#BOXOFFICE: “ELYISUM” IS OUT OF THIS WORLD AT THE BOX OFFICE

With a Cast that boast stars like Matt Damon and Jodie Foster, resistance is futile for Moviegoers and such was the case at the Box Office this weekend as Sony Pictures’ Elysium nabs the top spot at the Box Office with $30.5 million from 3,280 theatres. More impressively, Sci-Fi Flick did this with the handicap of an R-rating in the U.S., made for  a budget of $98 million. With above average reviews overall from Critics (66% on the Tomatometer at Rotten Tomatoes), Audiences gave it a “B” CinemaScore.

Debuting in second was Warner Bros.’ We’re the Millers which actually opened on Wednesday, but over the three-day weekend it grossed $26.6 million from 3,260 theatres.  Since Wednesday, it has made over $38 million already. Starring Jennifer Aniston and Jason Sudeikis, the Comedy earned a great A- CinemaScore from Audiences, and 41% from Critics on the Tomatometer. The Film was made for $37 million – already paying its bill.

Disney’s Planes 3-D  featuring the Voicework of Dane Cook, gave Families an option at the theatres this weekend, debuting in 3,709 theatres with $22.5 million. Audiences give it an A- Cinemascore, while Critics gave it a 25% rating at Rotten Tomatoes.

Percy Jackson: Sea of Monsters, based on the popular Novels and second Film in the Franchise, debuts with $14.6 million from 3,031 theatres for 20th Century Fox, good enough for fourth spot with a B+ CinemaSCore and 34% on the Tomatometer. By comparison, the first Installment in 2010 earned $31.2 million in its debut.

Meanwhile, last week’s Champ, 2 Guns, slips to fourth spot with $11.1 million from 3,028 theatres, a cumulative total of $48 million in two weeks for Universal Pictures/eOne Films.

The Conjuring continues to scare audiences with $6.5 million in its fourth week, a total of $120.5 earned thus far domestically. Grown-Ups 2 rounds-out the Top Ten with $3.8 million for Sony Pictures in its fifth week.

#BOXOFFICE: “THE CONJURING” TERRIFIES ITS WAY TO #1

Moviegoers chose fear first this weekend at the Box Office as Warner Bros.’ The Conjuring debuts with a stellar $41.5 million.  The Supernatural-Horror directed by one of the SAW Franchise Masterminds James Wan, opened in 2,903 theatres and was made for only $20 million, already paying its own bill.  Starring Vera Farmiga, Ron Livingston, Patrick Wilson and Lili Taylor, the Film based on true events, earned a great A- CinemaScore, while Critics agreed it was something special with an 85% rating on the Tomatometer.

Despicable Me 2 still continues to go strong in its third week for Universal Pictures, earning $25 million – a total of $275 million grossed domestically to date.  This places it just ahead of debuting Turbo 3-D, which competes for a share of the same Family demographic, earning $21.5 million from 3,280 theatres for 20th Century Fox.

Grown Ups 2 is showing no signs of stopping in fourth spot with $20 million, debuting last week at number two for Sony Pictures.  In two weeks it already has surpassed the $80 million mark in North America.

Star-studded Action Flick Red 2 opens in fifth with a respectable $18.5 million from 3,016 theatres for Summit Entertainment/Lionsgate Films/eOne Films.  Its Predecessor made $21 million in its 2010 debut  at number two by comparison.  Critics didn’t think much of it with a 40% rating on the Tomatometer, but Audiences enjoyed it, giving it a B+ CinemaScore.

R.I.P.D. starring Jeff Bridges and Ryan Reynolds opens with a dismal $12.8 million from 2,852 theatres. Made for $130 million, the Supernatural-Action Flick from Universal Pictures fared poorly with Critics, earning 11% on the Tomatometer, earning slightly better reviews from Audiences with a C+ CinemaScore.

Monsters University 3-D rounds-out the Top Ten with $4.7 million for Disney in its fifth week of release.  In total, it has grossed $250 million in its run domestically.

#BOXOFFICE: “DESPICABLE ME 2” AT #1 A SECOND WEEK

For the second week in-a-row, Universal Pictures’ Despicable Me 2 lands on-top of the Box Office after opening on-top in its debut.  It earns $44.7 million this weekend, for a two-week total of $225 million for Universal Pictures domestically from 4,003 theatres.

Sometimes it’s just not about Special F/X or the best Reviews for that matter when it comes to winning Moviegoers’ hearts.  Case in point, Audiences opted for Comedy and familiar faces, making Grown Ups 2 number two for Sony Pictures, earning a strong $42.5 million in its debut. The follow-up to the 2010 Comedy reunites Chris Rock, Kevin James, David Spade and Adam Sandler once again, earning a lackluster 7% on the Tomatometer.  Audiences gave it a B CinemaScore, however which won’t hurt its word-of-mouth buzz.  Made for $80 million, it should have no problems paying its own bill. By comparison, its Predecessor debuted with $40 million, this latest Installment besting it slightly.

Pacific Rim debuts at third with solid reviews for Warner Bros., earning $38.3 million domestically.  The Film, made in Toronto for a budget of $185 million is still expanding overseas, where it is expected to perform strongly, opening in the Top Two in the UK, Russia, Korea and Mexico, among others.  Audiences gave it an A CinemaScore, while Critics gave the Guillermo del Toro Monsters vs. Robots Flick 72% on the Tomatometer.

20th Century Fox’s The Heat slips to fourth this weekend in its third week of release, with $14 million, now earning over $111 million domestically, just ahead of The Lone Ranger with $11.1 million in fifth for Disney.  World War Z slips to seventh with $9.4 million for Paramount Pictures, while Man of Steel rounds-out the Top Ten with $4.8 million for Warner Bros. in its fifth week.

Although it still has yet to open in Canada, Sundance Favourite, Fruitvale Station, gets a timely limited release in the U.S. with the Trayvon Martin Trial verdict having been decided, earning $377k from just seven theatres.  The Oscar Hopeful opens in Toronto on July 26, 2013.