The box office results for the weekend of January 25th – 27th was anything but a fairy tale, despite Hansel & Gretel taking top honors. Here are the studio estimates:
1. Hansel & Gretel: Witch Hunters ($19 million)
2. Mama ($12.8 million)
3. Silver Linings Playbook ($10 million)
4. Zero Dark Thirty ($9.8 million)
5. Parker ($7 million)
6. Movie 43 ($5 million)
7. Django Unchained ($5 million)
8. Gangster Squad ($4.2 million)
9. Broken City ($4 million)
10. Les Miserables ($3.9 million)
(Hungover) Analysis
Hansel & Gretel: Witch Hunters may have fought hard enough to win the weekend, but it’s going to have hang around for at least a month in theaters to give the DVD/On-Demand run a legit shot to have this sucker earn a profit. It’s what happens when you have a soft opening on a flick – which by the way, had the benefit of 3D ticket pricing – that rang up a $50 million production bill.
Even though Movie 43 laid a giant turd on its opening weekend – the studio decided to execute very little promotion in the weeks leading up – the production budget was just a thrifty $6 million. And though the lovely critics peppered this as a possible contender for worst movie of the year, even though it is laced with a plethora of A-List stars, there should be just enough word-of-mouth to propel this to the black ink when its all said and done (DVD/On-Demand, Movie Channels, etc.).
Flop Alert (more like certainty): Parker. The production budget alone was $30 million. And although Jason Statham is popular in many international markets, Hollywood studios’ saving grace the last few years won’t be able to assist in picking up the financial slack.
Django Unchained and Les Miserables currently hold the longest streak (consecutive weeks) in the top ten with 5 apiece. Tarantino’s bloody racial product has reached $146.2 million while the multiple Oscar-nominated musical has hit $137.2 stateside.
This Friday it’s another violent weekend at theaters with Bullet to the Head, Warm Bodies, and Stand Up Guys ready to rock. Reviews will be right here my fellow Shockers!
