Okay, so I was wrong. The Vince Vaughn-starrer Couples Retreat blew away every industry expectation, including my own, with a strong weekend gross of $35.3 million. The over-performing comedy comes as a welcome success to the folks at Universal, who have been battling a tough year at the box office and saw their two top movie executives leave their posts last week because of the hard times. The other industry surprise was the ridiculously impressive gross for the viral marketed phenomenon Paranormal Activity. Screening in just 159 theaters, Paramount’s uber-scary horror flick grossed an estimated $7.1 million, putting its per-screen average at an astronomical $44,163 and giving it the 5th spot in the weekend’s rankings. This film has garnered so much attention that the studio will take it nationwide next weekend.
The rest of the top five was dominated by strongly performing holdovers. Sony Pictures is attached to two of those films: Zombieland and Cloudy with a Chance of Meatballs, which took the second and third spots, respectively. The Woody Harrelson-Jesse Eisenberg buddy movie played much more like a comedy than a horror movie, and dropped a solid 39% to $15 million. Its ten-day cume now stands at $47.8 million, a great number for the $23 million-budgeted film. Cloudy continues to defy all expectations. In its fourth week of release the movie lost only 24% of its value, with a $12 million take. It’s verging on the $100 million mark, a milestone that it should reach quickly, considering lots of children will be home from school tomorrow for Columbus Day.
Disney’s 3-D re-release of the double feature Toy Story/Toy Story 2 could also get a bump tomorrow. Regardless, its second weekend earned the animated classics an additional $7.7 million for a fourth-place bow on the chart. The 3-D experiment has added a hefty $22.7 million to its coffers in two weeks of release.
In limited release, the beloved An Education, starring newcomer Carey Mulligan, opened strong on four screens, grossing $162,000 for a hefty per-screen average of $40,595. Sony Pictures Classics’ second release of the frame The Damned United (starring Michael Sheen) didn’t have as auspicious a beginning. On six screens, the film grossed $38,844. The total box office was up for the weekend compared to last year at this time, when Beverly Hills Chihuahua took the number one spot for the second week in a row.
Tune in next week when Where the Wild Things Are opens opposite The Stepfather and Law Abiding Citizen.
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I wanted to see Paranormal Activity so bad, but the recession finally took its toll on me,…
it’s very “blair witch” so your liking of that movie may or may not influence Paranormal but it’s definitely worth checking out
http://theninthdragonking.wordpress.com/2009/10/10/quality-assessment-paranormal-activity-vs-the-blair-witch-project/
next week Tony
I went to Couples Retreat and enjoyed it very much! The theater was packed, and this was a 3:30 matinee showing. I can’t say I’m surprised (don’t know why you were so shocked) because the trailers had me hooked and waiting for the movie to premier.
Anyone who liked Couples Retreat is an idiot.
Anyone who likes to make believe he’s a FICTIONAL person is an idiot.
AAAAAAAAAHHHHAAAAA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA That was awesome.
I really could have waited to see Couples retreat when till it came on TV. There were a few laughs,very few. I love Vince Vaughn but this movie could have been better.
I know. I could have written better stuff. Especially the end. What was with that? Made no sense and was embarrassing to watch. I expect better, Jon Favreau and Vince Vaughn.
not interseted with that movie…UGLY!
I demanded Paranormal Activity and the only place it showed was in Hollywood as a midnight show. I could not see myself walking back to my car at 2 AM in the morning after having seen this movie and not gaining a few more gray hairs! I’ll wait until it is showing in the morning, thank u very little!
That’s funny
I told yall Couples Retreat was going to be No. 1 and its gonna make like 200 Million. I saw the trailer it looks awesome! And its directed by the kid from A Christmas Story…duh!
How sad that a movie like “Couples Retreat” is the biggest thing at the box office.
Doesn’t anyone read reviews anymore before they go to a movie? Couples Retreat got a 13% positive review in Rotten Tomatoes. That means only 13% of critics liked it. That’s about as bad as you can get. Why would anyone want to see a movie that the critics hate so much, as well as spend 10 bucks for a ticket and 5 bucks on popcorn?
maybe cause we are not sheep. I did not go to see the movie but I certainly would not base my decision to go see ANY MOVIE on the opinion of a critic…you know the old saying, those who can’t act, direct, or produce, “critique”.
Very true,critics are so overvalued.
“Couples Retreat” was boring. There was chuckling in the audience, but aside from that, the audience was pretty unenthusiastic…even though the theater was packed.
I was forced to see Couples Retreat this weekend by my fiance. I wish I had said no and just dealt w/ her wrath. TERRIBLE movie.
Re: Couples Retreat, all the funny parts were in the trailer. I’m predicting a big drop off next week…..
My hubbie and I went to see Couples Retreat and really enjoyed it. It was exactly what we expected – a fun piece of fluff entertainment. Who cares what the critics say about it.
i dont think so . just take a look at this —http://hotwallp.com