No. 1 with a bullet
American Gangster, with its Oscar-winning leads and gritty ’70s feel, buzzed past Bee Movie to grab the No. 1 spot at the box office last weekend with $44 million. This despite showing on nearly 900 fewer screens than Bee Movie and Jerry Seinfeld’s endless promotion of his animated film.
The up side
Rest assured, Bee Movie did not suffer too badly in defeat: its $38 million haul was only about $3 million short of the opening weekend for last year’s big holiday animated movie, Happy Feet. However, that movie cost about $50 million less to make. Bee Movie’s gonna need a pretty sustained life in order to recoup its $150 million investment at the box office (though the money it must be making on merchandising should easily offset any discrepancy).
Bomb Squad
Of the new wide releases, only Martian Child failed to garner much interest from moviegoers. Four of John Cusack’s last five movies have crossed at least the $40 million mark, but with only a little over $3 million in the bank, it’s gonna be tough for Martian Child to make that five out of six.
Swami sez
A few less bees, a few more bullets
Prediction: Bee Movie rides its PG rating and its extra screens to a $42 million opening an a No. 1 spot.
Result: Missed the total by about $4 mil. and the place by one.
Prediction: Gangster seizes the second spot with $29 million.
Result: Swami way underestimated America’s bloodlust.
Sleigh bells ring, are you watchin’?
It’s got Vince Vaughn. It’s the first big holiday movie of the season. But it’s also go a lot of bad reviews. Will those curmudgeonly critics be enough to keep audiences away from Fred Claus?
Prediction: Try as they might, the critics can’t stand in the way of a big Christmas movie as Fred Claus rides to No. 1 with $30 million.
Lion or lamb?
It’s got Tom Cruise. It’s ripped from the headlines. But it’s also got some pretty mediocre reviews. So how will Lions for Lambs fare this weekend?
Prediction: Not nearly as well as Fred Claus (for some reason kids just aren’t that into political potboilers). No. 4 with $11 million.
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