There was no stopping Divergent from taking the top of the Box Office this weekend, an easy Winner across North America with $56 million grossed from 3,936 theatres for Lionsgate Films/eOne Films. The Adaptation of the first Novel in a Series by Veronica Roth, might not have fared well with Critics (44% on the Tomatometer), but Audiences gave it a resounding A CinemaScore. It will be interesting to see how the Film fares in coming weeks as hardcore Fans of the Books likely all have flocked to the theatres this weekend accounting for much of these numbers. The production budget for the Action-Fantasy was $85 million, well on its way to recouping this back.
Second best is Muppets Most Wanted, the latest Film in the revived Franchise from Disney. The star-studded Musical-Comedy brought-in $16.5 million from 3,194 theatres in its debut, below expectations. Critics gave it a great 75% on the Tomatometer and Audiences were on-par with a B+ CinemaScore.
Former Champ Mr. Peabody and Sherman slips to third spot this weekend with $11.7 million for 20th Century Fox. To date it has earned $80 million in three weeks, just ahead of 300: Rise of an Empire, also a former Number One Film, in fourth with $8.7 million for Warner Bros.
Opening in a surprising fifth is God’s Not Dead starring some of the Cast of Duck Dynasty. The Dramedy which is showing exclusively in the U.S. right now, opens with $8.6 million from only 780 theatres.
The Grand Budapest Hotel continues to perform tremendously in seventh with $6.8 million for Fox Searchlight. The star-studded Opus from Writer/Director Wes Anderson, has made $12 million in its three-week limited run.
Tyler Perry’s Single Moms Club rounds-out the Top Ten with $3 million for Lionsgate Films/eOne Films, in it second week out.
Mr. Peabody & Sherman in its second week of release takes the top of the Box Office despite some stiff challenges from some new Films. The Animated Feature earned $21.2 million for 20th Century Fox after opening in second spot last weekend. To date, it has grossed $63 million.
After debuting at the top last weekend, 300: Rise of an Empire slips to second spot this weekend for Warner Bros. with $19.1 million. In two weeks, the Action-Fantasy has earned an impressive $78 million.
Need for Speed opens in third spot for DreamWorks Pictures with $17.3 million from 3,315 theatres. Critics gave the Film 24% on the Tomatometer, despite Audiences having praise for the Film starring Breaking Bad‘s Aaron Paul, giving it an B+ CinemaScore.
Non-Stop continues to perform well in its third week with $10 million for Universal Pictures, placing it in fourth. The Film starring Liam Neeson and Julianne Moore thus far has made $78 million.
Tyler Perry’s The Single Mom’s Club opens in fifth spot for eOne Films/Lionsgate Films with $9 million. Critics gave the Comedy starring Nia Long, Terry Crews, Eddie Cibrian, Amy Smart at more a 22% on the Tomatometer, while Audiences gave it a A-CinemaScore.
It was close for the bottom of the Top ten with The Grand Budapest Hotel in its second week of limited release performing exceedingly well for Fox Searchlight, with $2.1 million from only 66 theatres across North America. Its per-screen average is a record-setting $55k. Critics gave the new Dramedy from Wes Anderson an outstanding 91% on the Tomatometer. Meanwhile, Fan-funded Veronica Mars, handled by Warner Bros. Home Entertainment, also grossed $2.0 million from only 291 theatres; Critics gave it a respectable 76% on the Tomatometer. Another Kristen Bell Film, Frozen also brought-in $2 million for Disney in its 17th week of release amazingly.
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