J.J. Abrams’ franchise reboot boldly went where no Star Trek movie has gone before, grossing a stellar $72.5 mil from Friday through Sunday, according to early estimates by Hollywood.com Box Office.
That’s the second-best opening of 2009 (after X-Men Origins: Wolverine‘s $85.1 mil last weekend), and it includes a whopping $8.2 mil earned in IMAX showings, a new one-weekend record for the large format (beating The Dark Knight‘s $6.3 mil). What’s more, if you add in the $4 mil that the movie starring Chris Pine and Zachary Quinto earned in late-Thursday showings, Star Trek has banked an impressive $76.5 mil so far — well ahead of most expectations.
This result is highly logical. Considering all the hype and buzz and strong reviews that Star Trek has garnered, it’s no surprise that this film’s opening sum is by far the biggest of any Star Trek movie: Of the nine previous flicks in the franchise, 1996′s Star Trek: First Contact bowed best, with (only) $30.7 mil over three days. Moreover, a look at the movie’s CinemaScore report card reveals some potentially good news. While it drew an expected crowd mostly composed of older males, Star Trek‘s solid-A grade shows that word of mouth could be strong enough to bring in fans outside of the franchise’s usual demographic (i.e., people who weren’t alive in the 1980s…and women) as the weeks go on. Unless said folks are too distracted by Angels & Demons, Night at the Museum 2, and all the other big flicks on tap, of course.
X-Men Origins: Wolverine (No. 2) was next with $27 mil on a 68 percent decline. Fanboy-driven films always fall hard, but this drop is particularly hefty. Nevertheless, Hugh Jackman’s franchise flick has already banked $129.6 mil in 10 days.
Fellow holdovers Ghosts of Girlfriends Past (No. 3 with $10.5 mil), Obsessed (No. 4 with $6.6 mil), and 17 Again (No. 5 with $4.4 mil) rounded out the top five. And the comedy Next Day Air failed to take off, grossing just $4 mil at No. 6.
And in limited release, neither Rudo y Cursi nor Little Ashes made much of a mark, as each averaged well under $7,000 per theater.
Overall, the box office was up nearly 22 percent from the same frame a year ago (when the infamous Speed Racer hit a bump in the road). And, really, what could be a better Mother’s Day gift than that? Love ya, Mom! Have a great day!
More Box Office News:
Box Office Preview: ‘Star Trek’ will rocket to No. 1…but can it beam up non-Trekkers?
Wolverine opens with an impressive $87 million
Obsessed knocks out the competition with $28.5 mil
17 Again handily wins the weekend
EW.com’s Box Office Chart
You say 72.5, the Associated press says 76.5. Which is it?
It didn’t beat X-Men on opening week? Ouch, that has to be disappointing.
http://tvdonewright.com/2009/05/10/snls-new-digital-short-j-t-and-samberg-love-their-mothers/
Great! It deserves it.
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It’s 76.5 with thursday showings, and Adam it’s not a disappointment seeing that the Trek reputation had been soiled by Nemesis and Enterprise.
hahahaahahhahahahahahahahahhahhahahahahahahahahaahhahaaahahahahahahahahha ouch!!! hahahahahahahahahahahhahahahahhahahahahahha WOLVRINE IS THIES YEARS IRONMAN!!!!
EW STOP HATING ON WOLVERINE!!!
72.5 for 3 day weekenr, 76.5 weekend + thursday previews (3.2 day).
Excellent numbers for Trk.
this just proves the there are more wolverine nerds than star trek nerds…
and for the record Wolverine the best action movie i have ever seen
tebow…what are you talking about?
its sad how star trek paid burger king to make their toys in the kids meal… i wouldve loved the Wolverine toys in the kids meal for my nephew
Wolverine just has more fans… and its by far the better movie
Trophywife…the best action movie you have ever seen? Can I recommend Aliens or Terminator 2 or Raiders of the Lost Ark or…
EW hated on wolverine and they worshiped star trek saying star trek is this years ironman…
but the people have spoken… Wolverine is this years Ironman!!!!
trophywife, Wolverine took a 68% drop this weekend. That’s a bigger drop than Watchmen took. How much is taken in opening weekend is attributed to hype and recieval of trailers. How the film does for the rest of it’s run tells if people actually enjoy the movie. Looking at this drop it seems like people don’t enjoy it.
WTF… aliens?? terminator 2??
NO!!! if ur next to a kid and ask him.. and he will say WOLVERINE HANDS DOWN BEST ACTION MOVIE EVER!!!!!
I am always astounded and amazed at the failure of box office prognosticators to gauge franchise films corectly. How can movies with years of fan base build up not perform well? As long as there’s A List talent involved and proper marketing of course.
there was more hype for star trek than wolverine..
and wolverine still beat it…
how bout them apples trek fans
Wolverine is just a badass movie