DELLAMORTE’S BOX OFFICE WRAP UP 1/21/11

This just in: a lovely time had by all.

No Strings Attached opened slightly better than thought, so it took what amounts to a weak weekend (weakend). 1/28 offers a horror and an action movie, so Strings has until 2/11. That’s when real competition comes up (Just Go With It). Three weeks means it’s possible the film could keep playing to a $100 total. It all depends on word of mouth with something like this. These numbers are probably a reflection more on Portman than Kutcher – who’s a cinematic non-entity all things considered. Perhaps he’ll be a bigger help internationally. If they were smart, this was a modestly budgeted film (talent should have been the biggest expense), so a $80 Million total would be a victory. We shall see.

The Green Hornet fell less than 50% –  a big victory for the troubled production. The math is still not great on the film doing much more than $100 Million, but that should be enough for the film to be considered not a failure. Here’s a picture that can go from a “modest success” or “non-failure” to “a potential franchise” depending on international numbers. Likely Sony feels they got by on the hair of their teeth, so they’ll probably leave it well enough alone, even if it does make money.

The Dilemma is dying as it should. $50 Million is as good as that gets. The King’s Speech is still playing and with the PGA win last night, it’s keeping itself in a good place. If it’s director trumps David Fincher for the DGA award, consider it the winner of the best picture Oscar. But if it doesn’t, it’s going to be between The Social Network and it. With nearly $60 Million in the bank, The King’s Speech is going to get to $100 at this point.

True Grit will be either near or ever $150 next weekend and it’s still going strong. The awards contenders have been playing really strong this year, as Black Swan crossed $80 this weekend, and The Fighter jumped $70. Both were relatively cheap productions and are already in the black. Swan has enough life to get to $100, and both should see a strong bump when the nominations come out on Tuesday this week. The Fighter’s going to need to hold screens (it is holding steady), and/or get some kind of boost if it’s going to get to $100, but it’s not out of the question. They haven’t announced the DVD/Blu-ray yet, and Christian Bale is in a good place to win.

Little Fockers should finish out around $150 in total. This is probably it’s last week in the top ten. Yogi Bear is looking to make a very quiet $100, and if it doesn’t fall too bad next weekend, it will be at $93 or so. No new competition is helping, so they should be able to play a little longer. Tron Legacy is at #10. It should top out around $170. Harry Knowles has been talking up the possible sequel. They’ve supposed shot teasers for it.

Here’s my imaginary conversation about this:

Fan “You just hate the movie, that’s why you don’t want a sequel.”

Me: Noooo. (extended no’s tend to mean slightly yes e.g.: Dirty Work) It’s just that it doesn’t seem like good business sense. The Hangover getting a sequel is stupid, but I get it, the first film made a lot of money, and it would be nearly impossible for a Hangover sequel not to make at least $150 Million domestic, which should – hopefully – make the film profitable. Tron Legacy has no such goodwill, and ultimately you’re going to have to sell the audience you cracked the narrative with the next film. You’ve essentially killed off Jeff Bridges, and since the sequel has to take place on the grid…  But not just on a story level, these numbers don’t suggest enthusiasm, and it’s like you’re throwing more money at New Coke. This seems like a bad business decision, so that’s why I don’t get it. Ultimately, maybe they’ll fix the problems (doubtful as they didn’t with the second film), and it’s not like if they don’t make this some masterpiece will happen, but still, it seems like something that should be let go.”

Fan: “Man, you’re awesome, Damon.”

Me: “I know… I know.”