Adam Sandler Gets Defeated by "The Immortals" This Weekend

[JamesG]

Weekend Report: Olympian Debut for Immortals
by Ray Subers
November 13, 2011



The Immortals may not have been the next 300, but it was at least strong enough to claim the top spot at the box office this weekend.

Jack and Jill opened lower than most major Adam Sandler movies, and only $500,000 currently separates it from strong holdover Puss in Boots.

The weekend's third new movie, J. Edgar, failed to exceed modest expectations. With three movies over $25 million, overall box office was up at least 12 percent from the same period last year.









The Immortals debuted to an estimated $32 million, which is less than half of 300's $70.9 million and also way off from Clash of the Titans's $61.2 million.

While those are both very similar movies, it's a slightly unfair comparison given the marketing dominance exercised by their distributor Warner Bros.



In its own right, The Immortals was actually very impressive. It is distributor Relativity Media's best opening ever by a long shot (Limitless was the previous high with $18.9 million), and it's also the top opening for a movie not released by a big six studio since Lionsgate's The Expendables debuted to $34.8 million last August.

Finally, it's the second-highest opening for an R-rated 3D movie ever behind Jackass 3-D's $50.4 million, with 3D showings accounting for a substantial 66 percent of the weekend gross.



The movie's audience was 60 percent male, 75 percent under the age of 35, and 35 percent Hispanic.









Jack and Jill claimed an estimated $26 million, which is lower than February's Adam Sandler-Dennis Dugan collaboration Just Go With It ($30.5 million).

In fact, the only traditional Sandler comedy that has opened lower in the last 10 years is Funny People ($22.6 million). Still, it's an odd time of year for a Sandler movie (most open in the Summer), and the opening is close enough to his standard range that it in no way indicates that his star is fading.

53 percent of Jack and Jill's audience was families, while 52 percent were female and 57 percent were 25 years of age and older.









After holding the top spot for two weekends in a row, Puss in Boots dipped a light 23 percent to an estimated $25.5 million. On Saturday it passed $100 million, and its total now rests at $108.8 million.

It's about even with last November's Megamind through the same point, albeit with a much higher third weekend gross, and it should wind up with over $150 million if it isn't completely stomped on by Happy Feet Two, Arthur Christmas, and The Muppets in the next two weeks.










Tower Heist fell 45 percent to $13.2 million for a total of $43.9 million.

Thanks to Tower Heist's grosses, distributor Universal Pictures passed $1 billion for the year on Saturday.

This is the first year Universal has reached this milestone since 2008, and it's the fifth studio to do so in 2011 after Paramount, Warner Bros., Disney and Sony.









J. Edgar opened in fifth place with an estimated $11.5 million from 1,910 theaters. That's a bit off from director Clint Eastwood's Hereafter, which debuted to $12 million last October.

Still, that movie was playing at slightly more venues (2,181) and had a lower per-theater average.

J. Edgar's audience was 94 percent over the age of 25 and 54 percent female.









A Very Harold & Kumar 3D Christmas fell 55 percent to $5.9 million to bring its 10-day total to $23.2 million.

That decline was an improvement over predecessor Harold and Kumar Escape from Guantanamo Bay's 59 percent, but the weekend gross and gross-to-date are both lower.

http://www.boxofficemojo.com/news/?id=3306&p=.htm











November 11-13, 2011 Weekend Results:

1. The Immortals $32,000,000
2. Jack and Jill $26,000,000
3. Puss in Boots $25,500,000 / $108,809,000
4. Tower Heist $13,200,000 / $43,900,000
5. J. Edgar $11,470,000 / $11,569,000
6. A Very Harold & Kumar 3D Christmas $5,900,000 / $23,222,000
7. In Time $4,150,000 / $30,667,000
8. Paranormal Activity 3 $3,625,000 / $100,823,000
9. Footloose $2,735,000 / $48,876,000
10. Real Steel $2,000,000 / $81,748,000

[MrCleveland]

I'm sorry, but I do agree...Adam Sandler is NOW unfunny.

His comedy is sooooo 1999, he always plays the same little annoying angry rude character. It's just stale, that's why every time I impersonate Adam Sandler, I always say this...

I'M ADAM SANDLER, BITCH!!!

[comedyfreak]

I'm surprised J Edgar didn't do better.

[JamesG]

Originally Posted by comedyfreak

I'm surprised J Edgar didn't do better.

The film's subject matter is not the type that's going to attract big crowds, even though Leo is the star.

Also, compared to everything else in the Top 10 now, it's the only serious movie out. People don't want to see a serious period piece like this during the holiday season.