‘2012′ Destroys the Box Office

Published by Jeff Leins on: November 15th, 2009

Roland Emmerich’s “mother of all disaster movies” 2012 destroyed the box office this weekend, bringing in an estimated $65 million domestic and a global total of $225 million.

The smash opening is just shy of Emmerich’s Day After Tomorrow debut at the start of summer ‘04, but is easily the largest for star John Cusack, more than doubling his previous best.  The apocalyptic action movie has already made back its $200 million budget (before marketing) despite a lackluster consensus from critics (38% on Rotten Tomatoes) and low expectations from analysts.  Audiences were split down the middle with 52% male and 55% over the age of 25.

Second and third place went to last week’s A Christmas Carol and The Men Who Stare at Goats with $22.3 million and $6.2 million respectively.

The number four spot went to the unbelievable expansion of Lionsgate’s Precious, which came off last weekend’s record-breaking per theater average for another gigantic jump.  Playing in only 174 theaters in major cities and African-American neighborhoods, the indie film posted $6.1 million.

The only other “wide” opener was the British import Pirate Radio which landed outside the top ten with $2.9 million on 882 screens.

Milestones this week included Paranormal Activity reaching $100 million in the U.S. (on a budget of roughly $15k, in case it wasn’t mentioned in every single piece about it) and Michael Jackson’s This Is It crossed $200 million worldwide.

Wes Anderson’s animated The Fantastic Mr. Fox started its limited run in NY/LA and made a respectable $260,000.

Will these films get lost in the anticipated opening of The Twilight Saga: New Moon next weekend?  I’ll give you a hint: fans are already lined up to get in.

3-Day U.S. Weekend Estimates:
1. 2012  $65 million
2. A Christmas Carol  $22.3 million
3. The Men Who Stare at Goats  $6.2 million
4. Precious  $6.1 million
5. This Is It  $5.1 million
6. The Fourth Kind  $4.7 million
7. Couples Retreat  $4.3 million
8. Paranormal Activity  $4.2 million
9. Law Abiding Citizen  $3.9 million
10. The Box  $3.2 million