Unbelievably, Ben Affleck’s Argo finds itself at number one with $12.5 million on a really tepid Weekend, climbing steadily to the summit since its debut three weeks ago. The Drama which is seen widely as a Frontrunner for Best Picture, still is showing in 2,855 theatres across North America. To-date it has earned $61.5 million domestically.
Mega-Opus Cloud Atlas, despite gaining high marks for Artistic Merit, alas debuts below expectations in second with $9.5 million for Warner Bros. Critics gave it favourable Reviews, tallying 61% on the Tomatometer. The Film with a Cast of Megastars including Tom Hanks, Halle Berry, Susan Sarandon, Hugh Grant, Hugo Weaving and several more, was made for a budget of $102 million.
Former number one Hotel Transylvania still is going strong into Halloween with $9 million in its fifth week – enough to land it in third this weekend for Sony Pictures, just ahead of last week’s Champion Paranormal Activity 4, which happens also to be in fourth with $8.6 million.
Silent Hill: Revelation 3-D which debuts in fifth with $8.5 million, from 2,933 theatres for Open Road/Alliance Films. The Horror which was filmed in Toronto, earned only 7% on the Tomatometer at Rotten Tomatoes.
Rounding-out the Horror Contingent is Sinister, which still hanging-tough in ninth with $5 million in its third week. Pitch Perfect rounds out the Top Ten for Universal Pictures with $4.2 million.
Remaining true to form, Paranormal Activity 4 opens big in its debut this weekend for Paramount Pictures. The Franchise which has grossed over $295 million prior in North America alone, earns $30 million with its latest from 3,412 theates. Made for only $5 million, the Horror uncharacteristically received negative Reviews unlike its well-received Predecessors, with 24% garnered on Rotten Tomatoes’ Tomatometer.
Ben Affleck’s Argo continues to performing outstandingly at the Box Office, sitting at number two this weekend with $16.7 million, now earning a total $45.5 million in two weeks. Its Cast continues to promote the factual Drama on the Talk Show Circuit with Bryan Cranston even hitting-up a far-reaching Audience including Viewers of Chelsea Lately this week. Even Wife of Affleck, Jennifer Garner, was on the Show promoting her own Film Butter, singing the Film’s praises recently.
Even though it slips to third spot this weekend, Taken 2 is still going strong in its third week, earning $13.3 million for Universal Pictures, just ahead of another former Champion in Sony Pictures’ Hotel Transylvania with $13.2 million.
Alex Cross opens in fifth spot with $12 million for eOne Films/Summit Entertainment/Lionsgate Films from 2,539 theatres. The Action-Thriller starring the unlikeliest of Combinations in Matthew Fox and Tyler Perry, might not have fared well with Critics (13% on the Tomatometer), but Audiences gave it an “A” CinemaScore.
Pitch Perfect continues to exceed expectations hanging onto the Top Ten in its fourth week at number right with a respectable $6.8million, while Looper rounds things out with with $4.1 million.
Just when you thought one abduction in the Family was too much, it happens again in Taken 2! The Follow-up to 2010’s $226-million grossing Action-Thriller adds Famke Janssen to the mix, while the bigger draw of course would be Box Office Megastar Liam Neeson. This Sequel from 20th Century Fox opens to horrific reviews (19% on Rotten Tomatoes) but big reception from Moviegoers, earning $50 million in its debut. Stellar. Although I hate to be the one pointing it out, Neeson‘s Career since experiencing the sad misfortune of Widowhood in March 2009, has skyrocketed. Since then, his Films have earned over $1.1 billion worldwide. Suffice it to say, there is an Angel looking over him?
Hotel Transylvania continues to perform beautifully for Sony Pictures, earning $26.6 million in its second weekend, now tallying at $75.4 million. Meanwhile, Pitch Perfect expands in its second week to 2,770 theatres, impressive in third spot with $14.5 million. Reviews also are solid for the Musical-Comedy starring Rebel Wilson, Anna Kendrick and Brittany Snow.
Disney‘s Frankenweenie opens in fifth this weekend with $12 million from 3,005 theatres. This latest effort from Tim Burton, garnered v. strong reviews with 85% on the Tomatometer at Rotten Tomatoes. Some may see this as a disappointment, however the Film was made for a sensible $39 million and still has yet to open overseas.
The Master in 864 theatres continues to hang onto the Top Ten in ninth spot with $1.6 million for The Weinstein Co./eOne Films, while Finding Nemo 3D rounds out the Top Ten for Disney.
After a few weak weekends in a row, Moviegoers finally showed their Box Office support this weekend with a big debut for Sony Pictures’ Hotel Transylvania. The Animated Feature starring Adam Sandler, Andy Samberg, Selena Gomez and Kevin James debuts with $43 million from 3,349 theatres across North America. The Film debuted at TIFF just a few weeks back. See my Snaps with the Cast here!
Sony Pictures/Alliance Films earned big numbers from Action-Thriller, Looper, starring Bruce Willis and Joseph Gordon-Levitt, the Film also receiving a Premiere here at TIFF a couple weeks back as the Opening Night Gala. It earns $21.2 million from 2,992 theatres, making it a Sony Pictures Top Two in the U.S., opening with resoundingly strong reviews at 93% on Rotten Tomatoes.
Last week’s number one Film End of Watch continues to perform well in third with $8 million, tallying at a two-week total of $25.9 million, exceeding all expectations for Open Road and VVS Films with a $7 million budget. Trouble with the Curve and Thriller The House at the End of the Street follow closely behind in fourth and fifth with $7.5 million and $7.1 million respectively.
Musical-Comedy Pitch Perfect, debuts in sixth impressively with $5.2 million from only 335 theatres for Universal Pictures. The Film is Anna Kendrick‘s second film in the Top Ten along with End of Watch this weekend, and it likely will expand to bigger numbers in coming weeks.
Best Picture Candidate The Master showing in 856 theatres only, continues to perform fairly well with $2.71 million in ninth spot for The Weinstein Co./eOne Films, while Won’t Back Down starring Maggie Gyllenhaal (two Gyllenhaals in the Top Ten) and Viola Davis, rounds out the Top Ten for 20th Century Fox with $2.7 million from 2,515 theatres.
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