BOX OFFICE BEAT DOWN: The Proposal Engages Audiences with $34 Million in First Place

Weekend Box Office:

1) The Proposal $34.1 million
2) The Hangover $26.8 million
3) Up $21.3 million
4) Year One $20.2 million
5) The Taking of Pelham 1 2 3 $11.3 million
6) Night at the Museum: Battle of the Smithsonian $7.3 million
7) Star Trek $4.7
8) Land of the Lost $3.9 million
9) Imagine That $3.1 million
10) Terminator Salvation $3 million

Walt Disney's The Proposal got on its knees this weekend and asked: Will you see me? Audiences said "yes", turning Anne Fletcher's deportation rom-com into the number one film of the weekend. Starring Sandra Bullock and Ryan Reynolds as a pair of mismatched romantics trying to save their jobs, the hilarious comedy pulled in $34.1 million. Not bad considering it opened on Father's Day weekend, a time usually reserved for macho action films and sci-fi extravaganzas.

Todd Phillip's surprise hit of the summer The Hangover fell to second place in its third week of release. The R rated comedy, which stars Bradley Cooper, Ed Helms, and Zack Galifianakis as three friends searching for their groom the day after the bachelor party, held court with another hefty $26.8 million, thus pushing its cumulative take to $152.9 million. Don't be surprised when it climbs past $200 million within the coming months.

Staying steady in third place was Disney/Pixar's Up, which pulled in another $21.3 million. The film, which follows a 78-year-old balloon salesman named Carl Fredricksen (Ed Asner) as he fulfils his lifelong dream of visiting the wilds of South America, has now pushed past the $200 million mark, taking in $224.1 million in just four weeks. Pretty impressive, as it is now the second highest grossing film of the year right behind Star Trek, which has now earned $239.4 million after seven weeks in release. Up has become the number six most successful Pixar film of all time, finally surpassing last year's WALL-E.

This week's only other major new release didn't make much noise. Harold Ramis' biblical comedy Year One took a nosedive, crashing and burning in the number four spot with just $20.2 million to its name. Despite the star power of Jack Black and Michael Cera, families simply didn't want to spend time in Gomorra. Woody Allen's latest comedy Whatever Works, which stars Larry David as a curmudgeon who enters into a relationship with an eighteen year old hillbilly, had the highest per screen average of the weekend, taking in $281,000 on just nine screens. The zombie film Dead Snow pulled in $6,000 playing on just one screen.

None of the above mentioned films stand a chance next weekend as Transformers: Revenge of the Fallen finally opens. The film is tracking higher than The Dark Knight did before its initial release, but only time will tell if its worthy of beating that powerful Bat-epic at the box office.

The Proposal was released June 19th, 2009 and stars Sandra Bullock, Ryan Reynolds, Mary Steenburgen, Craig T. Nelson, Betty White, Denis O'Hare, Malin Akerman, Oscar Nuñez. The film is directed by Anne Fletcher.

The Hangover was released June 5th, 2009 and stars Bradley Cooper, Ed Helms, Zach Galifianakis, Justin Bartha, Heather Graham, Sasha Barrese, Jeffrey Tambor, Ken Jeong. The film is directed by Todd Phillips.

Up was released May 29th, 2009 and stars Edward Asner, Christopher Plummer, Jordan Nagai, Bob Peterson, Delroy Lindo, Jerome Ranft, John Ratzenberger, David Kaye. The film is directed by Pete Docter, Bob Peterson.

Year One was released June 19th, 2009 and stars Jack Black, Michael Cera, Oliver Platt, David Cross, Christopher Mintz-Plasse, Vinnie Jones, Hank Azaria, Juno Temple. The film is directed by Harold Ramis.

The Taking of Pelham 1 2 3 was released June 12th, 2009 and stars Denzel Washington, John Travolta, Luis Guzmán, Victor Gojcaj, John Turturro, Michael Rispoli, Ramon Rodriguez, James Gandolfini. The film is directed by Tony Scott.

Night at the Museum: Battle of the Smithsonian was released May 22nd, 2009 and stars Ben Stiller, Amy Adams, Owen Wilson, Hank Azaria, Robin Williams, Christopher Guest, Alain Chabat, Steve Coogan. The film is directed by Shawn Levy.

Star Trek was released May 8th, 2009 and stars Chris Pine, Zachary Quinto, Leonard Nimoy, Eric Bana, Bruce Greenwood, Karl Urban, Zoe Saldana, Simon Pegg. The film is directed by J.J. Abrams.

Land of the Lost was released June 5th, 2009 and stars Will Ferrell, Anna Friel, Danny McBride, Jorma Taccone, John Boylan, Matt Lauer, Bobb'e J. Thompson, Sierra McCormick. The film is directed by Brad Silberling.

Imagine That was released June 12th, 2009 and stars Eddie Murphy, Thomas Haden Church, Yara Shahidi, Ronny Cox, Stephen Rannazzisi, Nicole Ari Parker, DeRay Davis, Vanessa Williams. The film is directed by Karey Kirkpatrick.

Terminator Salvation was released May 21st, 2009 and stars Christian Bale, Sam Worthington, Moon Bloodgood, Helena Bonham Carter, Anton Yelchin, Jadagrace, Bryce Dallas Howard, Common. The film is directed by McG.


Sources: Box Office Mojo

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Comments (19)

  1. kingbrady

    Angels & Demons is crushing alot of movies worldwide....Transformers will put up an easy $20 million for Wed and Thurs ($40 or so), then the weekend will hit maybe $80 million, Transformers will be the highest grossing movie of 2009 domestically, i love Harry Potter but look at the highest any of them has done, Transformers could reach easily $300 million.....The Dark Knight has no competition at all last year from its release to then next six weeks, Transformers has Ice Age and HP6

    3 years agoby @kingbradyFlag

  2. WiseGuy

    At least Year One didnt take the number 1 spot.
    I cant f*cking believe Star Trek is still hanging in there.

    3 years agoby @zgcorleone072Flag

  3. CelluloidDreams

    I read that "The Proposal" which made $34 million dollars was Sandra Bullock's best opening weekend ever, by far!!!!

    "Up" is now pretty much running neck-in-neck with "Finding Nemo" for the title of highest-grossing Pixar release. It will be close

    3 years agoby @2movieguysFlag

  4. CelluloidDreams

    I was supposed to go to a press screening for "Year One" ..but it looked to stupid ...even to waste 2 hours for a free film!! I will wait for late night cable....or maybe if I'm "THAT bored rent it for $1.00 for a rental box outside of a Walgreens!

    3 years agoby @2movieguysFlag

  5. CelluloidDreams

    The Taking of Pelham 123 (2009 film) cost over $100 million to make, and was co-financed with Relativity Media and Sony Pictures.

    Ben Fritz of the Los Angeles Times commented on the box office results of the film's opening weekend: "Although far from disastrous, that's a soft start for a film budgeted at more than $100 million."

    "The Taking of Pelham 123" (2009 film) ..Simply stunk. The new Pelham film was worse than the original...Sorry Walter Matthau!

    3 years agoby @2movieguysFlag

  6. CelluloidDreams

    "The Proposal"

    My Final Rating: C-

    3 years agoby @2movieguysFlag

  7. CelluloidDreams

    I saw "The Proposal". Cute and funny! Nice to see Betty White back on the big screen. I;m still not a fan of Sandra Bullock ..to me she is the "Poor Man's" Julia Roberts'. Sandra Bullock's films are just getting stale...Same Ol' Same Ol' love story.

    Mary Steenburgen & Craig T. Nelson seemed lost!!!

    ... Next Weeked Michelle Pfeiffer's new film "Cheri" directed by Stephen Frears is supposed to open. I hope it doesen't get a "LImited" run and does open here in Phoenix, Arizona!

    I can give or take "Transformers: Revenge of the Fallen"!.

    The 1st "Transformers" was ok. Just forgettable. Good while you watch the film, but afterwards you forget most of the plot..or even if a plot exist.

    Also next weeked is "My Sister's Keeper" which looks good...I haven't read the book but the cast with Cameron Diaz, Abigail Breslin, Alec Baldwin ...this film does look good!

    3 years agoby @2movieguysFlag

  8. JonSpidey07

    yay!
    the Proposal was so good and funny
    good turnout this weekend

    3 years agoby @jonspidey07Flag

  9. slysnide

    "The Proposal" taking first place is rather surprising since it looked like a generic comedy that's not that unique: pretend to be in love for a quick benefit and fall in love for real whilst pretending...it's been done dozens of times before.

    I'm surprised that "The Hangover" is still going strong. Good for them, I'll have to see this one on DVD.

    "Up" gaining twenty mil marks after a month isn't too shocking for Pixar, given $175,000,000 was spent to make it, and they always profit BIG TIME. [i still can't believe they cost THAT much. WoW]

    "Year One" making that much is shocking enough since I figured it'd bomb at the box office. So that's probably all it'll make, given the reviews. And I bet it takes Razzie Awards for Worst Picture, Worst Director Harold Ramis, Worst Lead Actor Jack Black, and Worst Supporting Actor Michael Cera.

    "Pelham 1 2 3" flailing in ticket sales is bad for it, good for me, since i liked the film and poor ticket sales means they're released on DVD quicker. lolz

    And the rest of the dollar figures, just figures.

    3 years agoby @slysnideFlag

  10. iatehisliver

    i hope Transformers dont break 158 or 67 million if it does i will for sure hate that film. Harry Potter 5 did 44 million wednesday but only did 77million dollars opening weekend

    3 years agoby @iatehisliverFlag

  11. ed_wood

    Year One had a few funny part, really disappointing. I acutally did see The Proposal and it was average.

    3 years agoby @ed-woodFlag

  12. Mmm_mmm

    I, umm, I never said I liked Year One over the Proposal. I saw Year One. Thought it was Ok. I haven't seen the Proposal, and really never intend to.

    I just never foresaw the proposal doing anything. I mean, it looked like a doofy romantic comedy. Yeah.

    3 years agoby @mmm-mmmFlag

  13. Brainiac

    no way Transformers will beat the Dark Knight, if it does i'll be extremely surprised. and i hope that they again have late numbers and on monday tell us that the Hangover won again.

    3 years agoby @thebdFlag

  14. Forrestgump1

    Not Surprised-LOLZ!!!!!

    3 years agoby @forrestgump1Flag

  15. Newkill3000

    Mmm, you really thought Year One was better than the Proposal. Wow, what bad taste you have. And by the way Movieweb, Star Trek isn't the highest grossing movie of the year, it is domestically, but not totally. Really, Angels and Demons is the highest grossing movie of the year.

    3 years agoby @newkill200Flag

  16. Newkill3000

    Movieweb, who the f*ck are you trying to kid. Transformers will not even come close to the Dark Knight. I thought I still know what you did last summer was Jack Black's worst movie, but then Year One came along.

    3 years agoby @newkill200Flag

  17. Diaigma

    Wow. Star Trek is still hanging in there...

    3 years agoby @diaigmaFlag

  18. Mmm_mmm

    yeah. I saw Year One. It was OK. Not ground breaking by any means. It had great funny moments. I'll give it that

    THE PROPOSAL!! REALLY? Shiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiips

    3 years agoby @mmm-mmmFlag

  19. ALor2

    i heard year one was terrible. transformers will be big but not bigger than the dark knight as it says. the dark knight was epic opening night.

    3 years agoby @champ2Flag

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