Showing that even the poison-tipped edge of a 3D marketing campaign can't stop the power of a Disney classic brought back to theaters, The Lion King (in 3D)--those parenthesis likely used as a sort of disease bubble to try and prevent the noxious fumes of 3D from killing the movie dead--easily slid into the top box office slot this weekend, amassing $29.3 million in ticket sales. Interestingly, there were apparently some 2D showings of Lion King floating around, but evidently not very many, as 3D showings accounted for 92% of the total gross. Don't be shocked if Disney floats a few more screenings next weekend toward the 2D market, just to see if they can get a few hold-outs to wander back to the movie theater with their kids in tow.
Of the non-animated, non-rereleased films debuting in theaters this past weekend, Drive, the Ryan Gosling-fronted crime drama that I called the best film of the year so far, managed a decent enough third place, with $11 million in tickets. That is, of course, compared to a $13 million total budget, which it should eclipse sometime before this coming weekend. However, predictably bullish on everything, Box Office Mojo figures that the movie won't fare well beyond this weekend, given its rather nasty C- Cinemascore. That is the rating given by moviegoers interviewed after having seen a film. Essentially, Drive looks to be this year's version of The American, a movie perhaps marketed incorrectly to alter the expectations of viewers from thinking it to be the methodical, artistically-minded drama that it is. Though reviews have been largely very positive, some viewers apparently aren't into the whole arthouse vibe the thing has going on. Apparently Ryan Gosling in a kick-ass scorpion jacket crushing people's skulls isn't enough to satisfy the masses these days. That's a cryin' shame, if you ask me.
As for the other two big releases of the weekend--the ill-conceived remake of Sam Peckinpah's Straw Dogs, and the Sarah Jessica Parker romantic mom-edy I Don't Know How She Does It--neither made much of an impact. Straw Dogs came in fifth with a lackluster $5 million, and I Don't Know How She Does It (which is a title I am looking forward to never typing out again) lagged behind even that, with $4.5 million. Evidently the promise of seeing Kate Bosworth (her character, I mean) get raped by Alexander Skarsgard (again, his character) and/or being lulled to sleep by the quiet rhythms of Sarah Jessica Parker's milquetoast acting weren't enough to bring audiences out. Shocking, right?
Not much to report on the indie front, aside from My Afternoons with Margueritte, a French film starring Gerard Depardeau that managed a strong $10,450 per-screen average in the two theaters it debuted at. Between this and the still performing Sarah's Key, people really dig them French movies this year, don't they?
Now then, let's have ourselves a top ten list.
 | 1. The Lion King $29.3 million / NEW-ISH |
 | 2. Contagion $14.4 million / $44.2 million |
 | 3. Drive $11 million / NEW |
 | 4. The Help $6.4 million / $147.4 million |
 | 5. Straw Dogs $5 million / NEW |
 | 6. I Don't Know How She Does It $4.5 million / NEW |
 | 7. The Debt $2.9 million / $26.5 million |
 | 8. Warrior $2.8 million / $9.9 million |
 | 9. Rise of the Planet of the Apes $2.6 million / $171.6 million |
 | 10. Colombiana $2.3 million / $33.3 million |
Dropped Out: Shark Night 3D; Our Idiot Brother; Spy Kids: All the Time in the World
Source: Box Office Mojo
I'm looking forward to catching both Drive and Warrior, both opening this weekend in the UK
Drive is certainly the kind of movie that my wife and I would like. It's also the kind of movie that we'd wait to see on Netflix.
OK, so I'm confused. Should I or should I not sit down and watch The American?
I really loved Drive. I also loved the American.
I wonder how much did the fairly lengthy international opening schedule hurt it. It felt like it had a lot more buzz going on before it opened in the US and after that the lackluster word of mouth probably hurt it a bit.
Incidentally, I still haven't seen it. I imagine that a lot of people are like me and have chosen to rent it or something because of the response.
It kind of sucks that a 3d "update" of an old animated film is destroying original ips. However I love that Alex has the concession, NEW-ISH, both because its true and that "ish" should be used more often.
@steelknight2000: You should sit down and watch The American
@steelknight2000 said:
A confusion shared by many who watched it. If you like Melville or a similar type of slow paced thrillers with a distinct taste of Europe, then yes, you probably should.
For next week:
"Someone please help this movie off the list"
That's all I got right now.
The description to Contagion and I Don't Know How She Does it had me luffin.
HOLY FUCK, that monkey photo is freaking ridiculously cute. I might just have to go kill myself now.
My brother went and saw Drive over the weekend, and he thought it was horrible. I really don't understand why, and he didn't really have a good explanation as to why either.
@Alex said about Drive
I was expecting just "more" Drive had to much silence to much awkward dead air and the most awkward on screen "romance" that I can ever remember in a movie. Very disappointed.
I am proud to say that I tributed my $28 to The Lion King for 2 tickets for my Fiancee and myself. Worth every penny.
I'm pleasantly surprised by Drive opening at #3 - that's a fairly decent performance, considering the type of film it is, right?
Now I feel almost obliged to see Drive. I like Ryan Gosling and especially him being bad-ass so why not.
I'll probably see Drive when it's out on DVD/Blu-Ray so I can watch The American before it and then see which one is better. I go for slow paced and well written Thrillers so I think might like the both of them. Out of curiosity which is better? Glad to see a good movie like The Lion King do well at the box office because it's not everyday a good Disney film is released or re-released; now if we could only get a blu-ray release for Roger Rabbit and then I'll be happy.
@AlwaysBeClothing said:
The other side of that coin is that the movie came out over a decade ago, so now a new generation of viewers can see it on the big screen. And that movie reeeeeeeeally should be seen on a big screen at least once.