Image Credit: DisneyTangled rid itself of any knots as it climbed to the top of the box office on Friday, grossing $5.1 million, according to early estimates. That’s a 74 percent drop from last Friday, which, mind you, was an enormous day for moviegoing. The PG animated musical should receive a decent bump on Saturday, as most family films do, and finish the weekend with about $21 million. In second place, Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows — Part 1 descended 77 percent for $4.8 million on Friday. It’s on track for an $18 million weekend, which would bring its cumulative gross to $245 million. The rest of the top five consisted of leftovers. The Cher-Christina Aguilera musical Burlesque fell 56 percent for $2 million, while right on its heels was the R-rated romantic comedy Love and Other Drugs, which slipped only 48 percent for $2 million as well. (Burlesque is estimated to have earned $25,000 more than Love and Other Drugs on Friday). And in fifth place was the Denzel Washington action thriller Unstoppable, which skidded 59 percent for $1.9 million.
The weekend’s only new wide release, the martial-arts Western The Warrior’s Way, might as well start selecting its coffin. The R-rated film debuted in ninth place with $1.1 million. In limited release, however, things were much rosier. Darren Aronofsky’s Black Swan, starring Natalie Portman, opened in 18 theaters and collected $426,000 for a stupendous per-location average of $23,667. The R-rated ballet-horror film could conclude the weekend with about $1.5 million, and the resulting $83,000 per-location average would be the second largest ever for a film playing in at least 10 theaters. (Only last year’s Precious, which debuted in 18 theaters and registered a $104,025 per-location average, ranks higher). And the historical drama The King’s Speech continued its royal run with $85,000 from six locations. Check back here on Sunday for the complete box office report.
1. Tangled — $5.1 mil
2. Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows — Part 1 — $4.8 mil
3. Burlesque — $2.0 mil
4. Love and Other Drugs — $2.0 mil
5. Unstoppable — $1.9 mil
Box office preview: Tangled to seize the reins from Deathly Hallows
Great for Tangled, Black Swan, and The King’s Speech. Keep it going!!!
No, that’s bad for Tangled. That’s a terrible drop. Bad for Potter too.
Potter’s in it’s 3rd week though, so that’s not that bad.
I think it’s going to be close again between Tangled and Potter. Both are great films though (thank goodness, because this has been a TERRIBLE year for movies).
I saw Black Swan on Friday and Deathly Hallows on Saturday. Both were amazing!
No Matt, its not. Last weekend was a holiday weekend, so there is ALWAYS a huge drop, no matter the movie.
Great for Tangled but WOW that movie was expensive…
Go Black Swan, go!!!!
yay Tangled! It’s SO good, I’m glad it’s doing well at the Box Office.
Excellent for “Tangled,” easily one of the best and most enjoyable films of the year.
Looks like Harry Potter will struggle a bit to reach $300 million.
Other than that congrats to Black Swan, The King’s Speech, and even I Love You, Phillip Morris, who did not get mentioned here.
what bout I LOVE U PHILLIP MORRIS?
the preview looks like a winner.
Saw Black Sawn last night- go see it if it is near you!
yeah stu..i hope PM clips Swan wings.
Anyone have any idea when Black Swan will be getting a wider release? I’m dying to see it, but it’s not playing in my city. Glad to see it’s doing well in its limited release.
I know that on Fox Searchlight’s website there’s a release calender laying out the film’s expansion plan for the next 2 weeks. That might help.
The local theatre that plays independent films is opening black swan on December 24th.
Scratch that, it opens the 17th.
Yay Burlesque! It’s GREAT and showing staying power
18 theaters? That’s it? Better widen the release a bit next week.
Love Burlesque! I’m gonna see it again.
Glad to see Burlesque holding on to 3rd place. It’s such a fun film and guys would like it, too.
flop-tina retire!!
wait, what?
Darn, that “We are in love” campaign from Taylor Swift and Jake Gyllenhaal still isn’t helping LAOD kill at the box office! It may be time to leak a Swift/Gyllenhaal sex tape. Saw Tangled, loved it.
Gyllenhaal is like the creepy serial killer whose neighbors love him. ICK!
I saw ’127 Hours’ last night and loved it. It’s definately one of my favorite movies of the year. James Franco was terrific.