#BOXOFFICE: “STAR TREK INTO DARKNESS” DEBUTS WITH $70-MILLION OPENING

Although predictions pegged it a bit higher, Paramount Pictures’ Star Trek Into Darkness, the Sequel in the Franchise directed by J.J. Abrams, debuts in number one this weekend with $70.6 million from 3,868 theatres across North America.  Made for $190 million, the Sci-Fi/Action Flick opened on Wednesday night, but falls just short of the  $75 million its predecessor made in 2009. Audiences of course loved the Sequel, giving it a coveted A CinemaScore and also Critics agreed with a stellar 88% rating at Rotten Tomatoes. It was the only Film released this weekend to debut in the Top Ten and does so on-top!

Two-week Champion Iron Man 3 slips to second this weekend, but by no means is disgraced, earning $35.2 million in its third week for Disney.  The Blockbuster has just exceeded the $1 billion-mark globally.

The Great Gatsby despite never reaching the top of the Box Office, like Iron Man 3, performs v. well in third with $23.4 million in its second week of release for Warner Bros., earning $90 million in just two weeks. Box Office Experts are saying that this being one of the few Female-catered Films out currently, may have hindered Star Trek Into Darkness‘ numbers from being record-breaking for the Franchise.

The gap is huge  between the Top Three Films and the rest of the Films in the Top Ten. Paramount Pictures for the second week in-a-row gets the fourth spot with Pain and Gain, earning $3.1 million in its fourth week, just surpassing the $50-million mark domestically, keeping Veteran The Croods at bay with $2.8 million in fifth.

Brace yourselves at the sixth Film in the Fast & Furious Franchise hits theatres next weekend, already debuting big overseas with $13.8 million already in the U.K.!