No surprises here! Man of Steel debuts on-top this weekend from 4,207 theatres with a whopping $151 million for Warner Bros. over the four-day Father’s Day Weekend. From Friday through Sunday, it grossed $125 million in North America, making it this highest-grossing June opening of all time. Despite mixed reviews overall from Critics (56% on the Tomatometer), Loyal Fans to the Franchise could not be deterred, actually giving the Film some strong word of mouth, garnering an A- CinemaScore. Made for $225 million, the Zack Synder-directed Film starring Henry Cavill debuted in 24 markets overseas, number one across-the-board!
Not to be outdone, Sony Pictures Apocalypse-Comedy This is the End, starring a stellar Cast of Friends including Seth Rogen, James Franco, Jonah Hill, Jay Baruchel, Michael Cera, Emma Watson, Craig Robinson and Danny McBride, performs well to debut in second with $20.3 million over the three-day weekend. Made for $32 million, the Film earned an B+ CinemaScore, faring better with Critics with its 85% rating on the Tomatometer.
Now You See Me continues to go strong in third in its third week, with $11.1 million for Summit/Lionsgate and eOne Films. To date it has grossed over $80 million in North America.
Last week’s Champion The Purge, slips to fourth this weekend with $9.0 million, placing it just ahead of another former Champ in Fast and the Furious 6, with $9.1 million, good enough for fifth in this its fourth week in theatres.
Rounding-out the Top Ten are After Earth starring Father-Son Duo Will & Jaden Smith with $3.5 million in ninth and Iron Man 3, which earns $2.7 million in its seventh week. The latter is on the verge of surpassing the $400-million mark domestically.
A huge surprise at the Box Office this weekend as the R-rated Home Invasion-Horror with a tiny budget trumps all! The Purge from Universal Pictures grosses a shocking $36.3 million in its debut, exceeding all expectations. More impressively, it is showing only in 2,536 theatres. Critics gave it 41% on the Tomatometer at Rotten Tomatoes, while Audiences gave it a C CinemaScore. Starring Ethan Hawke and Lena Headey, the Film is one of two Films in currently in theatres for Hawke as Romantic-Drama, Before Midnight, reuniting him a third time with Richard Linklater and Julie Delpy, lands in fifteenth spot also with $585k from only 50 theatres.
Box Office Monster Fast and the Furious 6 continues to perform well in second for Universal Pictures, earning $19.7 million in this its third week, just ahead of Now You See Me in third with $19.5 million, in its second week exceeding expectations.
Reuniting Vince Vaughn and Owen Wilson, The Internship debuts in fourth spot with $18.1 million for 20th Century Fox. Critics didn’t love the Google-inspired Comedy, earning 41% on the Tomatometer, while earning a much better B+ CinemaScore.
Animated Feature, Epic, in its third week earns $12.1 million for 20th Century Fox, the only Family-oriented Film in the Top Ten.
Meanwhile, Will & Jaden Smith‘s After Earth finds itself in seventh spot with $11.2 million and The Hangover Part III slips to eighth spot with $7.3 million for Warner Bros. The Great Gatsby rounds-out the Top Ten with $4.2 million in its fifth week, now grossing over $136 million in North America.
Not that it was a contest, especially with its eye-popping $98.5 million opening last weekend, but Fast and Furious 6 for a second week regins supreme at the Box Office in North America, earning $34.5 million from 3,686 theatres for Universal Pictures.
Never to be outdone, Now You See Me, the Magic-themed Action-Thriller exceeds expectations, earning a smart $28.1 million from 2,925 theatres, landing it in second spot for Summit Entertainment/Lionsgate Films/eOne Films. Made for $75 million, the Film stars Mark Ruffalo, Jesse Eisenberg, Mélanie Laurent, Woody Harrelson, Isla Fisher, Morgan Freeman and Michael Caine. Although Critics weren’t wowed, tallying-in at 45% on the Tomatometer, Audiences responded with a resounding “yes” and an A- CinemaScore.
Will Smith and his Son Jaden team together on Sci-Fi/Adventure, After Earth, debuting in third with $27 million from 3,401 theatres. This proves a bit troublesome for Sony Pictures which invested $130 million in production costs on the Film. Critics panned it, giving it a 12% rating at Rotten Tomatoes. Audiences thought likewise, although they were far more forgiving with a B CinemaScore.
In the fourth spot this weekend we have a rare two-way tie between Epic, the latest Animated Feature from 20th Century Fox, which in its second week brings-in with $16.4 million alongside Star Trek Into Darkness. To date, the latter has grossed $181 in North America for Paramount Pictures. The Hangover Part III slips to fifth spot this weekend, earning $15.9 million and a two-week cumulative domestic total of $87.4 million.
Rounding-out the Top Ten this weekend is Mud from Roadside Attractions/eOne Films, earning $1.2 million from only 580 theatres in its sixth week. To date, the Drama starring Matthew McConaughey and Reese Witherspoon, has grossed $16.9 million. It has earned some super reviews – an almost unheard of 99% on the Tomatometer.
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