Nov 14 2009 06:24 PM ET

'2012' destroys the competition at Friday's box office

Categories: Box Office, Movie Biz, News

John Cusack in 2012Roland 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 (1-30) of 71 Add your comment

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  • Urvy

    Fear sells, I guess for 2012.

  • Elaine

    Is it the movie or cuz Adam Lambert is singing at the end? Hmmm.

    • Bobby

      Maybe his screaming is what caused the worldwide destructoin in the movie.

    • adam

      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.

      • j

        Haha couldn’t agree more. No one goes to a movie just to hear the song at the end.

      • j

        **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.

    • Graeme

      I’m pretty sure no one would sit through a two hour and forty minute movie just to hear Adam Lambert sing.

      • Brad

        The world will blow up before 2012 if we are goign to movie theaters to only hear a song.

      • bill

        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.

    • Glenda

      Who?

  • SeenZ

    LOL this article yells ADAM! A lot of us went just for him!

  • beth

    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!!

  • Danny

    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.

  • Fred

    Any doubt that 2012 is the best disaster movie yet?

    • adam

      Plenty of doubt. It was made by that hack Roland Emmerich.

      • Justin

        Roland Emmerich isn’t a hack! Although, he is openly gay, but no hack!

      • adam

        Okay Justin, have fun watching “10,000 BC.”

  • GODAM

    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.

    • Lisa Simpson

      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.

  • frankie

    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.

    • Nick

      SALT by Angelina Jolie.

      is that some kind of new perfume?

  • Matt1

    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!

    • Brad

      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

      • RR3

        learn how to listen before you stick your middle finger up your derriere…

  • Chris Mitchell

    I like the 2012! It rocks!

  • wtdp

    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.

  • Otis

    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.

  • drwo

    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.

  • jordan

    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.

    • Nick

      Why didn’t you just download the song?

  • Fatima

    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.

  • irvin

    If people are going to see a movie only for the end credits then that shows how people really think in this world, you can download the movie for .99 cents and or around 2 bucks, you really need to go sit in a theater pay 10 bucks to hear it in big speakers, wow thats lame isnt even that great, its ok but not that great for me to drive and sit through a crappy movie.
    Though I did sit through it, and only thought that the best part were the FX but thats about all I can say. The rest was not even worth rooting for the people dying in some of the scenes, the acting was horrible, a shame cause I like John cusak, but the movie did suck

  • Alicia

    We LOVED Pirate Radio! Anyone who loves music must see it!

  • dave

    I can’t believe people would go see this movie just to hear a song playing over the credits. How moronic.

  • larry k

    Pirate Radio was excellentHopefully strong word of mouth will get more people to see it.One of the years best and it didn’t even crack the top 10!

    • Rose

      Yes – big ups for Pirate Radio. I left the theater dancing in the aisles. (We went to see that because my hubby wanted to see it; I’ll have to wait and see 2012 next week so I can hear ADAM singing over the big speakers. Yes, people, Adam fans are big spenders, will spend money all kinds of ways to experience him. Adam fans may not have caused the big opening$$ but I’m positive they did contribute. You should see the boards!)

    • Jezza

      To be fair Pirate Radio was showing on only 850 screens compared to 2012’s 3,400 screens and Christmas Carol’s 3,600 screens.

  • WindyJocelyne

    Yes Adam have big big to do it with that succes of this movie, because Adam are the most popular singer since in debut the 2009 years. So all the producers and administrator know’s how much Adam have so many fan’s all around the world and how we love him so far for his amazing&powerful voice and how we love his sexy and hot body and how much Adam are gentle and smile all the time etc etc so it is a good good decision when they thinks about Adam to sang this beautiful songs because, they know’s already with his huge popularity with his beautiful voice they have more chance to make a huge huge movies and to promote there movies. And yes the movie are already a big huge movies without Adam’s to BUT with Adam’s they have more more chance to got a huge huge big movies to. Thats it and thats all! loll Take it or not its the thruth!! ImaO seriously THE producer are the most intelligent man to make it with his beautiful movies with the beautiful sexy Adam’s.

    • adam

      Oh my goodness, I think I just got dumber after reading this post.

      • Mike

        Well, you’re probably right if you actually read the whole thing.

    • AL fans grow up!

      Do you even know how to use English properly? Adam is not the best singer out there. He is not as popular as you think… get a fricken life!

    • Chris

      …ummmmmm… i never comment on these things, but i had to chime in on this one comment because in all honesty, my one year old son is more comprehensive than that. wow. and no… it wasnt because of you “Adams” (god that is just sad), that the movie did so well… im sorry the world is screwed up, but we arent at 2012 just yet… at least i frickin’ hope not.

      • Chris

        allow me to reiterate, this statement up top is just so sad… horribly horribly sad.

    • Timber

      . . . I’m sorry, did you say something?

    • Margie

      Be fair, guys. Can’t you recognize English as a Second Language when you see it? How well do you speak another language?

  • Themaria1

    The movie was interesting and I did enjoy it but the song TFM was out of this wooooooooorld!!!!!!!!!!!! Too bad he wasn’t in the film.

  • martha

    I went because of Adam’s song, otherwise, I would have waited for the DVD. It’s awesome to hear Time For Miracles on the big sound system. The movie is actually very good, excellent special effects.

  • Darla

    New Moon will pawn. 2012 better cherish the moment of being number 1.

    • Brad

      Not sure, people might only go to hear a song.

    • Jezza

      Unless 2012 benifits from sensational word of mouth and New Moon has negative word of mouth

  • vance

    All I could say that if the world was going to end in 2012 I wouldnt mind going out in style “short-strokin” Actress Amanda Peet!!!

  • Barbara

    I have not seen it yet, but will probably go, and one of the reasons is to hear Adam’s song on the big speakers. It’s comparable to seeing the special effects on the big screen rather than on your small TV. Obviously, those who think it strange that people would go just to hear him singing over the credits just do not get Adam.

  • Mya

    It’s one thing to be stupid enough to pay 10-15 dollars to see a movie just to hear a song played over the credits. It’s completely moronic to go bragging about it on the internet. Even special needs children know better. Is Sarah Palin posting on the EW site and using fake names?

    • dave

      Mya, I guess people like you and me “just don’t get Adam.” Because we won’t pay $10 solely to hear a song coming from big surround-sound speakers, it means we don’t understand Adam’s complicated soul.

  • Brad

    The world will blow up before 2012 if we are going to theaters just to hear a song

    • Brad

      (forget to add..) God some people are just dumb.

  • anna

    The best club for seeking rich single__Su ga rloves__! It’s human nature!

  • AL fans grow up!

    I’m a huge disaster movie fan and the ONLY reason I didn’t go to see the movie this weekend was because of all the Adam Lambert fans and their squealing… they are worse than other fans and they insist that he is the best singer out there… I’ll wait until the movie comes out on DVD or PPV even though I love John Cusack… Off to buy more jujubees so they can harden for Thursday night and the New Moon premiere… if you idiots don’t stfu during the movie… you will be pelted!

  • Rose

    I don’t think it’s so unusual to think people will be motivated to see 2012 on the big screen so they can hear Adam Lambert sing in sensurround (some of them might otherwise have waited for the dvd). One of the main reasons I went to see “Pirate Radio” this weekend is because Bill Nighy and Rhys Ifans were in it. I’ll see just about anything they’re in. Fans are fans, that’s all. Sorry if the comparison is lost on some.

    • Lisa Simpson

      Big difference. Nighy and Ifans are actually IN the movie, not just having a Celine Dion moment over the credits.

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