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Weekend Report: ‘Hangover’ Gets Higher with Sequel, ‘Panda’ Loses Weight
The good times continued to roll for the Wolf Pack in their second outing: The Hangover Part II devoured $103.4 million over the four-day Memorial Day weekend. Add in its raucous Thursday start, and the comedy sequel's five-day opening came to $135 million. Kung Fu Panda 2, on the other hand, fell short of its predecessor, while Pirates of the Caribbean: On Stranger Tides sprang another leak. Overall, this was the highest-grossing Memorial Day weekend of all time at $277 million (though not the most attended).
Friday Report: 'Hangover 2' Howls Again, 'Panda 2' Doesn't Pounce
On Friday, the good times continued to roll for the Wolf Pack: after a raucous Thursday opening, The Hangover Part II devoured another $30 million. Kung Fu Panda 2 didn't bounce back from its ho-hum Thursday start, while Pirates of the Caribbean: On Stranger Tides sprang another leak.
'Hangover 2' Rocks Thursday
On Thursday, The Hangover Part II blasted off with $31.6 million at 3,615 locations, marking the highest-grossing opening day ever for a live-action comedy. That also nearly doubled the $16.7-million Friday start of the first Hangover.
Forecast: 'Hangover,' 'Panda' to Have Memorable Memorial Weekend
Looks like lots of people didn't mind showing up to work hungover. The Hangover Part II delivered the biggest midnight launch of the year. The ribald comedy raked in an estimated $10.4 million at 2,600 locations, handily topping Pirates of the Caribbean: On Stranger Tides' $4.7 million midnight start. It also achieved the record for largest midnight debut ever for an R-rated movie, surpassing Paranormal Activity 2's $6.3 million. Two years ago, the first Hangover grossed $1 million in its midnight start at 760 locations.
Extended Summer Forecast: 'Harry Potter,' 'Transformers' and More Vie for Top Gross
Every summer seems to get more and more derivative as Hollywood piles on the sequels, adaptations, remakes and movies that just feel shopworn. Michael BayTodd PhillipsJ.J. AbramsSteven SpielbergM. Night ShyamalanWill SmithKevin JamesRyan ReynoldsRobert Downey Jr.James FrancoJon FavreauDaniel CraigHarrison FordClint EastwoodJim CarreySteve CarellTom HanksJason Bateman
Around-the-World Roundup: 'Pirates' Sails to New Overseas Record
Pirates of the Caribbean: On Stranger Tides off-set its domestic franchise dip with an unprecedented $260.4 million foreign debut. That topped Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince as the highest-grossing start ever overseas, and it was also up 21 percent from Pirates of the Caribbean: At World's End's $216 million.
Animation Deceptively Strong So Far in 2011
From looking at the movies individually, it may seem like animation has taken a bit of a hit in 2011. For instance, Rio is the year's top-grossing animated movie so far with $131.7 million, which is a far cry from How to Train Your Dragon at the same point last year. But the genre has excelled on sheer volume.Johnny DeppRobert Zemeckis
Weekend Report: 'Pirates' Rides Smaller 'Tides'
Pirates of the Caribbean: On Stranger Tides swooped in with the top-grossing weekend of the year so far. The supernatural swashbuckler claimed $90.2 million at 4,155 locations, edging out Fast Five's $86.2 million launch. That was also the 12th highest-grossing May opening ever, but, since 46 percent of On Stranger Tides' gross was from 3D presentations at a record 2,747 locations (including 256 IMAX 3D venues that contributed nine percent of the gross) and due to today's general ticket prices, its estimated attendance level would rank 27th. Johnny DeppWoody Allen
'Pirates' Already Making Waves Overseas
5/22 Update: Pirates of the Caribbean: On Stranger Tides may have faded domestically, but its overseas bounty was richer than ever. The movie earned an estimated $256.3 million in its international debut, topping Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince for highest-grossing weekend of all-time. The aggregated performance was up around 20 percent from Pirates of the Caribbean: At World's End, which ultimately finished its run with $654 million. On Stranger Tides's biggest territories were Russia ($28.6 million), China ($20 million), the United Kingdom ($19.5 million), Germany ($19.4 million) and Japan ($18.2 million). > Click here to read the full story.
Forecast: 'Pirates' Has Some Life Left in It
5/20 Update: In its midnight opening, Pirates of the Caribbean: On Stranger Tides grossed $4.7 million at 2,210 locations. That topped Thor's $3.25 million midnight launch at 1,800 locations two weeks ago, and it was higher than Fast Five's $3.8 million, though it played at twice the locations. A direct comparison to the last Pirates movie, At World's End, was not available, because that picture had pre-midnight Thursday evening previews (which grossed $13.2 million), but Dead Man's Chest had a midnight opening that raked in $9 million at around 2,100 locations. Johnny Depp
Summer 2011 Foreign Forecast
Most of the discussion about the Summer 2011 slate has centered around whether or not the plethora of sequels and comic book adaptations have what it takes to revive a slumping domestic box office. However, while domestic remains the single biggest market, the rapidly-expanding foreign market has in recent years become a much more potent source of box office.Johnny DeppJ.J. AbramsSteven SpielbergMel GibsonDaniel CraigHarrison FordJim CarreyKevin JamesTom HanksJulia Roberts
Around-the-World Roundup: 'Fast Five,' 'Thor' Thrive
For the second weekend in a row, Thor took the domestic top spot, but Fast Five ruled the world. The action sequel raked in $58.3 million in 61 territories, lifting its foreign haul to $272.2 million. Add in domestic, and its worldwide weekend was $78.8 million for a 25-day total of $441.9 million, setting franchise highs on all fronts. Predecessor Fast and Furious grossed $363.2 million in its entire worldwide run. Paul Bettany
Weekend Report: 'Thor' Holds on to Throne, 'Bridesmaids' a Strong Second
With an above-average hold, Thor easily repeated at the top of the box office over the weekend. Bridesmaids settled for second place, though its opening was impressive for an R-rated comedy with no proven talent in front of the camera. The weekend's other newcomer Priest didn't fare as well, opening behind many comparable titles. Overall box office was off around five percent from last year, when Iron Man 2 held on to first place. Judd ApatowKristen WiigWill FerrellPaul BettanyJoseph Gordon-LevittNatalie Portman
Friday Report: 'Thor' Plummets But Holds Off Feisty 'Bridesmaids'
Thor took a beating on Friday but still held on to first place at the box office. Newcomer Bridesmaids settled for second, though its debut eclipsed most forecasts and boded well for the remainder of the weekend. The weekend's other major new release, Priest, was below genre standards.Judd ApatowPaul BettanyWill FerrellJoseph Gordon-LevittNatalie Portman
Forecast: 'Thor' to Lead Again by Default
This weekend, a break in the chain of wannabe event movies until Pirates of the Caribbean: On Stranger Tides should allow Thor to top the box office again, even if it takes a tumble. Two more modest titles debut nationwide: Bridesmaids at 2,864 locations and Priest at 2,864 locations (including 2,006 presenting it in the 3D illusion). Kristen WiigPaul Bettany
Around-the-World Roundup: 'Fast Five' Vanquishes 'Thor'
While Thor took the domestic crown this weekend, it was Fast Five by a country mile overseas. The fifth movie in the increasingly popular franchise earned a massive $85.6 million from 58 territories, a tally which set a new weekend record for distributor Universal Pictures. Robert PattinsonReese WitherspoonAdam Sandler
Weekend Report: 'Thor' Thwacks It Within the Park
Thor hammered out $65.7 million at 3,955 locations, handily dominating the weekend. The Marvel Comics adaptation's opening salvo wasn't as thunderous as Fast Five's $86.2 million nor recent summer starters like the Iron Man movies and X-Men Origins: Wolverine ($85.1 million), but it was bigger than Clash of the Titans (2010) ($61.2 million). Kate HudsonGinnifer GoodwinMel GibsonJodie FosterKeira KnightleySam WorthingtonEva MendesMickey RourkeMegan FoxBill Murray
Friday Report: 'Thor' Wields Mighty First Day
On Friday, Thor claimed an estimated $25.7 million at 3,955 locations, handily dominating the day. The Marvel Comics adaptation's opening salvo wasn't as thunderous as Fast Five's $34.3 million nor recent summer starters like the Iron Man movies and X-Men Origins: Wolverine ($35.3 million), but it was close to Clash of the Titans (2010) ($26.1 million).
Forecast: Will Lightning Strike for 'Thor' After 'Fast Five?'
5/6 Update: In its midnight opening, Thor packed $3.25 million at 1,800 locations. That was solid albeit less potent than Fast Five's $3.8 million midnight start at 1,132 locations. More direct midnight comparisons would be Iron Man 2 ($7.5 million at 2,700 locations) and X-Men Origins: Wolverine ($5 million at 2,000 locations). Robert Downey Jr.Kate HudsonGinnifer GoodwinJohn Krasinski
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