Sony’s hopes of launching a witches-and-warlocks franchise were severely dented if not dashed last weekend as The Mortal Instruments: City of Bones bombed in the US, although the Australian opening was more respectable.
The saga of a 15-year-old (Lily Collins) who scours New York City for demons, based on young adult fantasy novels by Cassandra Clare, earned an estimated $US14 million in five days in the US.
That was no match for second weekend of Lee Daniels’ The Butler, an historical drama about a long-serving White House butler, starring Forest Whitaker and Oprah Winfrey, and the third lap of raunchy comedy We’re The Millers.
Released in Australia by Roadshow, The Mortal Instruments rang up $1.6 million, ranked in fourth place. Sony executives insist a sequel is still "on the drawing board.”
The top title in Oz again was sci-fi thriller Elysium, which hauled in $2.1 million in its second outing, down 38%, boosting the total to a juicy $6.9 million.
Crime caper Now You See Me stole $2 million in its third weekend, off 23%, pushing its earnings to $10.8 million.
After a limp debut in the US, Kick- Ass 2 continued its lacklustre performance in Australia, taking $1.07 million in its first weekend.
In the specialised area, What Maisie Knew, a contemporary reimagining of a Henry James' novel about a six-year-old girl caught up in a bitter custody battle, starring Julianne Moore, Steve Coogan and Onata Aprile, debuted with a fair $135,000 on 36 screens.
Shane Carruth’s Upstream Colour, an apparently befuddling tale of destiny, free will and mind-controlling bugs, did not generate much interest at cinemas after launching at the Sydney Film Festival, fetching $28,000 on 15 screens.
Red Obsession, an Australian feature documentary on fine wine, taste and power, held stoutly in its second weekend, uncorking $67,000 (down 27%), bringing its cumulative tally to $220,000.
WEEKEND BOX OFFICE Aug 22-25
|
|
Title |
Week/ Screens |
Box Office |
% +- |
Total
|
|
1 |
Elysium |
2/294 |
$2,156,040 |
-38 |
$6,940,102 |
|
2 |
Now You See Me |
3/270 |
1,981,939 |
-23 |
10,806,192 |
|
3 |
We’re the Millers |
2/342 |
1,674,378 |
27 |
5,069,285 |
|
4 |
The Mortal Instruments |
1/230 |
1,596,911 |
NA |
1,596,911 |
|
5 |
Kick-Ass 2 |
1/217 |
1,074,619 |
NA |
1,901,669 |
|
6 |
The Wolverine |
5/232 |
383,993 |
-45 |
15,249,216 |
|
7 |
The Conjuring |
6/159 |
297,603 |
-42 |
8,500,704 |
|
8 |
Pain & Gain |
3/206 |
269,340 |
-54 |
3,322,717 |
|
9 |
Despicable Me 2 |
10/168 |
166,372 |
-30 |
35,349,190 |
|
10 |
The Heat |
7/127 |
147,512 |
-56 |
14,862,390 |
Source: Motion Picture Distributors Association of Australia