January 9-11 DHD Estimates (with a big suprise)

http://deadlinehollywooddaily.com/

Despite winter storms, the post-holiday climate proved favorable for movie openers this weekend. Hollywood legend Clint Eastwood's Gran Torino finally went wide into 2,808 theaters in its 5th week of release, and the actor/director showed he can make not just an Oscar-buzzed film but also a wildly popular offering. His Warner Bros pic make $9.8M million Friday, but it should end Sunday with close to $30M which would make this double the weekend debut of his biggest hits. The No. 2 and No. 3 pics were both horror films. Fox should be ashamed of itself for making Bride Wars, as well as Anne Hathaway and Kate Hudson (also a producer) for starring in such a sexist piece of nonsense. (Feel free to disagree. But you're wrong.) The movie, which pits two BFFs against each other because the hotel screwed up and scheduled their weddings on the same day, opened to $8 million from 3,226 venues Friday for what should be a $23M weekend. And Rogue Pictures/Universal's scarer The Unborn playing in 2,356 runs debuted with $7.8M Friday for a projected $18M weekend. Screen Gems/Sony's African-American melodrama Not Easily Broken managed to come in #7 despite only 724 plays with a solid $2 million Friday and expected $6M weekend.

The rest of the Top 10 had few surprises:
4. Marley And Me (Fox) $3M Friday, estimated $9.5M weekend
5. Benjamin Button (Paramount) $2.7M Friday, est $9.2M weekend
6. Bedtime Stories (Disney) $2.1M Friday, est $7.5M weekend
8. Valkyrie (MGM/UA) $1.9M Friday, est $6.5M weekend
9. Yes Man (Waner Bros) $1.9M Friday, est $6.0M weekend
10. Seven Pounds (Sony) $1.1M Friday, est $4M weekend

I said that Gran Torino could make $20 million this weekend. Looks like that it's surpassed even my predictions.

The No. 2 and No. 3 pics were both horror films.

Oh, brah-VO, J.I., that's really very good. Props.


I don't do chick flicks

Speaking about broken glasses, I watched Straw Dogs earlier. That movie sure has inspired other thriller/horror films over the years. But then again, Peckinpah was well-respected by film buffs.

Fantastic weekend. All the openers did well, and the holdovers were not that bad.

I'm very happy with Gran Torinos success. Clint deserves a big-one this year, and while i liked Changeling more, i wanted this one to make more money. Warners truly can do no wrong this year.

Was it two years ago that Sony was doing this too? Every movie they were making would win the weekend or rake in bags of money. Warners is such gold right now that I wouldn't bet against them. You can hardly blame Fox for suing the hell out of them.

According to Box Office Mojo, the top 3 look like this:

1. Gran Torino - $29,025,000
2. Bride Wars - $21,500,000
3. The Unborn - $21,095,000

I don't know about you, but that's too close for comfort, when the actuals come out, The Unborn could end up #2. Yeesh!

Also of interest is that Gran Torino still picks up 2 PTA points now that its wide, and Waltz with Bashir finally picks up a point, if the PTA ranking holds.

Well, I'm glad I picked Bride Wars for every slate I'm in... (that was sarcasm).

But for slates that are starting in January (like the Superleagues) wouldn't Bride Wars be getting 5 Top 5 points this weekend?

No Roodey, It has never worked like that for top 5. It still gets 4. You can't have a movie get 4 Top 5 points in one season and 5 in another.

And a $21 million opening in January is still nothing to sneeze at. I don't think those who have it on Super League slates (myself included) are automatically dead.

It's doing ok, and besides, almost everyone has it, it definitely wont be a game changer.

Yea it only gets 4. Now If Gran Torino was never in any slates, then Bride Wars would get 5, but it was in the december slates, so it still counts.

Waltz with Bashir didn't end up picking up that one lonely PTA point. Last Chance Harvey beat it by $10. Too bad, because I hear good things about that movie.

J-Man wrote:Waltz with Bashir didn't end up picking up that one lonely PTA point. Last Chance Harvey beat it by $10. Too bad, because I hear good things about that movie.

Well there's always next week

Damn you Harvey, I was sure Bashir would start raking in some points this weekend. Of note though, Bashir has held well each week, while the others are dropping around it. Maybe come the end of January it could start picking up some points.

Didn't someone say they thought it would be the PTA champ of the season? Beating Slumdog Millionaire. Who was that? Would have been better served backing Gran Torino, obviously.