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October 23, 2011
 

THE BIJOU: Weekend Boxoffice Footnotes – 10/23/11

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Written by: Mitch Salem
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The Saturday drop for PARANORMAL ACTIVITY 3 turned out to be very much in line with Paranormal 2‘s.  Paramount is estimating a better Sunday hold than the second installment had; if the result is instead the same as last time, the weekend gross will dip below $54M, but to a still-giant number.  Paranormal 3 also took in $26M overseas, so it’s already in profit (including global marketing costs) 3 days into its run.

THE THREE MUSKETEERS began its overseas run in September, and has grossed $49M to date internationally.  Even if that doubles, though, with a US total likely to be under $30M, the picture isn’t going to make back its $90M production cost plus marketing.
The worldwide outlook is brighter for JOHNNY ENGLISH REBORN.  It’s a throwaway in the US, but like the first film in the series, it’s a genuine hit overseas with over $100M in the bank.
REAL STEEL, FOOTLOOSE and DOLPHIN TALE have been holding well, but PUSS IN BOOTS will be a real challenge for all of them next weekend.
MARGIN CALL had a strong $10K average in 56 theatres, a release that went well beyond the usual limited release territories–and that’s not counting the film’s VOD revenue.  Worth noting:  the Margin number included $32K at its main NY theatre, which made it more or less even with the weekend’s showcase limited release, Fox Searchlight’s MARTHA MARCY MAY MARLENE, which had a $35K average in 4 NY/LA houses. 
Sony Classics expanded 2 of its fall openings with decent results:  THE SKIN I LIVE IN averaged $12.5K at 21, and TAKE SHELTER averaged $3500 at 55.  In less high-visibility openings, LE HAVRE and ORANGES AND SUNSHINE both averaged about $4500 at 6 and 4 theatres respectively.


About the Author

Mitch Salem
MITCH SALEM has worked on the business side of the entertainment industry for 20 years, as a senior business affairs executive and attorney for such companies as NBC, ABC, USA, Syfy, Bravo, and BermanBraun Productions, and before that, at the NY law firm of Weil, Gotshal & Manges. During all that, he has more or less constantly been going to the movies and watching TV, and writing about both since the 1980s. His film reviews also currently appear on screened.com and the-burg.com. In addition, he is co-writer of an episode of the television series "Felicity."