Weekend Box Office
1) Where the Wild Things Are - $34.2 million
2) Law Abiding Citizen - $21.2 million
3) Paranormal Activity - $20.1 million
4) Couples Retreat - $17.9 million
5) The Stepfather - $12.3 million
6) Cloudy with a Chance of Meatballs - $8.1 million
7) Zombieland - $7.8 million
8) Toy Story/Toy Story 2 3D - $3.01 million
9) Surrogates - $1.92 million
10) The Invention of Lying - $1.90 million
It was certainly a wild weekend at the box office this weekend which saw the triumphs of a Maurice Sendak adaptation and the hottest horror film of the 21st Century. Where the Wild Things Are lead the way at the box office this weekend, winning in impressive fashion with an estimated $34.2 million opening weekend gross. The film received a hefty 3,735-theater rollout and scored a solid $8,693 per-screen average. The film did have some competition though, in a weekend where the top five films reached eight-figure grosses.
Director F. Gary Gray's new film Law Abiding Citizen took second place with $21.2 million. The film debuted in 2,890 theaters and held a solid $7,353 per-screen average. However, even though it came in third place, the real story this weekend is the continued impressive run Paranormal Activity. The film took in a massive $20.1 million in third place, after expanding to 600 more theaters for a total theater count of 760. The film easily had the highest per-screen average of any film out this weekend, with a massive $26,530 take. It was said that the film is set to expand to more than 2,000 theaters this coming weekend, so we'll have to see if movie fans continue to embrace this $15,000 horror film as it expands even wider. The only other notable new release, The Stepfather, took fifth place with a solid $12.3 million take from 2,734 theaters with a middling $4,499 per-screen average.
Four films opened in limited release this weekend, but none of them managed to make much of a dent at the box office. New York, I Love You took in an estimated $372,000 from 119 theaters for a below-average $3,126 per-screen average, while Black Dynamite failed to impress with $141,000 from 70 theaters and an even-worse $2,014 per-screen average. The Maid fared the best in the group with $18,400 from just one theater but The Ministers was the worst of the lot with $2,160 from just two theaters for a horrible $1,080 per-screen average.
Next weekend brings us four new films in wide release and three films in limited release, not to mention the even-wider expansion of Paranormal Activity to possibly 2,000 theaters. Saw VI and Astro Boy will get the widest releases followed by Cirque du Freak: The Vampire's Assistant and Amelia. Motherhood and Ong Bak 2: The Beginning will also open in limited release, along with the re-release of Tim Burton's The Nightmare Before Christmas 3-D. Be sure to check back here in another seven days to see who comes out on top of this busy cinematic weekend.
Where the Wild Things Are was released October 16th, 2009 and stars Max Records, Pepita Emmerichs, Max Pfeifer, Madeleine Greaves, Joshua Jay, Ryan Corr, Catherine Keener, Steve Mouzakis. The film is directed by Spike Jonze.
Paranormal Activity was released September 25th, 2009 and stars Katie Featherston, Micah Sloat, Mark Fredrichs, Amber Armstrong, Ashley Palmer, Crystal Cartwright, Randy McDowell, James Piper. The film is directed by Oren Peli.
Comments (20)
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Chad Vital
silver, I think it's because no one knew what the first Saw movie was. Then people saw it on dvd, and now watch it every Halloween (if they are fans anyway).
2 years agoby @chad-vitalFlag
JonSpidey07
neat
last Saturday was packed for Where the Wild Things Are
I thought Paranormal Activity would rank in 2nd, im surprised LAC managed to stump it
2 years agoby @jonspidey07Flag
iatehisliver
saw will make over 30 million like it always does that is pretty weird that each film makes 30 million evry time its released except for the first one
2 years agoby @iatehisliverFlag
Moviemaniack1993
I can say whatever I want Chad. Yes I liked HSM3. Who cares. That was last year. I only brought it up because of Saw, not because I am still praising it. The real issue being discussed here was whether or not Paranormal will beat it out next week. And I am really hoping that people choose that film over Saw because it is so overdone now.
2 years agoby @moviemaniack1993Flag
Diaigma
Glad to see Meatballs has now broke even domestically. Missed WTWTA, but will plan on this this week sometime. Then Astro Boy. I can't believe how many movies I want to see this fall... :P
2 years agoby @diaigmaFlag
ed_wood
Stepfather was the turd of the week for me. Paranormal Activity was awesome as was Wild Things, Citizens was pretty cool.
2 years agoby @ed-woodFlag
Chad Vital
So Where The Wild Things Are is a go see then? I haven't watched it yet but I want to.
2 years agoby @chad-vitalFlag
Chad Vital
I don't want to see somebody talking crap about Saw when THEY like High School Musical. I mean wtf. Huge differences in of itself anyway, so there should be no comparisons at all. Maniac, I've fought against you, and defended you against other users on here, but you have no room to talk about what's good and what's not good when 95% of the people on here don't like HSM, and about 40% of the users don't like Saw. I don't have exact numbers, I'm just estimating it by what the users say on the each film. But anyway, Saw is more popular (on here) than HSM, so please don't give out any "come on people" bullsh*t things anymore. At least to these users. Your HSM praise falls on deaf ears man.
2 years agoby @chad-vitalFlag
-comrade-
Visuals are a ten, and the acting is great but the story falls flat in a lot of places, and unfortunately it's too much weight for those first two things to hold up, as good as they are.
2 years agoby @taberjohnson18Flag
The Narrator: The Better Man
I thought is was refreshing and truly beautiful cinematography and great effects, with for once, a great cast and performances to match. But all is trumped by Spike Jonze who really brought it to life. I watched it just 3 hours ago, and it was great. 4.5 Stars and truly fun.
2 years agoby @narratorFlag
ridgl
It was alright but the story bored me. It was visually beautiful though. Sadly, that was not enough to cary the film.
2 years agoby @ridglFlag
ZanyZap
Ended up not hitting up Where the Wild Things Are.
Fail.
My well-deserved eight bucks will have to wait till next weekend.
Paranormal Activity. Possibility (not a huge horror-buff, though).
Amelia. Maybe, just to comment on Oscar potential.
Cirque du Freak. Saved for slow weeks, or not at all (either option is fine with me).
2 years agoby @zanyzapFlag
Moviemaniack1993
It may make some money but Saw V last year was beat out by HSM3 and it did not make as much as its predecessors. I think the franchise is slowly winding down. I stopped paying to see them after the fourth. So I am really hoping Paranormal pushes through.
2 years agoby @moviemaniack1993Flag
Draktyr
Me and my family absolutely adored WtWTA. It was quite enjoyable!
2 years agoby @draktyrFlag
GK
Great movie.
2 years agoby @indianajonesFlag
-comrade-
The first film designed solely for hipsters.
2 years agoby @taberjohnson18Flag
artkid04
i hate to say it but Saw may rank in a bunch, it always does
2 years agoby @artkid04Flag
artkid04
i thought the film was excellent, were you even a fan of the novel! I also disagree with the film being boring, it was interesting and the wild things were so well done, acting was excellent and Max Records gave a fine performance
2 years agoby @artkid04Flag
Moviemaniack1993
Well since Paranormal had the best per screen average, expanding into 2,000 more theaters next week should definitely secure itself a Number 1 slot. I really hope that Saw 691 is not an equal contender. I mean come on people.
2 years agoby @moviemaniack1993Flag
CelluloidDreams
"Where the Wild Things Are" .... masterpiece cinematography ...over-all disappointinly dull.
Not sure where it should fall .....Ahead of it's time!? A horror film!? A cildern's morality tale ...?! I think it missed it's mark their!
Or a bedtime story that would "literally" put you to sleep!!!
I'm between a C- & a D-!
2 years agoby @2movieguysFlag