BOX OFFICE: Madagascar 3 Beat Prometheus

I know we are all a little disappointed in America for making Madagascar 3: Europe's Most Wanted the number one movie this weekend, but at least we can take some solace in the fact that Prometheus might not have won, but it did do pretty damned well. If it means anything, it has one of the best number two debuts to date, behind only The Day After Tomorrow, Sherlock Holmes and Wanted. I guess that is good, but also feels like reaching for some good news for the film that whether we liked it or not, we all wanted to do better than Madagascar 3. However, to give Prometheus some credit, it is the summer and the Madagascar franchise has already proven to be successful with families. Also, I'm not sure how many locations they did this at, but there was a full-on carnival enticing kids to come out at the theater I went to. Perhaps for Prometheus they should have busted out some space flight simulators to compete.

I think the biggest question for Prometheus is going to be what happens to it now. There was a cult-like curiosity factor that I believe brought many people to the theaters this weekend, but with the films mixed reviews that may not translate in to big numbers in the coming weeks. In fact, it already had a 25% drop from Friday to Saturday, and if the word of mouth doesn't turn around soon, that could just keep getting worse. Disappointing for a film that had so much potential and is incredibly stunning and beautiful to watch (even in the 2D format I saw it in). However, I must say that in the end left me with more questions than answers, and not in a way that actually worked. I also wonder if Noomi Rapace can really carry a film. She was stellar in the original version of The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo series, but without the make-up and edge, I'm not sure if she is captivating enough to be the center of a big tent-pole film. I found myself waiting for the moments Michael Fassbender and Charlize Theron appeared on screen which (being better characters or not) is never a good thing.

At the specialty box office, Safety Not Guaranteed was an indie film with great word of mouth and it brought in an average of $11,111 per theater. With that number, it will probably end up making pretty good money as it expands to more theaters over the next couple of weeks. I know that I think with all of the films coming out this weekend, it is the next on my list of movies to see.

Box Office

	1. Madagascar 3: Europe's Most Wanted $60.4 million / New / $135.9m Total Worldwide Blame the kids….they just can't resist talking animated animals that are lost in Europe.
	2. Prometheus 50 Million / New / $141.5m Total Worldwide A pretty solid number for an R-rated sci-fi film and Ridley Scott's top box office opener ever.
	3. Snow White & the Huntsman $23 Million / $98.5m Total Domestic / $182m Total Worldwide With two movies in the top 3 of the box office charts, I think Charlize Theron is fairest of them all right now.
	4. Men in Black III $13.5 Million / $135.5 Total Domestic / $487.6m Total Worldwide Nearing the $500m mark worldwide, should we expect to soon hear about MIB IV. And, the real question: do we really want one?
	5. The Avengers $10.8 Million / $571.9m Total Domestic / $1.4b Worldwide It might have fallen to the number six slot, but The Avengers have still slayed all of the competition this summer.
	6. The Best Exotic Marigold Hotel $3.2 Million / $31m Total Domestic / $113.2m Total Worldwide A run-down hotel in India and several of the most brilliant actors England has ever produced. I'm sold.
	7. What to Expect When You're Expecting $2.7 Million / $35.7m Total Domestic / $45.6m Total Worldwide I expect to never have to think about this movie again soon. Please?
	8. Battleship $2.3 Million / $59.8m Total Domestic / $295.4m Total Worldwide Looking at the total worldwide market, while it bombed in the US, I'm not sure if this movie will be considered as much of a failure as we might have expected. Which is fine, as long as it doesn't encourage any more of this blockbuster awful-ness.
	9. The Dictator The Dictator $2.2 Million / $55.2m Total Domestic/ $125.5m Total Worldwide "There are differences between the Wadiyan film industry and Hollywood. People say I am extravagant for using 20 trillion bottles of Fiji water every day to make snow for my ski resort in the middle of the desert, but am I the person who created 'John Carter'?"
	10. Moonrise Kingdom Moonrise Kingdom $1.6 Million / $3.8m Total Domestic / $8.8m Total Worldwide If you like Wes Anderson and you like smiling and laughing then go see this movie. It makes my quirky little heart happy.