“Watchmen” tops weekend box office
Features writer David Zizzo has in today’s Life section a fascinating story on James Kakalios, a physics professor at the University of Minnesota who worked as a consultant on the film version of “Watchmen.” Kakalios teaches a popular freshman seminar called “Everything I Know About Physics I Learned by Reading Comic Books.” Click here to read David’s story.
“Watchmen” made $55.7 million over the weekend to nab the top spot at the box office, making Zack Snyder’s adaptation of the acclaimed graphic novel the biggest opening of the year so far, according to the Associated Press.
But the opening wasn’t quite as super as Snyder’s 2007 comic book movie “300,” which opened with $70 million.
“They’re two different movies,” Dan Fellman, head of distribution for Warner Bros., which is releasing “Watchmen,” told the AP. “This is a movie that runs two hours and 45 minutes. That really only leaves the exhibitor with one showing a night. If you have an 8 o’clock show, the next show is at midnight. So with essentially one show a night, I think this is outstanding.”
The celebrated graphic novel has many fervent fans, and many of those went to IMAX theaters to see Dr. Manhattan, Rorschach, Nite Owl and Silk Spectre on the extra-big screen. Greg Foster, chairman and president of IMAX Filmed Entertainment, told the AP “Watchmen” sold out on all 124 IMAX screens it was playing on over the weekend. It was the second largest opening in IMAX history behind “The Dark Knight.”
“Watchmen” was the only wide release over the weekend. “Tyler Perry’s Madea Goes to Jail,” which had been No. 1 for the two previous weekends, was second with $8.8 million. The kidnapping thriller “Taken,” starring Liam Neeson, was No. 3 position with $7.5 million.
“Jonas Brothers: The 3D Concert Experience” dropped from No. 2 to No. 9 at the weekend box office.
For the year, movie attendance continues to swell, with revenue at $1.9 billion, up 16 percent through the same point in 2008, according to the AP. Even accounting for 2009’s higher ticket prices, attendance is up about 14 percent over last year.
Here is the list of the weekend’s top movies, from the AP:
1. “Watchmen,” $55.7 million.
2. “Tyler Perry’s Madea Goes to Jail,” $8.8 million
3. “Taken,” $7.5 million.
4. “Slumdog Millionaire,” $6.9 million.
5. “Paul Blart: Mall Cop,” $4.1 million.
6. “He’s Just Not That Into You,” $4 million.
7. “Coraline,” $3.3 million.
8. “Confessions of a Shopaholic,” $3.1 million.
9. “Jonas Brothers: The 3D Concert Experience,” $2.8 million.
10. “Fired Up,” $2.6 million.
-BAM
If you enjoyed this post, please consider to leave a comment or subscribe to the feed and get future articles delivered to your feed reader.
Comments
No comments yet.
Leave a comment