Image Credit: RafyIt was a zombified weekend at the box office, in more ways than one. Resident Evil: Afterlife was the only movie to show any real signs of life, opening at No. 1 in 3,202 theaters with $27.7 million, according to early estimates. It’s a record debut for the based-on-a-videogame zombie franchise. The 3-D film certainly benefitted from higher 3-D ticket prices, which helped boost the four-quel to one of the best-ever openings for a post-Labor Day weekend (traditionally one of the weakest frames of the year, as kids go back to school and the NFL season kicks into gear). This year’s first fall weekend was no exception — the next six films’ three-day gross combined still can’t quite equal Resident Evil: Afterlife‘s debut figure.
Leading that enfeebled pack was, surprisingly, the heist thriller Takers with $6.1 million, just a 44 percent drop from its three-day take last weekend for a $48.1 million total. With the top two films this weekend, it’s a good day indeed over at Sony/Screen Gems. (Please note: All the percentage drops will only factor in the Friday-to-Sunday period of last week’s four-day Labor Day frame.) Last weekend’s winner, The American, weathered bad word-of-mouth and slipped to third, dropping 55 percent from last weekend with $5.9 million and $28.3 million total. Machete suffered an even worse decline, falling 63 percent to fourth place, with just $4.2 million for the weekend and $20.8 million total. In fifth place, the underperforming romantic comedy Going the Distance finally posted a somewhat decent number, dropping only 44 percent with $3.8 million for fifth place. It’s grossed $14 million total over ten days.
Rounding out the rest of the box office: The Other Guys jumped to sixth, laughing up $3.6 million (a tiny 32 percent decline), for $112.7 million total. The Last Exorcism fell to seventh, sinking another 53 percent with $3.5 million and $38.2 million total. In eighth, The Expendables brought in another $3.3 million, a 51 percent drop for a $98.5 million cume. Inception continued its slow trickle down the charts, sliding just 34 percent to ninth place with a $3.0 million gross and $282.4 millon total. And in 10th, Eat Pray Love cooked up $2.9 million, a 40 percent drop. Over 31 days, it’s made $74.6 million, hardly a hefty sum for one-time box office queen Julia Roberts.
None of those numbers are suprising as the writer stated about school and the NFL season kicking off.
Plus all of those movies are terrible. And just looked at the next couple of weeks for new releases it only looks worse. September has nothing to offer.
Oh well, NFL all day today for me so I am happy!
Machete was actually pretty fun to watch.
And I think that you’re saying that “all of those movies are terrible” is wrong, since there are a bunch that are pretty good, like Other Guys and Inception
Seriously, who is still seeing Inception
Yeah, I wish I had never seen it. Over-hyped, rehashed drivel.
Rehashed drivel? A rehash of what? Inception was one of the most original and innovative movies I’ve ever seen. Maybe you should stick to movies that don’t require thinking or any level of concentration. That seems more your speed.
I know people who’ve seen it four times. It has rewatch value (especially from the notion that “you need to see it twice to understand it”), and there are always stragglers who decide they might as well jump on the bandwagon when a movie stays in theaters this long (i.e. people who saw Avatar or The Dark Knight weeks later, whether to deride it having seen it, or because curiosity got the better of them).
There are also people who have yet to see this movie, then there are the people who decided to rewatch it instead of watching the other movies.
was better each time
Inception was crap, but Nolan was smart in creating an ending that garnered talk, speculation and theorizing, and made fanboys feel smart, when in reality it was purposely left ambiguous,
Crystal… god you suck.
“…god you suck.”
At least she tastes like cherry. You would taste bitter.
It’s fine if you think the movie was crap but please don’t generalize the fans just based on the internet fandom. I enjoyed the movie for more reasons than it’s ending. People are going back to see the movie because they enjoyed it & want to see things they might have missed the first time. Also, Crystal what didn’t you like about the movie? I love discussing Inception even with non-fans!
I actually liked everything about the movie EXCEPT for the ending because of its “the hell with it” ambiguity. Don’t be a snob.
I found the ending to be anything but ambiguous. If you paid attention to what was going on (and yes, it helps to have seen it twice), it’s pretty clear what happened.
someone is upset that inception is gonna make more than twilight
Worldwide it already did.
The film was adorable but overrated. The film failed to get its point across, and several points of the film resorted to melodrama.
Comments like the ones above are the reason why Vampires Suck can open at #1 in this country.
You literally took the words out of my mouth
1. Your comment is stupid.
2. Vampires Suck didn’t open at #1.
3. Inception is not a masterpiece.
4. There are (and will be) better films than that this year.
5. Generalization can be rude. But I wouldn’t expect you to know anything about that…
I think RE4 performed quite admirably, as we saw with the SAW franchise, even the once very popular movies can just crash at one point. I think nothing in the top 10 was surprising. I don’t think you give Ms. Roberts enough credit… 75 million is not bad at all for an actress who hasn’t mainly completely carried a movie since a decade ago. Clearly she’s still a draw.
I kind of agree about Julia Roberts. Sure, 75 mil is not huge, but it’s decent. And maybe the total worldwide gross is more. It didn’t open very big, I think it was in the 20-25 mil range. And it has been steadily chugging along, with relatively small drops each weekend. I wouldn’t consider it a stain on her career.
Nor would I.
Funny how $75 milion is a flop for Julia Roberts, yet EW never comments on the fact that A++++ George Clooney has had commercial flop after flop during his career (besides the Ocean’s films)
–EW gave the newest Clooney movie a C-, not an A++++.
–EW constantly comments about how Clooney tends to star in a lot of non-mainstream, “artsy” movies which invariably don’t make a lot of money.
–Julia Roberts was the biggest female actress in the world for several years, commanding $15 mil+ a picture. Clooney has never been that kind of movie star.
–If everyone who read the book “Eat Pray Love” had seen the movie, it would’ve grossed $400 mil easily. Money left on the table.
I agree that the total for Roberts is not bad either, but if you look at how they treated Clooney’s drop, it was basically written off as not bad. The LA Times said the same thing. Roberts made more in three days than Clooney did in a week. It is tiring to hear “but it was low budget” as an excuse for low sales (also see Anniston). What does budget have to do with the ability to put rear ends in seats? What film of Clooney’s without Pitt in the cast has even made $75 million lately. I like George, but he gets away with alot, maybe because he is a member of the “good old boys” club and Roberts is just a “pretty woman”.
I agree with Mary. Eat Pray Love has been in theaters for a month already and it only dropped 40% this weekend. That’s not bad at all. Sure it doesn’t have a huge domestic gross, but it’s not terrible. This article makes it sound like it’s embarrassing. The American, on the other hand, dropped 55%, yet it is considered as having “weathered bad word-of-mouth.” Really? Under 6 mil for a second weekend (and a drop over 50%) doesn’t sound like it weathered anything. And look at what they say for box office bomb Going the Distance. It “finally posted a somewhat decent number, dropping only 44 percent with $3.8 million.” Since when is 3.8 mil for a second weekend a decent number? Especially for a film with star like Drew Barrymore? I like Drew Barrymore, but let’s be real, this movie is a huge commercial flop. Why is this article written in such a biased way?
Apples & oranges. “The American” isn’t a kind of movie that makes a lot of money. “The American” had production budget 20 mil, “Eat Pray Love” had production budget 60 mil.
Then again – both of these movies will make the money back for their investors (they have already made production budgets back and some more), so both actors will have no problem finding work in the future… Neither of these movies is a box office bomb or a stain on a career, but neither of them is a huge success.
Although “Eat Pray Love” may become success in foreign markets (“The American” is too artsy for this) that remains to be seen.
People went to see “Eat Pray Love” because it is a popular book. It has little to do with the actor in the lead. Also, more people go to movies in the summer anyways and the film was a remedy to other summer flicks.
what do u mean september has nothing to offer?the town looks great and the next week the wall street sequeal is out
look at me and my guns. Three Muskeeters Ice Cream..COMING SOON TO THETRE NEAR YEE
Actually, there are a few movies coming out this month that I’m looking forward to seeing. The Town and Easy A both come out this week, as does Never Let Me Go (although I think that will only be a limited release – hopefully I’ll be able to find it playing in a theater near me).
I agree; more is coming out in September than I want to see than I’d normally expect (usually, nothing). Easy A, Wall Street 2, The Town, and Never Let Me Go all look somewhat worthwhile.
I too am excited for “Never Let Me Go”. If its not opening near you next week the wide release is on October 8.
Cool. Thanks for the info, Jose. I loved the book and I’ve been looking forward to the movie for a long time.
Ahhhhhh i love this movie
worst summer season for movies ever!! except for toy story and inception
Devil might be good,just have to wait and see.
Finally, two of the most anticipated films of the year come out this week: Never Let Me Go, The Town, and Easy A. All films have garnered good buzz. PLEASE SEE & SUPPORT THEM! Same goes for Wall Street 2!
I can’t count
. I meant ‘three of the most anticipated films…’.
I agree. Those three films all look good and I’m looking forward to seeing them.
But I’m kind of on the fence about Wall Street 2. I would be more excited about it, but I’m not a very big fan of Shia LaBoeuf. I’ll probably still end up seeing it though.
stop hatin on the other guys! and the expendables those were to good mindless summer films. Best comedy and action of the year 100 mill each..get reel ppl!
the expendables blew…”hi…i have a job to get done on an island….lets stake it out…ok…ok we are back lets not take the job…i agree….wait that one girl is there…we better go get her..” STUPID
YESH! it was a great film. I always disagree with the critics words about this series of films because they’re always wrong.
Saw Never Let Me Go at TIFF. It wasn’t as good as I’d hoped it would be, but still way better than you’ll normally find in September, so definitely check it out.