Box Office Report: 11-11-11

While Immortals may not be everything that 300 was, several things are remarkably similar – extreme violence, old timey dialogue, visually stunning presentation, and an opening weekend #1 spot.  Debuting at $32M (nearly $40M less than then 300 did in 2007), the broadsword flailing epic poem was more than a match for Adam Sandler’s Jack and Jill, and the Clint Eastwood/Leonardo DiCaprio project, J. Edgar.

In both surprising and not surprising news (it looked awful and was the first movie in history to spawn parody trailers before the actual trailer was released), Adam Sandler’s Jack and Jill did not steamroll the competition this weekend – it performed well below expectation pulling in only $26M.  Adam Sandler’s movies have been categorized as “critic proof” and rightfully so.  Regardless of how terrible the critics say the movie is, Adam Sandler makes BANK.  He’s as close to a box office lock as you can get.  Conversely, the more acclaim he garners for daring performances (Reign Over Me, Funny People, Punch Drunk Love) the less people rush out to support their favorite SNL alum.  Give him a goofy name or bonkers premise and hot damn- there’s a Twilight-esque line wrapped around the corner.   After making billions of dollars for his studios over the last few years, I guess even the mighty Happy Gilmore deserves a mulligan.

Despite being heralded as DiCaprio’s most transformative performance yet, Clint Eastwood’s J. Edgar failed to produce much of an audience this weekend.  This is, what I can only assume, to be the first of the “award movies” this season and in typical award show movie fashion, it didn’t translate into box office cash.  J. Edgar debuted at #6 behind Puss and Boots and Tower Heist.  Similar to last years award show darlings, Black Swan and The King’s Speech, I’m sure J. Edgar will continue to generate money and probably get a re-release in early Q1 if either DiCaprio or Eastwood get nominated for their respective performances.

 Top Ten for the weekend of November 11^th 2011

Title	Weekend Gross	% Change	Total Gross	Week
Immortals	$32,000,000	-	$32,000,000	1
Jack and Jill	$26,000,000	-	$26,000,000	1
Puss in Boots	$25,500,000	-22.90%	$108,809,000	3
Tower Heist	$13,200,000	-45.10%	$43,900,000	2
J. Edgar	$11,470,000	-	$11,569,000	1
A Very Harold & Kumar 3D Christmas	$5,900,000	-54.50%	$23,222,000	2
In Time	$4,150,000	-44.50%	$30,667,000	3
Paranormal Activity 3	$3,625,000	-56.50%	$100,823,000	4
Footloose (2011)	$2,735,000	-38.80%	$48,876,000	5
Real Steel	$2,000,000	-41.80%	$81,748,000	6

Next week we’re back at it we’re full steam ahead into Holiday Movie Season.  Twilight: Breaking Dawn part 1 and Happy Feet Two both debut at the box office.  On a personal note I hope every projectionist at every movie theater in the country calls in sick next weekend and instead of Twilight they show re-runs of LOST instead.  I have two reasons for wishing ill on these hard working movie folks:

1. LOST was a great show.  It made you think and want to read the source material referenced in every episode.  People should just watch that instead.
2. I did the stupidest thing I’ve ever done this past Friday.  I bet a friend of mine that Twilight: Breaking Dawn wouldn’t do over 170M in its run.  It’s probably going to break 170M on Friday night.

credit: boxofficemojo.com