Roland Emmerich has once again proved his mastery over the art of destruction with his latest film 2012: Moviegoers shelled out an estimated $23.7 million for the flick’s opening day. If the number holds, the Friday figure will mark a personal best for the German director, beating 2004’s disaster film The Day After Tomorrow. Second place went to Disney’s A Christmas Carol, which grossed $5.6 million on its second Friday in theaters. The third slot belonged to the George Clooney-starrer The Men Who Stare at Goats which earned an additional $1.95 million to put its 8-day cumulative at $19.2 million. Lionsgate’s Sundance acquisition Precious continues to exceed expectations, landing in the fourth spot with an additional $1.94 million on 174 theaters. In very limited release, this Oscar shoo-in has grossed $4.7 million in eight days. Rounding out the top five movies Friday was the Milla Jovovich thriller The Fourth Kind which grossed $1.8 million.
It was mixed results for the other two releases. Pirate Radio, from Love Actually director Richard Curtis disappointed here in the states, grossing outside the top ten for its first day in release. On 882 theaters, the movie earned only $882,000. In contrast, Wes Anderson’s well-reviewed animated film The Fantastic Mr. Fox earned $72,000 in only four theaters for a solid opening debut average of $17,880. Check back tomorrow for my full report.
Comments (1-15) of 71 Add your comment
Fear sells, I guess for 2012.
Is it the movie or cuz Adam Lambert is singing at the end? Hmmm.
Maybe his screaming is what caused the worldwide destructoin in the movie.
Oh goodness, Adam Lambert fans claiming the success of the movie is due to them. Get over yourselves. This movie would have made money with or without his song playing over the credits.
Haha couldn’t agree more. No one goes to a movie just to hear the song at the end.
**I guess I should say most people. I didn’t realize how many comments below this actually claim to have gone to the movie just to hear the song…yikes.
I’m pretty sure no one would sit through a two hour and forty minute movie just to hear Adam Lambert sing.
The world will blow up before 2012 if we are goign to movie theaters to only hear a song.
The same people who think Adam Lambert can “sing” are the exact same people who think 2012 is a “good” movie. They’d have gone to see the movie anyway, but now they can enjoy 2 pieces of dreck simultaneously.
Who?
LOL this article yells ADAM! A lot of us went just for him!
Great movie I went mainly to see Adam Lambert’s name on the big screen and hear him sing at the end but loved the movie!! Also I have always enjoyed all of John Cusak movies. Happy he was chosen instead of same old actors they use in these movies. Amazing song by Adam and great movie epic win!!
Just watched 2012 and it was excellent. The special effects are incredible. I also stayed to see the credits and loved the song Time for Miracles. This movie is a must see.
Any doubt that 2012 is the best disaster movie yet?
Plenty of doubt. It was made by that hack Roland Emmerich.
Roland Emmerich isn’t a hack! Although, he is openly gay, but no hack!
Okay Justin, have fun watching “10,000 BC.”
Adam is the only reason I’m going tomorrow, I love to hear Time For Miracles on the big scree, so whoever thought on hiring Adam to sing this song, great choice.
You’re only watching the credits on the screen, not the song, which plays over the speakers. Why pay all that money to sit through a movie for a song that you can hear for free on the radio? I really don’t understand this line of thinking.
2012 was an awesome movie. Precious was breathtaking. I love both films next week “Twilight” whoa!! love watching movie. Can’t wait to see “SALT” by Angelina Jolie.
SALT by Angelina Jolie.
is that some kind of new perfume?
People seriously left their house and sat in a crowded theater to hear a song by somebody on American F@#$ing Idol!!??
We might not make it to the year 2012 people!
No kidding, what a complete waste of time. Its a middle finger to all the people that made the movie if your there ONLY to hear a song
learn how to listen before you stick your middle finger up your derriere…
I like the 2012! It rocks!
I’m going in when the first one’s almost over so I can hear the song twice,,,,,lol, Adam Lambert’s voice is my catnip.
Saw 2012 on Friday (opening night) only because the wife loves disaster movies. She got her wish … 2012 is a disaster of a disaster movie. Great FX and NOTHING else. Terrible acting, terrible script… total waste of 2-1/2 hours. I gave it 2-stars out of 5.
I would NEVER have gone to see this movie except to hear Time for Miracles blasting through the speakers as the credits rolled. That being said, this movie has the best special effects since the first Star Wars movies or maybe Alien. Two thumbs up ~ Go for the movie and stay for the credits! Way too many “emotional” moments as various characters contact loved ones for the last time before disaster strikes, giving actors a chance to show their chops. Note to Roland: maybe one of these scenes. Otherwise, move on! People were leaving for bathroom stops and popcorn by the third such “perfect” moment.
I know it seems implausible — but since I am not a big fan of disaster movies (but an avid movie goer) — this was only on my radar because I was aware that Adam Lambert was doing a song. Then it got mixed reviews. So yes, I went anyway to hear the Lambert song — which was only in the credits! The movie was entertaining but cliched. The song sounded amazing because that’s how good his voice is. All in all, glad I went.
Why didn’t you just download the song?
Are Adam Lambert fans really going to claim that they are responsible for the big opening? His latest single didn’t even debut in the top 100 and this song only peaked at 50.