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*All historical figures cited are adjusted to today’s dollars.
When it comes to a death match, would anyone bet against death himself? Two high profile horror franchises released their latest installments on the last weekend of the summer and the winner is “The Final Destination.”
$28.3 million is a new high for the series and proves the value of 3D, at least as far as body parts flying out of the screen are concerned. There’s no other explanation as to why these movies would continually improve since they are, quite literally, the exact same plot done again and again with only the most minor of tweaks. Now the only interesting thing about the series is trying to guess what they’ll call the next movie. “The Real Final Destination: Honest”?
“Halloween II” could only muster up $17.4 million for third place, which is a steep drop from the original film’s showing, most likely because everybody hated that movie. Rob Zombie seemed to offer nothing but more of the same and if uncomfortable glasses and flying body parts coming straight at me aren’t in the equation, then there’s nothing else to say.
It’s interesting that the Weinsteins chose to release this only one week after their other big summer film and against competition they should have known they would lose to.
Sandwiched between those two is Quentin Tarantino’s “Inglourious Basterds.” A respectable 48% drop to $20 million for the weekend and $73.8 million so far means that Tarantino and his film have to be taken a little more seriously by Oscar. I mean, it’s got World War II subject matter, a return-to-form director, critical and public approval, Mike Myers. Three of those four things, the Academy can’t resist.
“District 9” continues to hold better than I would have expected and will cross the $100 million mark sometime in early September. Also met with critical and public approval, this feels like a much longer shot for any major Oscar love, despite the total absence of Mike Myers. (Unless he plays one of the aliens. Did any of them have Scottish accents? I can’t remember.)
“Taking Woodstock” opened to a pretty dismal $3.7 million and will not expand. Instead, it will finish with less than $10 million and be sold in a Wal-Mart double DVD pack with “Dazed and Confused” for $9.99 in time for Christmas. Or worse: “Detroit Rock City.” As much as the estates of Joan Baez and Arlo Guthrie might like to disagree, I just don’t think anyone cares about Woodstock anymore. You can officially scratch this off your Oscar list in all categories.
Holdovers performed strongly all around but “Julie & Julia” held up especially well, dropping only 17% and grossing another $7.4 million. It’s been said a million times before but after “The Devil Wears Prada” and now this, it bears repeating: Stanley Tucci is the new Will Smith.
This week I gave my $7 to “World’s Greatest Dad,” which was terrific. Everyone should and can see this since it’s also available on Amazon On Demand. I’d also previously seen “We Live in Public” and “Big Fan,” which both opened this week, although neither did much for me.
Next week signals the beginning of the Fall movie season and while that might sound like Oscar movies left and right, it actually means God awful movies dumped on the worst weekend of the year. Lionsgate loves to open an action film on this weekend and this year it’s “Gamer.” It’s interchangeable with “Bangkok Dangerous” and “Crank” in every way as far as I can tell so I’ll give it $9 million.
Fox’s oft-delayed Sandra Bullock comedy “All About Steve” opens as well and will probably be on DVD before “The Proposal.” I’m thinking $5 million for this one. Trust me, I should work as a police dog at the airport the way I can sniff out bombs.
Finally, Miramax gives “Extract” a mediocre-sized release and will see a decent per-theater average, but a still low $5 or $6 million weekend. Early September is grim, folks. Let’s not forget that “Dickie Roberts: Former Child Star” was a number one movie during this frame despite only grossing $7.9 million. Never forget.
What do you guys think? Overall thoughts on the summer? Here are the weekend’s top domestic grossers, courtesy of Exhibitor Relations:
14 responses so far
1 8-30-2009 at 3:14 pm
Matt T said...
If you’re predictions are right, then the Top 5 movies next week will all be rated R. Has that ever happened? Has even the Top 4 being R happened before this week?
I think All About Steve will do better than you think. It’s the only female programming in there.
Also, you said Stanley Tucci is the new Will Smith. What does that mean?
2 8-30-2009 at 3:18 pm
Missy said...
All About Steve will do better than you think . Bradley Cooper is a star on the rise and is featured heavily in the ads. The Hangover finally crossed $270mil
3 8-30-2009 at 3:24 pm
Chad Hartigan said...
We’ll see.
4 8-30-2009 at 3:31 pm
AmericanRequiem said...
meryl streep is the new will smith chad, and i think inglorious is the second best picture nominee weve seen this year, along with UP
5 8-30-2009 at 5:08 pm
davidraider88 said...
Agreed, “All About Steve” will make more than 5m.
6 8-30-2009 at 5:17 pm
Al said...
5 mil sounds right for ‘Steve’, I’m getting a Post Grad lack of advertising and interest vibe.
7 8-30-2009 at 6:07 pm
entertainmenttoday.. said...
I gave Halloween 2 ZERO stars. It is just AWFUL. I really believe that Dimension films should issue an apology for this utter garbage from the mind of a mentally ill human being in Rob Zombie. Im sorry but this film is so vile you can’t release it on 3100 screens. This is NOT Halloween. If Zombie wants to do his thing FINE, but don’t call it Halloween because it is not. Haddonfield is not a small town filled with Redneck hillbillies, Michael Myers is not a giant Hobo and Dr. Loomis is not an opportunist book writer. Don’t even get me started on Laurie Strode. Scout Taylor- Compton is an AWFUL actress. Just awful.
This movie pissed me off more than any film Ive seen in a long time. I can’t believe the Weinstein company could back this sick vision. NO MORE ROB ZOMBIE doing franchise properties. Sickening that he will do a BLOB remake.
chuck
8 8-30-2009 at 10:08 pm
ZiZo Abul Hawa said...
The two stars of the two surprises-smashes of the summer in one movie? I Mean, The Hangover made $270 and The Proposal $160… All About Steve is gonna make a lot of money.
9 8-30-2009 at 11:52 pm
Glenn said...
Matt, that has indeed happened. It wasn’t too long ago. Somebody mentioned what they were at another blog, but I can’t find it and I’m strapped for time.
10 8-31-2009 at 7:27 am
Matt T said...
Found it!
The weekend of Sept. 21, 2007 had all top 5 movies with an R rating.
11 8-31-2009 at 7:47 am
Hans said...
Hee, Chad you are just full of the snark this week, aren’t ya? I love it.
Yeah, September is pretty grim. Isn’t the #1 September weekend film STILL “Sweet Home Alabama”?
I think All About Steve will open decently. Brad and Sandra are definitely two hot stars at the moment. Not “Proposal” or “Hangover” numbers, but at least $10-12 million, I say.
I’m glad I only have my movie theater job during the summers. I think I would die of boredom during the doldrums of September-November.
12 8-31-2009 at 9:54 am
RichardA said...
The Proposal drew up audience because it’s Sandra Bullock and much neglected Ryan Reynolds. Now, Brad Cooper doesn’t have abs to show for…but like everyone else, I think All About Steve will do just all right.
13 9-07-2009 at 7:06 pm
James D. said...
Where is our Sunday Cents this week?
14 9-07-2009 at 8:11 pm
Chad Hartigan said...
It was a Monday Cents due to the holiday weekend and I submitted it to Kris so whenever he next signs on, it should be up.