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Friday Report: 'Twilight' Holds Off Mighty 'Muppets'
The Twilight Saga: Breaking Dawn Part 1 maintained a solid grasp of first place on Friday, though The Muppets continued to be a strong presence in second. Meanwhile, newcomers Arthur Christmas and Hugo remained neck-and-neck despite Arthur's significant theater count advantage.
Thanksgiving Update: 'Breaking Dawn,' 'Muppets' on Top
As expected, The Twilight Saga: Breaking Dawn Part 1 held on to the top spot at the box office for the first two days of Thanksgiving weekend. The Muppets was easily the strongest out of the three new family-oriented releases, while Arthur Christmas and Hugo earned less than holdover Happy Feet Two.
Forecast: 'Twilight' Set to Beat Three Family Movies Over Thanksgiving
All three new wide releases this weekend aim to drag families away from their Turkey Day festivities and Black Friday shopping, though none are likely to come close to stealing first place away from The Twilight Saga: Breaking Dawn Part 1. Disney's revamped The Muppets hits 3,440 locations, while Sony/Aardman animation movie Arthur Christmas cruises in to 3,376 venues. Martin Scorsese's Hugo has a comparatively light release at only 1,277 theaters. The weekend will be in a tight race with last year, which had Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows Part 1 and Tangled both earning over $68 million for the five-day frame.
Around-the-World Roundup: 'Breaking Dawn' Lights Up Overseas
The Twilight Saga: Breaking Dawn Part 1 rocked the international box office this weekend with a huge $152.9 million in 54 markets (including previews). Its top territory was the United Kingdom with $21.9 million, which was a new high for the series. It was also huge in Russia ($16.1 million), France ($14.9 million), Australia ($12.8 million), Italy ($12.2 million), and Spain ($11.8 million), and it played well in Latin American markets Brazil ($10.2 million) and Mexico ($8.2 million).
Weekend Report: 'Breaking Dawn's Huge Debut Just Shy of 'Twilight' Record
While it wasn't quite able to reach the series high mark, The Twilight Saga: Breaking Dawn Part 1's outstanding $138.1 million opening indicated that the sexy teen vampires are as popular as ever. What does appear to have lost some of its appeal, however, is dancing penguins: Happy Feet Two struggled to even open to half as much as its popular 2006 predecessor. Overall box office was up around 14 percent to over $221 million, and the weekend currently ranks as the sixth-highest on record.Adam SandlerDennis DuganBen StillerEddie MurphyClint EastwoodAlexander Payne
Friday Report: 'Breaking Dawn' Bites Into Third-Highest Day Ever
The Twilight phenomenon showed no signs of fading on Friday, though Breaking Dawn Part 1 fell just short of setting a new series record. The fourth installment debuted to an estimated $72 million yesterday, which is the third-highest opening day ever behind Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows Part 2 ($91.1 million) and The Twilight Saga: New Moon ($72.7 million). While it couldn't quite pass New Moon, Breaking Dawn did have the second-best debut in the series ahead of last Summer's Eclipse ($68.5 million) and the original Twilight ($36 million). Out of its $72 million opening day, $30.25 million came from midnight showings. The Twilight Saga: Breaking Dawn Part 1 should be headed for around $140 million for the three-day frame, which will qualify as the fifth-best opening weekend ever. Clint EastwoodLeonardo DiCaprio
'Breaking Dawn' Draws $30.25M at Midnight
The Twilight Saga: Breaking Dawn Part 1 earned an incredible $30.25 million from 3,521 locations at midnight, which is about even with The Twilight Saga: Eclipse ($30.1 million) and up from the last November movie The Twilight Saga: New Moon ($26.3 million). It wasn't quite enough to beat Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows Part 2's $43.5 million midnight record, though that movie had the advantage of being the final installment and had a 3D boost.
Forecast: 'Breaking Dawn' Targets Series Records
Nearly 17 months after Eclipse became the Twilight series' highest-grossing movie, part one of the two-part series conclusion reaches theaters all over the world and it should be in line for one of the highest openings ever. The Twilight Saga: Breaking Dawn Part 1 opens at 4,061 theaters, which is up from New Moon's 4,024 locations but way off from Eclipse's record-setting 4,468 venues. Meanwhile, Happy Feet Two debuts at 3,606 locations where it will attempt to woo families with children who are a bit too young for Twilight's steamy teen romance. With two major sequels and a handful of solid holdovers, this weekend should easily top the same frame last year when Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows Part 1 opened to $125 million.Brad PittMatt Damon
Holiday 2011 Forecast
While the Holiday movie season technically begins the first weekend of November, things really kick off the weekend before Thanksgiving. It's no different this year, with two sure-fire hits reaching theaters on Friday (The Twilight Saga: Breaking Dawn Part One and Happy Feet Two). From now until the end of the year, nearly every weekend is packed with potential blockbusters, ranging from family movies (Arthur Christmas, Alvin and the Chipmunks: Chipwrecked) to dark adult fare (The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo) and everything in between. To mark the start of this onslaught of major releases, here's a look at the potential biggest movies, as well as a prediction as to what they may gross.Robert Downey Jr.Brad PittMatt DamonTom CruiseBrad BirdSteven SpielbergMartin ScorseseJason ReitmanGeorge ClooneyTom HanksSandra BullockStephen DaldryAlexander PayneMichael Fassbender
Weekend Report: Olympian Debut for 'Immortals'
Immortals may not have been the next 300, but it was at least strong enough to claim the top spot at the box office this weekend. Jack and Jill opened lower than most major Adam Sandler movies, and barely beat strong holdover Puss in Boots. The weekend's third new movie, J. Edgar, failed to exceed modest expectations. With three movies over $24 million, overall box office was up around 12 percent from the same period last year. Dennis DuganClint Eastwood
Around-the-World Roundup: 'Immortals' Reigns Over Foreign Charts
Coinciding with its solid domestic debut, Immortals had a powerful start overseas this weekend. The movie opened to an estimated $38 million from 35 territories, which was good for first place at the foreign box office. It's top territory was Russia with $8.6 million, followed by South Korea with over $5 million and the U.K. with $3.5 million. It also debuted to $2.6 million in Germany, $2.5 million in Italy, $1.6 million in Japan and a strong $1.2 million in Greece. Similar movies Clash of the Titans and 300 finished with $330 million and $245 million, respectively, and, while Immortals won't come close to those figures, it does at least appear poised for an overseas run that exceeds $100 million. Adam Sandler
Friday Report: 'Immortals' Defeats 'Jack,' 'Puss'
Immortals fought its way to a strong first place debut yesterday, leaving Jack and Jill and Puss in Boots in a close race for second. Meanwhile, Clint Eastwood's J. Edgar was unable to translate Leonardo DiCaprio's starpower in to above-average grosses. Adam SandlerDennis DuganBrett RatnerEddie Murphy
Forecast: Sandler, Gods Challenge 'Puss'
Adam Sandler's box office draw is set to be tested this weekend when he squares off against Leonardo DiCaprio and a handful of Greek gods. Jack and Jill, which will open on roughly 4,700 screens at 3,438 locations, should manage to win the weekend, though it looks like it will fall on the low end of Sandler debuts. Fantasy epic Immortals will wage war on roughly 5,000 screens at 3,112 theaters, with 70 percent of theaters offering the movie in 3D. And, after a mid-week limited debut, Clint Eastwood's historical drama J. Edgar hits around 2,400 screens at 1,910 locations. Also in competition for the top spot this weekend is two-time champ Puss in Boots, which looks poised for another fairly light decline.Dennis DuganRussell Crowe
Around-the-World Roundup: 'Tintin' Wins Again
The Adventures of Tintin expanded in to the rest of Europe and the Middle East and easily repeated a top the foreign box office charts this weekend. Puss in Boots continued to dominate in Russia, while In Time received a bit of a boost from an expansion.Steven Spielberg
Weekend Report: 'Puss' Fends Off Stiller, Murphy, Stoners
With a nearly unprecedented hold, Puss in Boots easily claimed first place for the second straight weekend. Openers Tower Heist and A Very Harold & Kumar 3D Christmas both came in on the low end of expectations, though neither was an outright disappointment. Overall box office was down nearly 25 percent from the same frame last year, when Megamind and Due Date opened to $46 million and $32.7 million, respectively. Ben StillerEddie MurphyJohnny Depp
Friday Report: 'Tower' Barely Steals Lead from 'Puss'
Tower Heist grabbed first place on Friday, though it was a pretty standard start for such a star-powered vehicle. On the weekend, the Ben Stiller-Eddie Murphy comedy should end up behind Puss in Boots, which held extremely well. Meanwhile, A Very Harold & Kumar 3D Christmas was unable to convert 3D premiums and holiday themes in to a new franchise high. Brett Ratner
Box Office Slows in October
After a record-breaking September, the box office cooled off significantly in a disappointing October. Overall grosses were down around 12 percent to $605 million, which makes it the worst October since 2007 ($522.6 million). With roughly 76 million tickets sold, it is also about tied with October 2007 for lowest estimated monthly attendance since 1996. Through the end of October, yearly box office is off roughly 4.1 percent to $8.44 billion. Steve MartinOwen WilsonJack Black
Around-the-World Roundup: 'Tintin' Animates Overseas Box Office
A full two months ahead of its U.S. opening, The Adventures of Tintin debuted across much of Europe and easily took the top spot at the foreign box office this weekend. Tintin wasn't the only movie impressing in its overseas opening: Bollywood movie RA One set a new weekend record in India, while Puss in Boots had a monster debut in Russia.Steven SpielbergJustin TimberlakeAmanda Seyfried
Weekend Report: 'Puss' Purrs Softly
With over $34 million, Puss in Boots scored the top Halloween weekend ever, though it was notably lower than nearly all other DreamWorks Animation titles. Justin Timberlake and Johnny Depp also underwhelmed, though Timberlake's In Time drastically outperformed Depp's The Rum Diary. Even with all three titles missing the mark to various degrees, overall box office was up around 10 percent from the same frame last year when Saw 3D let with $22.5 million.
Around-the-World Roundup: 'Paranormal Activity 3' Haunts Foreign Charts
Aside from its strong domestic debut, Paranormal Activity 3 also topped Real Steel to rule the foreign box office this weekend. Johnny English Reborn and The Three Musketeers continued strong overseas runs, which helps to offset their disappointing domestic debuts, while Contagion had its first major rollout. Hugh JackmanPaul W.S. Anderson
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