. Aliens Paramount Pictures $3,379,000 $186,892,000 7 2185 9 7 Earth Disneynature $2,488,000 $26,086,000 3 1794 10 8 Hannah Montana The Movie Buena Vista Pictures Distribution $2,414,000 $74,083,000 5 2301 11 9 Fighting Universal Pictures $2,146,000 $20,589,000 3 1933 12 10 State of Play Universal Pictures $1,988,000 $34,056,000 4 1541
	__________________ www.facebook.com/comedyfreak

05-10-2009, 10:01 PM	#10
steevo It is Green Senior Member Join Date: Dec 28, 2008 Location: Connecticut Posts: 1,476	I have seen it twice already and plan to see it a few more times. I loved it!!!! This is great about the box office. It bodes well for a sequel.
	__________________ "God be gracious to us and bless us..." Psalm 67:1

05-10-2009, 06:22 PM	#2
JamesG Freakshow Moderator Forum Icon Join Date: Feb 01, 2008 Location: Brooklyn, NY Posts: 57,174	$4 million from the "expected" $80 million isn't bad at all. Star Trek was great.

05-10-2009, 06:38 PM	#3
comedyfreak Cheers! Forum Fanatic Join Date: Dec 14, 2005 Location: Sunny California Posts: 11,061	Yes it was!! I'd like to see it again. I thought you would have posted the totals already, LOL.

05-10-2009, 06:40 PM	#4
Nighthawk76 Rachel Berry Forum Celebrity Join Date: Feb 28, 2003 Location: Illinois Posts: 23,254	I'm happy that the film is doing so well, but I still can't bring myself to see it. I've become one of those people who out right refused the ever watch TNG because it didn't have the original cast. For my taste, you can't have Kirk and Spock unless they are being played by William Shatner and Leonard Nimoy. I'm glad that a lot of people are enjoying the film though. If nothing else, it proves that Star Trek still has plenty of life left in it.

05-10-2009, 06:47 PM	#6
comedyfreak Cheers! Forum Fanatic Join Date: Dec 14, 2005 Location: Sunny California Posts: 11,061	Abrams did so much justice to the original, he'd be my pick as director if they were ever to do another Lost In Space movie, which they won't since the last one bombed big time.

05-10-2009, 08:36 PM	#8
Jude The Obscure Retired Eternal Member Forum Veteran Join Date: Dec 10, 2006 Posts: 7,520	I was expecting maybe $100 million--maybe I was overzealous I haven't seen it, but I guess I will once it hits DVD. Maybe the success of this will have others rethinking about JJ Abrams doing their franchise re-dos

05-10-2009, 09:57 PM	#9
comedyfreak Cheers! Forum Fanatic Join Date: Dec 14, 2005 Location: Sunny California Posts: 11,061	He certainly seems to know what he's doing.

05-11-2009, 01:10 PM	#12
Jude The Obscure Retired Eternal Member Forum Veteran Join Date: Dec 10, 2006 Posts: 7,520	This will already go on to be the most successful Star Trek movie so far. (Not counting previous films' b.o, readjusted for inflation, though).

05-11-2009, 08:34 PM	#13
browneyes106 Member Forum Veteran Join Date: Apr 01, 2008 Posts: 6,094	The movie was well made and will also do well in DVD sales.