Friday Lights It Up

As expected the remake of Friday the 13th hacked its way to top of the box office pile over the weekend... But it was not expected to break a record...



Pamela McClintock of Variety:

Warner Bros./New Line’s redo “Friday the 13th” scared up the best opening ever for a horror movie in grossing an estimated $42.2 million from 3,105 theaters through Sunday.

Film, breathing new life into the classic franchise, is on its way to posting the best four-day holiday gross ever for a R-rated pic. Studios will report four-day numbers for President’s Day weekend on Monday.

Paramount is a partner on “Friday,” which was produced by Michael Bay’s Platinum Dunes. Production budget was $19 million, meaning the film recouped those costs in its first day in release (Friday’s gross was $19.4 million.

The combo of Valentine’s Day and the long President’s Day weekend produced another record-breaking sesh for the domestic box office. Three-day grosses for the top 10 films were up a staggering 40% over last year, according to Rentrak.

It was especially prosperous for New Line and Warners, whose chick flick “He’s Just Not That Into You” beat newcomer “Confessions of a Shopaholic” to come in No. 2.

“He’s Just Not” declined 29% to an estimated $19.6 million from 3,175 runs for the three-day weekend. Pic has earned $55.1 million in its first 10 days, far outpacing expectations and giving New Line the top two spots at the B.O. for the first time in its history.

Twentieth Century Fox’s sleeper hit “Taken” also continued to dazzle, dropping a mere 6%—an unheard of decline—to an estimated $19.3 million from ,109 theaters for a cume of $77.9 million in its third sesh.

Disney’s “Shopaholic,” starring Isla Fisher, placed No. 4 for the three-day weekend, grossing an estimated $15.4 million from 2,507 theaters.

Focus Features’ stop-motion, 3-D family entry “Coraline” impressed in grossing an estimated $15.3 million from 2,320 theaters for a cume of $35.6 million in its second sesh. Pic declined only 9% to place No. 5.

And there’s no stopping Sony laffer “Paul Blart Mall Cop,” which crossed the $100 million mark at the domestic B.O. over the weekend. For the three-days, “Mall Cop” grossed an estimated $11.7 million from 2,965 for a cume of $110.5 and coming in No. 6.

According to Sony, “Mall Cop” is the first original January release to reach $100 million.

Sony’s wasn’t as lucky with adult suspenser “The International,” which debuted at No. 7 for the three days. Film grossed an estimated $10 million from 2,364 theaters. Studio expects the film to be a strong overseas perofrmer.

Sony also took the No. 8 spot with “Pink Panther 2,” which dipped 22% in its second sesh to an estimated $9 million from 3,245 theaters for a cume of $22.3 million in its first 10 days.

Oscar best pic contender “Slumdog Millionaire” stayed on the top 10 chart, coming in No. 9 for the three-day weekend. Film grossed an estimated $7.2 million from 1,634 runs for a cume of $86.5 million.

Summit Entertainment’s “Push” came in No. 10, declining 31% in its second sesh to an estimated $6.9 million for a cume of $19.3 million.

Joshua Rich of EW:

With $42.2 mil, the horror remake slashes box office records -- and beats ''Confessions of a Shopaholic''

Mass murder beats out finding true love...Yikes Maybe romance is dead (snicker)!!