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The Saturday drop for PARANORMAL ACTIVITY 3 turned out to be very much in line with Paranormal 2‘s. Paramount is estimating a better Sunday hold than the second installment had; if the result is instead the same as last time, the weekend gross will dip below $54M, but to a still-giant number. Paranormal 3 also took in $26M overseas, so it’s already in profit (including global marketing costs) 3 days into its run.
THE THREE MUSKETEERS began its overseas run in September, and has grossed $49M to date internationally. Even if that doubles, though, with a US total likely to be under $30M, the picture isn’t going to make back its $90M production cost plus marketing.
The worldwide outlook is brighter for JOHNNY ENGLISH REBORN. It’s a throwaway in the US, but like the first film in the series, it’s a genuine hit overseas with over $100M in the bank.
REAL STEEL, FOOTLOOSE and DOLPHIN TALE have been holding well, but PUSS IN BOOTS will be a real challenge for all of them next weekend.
MARGIN CALL had a strong $10K average in 56 theatres, a release that went well beyond the usual limited release territories–and that’s not counting the film’s VOD revenue. Worth noting: the Margin number included $32K at its main NY theatre, which made it more or less even with the weekend’s showcase limited release, Fox Searchlight’s MARTHA MARCY MAY MARLENE, which had a $35K average in 4 NY/LA houses.
Sony Classics expanded 2 of its fall openings with decent results: THE SKIN I LIVE IN averaged $12.5K at 21, and TAKE SHELTER averaged $3500 at 55. In less high-visibility openings, LE HAVRE and ORANGES AND SUNSHINE both averaged about $4500 at 6 and 4 theatres respectively.