“In brightest day, in blackest night, No evil shall escape my sight, Let those who worship evil’s might, Beware my power …Green Lantern‘s light“, or so says Hal Jordan and the Green Lantern oath. Last weekend wasn’t particularly bright or dark but it did provide a decent opening for Green Lantern, more of that and others after the break.
Green Lantern took home $53.1 million, not bad by any stretch but a bit underwhelming considering just over a month ago Thor opened with $65.7 million, arguably a harder sell. I’m not going to deep with the superhero comparisons here because I will give this subject a lot more attention in the very near future, so I will leave it at this, Green Lantern, good opening, could have been better. On a side note, reception looks to be on the low end here so that might have had something to do with the final weekend number.
Next up Super 8 was steady with $21.4 million, down 39.4% and now at $73 million after 10 days. So far this is in line with District 9, the 2009 R-rated alien flick that made $72.8 million after 10 days and ultimately grossed $115.6 million. But the difference in age rating must be taken into consideration here and besides similar box office results thus far, there is not a lot they share (ok, maybe they do). I believe Super 8 will perform better in the end, finishing north of $120 million in North America.
Jim Carrey is back in 3rd place with his newest movie, Mr. Popper’s Penguins. Based on a popular children’s book this made $18.4 million over the weekend. So is this a good number or a not? Well looking back at the last two live-action Jim Carrey comedies that had a wide release, Penguins stacks pretty well. Fun with Dick and Jane opened in 2005 with 14.3 million and went on to make $110.3 million while Yes Man opened with $18.2 million and finished with $97.7 million. So all in all $18.4 million for Mr. Popper’s Penguins doesn’t seem bad since his family movies tend to have great legs. I’m estimating this one should finish somewhere between $75 and $90 million.
X-Men: First Class, ouch, 50.5% drop, I was hoping for better then that. $11.9 million and $120.3 million so far in 17 days. This is now $2.6 million behind the original X-Men from 2000 that went on to make $157.3 million. As it stands, X-Men: First Class will stop sooner, around $150 million unfortunately.
On the other hand, The Hangover Part II is starting to show better holds, down 43% with $10 million and $233.1 million after 25 days. Maybe $277.3 million (The Hangover) ain’t so far away after all.
So what else is happening outside the top 5, well Bridesmaids is now inches away from the Judd Apatow record, $136.4 million and it has to hit $148.8 to beat Knocked Up, Kung-Fu Panda 2 made $143.6 million (Panda 1 had $181 million by now), Pirates of the Caribbean: On Stranger Tides is at 220.7 million in North America while Thor has $176.1 million, Fast Five $206.8 million and Rio $138.7 million.
