Movie News: “Dragon” Scorches “Alice” at Box Office

Movie News

“Dragon” Scorches “Alice” at Box Office

By our guest blogger, Tim Strain

Business was up one percentage point as DreamWorks Pictures’ newest foray into 3D animation, “How to Train Your Dragon,” topped fellow 3D colorfest “Alice in Wonderland.” “Dragon’s” opening really didn’t blow any skirts up, scoring $43 million in 4,055 theaters. That pegs it as a mid-level hit for super-wide released CGI animated films, similar to the “Ice Age” movies or “Horton Hears a Who.” The reviews would have you believe it's of Pixar quality, with Rotten Tomatoes logging it at 97% fresh. It had the fifth biggest weekend for a 3D release ever, after “Alice” ($116 million), “Avatar” ($77), “Up” ($68), and Monsters Vs. Aliens ($59—God, that movie sucked). Or maybe it will end up with a disappointing $150 million. With 3D factored in, this still has a chance of getting to $200 million. Maybe the Twins will win the World Series. Who knows?

“Alice” showed its first real sign of letting up, easing 50 percent to a second-place finish of $17 million. It lost a lot of 3D screens to “Dragon,” and 355 in total from last week. It now stands at $293 million, the second highest total for a 3D films behind “Avatar,” which added another $2 million for kicks, giving it $740 million. The dumb and admittedly fun looking “Hot Tub Time Machine” tapped a bit of nostalgia from thirtysomethings, getting $13 million in 2,754 for a $5,000 per theater average.

“Greenberg,” which scored the biggest expansion of the week, had a good-not-great $1.058 million in 181 theaters. It opened last weekend with $118,052 in three theaters last weekend, giving it the second best PTA of any 2010 release, behind “The Ghost Writer.” Polanski’s latest dropped just 20% for a $1.65 million sixth weekend, edging out Noah Baumbach and Ben Stiller’s latest.

“The Bounty Hunter” had a small drop, easing just 40 percent for $12 million and a fourth place finish. It will make back its $40 million budget within a few days.

“Diary of a Wimpy Kid” got a little beat up, tumbling 55 percent for a $10 million second weekend. It's a success by the market’s standards. So is “She’s Out of My League,” the new inexpensive bromance dramedy from Judd Apatow’s clan, having made $25 million in three weeks on its $20 million budget. Jay Baruchel probably won’t be landing any more starring gigs in the future, but executives surely won’t have any problems casting him as the other guy.

“Green Zone.” It’s sad. $30 million in three weeks so far, on a $100 million budget. So much for Matt Damon being one of the most bankable stars in Hollywood. Don’t worry though, man, I still like “Good Will Hunting.”

“Shutter Island” basically has a 50/50 shot at passing “The Departed’s” $132 million to be Scorsese’s biggest. It stands at $120 million after six weeks. It eased 33 percent for $3.175 million and eighth place this weekend. I say it gets there.

“Repo Man” is also a flop, tumbling 50% to ninth place in its second weekend. It has $11 million against a $32 million budget. It’s been a rough couple months for Universal, with this, “Green Zone,” and “The Wolfman” ($93,000 on 164 screens!).

“Chloe,” Atom Eygoyan’s newest, opened with a modest $1.002 million in 350 theaters. The erotic thriller starring Julianne Moore, Liam Neeson, and Amanda Seyfried is a middle-of-the-line hit for the Canadian director and distributor Sony Picture Classics.

The Disney documentary “Waking Sleeping Beauty,” chronicling the Disney animation renaissance during the '80s and '90s, opened to a solid $33,000 in five venues.

All figures courtesy Box Office Mojo and IndieWire.