ROTTEN TOMATOES: Box Office Guru Wrapup: The Bat Smashes More Records

Box Office Guru Wrapup: The Bat Smashes More Records

And pushes the competition into the shadows

by Gitesh Pandya | July 27, 2008

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More records were smashed into bits by the unstoppable megahit The Dark Knight which remained at number one by a comfortable margin for the second straight time. Moviegoers had mixed feelings for the two new releases with the Will Ferrell comedy Step Brothers scoring a solid second place bow while the sci-fi sequel The X-Files: I Want to Believe underperformed barely reaching double-digit millions.

Audiences once again filled theaters all weekend for the superhero blockbuster The Dark Knight which grossed an estimated $75.6M dropping a reasonable 52% from its record-breaking opening weekend. With the cume soaring to an eye-popping $314.2M after only ten days, the Warner Bros. release shattered the $300M mark in record time. The old record was held by Pirates of the Caribbean: Dead Man's Chest which banked $258.4M of loot over its first ten days and crossed the triple-century mark in 16 days.

The new Batman film also set a new record for the largest second weekend gross outdistancing the $72.2M that Shrek 2 hauled in back in May 2004. Knight has now virtually matched the $314.9M collected by Iron Man over the last three months and will become the year's highest grossing blockbuster on Monday. On the all-time list, the new Joker saga has quickly climbed up to number 23 sitting right next to 2001's The Lord of the Rings: The Fellowship of the Ring.

Dark Knight's hold was impressive considering how much business it already absorbed on the first weekend. Looking at the largest opening weekends in movie history, second weekend drops were 62% for Spider-Man 3, 54% for Dead Man's Chest, and 56% for Shrek the Third. Word-of-mouth has been strong for the Christopher Nolan-directed sequel and the Imax showings continue to be a major event creating even more excitement and repeat business.

Given its sturdy hold, Knight now looks to be on a trajectory that will see it zoom past the $400M mark by the end of its third week of release. With most of the summer's tentpole titles already played out, and a full month before students go back to school, the Caped Crusader now has a realistic shot of breaking through the $500M mark domestically joining only Titanic in that exclusive stratosphere.

Overseas, The Dark Knight was a dominant force grossing an estimated $65.6M and ranking number one in 43 markets. The opening in the United Kingdom which followed last week's glitzy London premiere led the way with $22.3M, including previews, while holdover markets dropped by an average of only 38%. The early international cume rose to $126.3M putting the global tally at a stunning $440.5M with major territories like Japan, Germany, Korea, and France still to open. A worldwide haul of more than $1 billion is certainly possible for Bruce Wayne and pals.

Sony scored a solid opening with the new comedy Step Brothers starring Will Ferrell and John C. Reilly which premiered in second place with an estimated $30M. It was the fourth best opening ever for Ferrell trailing Talladega Nights ($47M), Blades of Glory ($33M), and Elf ($31.1M). Brothers averaged a potent $9,696 from 3,094 locations and its R rating didn't seem to hurt its box office punch. The story of two 40-year-old slackers forced to live together after their single parents marry doubled the $15.1M bow of the comedian's last film Semi-Pro which also carried the R rating.

Produced for $65M, Step Brothers played to young men as expected. Studio research showed that 54% of the audience was male while 66% was under 25. Sony found a great slot on the calendar following a seemingly endless string of superhero and action movies from late June into July so moviegoers were in need of some star-driven comic relief. Plus the sibling rivalry film reached the marketplace ahead of two other R-rated comedies - Sony's own stoner flick Pineapple Express opening August 6 and Paramount's war romp Tropic Thunder launching a week later on August 13.

The ABBA musical Mamma Mia! held up remarkably well in it second weekend slipping only 36% to an estimated $17.9M for third place. The Meryl Streep-led pic has now grossed a stellar $62.7M in its first ten days and has been playing to female moviegoers at a time when so many other films in theaters are targeting guys. Mamma delivered slightly better results than last summer's Hairspray which dropped 42% in its sophomore frame to $15.9M for a $59.7M ten-day tally. A final tally of $120-125M could result for Mamma Mia!

Opening to weak results in fourth place was Fox's sci-fi sequel The X-Files: I Want to Believe with an estimated $10.2M from 3,185 locations for a mild $3,203 average. The disappointing debut was just a fraction of the $30.1M bow that its predecessor generated ten years ago in June 1998. Factor in higher ticket prices and the new adventure for Mulder and Scully attracted less than one-fourth of the audience of the first X-Files.

Audience erosion, direct competition from The Dark Knight, mixed reviews, and a weak marketing push all contributed to the lackluster performance. Budgeted at just $30M, the PG-13 film played evenly between males and females and saw adults 25 and older make up 70% of the crowd, according to studio research. Fox now looks to end the summer as the only major studio without a $100M hit this season.

New Line's 3D adventure Journey to the Center of the Earth enjoyed the best hold in the top ten dipping only 24% to an estimated $9.4M in its third session. The total for the Warner Bros. release is now a solid $60.2M. Will Smith followed close behind with Hancock which became the superstar's fifth career blockbuster to cross the $200M domestic mark. The Sony title grossed an estimated $8.2M, off 42%, for a cume to date of $206.4M.

The animated comedy WALL�E slipped 37% to an estimated $6.3M pushing its sum to $195.2M. After its fifth weekend, the G-rated pic is running 9% ahead of Pixar's Ratatouille from last year but 5% behind the pace for the company's 2006 summer offering Cars. The superhero flick Hellboy II: The Golden Army ranked eighth with an estimated $4.9M, down 51%, giving Universal a mediocre $65.9M to date.

Fox's intergalactic toon Space Chimps dropped 39% in its second weekend to an estimated $4.4M putting the ten-day total at just $16M. A final tally of $25-30M seems likely. Rounding out the top ten was the Angelina Jolie actioner Wanted with an estimated $2.7M, falling 46%, putting the assassin thriller at a robust $128.6M to date

Author: Gitesh Pandya, www.BoxOfficeGuru.com

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Movie:	The X-Files: I Want to Believe
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	Mamma Mia!
	WALL-E
	Tropic Thunder
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(1-20 of 80 posts) | Reply

Bloody Mathias writes:
on Jul 27 2008 07:21 PM

TDK continues to crush the B.O. It's already got more than Indy and tied Iron Man.

Shame to all those who doubted its might. I hope it becomes the 2nd to reach $500 m.

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AlbertBrodsky writes:
on Jul 27 2008 07:24 PM

Out of all those movies listed, The Dark Knight is the only one I've seen, and I plan on seeing it again along with some friends who have already seen it once.
Step Brothers looks funny, but after forking out $25 to see "Walk Hard" with the misses, I'll probably wait for the DVD. I may see Tropic Thunder depending on what the buzz is like, but as of now it looks pretty promising.

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Bloody Mathias writes:
on Jul 27 2008 07:28 PM

Yeah, the summer season is pretty much over now.

Other than watching The Mummy to confirm my hate for Cohen, there's notmuch to look forward to other than comedies like Pinapple Express and Tropic Thunder.

But at least this summer was the best in recent memory.

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CallMeBakes writes:
on Jul 27 2008 07:30 PM

Let me just say that Dark Knight was the first movie I've seen for a second time in theaters in a long, long time. And I'm totally willing to go see it a third time. It's so wonderful to see a film so deserving of it get critical acclaim and fan appreciation.

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jokerboy1991 writes:
on Jul 27 2008 08:01 PM

Yeah way to go Dark Knight! I wish HB II would make some more money to guarntee a 3rd one... Im glad Step Bros did well it was really funny... The X Files made me sad on Friday it was so dissapointing, ehhhh not an interesting story and it got baring at times I said to my freind I mildy enjoyed it until the animated scene during the credits and then I said it wasnt good... I hope The Mummy 3 is good next weekend, it will probably be a fun B movie.

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Greg_Arious writes:
on Jul 27 2008 08:07 PM

300 million in TEN DAYS!!! Thats awesome!! Cant wait to see it in imax on sunday.

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sunsaz writes:
on Jul 27 2008 08:11 PM

It's ridiculous how much cash TDK is raking in. It'll be a little closer for next weekend with Mummy and Pineapple coming out, but I think TDK will manage the three-peat.

If I were Star Wars, I'd start getting concerned about losing that #2 spot right now.

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drumboy555 writes:
on Jul 27 2008 08:46 PM

Loved TDK but I'm bummed that Hellboy has gotten so overshadowed...it was pretty great, but I fear it's been completely lost amidst the Batman onslaught and now may not earn enough to guarantee a third (it had a great opening weekend, but got crushed when TDK came out)...kind of a bummer if it works out that way. oh well

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allamericanbadass writes:
on Jul 27 2008 08:47 PM

of course TDK won. this movie is what all superhero movies kneel to at a time of need. i pray it will make more cash than titanic. Also, Heath Ledger deserves a posthumous oscar nomination.

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bondfreak writes:
on Jul 27 2008 08:57 PM

The Dark Knight strikes again. I think I speak for everyone when i say "no surprises here". Records shattered blah blah blah. The really cool thing about this is now Christopher Nolan's previous projects might get some more attention. I've loved all of his work. Batman Begins (2005), The Prestige (2006), Insomnia, and one of my top-ten all time favourites Memento (2001). I hope that these films do get attention because they are all great and this absolute masterpiece is the icing on the cake for me. The Dark Knight is a great entertaining, complex and ultra-dark masterpiece. Look for his other films people, they are worth your money to see.

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chewie louie writes:
on Jul 27 2008 09:13 PM

I am just hoping it passes Titanic. I hated that movie with a passion. In case it falls a bit short in this initial running, WB should not release it on DVD for Christmas. Instead, they should re-release it in theatres in December/January to re-kindle the Oscar Buzz. People will once again flock to see it one last time on the big screen. In just two weeks it is half way to Titanic's domestic gross. Passing it is a real possibility.

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dystopiandweller writes:
on Jul 27 2008 09:17 PM

I saw The Dark Knight for a second time yesterday and I was surprised at how much better it was than the first time. And I loved it the first time. For instance, I caught a lot more of the fast dialogue, which cleared up some of the story, and the last 20 minutes, which seemed weak to me the first time, suddenly seemed to work perfectly for the film. As if I finally understood what Nolan was going for. Gordon's final speech, which seemed heavy-handed and unnecessary the first time, seems just fine to me now.

In short, this is a film that rewards multiple viewings. This is rare for me personally; even "Wall-E" and "A History Of Violence" and "Hairspray" didn't do it for me the second time. If TDK can make me continue to love it two times through, expect it to make tons of money.

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jrod1978 writes:
on Jul 27 2008 09:20 PM

Before TDK came out, my thought was that it would top 300mil but it wouldn't be the highest grossing film of the year because it would be too dark for a mass audience.
I WAS WRONG!!!
I am glad to see that this masterpiece is taken no prisoners at the box office. I hope that crosses the 500mil mark.

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thereign writes:
on Jul 27 2008 09:27 PM

The Dark Knight worked because it wasn't what anyone expected it to be.

Instead of doing just another superhero movie, Nolan gave us a serious crime drama set in a city which just happens to have a man dressed up as a bat dispensing justice. Conversely, it worked so well as a template for how a "comic book" movie should be done, there's simply NO EXCUSE any longer for ANY director or studio to not put their all into making GOOD superhero films any longer.

No more dismal crap like Fantastic Four or Daredevil! Both Iron Man and moreso The Dark Knight PROVE that if you give the fans excellence(a solid story, great direction and serious actors), we'll respond to it!

Go, Dark Knight!!

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TombstoneLawDog writes:
on Jul 27 2008 09:34 PM

TDK in IMAX was almost a religious experience. Holy f#cking SKY-DIVING in CHINA, Batman!

Nothin' new, here, but kudos to Nolan and everyone involved in this. ROCK. Continue to ROCK. Break records and f#cking ROCK!

..and if y'all check my posts, I DID predict that TDK would be #1 by at least 15 MIl. THis week and next week. Run NOW, mummy folk. Yer @ss is Knight's.

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lavatory love machine writes:
on Jul 27 2008 09:43 PM

I've seen it three times already, and this is the first time since return of the king that I've seen a movie in theaters more than once

but I doubt that it will break Titanic record, unless there's a re-relase for the holydays to get oscar buzz

it seems it would end up with around 500 mil

on IMAX it will got strong for months but it would need an extra 100 mil at least to reach titanic

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jrod1978 writes:
on Jul 27 2008 09:43 PM

In reply to this comment (#1930103)
couldn't said it better myslef

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kaitune writes:
on Jul 27 2008 09:45 PM

I just saw TDK the second time, it's still awesome.

I truly hope that the movie will reach $500m, that will show the studio how a well-made blockbuster can cash. No more excuse for lame crap...

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nikhil bopanna writes:
on Jul 27 2008 09:54 PM

this is crazy, 300mil huh and top 1 @ IMDB. nolan wat ya upto?

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Mackey23 writes:
on Jul 27 2008 09:55 PM

Did my part. Saw it 3 times opening weekend. And I NEVER go see movies more than once in the theater. And I could easily go see it 3 or 4 more times...8 more.

10 more.

(Reply to this)