The 52nd weekend of the year is looking like $181 million for the top 12 films Friday-Sunday, a very healthy performance for the final weekend of the year.
Opening at 2,537 theaters today (slightly below the 2,886 average theater count for opening weekends the last two years), The Wolf of Wall Street from Paramount should average a solid $9,600 per theater for the weekend (for a $24.5 million opening weekend). [The average wide-release film the past two years has had an opening weekend of $5,300 per theater.] Including Wednesday and Thursday business, Wolf of Wall Street should total $41 million through Sunday. Early reviews are positive at RottenTomatoes: 78% positive so far. Wolf of Wall Street is on track for $135 million domestic, slightly ahead of director Martin Scorsese’s previous high ($132.4 million for The Departed in October 2006).
Opening at 2,909 theaters today, The Secret Life of Walter Mitty from Fox should average a middling $5,400 per theater for the weekend (for a $15.5 million opening weekend). Early reviews are mixed: 48% positive. Through Sunday the five-day total for Mitty should be $22 million. Secret Life of Walter Mitty is on track for maybe $90 million domestic.
Opening at 2,838 theaters today, Grudge Match from Warner Brothers should average $4,900 per theater for the weekend (for a $13.5 million opening weekend). Early reviews are not supportive at RottenTomatoes: only 24% positive so far. Including Wednesday and Thursday, the film should total $20 million. Grudge Match is on track for maybe $70 million domestic.
Opening at 2,688 theaters today, 47 Ronin from Universal should average a weak $3,800 per theater for the weekend (for a $10.0 million opening weekend). Early reviews are hostile: only 13% positive so far. Through Sunday, the five-day total for the film should be $17 million. 47 Ronin is on track for maybe $55 million domestic.
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NEW FILMS THIS WEEKEND December 27-29, 2013 |
Critics Positive | ($ millions) | |||||
| Opening Weekend Forecast | Opening 5-Day (Wed-Sun) | Domestic Total Projection | |||||
| The Wolf of Wall Street | Par | R | 78% | 24.5 | 41 | 135 | |
| Secret Life of Walter Mitty | Fox | PG | 48% | 15.5 | 22 | 90 | |
| Grudge Match | WB | PG13 | 24% | 13.5 | 20 | 70 | |
| 47 Ronin | Uni | PG13 | 13% | 10.0 | 17 | 55 | |
| Believe | ORF | PG | n/a | 7.5 | 12 | 40 | |
| Mandela: Long Walk to Freedom | Weins | PG13 | 57% | 5.5 | 11 | 50 | |
Opening at 1,037 theaters today, Believe from Open Road Films should average a decent $7,200 per theater for the weekend (for a $7.5 million opening three-day weekend and $12 million Wednesday-Sunday). No reviews yet at RottenTomatoes. Believe is on track for maybe $40 million domestic.
Expanding to 975 theaters today, Mandela: Long Walk to Freedom from The Weinstein Company should average $5,800 per theater for the weekend (for a $5.5 million first wide weekend and $11 million through Sunday). Reviews are fairly mixed at RottenTomatoes: 57% positive so far. Mandela is on track for maybe $50 million domestic.
Among the holdovers, The Hobbit: Desolation of Smaug should remain at the top of the heap, with Frozen, Anchorman 2 and Amercan Hustle one notch below.
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RETURNING FILMS December 27-29, 2013 |
Change vs Last Weekend | ($ millions) | |||
| Weekend Forecast | Showbuzz Domestic Final Proj. | ||||
| The Hobbit: The Desolation of Smaug | WB | -17% | 26.2 | 220 | |
| Frozen 3D | Dis | +11% | 21.8 | 230 | |
| Anchorman 2: The Legend Continues | Par | -25% | 20.0 | 140 | |
| American Hustle | Sony | -11% | 17.0 | 105 | |
| Saving Mr. Banks | Dis | +8% | 10.1 | 60 | |
| Walking with Dinosaurs | Fox | +11% | 7.9 | 32 | |
Box Office Volume
For the past four years, the top 12 films this weekend have averaged $165 million total, ranking 9th of 52 weeks. Last year, this weekend’s total was $164 million (while 2011 was $140 million and 2010 was $149 million). This Friday-Sunday is looking like $181 million, up 10% from the multi-year average for the comparable weekend and up 11% from the comparable weekend last year.
This Weekend Last Two Years
12.28.2012
Les Miserables UNI PG13 Hugh Jackman Russell Crowe
Opening Weekend — Forecast: $50 Actual: $27
Domestic Gross — Estimate: $156 Actual: $149
International — Estimate: n/a Actual: $289
Django Unchained WEINS R Jamie Foxx Leonardo DiCaprio
Opening Weekend — Forecast: $41 Actual: $30
Domestic Gross — Estimate: $172 Actual: $163
International — Estimate: n/a Actual: $261
Parental Guidance FOX PG Billy Crystal Bette Midler
Opening Weekend — Forecast: $13 Actual: $15
Domestic Gross — Estimate: $80 Actual: $77
International — Estimate: n/a Actual: $43
Silver Linings Playbook WEINS R Bradley Cooper Jennifer Lawrence
Opening Weekend — Forecast: $3 Actual: $4
Domestic Gross — Estimate: $66 Actual: $132
International — Estimate: n/a Actual: $104
12.30.2011
No releases
Check back throughout the weekend for box office updates as the actual numbers come in.
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