Box Office Report

Michael Cera, Jonah Hill & Christopher Plasse laugh in SUPERBAD(2007).
© Sony/Columbia

Apatow Scores Again with SUPERBAD

By: Jarrod Sarafin, News Editor
Date: Sunday, August 26, 2007

For the first time since June 03, 2007, we have a movie which wins two weekends in a row. It’s been quite a chaotic summer season with so many tent pole films appearing in the lineup spaced only a week apart from each other. The last time a movie won the report two weekends in a row, Pirates of the Caribbean: At World’s End took home the box office cash. On that second consecutive weekend win (June 1-3), Pirates overcame the debut of Judd Apatow’s comedy, Knocked Up, which went on to gross an amazing 147.7 million domestic cash on a 30 mil budget.

So, why am I bringing up that fact?

The next back-to-back winner is a new Judd Apatow produced feature film, Superbad, which pulled in 18.0 mil this weekend winning for the second week in a row. The budget for this geek comedy is even less than Knocked Up was, sitting at 20 million in costs for Sony. In two weeks, it has grossed three times that amount pulling in 68.5 mil in receipts making this yet another hit for Apatow’s growing resume of successful ventures.

In another twist, a movie which was 3^rd place last week shot back up to 2^nd place on this report while the previous runner up dropped down a slot. The Bourne Ultimatum overcame Rush Hour 3 this weekend pulling in 12.3 mil to take 2^nd place. In just 4 weeks of release, the third adventure of Jason Bourne has pulled in 185.1 million in domestic box office receipts. It’s also pulled in another 33.5 mil in its overseas released countries. Total worldwide gross is now at 218.6 mil while the film’s budget is at 110 mil.

Landing in 3^rd place as mentioned above is New Line’s Rush Hour 3, starring Jackie Chan & Chris Tucker, which pulled in 12.2 mil over the weekend. It’s gradually reaching the mark of its budget which is at 140 mil. In three weeks of release, it has grossed a domestic total of 109.0 mil and another 26.8 mil overseas. So, it has a worldwide total of 135.8 mil at the moment only 5 mil away from its budget. Perhaps in a few weeks, it will have grossed enough to make this a worthy success for New Line.

Following in 4^th place is one of the three latest debuts, Universal’s distribution of Mr. Bean’s Holiday. This latest Bean adventure starring Rowan Atkinson is already a smash hit even while opening in the fourth spot here in the states. It’s been out in overseas theaters since March 30 and its foreign box office take is at 188.8 mil. By taking in the 10.1 mil this weekend in its domestic debut, it’s just one million away from the 200 mil barrier. As I say, this is a major box office success already.

The same can’t be said for Lionsgate new action flick, WAR, which debuts this weekend in 5^th place taking in only 10.0 mil. There is no budget for this so it’s hard to judge how big a miss this is for the studio. It wasn’t a major theatrical release, opening in only 2,277 theaters, so perhaps the 10 mil opening isn’t all that bad but one would think they could have marketed this action flick between Jason Statham and Jet Li in a bigger fashion bringing in more cash for its debut weekend.

MGM didn’t fare much better with the debut of their Nanny Diaries which landed in 6^th place this weekend pulling in only 7.8 mil this weekend. This isn’t as bad off as the above mentioned Statham flick because while there is no budget listed for this, one would have to assume it didn’t cost that much to make. Not compared to an action flick. We have three new debuting wide releases this weekend, all three landing in the middle 4-6^th places while the top 3 films stay status quo.

Fox continues to count up the receipts for The Simpsons Movie which landed in 7^th place this weekend pulling in another 4.4 mil. In five weeks of release, the 75 mil budgeted film has grossed a total domestic take of 173.4 million in cash. In overseas sales, the Springfield residents have also grossed another 270.1 million. This long running sitcom turned feature film has grossed 443.6 million in worldwide receipts.

Following behind in 8^th place is the Paramount miss, Stardust, which pulled in 3.9 mil over the weekend. In three weeks of release with a 70 mil budget, this adaptation of Neil Gaiman has pulled in only 26.4 million. This film has a long way to go before it can be considered anything but a miss and perhaps it will never get there. Sometimes, misses happen through no fault of the source material or film itself but because of bad timing.

Still standing steady is New Line’s musical remake, Hairspray, which finishes this week in 9^th place pulling in 3.4 million. This film has a niche demographic that has kept it in our box office report for 6 weeks now while other films drop out of sight around it. In its theatrical release, it has pulled in a respectable 107.4 domestic total in receipts.

Finishing up in 10^th place is the latest failure, The Invasion, which took in 3.1 million in receipts. It debuted last week in 5^th place and finishes its second week in 10^th place. The Warner Bros remake of the Invasion of the Body Snatchers films has pulled in only 11.5 million while it has a budget of 80 mil.

Rank	Movie	Weekend $	Theaters	Average	Total $
1	Superbad	18.0 mil	2,948	$6,105	68.5 mil
2	The Bourne Ultimatum	12.3 mil	3,679	$3,359	185.1 mil
3	Rush Hour 3	12.2 mil	3,408	$3,594	109.0 mil
4	Mr. Bean’s Holiday	10.1 mil	1,714	$5,904	10.1 mil
5	WAR	10.0 mil	2,277	$4,391	10.0 mil
6	The Nanny Diaries	7.8 mil	2,629	$2,971	7.8 mil
7	The Simpsons Movie	4.4 mil	2,600	$1,692	173.4 mil
8	Stardust	3.9 mil	2,339	$1,690	26.4 mil
9	Hairspray	3.4 mil	2,016	$1,711	107.4 mil
10	The Invasion	3.1 mil	2,776	$1,131	11.5 mil

The end of the summer season has come and the films which lead in our rankings will probably stay in those leading spots over the next two weeks, the last major change probably occurred this week with Harry Potter and The Order of the Phoenix overtaking Spider-Man 3 in the 2^nd place of Worldwide Rankings. This will be the final two weeks that I update the Top 10 Rankings. After next week, I’ll no longer be updating the numbers and at that point, we shall see who is the closest in comparisons.

Now, onward to the updated numbers…

Current Worldwide Top Rankings For the 2007 Summer Season:

Here’s a look at their placing and their numbers.

1. Pirates of the Caribbean: At World’s End

Budget: 300 million

Opening Weekend: 114.7 million

Total Domestic: 307.8 million

Total Foreign: 649.2 million

Worldwide Total: 957.0 million

2. Harry Potter And The Order of the Phoenix Numbers:

Budget: 150 million

Opening Weekend: 77.4 million

Total Domestic: 283.3 million

Total Foreign: 613.3 million

Worldwide Total: 896.6 million

3. Spider-Man 3 Numbers:

Budget: 258 million

Opening Weekend: 151.1million

Total Domestic: 336.5 million

Total Foreign: 553.6 million

Worldwide Total: 890.2 million

4. Shrek 3 Numbers:

Budget: 160 million

Opening Weekend: 121.6 million

Total Domestic: 321.0 million

Total Foreign: 415.4 million

Worldwide Total: 736.4 million

5. Transformers Numbers:

Budget: 150 million

Opening Weekend: 67.6 million

Total Domestic: 308.6 million

Total Foreign: 354.3 million

Worldwide Total: 663.0 million

6. The Simpsons Movie Numbers:

Budget: 75 million

Opening Weekend: 74.0 million

Total Domestic: 173.4 million

Total Foreign: 270.1 million

Worldwide Total: 443.6 million

7. Live Free or Die Hard Numbers:

Budget: 110 million

Opening Weekend: 33.3 million

Total Domestic: 132.8 million

Total Foreign: 215.2 million

Worldwide Total: 348.1 million

8. Ratatouille Numbers:

Budget: 150 million

Opening Weekend: 47.0 million

Total Domestic: 199.0 million

Total Foreign: 149.4 million

Worldwide Total: 348.4 million

9. Ocean’s Thirteen Numbers:

Budget: N/A

Opening Weekend: 36.1 million

Total Domestic: 116.7 million

Total Foreign: 179.5 million

Worldwide Total: 296.2 million

10. Fantastic Four: Rise of the Silver Surfer Numbers:

Budget: 130million

Opening Weekend: 58.0 million

Total Domestic: 131.2 million

Total Foreign: 135.6 million

Worldwide Total: 266.9 million

Current Domestic Top Rankings of 2007 Summer Season:

1. Spider-Man 3 Numbers:

Budget: 258 million

Opening Weekend: 151.1million

Total Domestic: 336.5 million

Total Foreign: 553.6 million

Worldwide Total: 890.2million

2. Shrek 3 Numbers:

Budget: 160 million

Opening Weekend: 121.6 million

Total Domestic: 321.0 million

Total Foreign: 415.4 million

Worldwide Total: 736.4 million

3. Transformers Numbers:

Budget: 150 million

Opening Weekend: 67.6 million

Total Domestic: 308.6 million

Total Foreign: 354.3 million

Worldwide Total: 663.0 million

4. Pirates of the Caribbean: At World’s End

Budget: 300 million

Opening Weekend: 114.7 million

Total Domestic: 307.8 million

Total Foreign: 649.2 million

Worldwide Total: 957.0 million

5. Harry Potter And The Order of the Phoenix Numbers:

Budget: 150 million

Opening Weekend: 77.4 million

Total Domestic: 283.3 million

Total Foreign: 613.3 million

Worldwide Total: 896.6 million

6. Ratatouille Numbers:

Budget: 150 million

Opening Weekend: 47.0 million

Total Domestic: 199.0 million

Total Foreign: 149.4 million

Worldwide Total: 348.4 million

7. The Bourne Ultimatum Numbers:

Budget: 110 million

Opening Weekend: 69.2 million

Total Domestic: 185.1 million

Total Foreign: 33.5 million

Worldwide Total: 218.6 million

8. The Simpsons Movie Numbers:

Budget: 75 million

Opening Weekend: 74.0 million

Total Domestic: 173.4 million

Total Foreign: 270.1 million

Worldwide Total: 443.6 million

9. Knocked Up Numbers:

Budget: 30 million

Opening Weekend: 30.6 million

Total Domestic: 147.7 million

Total Foreign: 18.0 million

Worldwide Total: 165.8 million

10. Live Free or Die Hard Numbers:

Budget: 110 million

Opening Weekend: 33.3 million

Total Domestic: 132.8 million

Total Foreign: 215.2 million

Worldwide Total: 348.1 million

The Top 10 Box Office Winners Question Continues:

Let’s compare your Top 10 Guesses vs. Top 10 Actuals

Snallygaster:

1. Spider-Man 3
2. Pirates 3
3. Shrek 3
4. Harry Potter: Order of the Phoenix
5. Transformers
6. Ratatouille
7. Fantastic Four
8. The Bourne Ultimatum
9. Rush Hour 3
10. Live Free or Die Hard

jppintar326

1. Spiderman 3
2. Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix
3. Pirates of the Caribbean
4. Transformers
5. Shrek the Third
6. The Bourne UItimatium
7. Fantastic Four Rise of the Silver Surfer
8. Live Free or Die Hard
9. Rush Hour 3
10. Surf's Up

SinisterPryde

1. Spider-Man 3
2. Pirates of the Carribean: At Earth's End
3. Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix
4. Shrek 3
5. Fantastic Four: Rise of the Silver Surfer
6. Ratatouille
7. Transformers
8. Rush Hour 3
9. Ocean's Thirteen
10. Live Free or Die Hard

wessmith1966

1. Pirates 3
2. Spider-Man 3
3. Harry Potter: Order of the Phoenix
4. Shrek 3
5. Transformers
6. Ratatouille
7. Live Free or Die hard
8. Fantastic Four
9. I Now Pronounce You Chuck and Larry
10. Evan Almighty

Captmathman

1 Spider-Man 3
2 Pirates 3
3 Harry Potter: Order of the Phoenix
4 Shrek the Third
5 Transformers
6 The Bourne Ultimatum
7 Fantastic Four: Rise of the Silver Surfer
8 The Simpsons Movie
9 Evan Almighty
10 Ocean's 13

Merin (with Box Office predictions as well)

1. Pirates 3 - $450 million L
2. Spider-Man 3 - $350 million M
3. Harry Potter 5 - $325 million L
4. Shrek 3 - $315 million L
5. FF 2 - $205 million M
6. Simpsons Movie - $200 million M
7. Rush Hour 3 - $200 million L

8. Transformers - $180 million L

9. Bourne Ultimatum - $175 million L
10. Ratatouille - $150 million M

Hanso

1.Pirates 3.
2.Spidey 3.
3.Shrek 3.
4.Transformers.
5.Harry Potter 5.
6.Ratataouile.
7.Rush Hour 3.

8.Fantastic Four 2.
9.Chuck & Larry.
10.The Simpsons.

theCollector

1.POTC: AWE - 600 Million
2. Fantastic Four: ROTSS- 445 Million
3. Transformers - 400 Million
4. Knocked Up) - 380
5. The Simpsons/ Shrek the Third - 325 million
6. Spidey 3 - 320 million
7. Die Hard 4 - 310 million
8. Rush Hour 3 - 225 million
9.Harry Potter 5/ Evan Almighty- 210 million
10. Oceans 13 -205 Million

Scorpionstryker

1.transformers
2. pirates3
3. harry potter 5
4. spiderman 3
5. shrek 3
6. fantastic four 2
7. simpsons
8. surfs up
9. rush hour 3
10. Chuck & Larry

DaForce

1. Spidey 3
2. Pirates 3
3. Transformers
4. Shrek 3
5. Ratatouille
6. Harry Pothead and the Phoenix
7. FF2
8. Simpsons
9. Die Hard 4
10. Surf's Up

MaverickRenegade

1. Pirates 3
2. Spidey 3
3. Shrek 3
4. Transformers
5. Harry Potter
6. FF2
7. Die Hard 4
8. Simpsons
9. Ratatouille
10. Surf's Up

AlmostUnbiased

1. POTC3
2. spidey 3
3. Shrek
4. Harry Potter 5
5. Ratataouile
6. Ocean's Thirteen
7. The Bourne Ultimatum
8. Rush Hour 3
9. Transformers
10. FF:ROTSS

Celt6

1. Pirates of the Caribbean: AWE
2. Harry Potter 5
3. Spider-Man 3
4. Transformers
5. Shrek 3
6. FF:ROTSS
7. Live Free or Die Hard
8. Bourne Ultimatum
9. Rush Hour 3

Wednesday August 29, 2007 Releases:

Wide Release

Balls of Fury (2,800 Theaters)

Friday August 31, 2007 Releases:

Wide Release

Halloween (3,300 Theaters)

Death Sentence (1,900 Theaters)

Limited Release

Exiled

Freshman Orientation

The Nines

Self-Medicated

Ladron Que Roba A Ladron

Related Products

Comments/Responses

jppintar326 • Aug 26, 2007, 04:47pm •

The Nanny Diaries will probably be seen as a failure because
1. It was based on a best selling novel,
2. Was supposed to come out in April instead of August (never a good sign), and

3. because it was produced by the Weinstein Brothers.

This movie, Hannibal Rising, and Grindhouse means another underachieving production by the Weinstein Company. I'm sure there are many in Hollywood who are very happy that these two are making flop after flop. When they were running Miramax, their aggressive Oscar campaigns rubbed some people the wrong way, especially the people at Dreamworks. Many want to see the visionary alliance of the Weinsteins get one right in their visionary eyes.

I'll end summer by seeing Balls of Fury. It may have a chance to make some money.

filmnotmovie • Aug 26, 2007, 05:36pm •

I Have to agree with jppintar on the whole
Weinstein angle. For years now, those two
have been demonized by many in the fllm
industry. I actually heard director Peter Greenaway characterised them as "wretched
men." It would definitely seem as though
the pendulum has swung the other way.
Although, I hate to see this happen at the
expense of "Grindhouse." I still haven't heard the official story on how that will be
released on DVD.

almostunbiased • Aug 26, 2007, 06:22pm •

I hate to be a complainer, but would it be possible to have how many weeks in release for the movies. Just a thought. I know it's one more headache, but I think that's an interesting statistic at times for comparison reasons. I just mean for the top ten of the week not for the running totals section. Although that could be interesting as well.
I thought I was going to have to take my daughter to go see Mr. Bean, but she forgot about it.

Whiskeymovie • Aug 26, 2007, 06:32pm •

The Weinstein's seem to still be able to release good movies, but don't seem to know how to market them. From the commerical, i had no interest in Lucky Number Slevin,,,,,when I finally saw the movie,,,it was fucking amazing. I could less if they are assholes etc. just make and release good movies.

Merin • Aug 26, 2007, 07:17pm •

I somewhat snidely overlooked Knocked Up, overestimated Pirate appeal, and am still unbelieving at the Transformers success.
And a little disappointed in FF2's and RH3's take.

But other than that, I'm fairly happy with my predictions.

I'm very happy Ratatouille did so well. Gonna break $200 million domestically.

Here's hoping next summer isn't nearly this crowded - but a little crowded all the same. I like having missed some films in theater due to so many good choices. A nice change from the last couple years for me.

originaldave77 • Aug 26, 2007, 07:42pm •

Jarrod didn't publish my top 10 predictions...I'm correct across the board (off the odd 100K here and there). haha JK I think Mania should have a pool for next summer...closest guesstimator wins all the DVD's of the summer releases! Heck, how about a weekly contest??
I loved Transformers...I can't remember a movie entertaining me so since the Matrix. Other films had wince or cringe-inducing scenes...Transformers wanted to entertain me from stop-to-finish, and it did. I'm gonna see it in IMAX! Merin stop rolling your eyes!

DarkJedi • Aug 26, 2007, 08:31pm •

That's a good idea, OriginalDave. Not sure about every DVD but I can think of getting some prizes ready for the same deal next summer as an award or something. Thinking about doing the same thing for our NFL Football Pick thread over at our forums.

AlmostUnbiased, I can do that. I'll start adding that category with next week's report.

Jarrod Sarafin

smegforbrain • Aug 26, 2007, 08:57pm •

An AP article on Yahoo says that the box office broke $4 billion this year.

I'm surprised the article doesn't have execs complaining about how much more money they could've made if not for piracy.

Still, I went to more movies this summer than any I can recall, and I don't think there was a single 'dud' among the lot. Hopefully this keeps up next summer.

daforce • Aug 27, 2007, 04:54am •

Smeg, obviously you didn't see Pirates 3 (or blocked it from memory, but who can blame you for that?) when speaking of duds.

Anyway, not surprising that Superbad was the number 1 this weekend, considering nothing really opened up. Jet Li needs to start hiring actual directors instead of music video guys if he wants to make movies that open to more than $10 million of business here in the states.

This coming weekend should be interesting since we have the heavily advertised Rob Zombie 'reimagining' of Halloween coming out (with a Mike Meyers on steroids, and no doubt a bunch of orgiastic gore scenes), and the only other real contender Balls of Fury. The 'Death Wish' remake starring Kevin Bacon looks real bad (since they keep showing the same scenes over and over and over again), so I'm not even going to dignify it with having a chance this weekend. It may open in the top 10, but it's going to fall off fairly quickly.

smegforbrain • Aug 27, 2007, 08:10am •

"Smeg, obviously you didn't see Pirates 3 when speaking of duds."

I did see it, and I highly enjoyed it. So, you can bugger off.

I don't care if people give their opinions about a movie, but don't tell me what I should and shouldn't like.

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