Liam Neeson fended off aliens, gnomes, and big mommas, as the thriller Unknown topped the charts Friday with $6.7 million, according to early estimates. That trails the opening-day tally of Neeson’s 2009 hit Taken, which earned $9.4 million its first day. Regardless, with a modest budget of $31 million, Warner Bros. has to be pleased with Unknown‘s initial result. Yet will the movie be able to claim victory over the extended Presidents’ Day weekend? That’s tough to say this early, but Unknown will likely be battling with Gnomeo & Juliet for first place, even though the latter placed fifth on Friday. Gnomeo, Disney’s animated musical starring garden gnomes, dropped only 30 percent for $4.3 million. It should perform even better today and Sunday, and with kids out of school on Monday, the G-rated family film could skyrocket into first place for the holiday weekend. At the moment, Gnomeo is on pace for a four-day grab of around $27 million, while Unknown is headed for about $26 million. But these projections could fluctuate depending on how things play out today and tomorrow.
What does look certain, however, is that the new sci-fi action film I Am Number Four will fall short of expectations. The $50 million film, a DreamWorks project that’s being released via Disney’s Touchstone Pictures, grossed $6.2 million on Friday and is on pace to finish the four-day weekend with around $22 million. Many box-office prognosticators pegged Number Four to open with at least $30 million (I went with $29 million), but unless the PG-13 movie receives a major boost today, it won’t finish anywhere near that mark. Third place went to the Adam Sandler romantic-comedy holdover Just Go With It, which slipped 45 percent for $5.2 million. And Big Mommas: Like Father, Like Son debuted in fourth place with $4.8 million. The Martin Lawrence comedy should finish the long weekend with about $19 million.
As for audience satisfaction, all three new releases — Unknown, I Am Number Four, and Big Mommas — received sturdy “B+” grades from CinemaScore moviegoers. Check back here tomorrow for another update, and on Monday for the complete box office report.
1. Unknown — $6.7 mil
2. I Am Number Four — $6.2 mil
3. Just Go With It — $5.2 mil
4. Big Mommas: Like Father, Like Son — $4.8 mil
5. Gnomeo & Juliet — $4.3 mil
Box office preview: I Am Number Four aims to be No. 1 this holiday weekend
Wow! ‘I Am Number 4′ turns out to be not only a critical failure, but a financial failure too. Those are pretty bad numbers for what most considered to be a franchise in the making. On a $60-80 million budget, the studio execs at Dreamwork must be banging their heads against the wall.
Goo for ‘Unknown’ though. Those are better than expected numbers.
With 20+ mil opening it may still make the money back, depends how much it’ll drop next week. But there will be no new franchise, that’s sure.
i am number 4 was amazing. everyone should go see it.
Umm no. #4 sucked and so did Alex Pettyfer.
EW has failed to report the HUGE drop-off that the idiotic Justin Bieber film suffered. A 70% drop off. That is BAD! First people thought it would open number 1 last week, but failed. Now it dropped off hard! Gotta say, I’m proud of America for a change.
Of course they’re not going to mention it. Bieber is one of their pets.
It’s official: the dumbing-down of America continues. First, an A- cinemascore for Just Go With It. Then, a B+ cinemascore for Big Momma’s House 3. This makes we want to cry. Either moviegoers are so desperate for entertainment that they’ll watch anything; or, they just have terrible taste in movies. These movies will be completely forgotten in a week, and the only time we’ll remember them is when we see them in the 99-cent bin at Blockbuster. It’s so sad that people still reward films that have crotch jokes, toilet humor and men in fat suits, with good grades. At least last February had Shutter Island. Now, we just have juvenile comedies. At least Black Swan and The King’s Speech are close to the $100 million mark. That shows that there are still moviegoers that look for quality in their films. I haven’t been to the movies since I saw Black Swan a month ago; and I don’t plan on going back until March when The Adjustment Bureau, Battle: Los Angeles and Red Riding Hood get released.
^^^ What he said.
Red Riding Hood looks terrible.
Agreed! It’s directed by Catherine Hardwick so it’s physically impossible that it can be any good!
That woman is a hack!!
Thirteen was pretty good. Lords of Dogtown wasn’t bad. But yeah, the rest of her stuff sucks and Red Riding Hood looks like crap.
Let people enjoy what they want to watch. Go read a book instead of commenting on movies if your so intellectual.
‘you’re so intellectual’, not ‘your’
“Red Riding Hood”? You mean “twilight 2.0 with a wolf” that’s what you consider quality movie-making? I guess you are part of the dumbing down of American too my friend.
I didn’t say it was quality filmmaking. I just meant that it looked interesting.
Though I don’t plan on seeing Red Riding Hood, Amanda Seyfried is a likable actress so it has a one up on Twilight there(in terms of quality). So I can’t fault people for wanting to see it…Plus I liked the trailer’s music, haha. But yeah it does like Twilight Riding Hood.
Good Lord, can you be any more self-absorbed and delusional? “the dumbing down of America, I am proud of America for a change, American audiences are dumb, Americnas have bad taste”. Get over yourself. Saying or assuming that every single person who decides to see a fluffy, forgettable film like Big Momma’s House is dumb, is, well…dumb.
LOts of smart, educated, well-read people also have times in which they just want to be entertained. Not to mention that it’s extremely condescending and smug to call people who don’t share your taste in film “dumb”. Kill that bug up your ass and enjoy life for what it is. And don’t take it so seriously, it’s only movies.
Ah I value your opinion because you have seen Red Riding Hood and can fairly judge it… OH WAIT!
I am a doctor and I love the Twilight movies. Just saying.
Even if Big Mommas 3 got a B+ you failed to mention how it was nowhere near the number one spot, so quit complaining and let people watch what they want.
And really, Red Riding Hood?
Well aren’t you a special, intellectual little snowflake? I’d assume someone as highbrow as you would understand the concept of escapism, but apparently not. Get off you high horse, people can recognize quality movies and still want to not take things so seriously all the time.
You can’t mock people for going to see Just Go With It and then turn around and say you’re going to spend money on Red Riding Hood, which looks to be horrible.
“Either moviegoers are so desperate for entertainment that they’ll watch anything; or, they just have terrible taste in movies”. Why does it have to be one or the other? Maybe it’s both.
How Sue Sees It:
1. Unknown–Identity mystery/thriller featuring big name star with no memory or chance of replacing Matt Damon.
2. I Am Number Four–I hate a title that gives the ending away.
3. Just Go With It–Remake of Goldie Hawn’s Oscar turn in Cactus Flower. Aniston seen practicing Razzie Speech in LA airport mirror.
4. Big Momma’s: Like Father, Like Son–Biggest Loser gains it back for cameo and dies of heart attack, biggest laugh.
5. Gnomeo And Juliet–Animated feature with a pun in the title. Doesn’t portend well for upcoming animated porn version of Shakespeare’s Titus Andronicus called, Tightass Androgynous
Ergh? Leave Sue’s Corner to Sue :-p. But uh nice try, I did find the Big Momma’s comment humorous but yeah…
Liam Neeson is 58 years old, so I doubt he has any aspirations of replacing Matt Damon. What an idiotic comment.
Yikes Sue, I sure hope you’re pretty!
Let’s see, what does Betsy and Josh think? NOTHING. Why’s that, Sue? ‘Cause they always use a cheap gun.
Oh, you’re “special.” Sorry Sue, I didn’t know. That was a very good post Sue, yes it was!
Hey, Betsy! I hate to bait your sorry ass, but…you’re still cheaper by the dozen.
Yep, definately “special.”
This is still bothering me – Unknown, an action movie filmed in Europe, cost $31 million, and I Am #4 – an effects-heavy sci-fi action flick cost $50 million. So how the hell did Adam Sandler’s movie cost $80 mil? I know his salary is higher than anyone on those other two, but how did they spend the other $60 mil or so?
I bet a big chunk of that is for the salaries of Sandler, Aniston and Kidman.
And don’t forget Aniston wardobe
The opening parties with Jen and her expensive clothes, hair care, and spray on tan. Also, anti-aging creme so she keeps up her 29 y/o ‘Rachel’ look
So maybe Sandler gets $20 million, or a bit more. I doubt Aniston got more than $2-5 million, and since Kidman seems to be more of an uncredited cameo as far as I can tell, so I doubt she got a big paycheck. Still, that would all maybe top off at $30 million, how did they spend the other $50 mil? They must’ve had some awesome catering on set.
My high school buddy’s step-daughter had a small non-speaking role in ‘I am number 4′, and I can tell you that they are not paid much. They are supposed to be satisfied with just being ‘given a part’ to add to their resume. I am sure the big-wigs are getting the big bucks.
I’m not surprised about “I Am Number 4″ not doing well. I hadn’t even heard of it until yesterday.
D’oh!
IaN4 is just bad..The story and the Acting..What acting????? This Alex Guy demanding 10 Mil….Please, he should be happy with 1 mil…and that is generous..
I knew I Am Number Four was going to be bad….but I didnt know it was going to tanked that much. Oh well they should have put Johnn Depp in there.
“find Hollywood jobs on careerDaddy com’
Gee Anistons movie is going down again………
What are you talking about? A 45% drop from opening day is actually above average for a broad comedy with big name stars like Just Go With It. If anything, it proves that word of mouth isn’t that terrible and like most Sandler movies, it should display some healthy legs. I am so tired of people slamming Jennifer Aniston. No movie star makes great choices all the time, but when they do make the good ones, those are what counts and she’s made some good ones. So why don’t you check out The Good Girl, Friends With Money and Management before you open your mouth to slam this lady again. By the way, have YOU even seen Just Go With It? Pure, broad comedy entertainment. Let go of your ego for 2 hours and learn to lighten up!
I agree. People ridiculing Aniston is just getting old and tired. She’s made good movies and bad movies, just like everyone else in Hollywood. She does have talent, no matter what some internet troll tries to tell you. And while Just Go with It has gotten bad reviews, most critics have noted that Aniston is easily one of the few good things about. And acting aside, Aniston seems to be one of the most down to earth, charming women in Hollywood. She’s always fun and entertaining on talk shows. The hatred for her is absolutely absurd.
But mostly bad movies and she’s fast running out of time.
Is anybody else skeeved out at the thought of Liam being paired with somebody so young? Ewww.
No.
Yes, don’t get me wrong, I love Liam Neeson but the age difference is a little much when there are clearly actresses closer to his age who could have done the job.
absolutely not.
I just hope the 4 movie tanks.
I’m just amazed that we had 3 new movies open near to or above the 30 million dollar mark last weekend. And this weekend we get 3 weak-a$$ films that will fail to do anything special for the holiday frame, leaving it up to the holdovers to save the day. Really, all three of the top performing films from last weekend could conceivably make this weekend’s top five, if not top four.
Liam took box office again. He gets people in seats. “#4″ is too violent for pre-teens who parents would let watch ‘Twilight’ and the leads are bland looking, not edgy like Twi’s kids.
Jen may be talented, but she has to stop doing crap movies, just so she can claim to be a “film actress”. It doesn’t have the prestige as the ‘Golden Age’. Go do a cable series and stretch acting. Quit the ‘desparately seeking Mr. Right’ roles and play an independant woman.
I saw both I AM NUMBER FOUR and UNKNOWN this weekend and I have to say that I AM NUMBER FOUR was more interesting to me, and ultimately more enjoyable. I’m a fan of Liam Neeson and if his movie proves to be the box office champ this weekend, it’ll be because I am not alone. However, UNKNOWN’s script feels like Bourne Identity and Taken put together. My cousin, who came with me, asked me why Liam Neeson always seems to be a skilled fighter/secret ops/retired assassin in his recent films (A-Team, Taken, Unknown) and then a character in UNKNOWN announces that Liam Neeson’s character was an undercover assassin. Come on now. Too predictable. And the movie’s pacing was a little slow. Watching Number Four actually made me interested in reading the book. The movie did feel like a variation of Superman/Jumper/X-Men but I believed the characters, the story is a tried and true formula, the special effects were well done and by the end, I wanted to see more. Here’s hoping for part II. And because I believe everyone is entitled to their own opinion, I encourage people to see both and then be their own judge.
I agree that Unknown comes off as formulaic and kind of a mishmash of other stuff. But, to me, if it finishes at #1, that just proves how big of a draw Neeson really is, that he can sell a been-there-done-that film.
I hope you told your cousin about Oskar Schindler, Michael Collins, Alfred Kinsey, Rob Roy, Jean Valjean and the numerous other non-assassin characters that Neeson’s played over the course of his career.
I don’t know how people couldn’t see IAN4′s failure coming. I’m not sure how many of you have followed it since its inception, but it’s ALWAYS been a pre-packaged gimmick. They had the film deal done before the book was even released. The book had its own trailer, for pete’s sake. Unlike Harry Potter or (gag, but true) Twilight, it was never allowed to actually gain an organic audience. And they’re scratching their heads, wondering why it … doesn’t have an audience. Well, duh.
And, also, the film itself is apparently godawful. That doesn’t help.
I actually kind of suspected that Liam Neeson might surprise people this week, and what do you know …
I kinda have to agree with you about the whole gimmick thing I think if they had let it become popular on it’s own maybe it would have done better. But I liked the movie alot and I actually hope for a sequel.
Book trailers are becoming quite common for commerical books (and some literary), and not just for YA. So that complaint is rather toothless.