Update: ‘Kick-Ass’ Didn’t, Barely Wins Weekend

Published by Jeff Leins on April 19, 2010

Update: The final numbers have Kick-Ass on top with $19.8M and Dragon in second with $19.6M.  It’s the second weekend in a row that actuals have reversed early Sunday rankings.

Original article from Sunday afternoon: Another close weekend at the box office and another newcomer loses out to a holdover favorite.  Lionsgate’s Kick-Ass opened to a weak $19.8 million behind DreamWorks Animation’s How to Train Your Dragon and its estimated $20 million in its fourth weekend.  Final figures are released Monday afternoon.

The PG, animated kid movie has been hovering near the top since its opening, but regained the crown as its competition struggled to find its audience.  Premium 3D and IMAX ticket prices have lifted the critically-acclaimed Viking adventure to a total $158.6 million so far with little family-friendly films to challenge it until mid-May.

Experts predicted $30 million or higher for the well-reviewed Kick-Ass, so its start is a bit of a disappointment for director Matthew Vaughn and company.  The R-rated comic book romp was independently financed for $30M and picked up for around $25M, so it stands to turn a profit even if it winds up second once the actual numbers are in.  It’s marketing campaign left plenty to be desired though, especially among young females, but it’s box office returns were likely hurt by controversy down the home stretch.  Kick-Ass features an 11-year-old character named Hit Girl who curses like a sailor, unleashes a barrage of deadly blows, and takes a brutal beating by a grown man.

Date Night, starring Tina Fey and Steve Carell, saw only a slight drop to third and $17.3 million.  It had its revenge on last weekend’s eventual winner, Clash of the Titans, which fell to fifth and $15.8 million.

Sandwiched in the middle is Chris Rock’s remake of a British comedy.  2010’s Death at a Funeral fared better than the original at the box office, but made just $17 million.  Again, it’s a low-budget production (only $21M), so Screen Gems isn’t concerned with not medaling.

3-Day U.S. Weekend Estimates (April 16-18):
1. How to Train Your Dragon  $20 million
2. Kick-Ass  $19.8 million
3. Date Night  $17.3 million
4. Death at a Funeral  $17 million
5. Clash of the Titans  $15.8 million
6. The Last Song  $5.8 million
7. Why Did I Get Married Too?  $4.2 million
8. Hot Tub Time Machine  $3.5 million
9. Alice in Wonderland  $3.5 million
10. The Bounty Hunter  $3.2 million