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.!
In an exciting weekend at the Box Office, two heavy Hollywood Blockbusters were pitted against one another – Iron Man 3, catering more towards a male audience, and The Great Gatsby, catering towards a more female audience. Alas, it is the Man of Iron who prevails with $72.4 million in its second week after an explosive $174 million opening in North America. In two short weeks, it has grossed $284 million domestically.
Not to be shamed, The Great Gatsby debuts in second with an equally stellar $51.1 million for Warner Bros. from 3,535 theatres. Although Critics had mixed feelings about the F. Scott Fitzgerald Adaptation with a 48% rating on Rotten Tomatoes’ Tomatometer, audiences gave it a B CinemaScore, which shouldn’t hurt it. Also, the fact that it is Mother’s Day surely helps with its numbers.
Former number one Pain & Gain slips to third this weekend for Paramount Pictures, earning $5 million in a v. distant third place. To date it has grossed $41 million domestically.
Debuting uncharacteristically low in fourth with $4.8 million from 2,041 theatres is Tyler Perry‘s latest Peeples, starring Kerry Washington. The Comedy is the only other wide release to open this weekend and earned a B- CinemaScore and also a 37% rating on the Tomatometer.
In fifth is 42, another former number one Film, with $4.6 million for Warner Bros. in its fourth week of release. In its four week run, the Jackie Robinson Biopic has grossed $84.7 million.
Rounding out the Top Ten are Matthew McConaughey and Reese Witherspoon Drama Mud with $2.3 million – the Film opens soon in Canada via eOne Films – and the valiant Oz The Great and Powerful with $802k in its TENTH week of release for Disney.
Well, this just looks odd! Michael Bay ventures into Comedy with Miami-set Pain and Gain, which centers around the True Story of a Trio of Bodybuilders get caught-up in an Extortion Ring and Kidnapping Scheme which goes horribly wrong.
Mark Wahlberg, Ken Jeong, Anthony Mackie, Rebel Wilson and Dwayne “The Rock” Johnson star, with this being the latter’s third Film out in three months. How can anyone resist Wilson being inappopriate and naughty?
Check-out this brand new Red Band Trailer, which shocks as much as it amuses (NSFW!):
Paramount Pictures releases Pain and Gain on April 26, 2013.
(Photo/video credit: Paramount Pictures)
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