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Contraband Takes Down MLK Holiday

Mark Wahlberg's latest defeats MLK competition.

By Jarrod Sarafin     January 17, 2012


Mark Wahlberg's Contraband opens in 1st place at the box office.
© Universal Pictures/Robert Trate

 

The celebration of the life of Martin Luther King Jr. made for a four-day race at the box office this weekend, one in which Universal Pictures found their latest action tale Contraband on top. Toppling the competition easily with $28.8 million over the last four days, the Mark Wahlberg and Kate Beckinsale vehicle opened early with the lead by taking down $8.7 million on its first day and maintained that lead to the closing of the holiday. The studio is obviously pleased with the better-than-predicted results from their launch, with the film already capping their $25 million price tag.
"I think the successful opening is due to the combination of a really great marketing campaign that clearly outlined what the film would be, and to the attraction of Mark Wahlberg," Universal president of domestic marketing Nikki Rocco said.
Walt Disney Pictures’ 3D re-release of Beauty and the Beast also opened above studio predictions by taking in $23.5 million over the four-day holiday in the 2nd place spot. Not only did the release help push revenues up 4 percent over the same weekend last year, the re-release came in as the best January opening for an animated release.
"This affirms that The Lion King re-release wasn't a one time anomaly," says Disney executive vice president of distribution Dave Hollis, whose studio is banking heavily on re-releases. "The re-issue business, as long as we're careful, is one that can be a meaningful business."
Following in 3rd place is Paramount Pictures’ Mission: Impossible- Ghost Protocol. The latest Ethan Hunt adventure earned another $14.2 million in its fifth frame at the box office, increasing the studio’s domestic tally to $189.4 million. With the film produced on a budget of $145 million and basically locked in as the first $200 million earner of 2012, the studio is likewise pleased with the oversea number crunching thus far. The Tom Cruise-led franchise has found another $320 million from their foreign distribution, combining for a global score of $509.4 million.
Taking down the 4th place position was Warner Bros. Pictures new release of Joyful Noise. The dramedy opened up with $13.7 million after the holiday, with the $25 million production off to a great start when considering it was focused on faith-based moviegoers.
"This was absolutely in the range of what we were looking for," Warners executive vice president Jeff Goldsteinsaid, adding that the film over-indexed in the South, Texas, Florida and Mississippi.
Warner Bros. Pictures followed up on the new release with the return of Sherlock Holmes: A Game of Shadows controlling the 5th place spot. The Robert Downey Jr. and Jude Law team effort inspected another $10.5 million in coin over their fifth frame, increasing the domestic gross to $172.1 million. With another $222.0 million landing from oversea territories, the studio has $394.1 million on the global front.
Check out the rest of the top 10 down below and sound off with your thoughts.
 
 

Rank
Movie
Weekend
Theaters
Average
Total
Budget
1
Contraband
$28.8 mil
2,863
$10,059
$28.8 mil
$25
2
Beauty and the Beast 3D
$23.5 mil
2,625
$8,955
$23.5 mil
----
3
Mission: Impossible- Ghost Protocol
$14.2 mil
3,346
$4,244
$189.4 mil
$145
4
Joyful Noise
$13.7 mil
2,735
$5,040
$13.7 mil
----
5
Sherlock Holmes: A Game of Shadows
$10.5 mil
3,155
$3,330
$172.1 mil
----
6
The Devil Inside
$9.1 mil
2,551
$3,597
$47.5 mil
$1
7
The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo
$8.1 mil
2,674
$3,029
$89.2 mil
$90
8
Alvin and the Chipmunks 3
$7.8 mil
2,849
$2,747
$120.8 mil
$75
9
War Horse
$7.1 mil
2,856
$2,509
$67.3 mil
$66
10
We Bought a Zoo
$6.8 mil
2,909
$2,338
$65.2 mil
----

 
 
Friday, January 20, 2012 Releases:
Wide
Underworld Awakening (2,900+)
Extremely Loud & Incredibly Close (2,500+)
Red Tails (2,500+)
Haywire (2,000+)
Limited
Fullmetal Alchemist: The Sacred Star of Milos
The Viral Factor
Crazy Horse
Coriolanus
Carol Channing: Larger Than Life
Ultrasuede
Watching TV With the Red Chinese
 

MOVIES REVIEWS

COMMENTS AND RESPONSES

Showing items 1 - 4 of 4
1 
InnerSanctum 1/17/2012 4:34:55 PM

 One thing that this proves is that people will take their kids to see ANY piece of crap film.  Unless, it is quality...hence the reason Tintin and Hugo continue to go overlooked.  Don't get me wrong, B&TB is a wondeful display of classic Disney magic, but prepare yourself of the onslaught of all their old films being rereleased in 3D.  People were actually snickering in a theatre when they showed Titantic in 3D.  It has become a self parody.  And, Lucas can shove it.  He has milked his franchise long enough.  

Dazzler 1/17/2012 5:13:20 PM

Wonder why there is no MLK movie yet, big budet?  You would think liberal hollywood would be all over it. 

vitieddie 1/18/2012 1:21:32 AM

 Watched girl with dragon tattoo over the weekend - enjoyed it - had lots of rolling in the hay, mystery, creepiness, action and a good story ... 4/5

Wiseguy 1/18/2012 4:44:32 AM

Contraband just seems so middle of the road, may wait for it to hit the home video market.

Now HAYWIRE, a film I thought would be a waste being that is starts an mma fighter, is getting some good buzz and has piqued my interest. Carano is easy enough on the eyes and seeing her kick Tatum's ass seems like a bonus.

1 

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