Earning $138.1 million on its first week, 'The Twilight Saga's Breaking Dawn Part I' rules the chart and beats down other newcomers, 'Happy Feet Two' and 'The Descendants'.
- Nov 21, 2011
AceShowbiz - "The Twilight Saga's Breaking Dawn Part I" successfully takes over the champion title in North American box office, grossing $138.1 million on its debut weekend. Though it is named the fifth best opening weekend of all-time, the movie couldn't break the $142.8 record of "The Twilight Saga's New Moon", which opened in U.S. theaters on the same weekend two years ago.
Summit Entertainment president Richie Fay says, "We faced the weekend with some trepidation because you don't really know on a fourth installment whether you are going to maintain the interest of your audience." He continues, "The numbers seen to speak for themselves. We got as close to 'New Moon' as we could."
The Robert Pattinson and Kristen Stewart-starring vampire film appeals to 80|percent| female moviegoers, with 50|percent| of them over the age of 25. The movie, which is directed by Oscar-winning filmmaker Bill Condon, receives a B+ CinemaScore.
Another newcomer this week is "Happy Feet Two", which secures the second spot with $21.2 million. The result is still below the $41.5 million that the original "Happy Feet" grossed on the same weekend in 2006.
"We certainly didn't open to the number we expected, but hopefully we'll catch up over Thanksgiving week and weekend," says Dan Fellman, Warner Bros. Pictures president of distribution. "Our exits were very good, but there was a lot of competition for the female audience, between 'Twilight', 'Jack and Jill' and 'Puss in Boots'."
The dancing penguin animated movie attracts to 57|percent| female audience, with 47|percent| of them under the age of 25. Around 50|percent| of the ticket sales came from 3D screenings. Just like "Breaking Dawn I", this Geroge Miller-directed family film receives a B+ CinemaScore.
Last week's chart-topper "Immortals" falls down to number three on its second weekend. Dropping a harsh 62|percent|, the Greek epic rakes in $12.3 million. Meanwhile, "Jack and Jill" drops to the fourth place, grossing $11.7 million. Rounding up the top five is "Puss in Boots" with $10.8 million, dropping 57|percent| in its fourth week.
Another new release that fails to enter the top five on the chart is "The Descendants". The George Clooney-starring limited release drama lands on the tenth position with $1.1 million on its opening weekend.
"To break into the top 10 and beat films that are playing in thousands of theaters is an amazing accomplishment," Sheila DeLoach, Fox Searchlight Pictures president of distribution, explains. "It's great counterprogramming for adults."
Top Ten Movies at Box Office for November 18 - 20:
