#BOXOFFICE: “FAST 6” MAKES IT A DOUBLE, “NOW YOU SEE ME” DEBUTS AT #2

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.

#BOXOFFICE: “IRON MAN 3” STILL #1, WHILE “GATSBY” OPENS BIG AT #2

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.