The Australian B.O. rebounded last weekend after sinking to the lowest level of the year, driven by three new films.
Total takings rose by 27% to $9.75 million, although business is still rather soft in the lead-up to the September holidays.
The Smurfs 2 was first-choice for kids and families, fetching $2.04 million in its opening frame, which brings the cumulative earnings to $2.2 million. That’s a solid debut but 20% below the original. The Smurfs franchise is much more popular internationally than in the US; the first film raked in $US142 million in the US and $421 million in the rest of the world.
David Twohy’s Riddick rang up $1.3 million, a mediocre opening compared with its $19 million entry in the US for the Vin Diesel/Karl Urban vehicle.
White House Down dropped by a surprisingly mild 28% to $1.3 million in its second weekend, propelling its earnings to a fair $3.8 million.
Glowing reviews for Cate Blanchett’s performance in Woody Allen’s Blue Jasmine no doubt contributed to an impressive $1.07 million launch on 126 screens. Positive word- of- mouth should ensure a sustained run for the comedy/drama which co-stars Sally Hawkins and Alec Baldwin.
The fate of R.I.P.D. probably was pre-determined after the supernatural action-adventure became one of the biggest duds of the US summer. Starring Jeff Bridges and Ryan Reynolds as undead cops dispatched to protect the world from evil spirits, the film took $510,000 after Universal cut back the release to 150 screens.
In the specialty area, Michel Gondry’s Mood Indigo, a tragic romance set in post-War Paris starring Romain Duris and Audrey Tautou, took a blah $28,000 on 21 screens.
The Rocket chugged along to $279,000 in its third weekend on 14 screens, easing by just 20%.
WEEKEND BOX OFFICE Sept 12-15
|
|
Title |
Week/ Screens |
Box Office |
% +- |
Total
|
|
1 |
The Smurfs 2 |
1/462 |
$2,041,555 |
NA |
$2,202,890 |
|
2 |
Riddick |
1/186 |
1,307,853 |
NA |
1,307,853 |
|
3 |
White House Down |
2/280 |
1,302,065 |
-28 |
3,796,962 |
|
4 |
Blue Jasmine |
1/126 |
1,073,332 |
NA |
1,119,822 |
|
5 |
Now You See Me |
6/179 |
728,902 |
-24 |
15,039,617 |
|
6 |
We’re the Millers |
5/227 |
596,597 |
-25 |
8,550,394 |
|
7 |
Elysium |
5/235 |
526,419 |
-32 |
10,915,973 |
|
8 |
Red 2 |
3/253 |
511,003 |
-38 |
3,645,771 |
|
9 |
R.I.P.D. |
1/254 |
510,029 |
NA |
510,029 |
|
10 |
The Mortal Instruments |
4/175 |
206,067 |
-51 |
3,641,484 |
Source: Motion Picture Distributors Association of Australia