The Bryan Singer-directed film easily rules the chart on this slow weekend, while 'Silver Linings Playbook', 'Life of Pi' and 'Argo' enjoy a bump post-Oscars win.
- Mar 4, 2013
AceShowbiz - "Jack the Giant Slayer" claims the throne at the North American box office on another slow weekend. The fantasy drama film easily tops the chart with a modest haul of $27.2 million, marking the first underwhelming start for a so-called tentpole film in 2013.
With a reported $190 million production budget, the opening number is far below expectation. The movie's performance already draws comparison to last year's box office flops "Battleship" and "John Carter".
Still, Warner Bros. executive vice president of domestic distribution Jeff Goldstein says, "This story is far from being told. We will get to a global number that works." He adds, "Our audience in the United States was a little bit more narrow than we wanted, but the Canadian numbers are really strong, and the overseas reaction has exceeded our expectations."
Two other newcomers, "21 and Over" and "The Last Exorcism Part II", do not make a grand entrance either. The R-rated comedy from producer Todd Lieberman debuts on the third place with $8.8 million, while the sequel to the 2010 horror movie *places fourth with $7.7 million, well short of the $20.4 million opening of the first installment.
Last week's winner "Identity Thief" drops one place to number two with additional $9.7 million cume. *"Snitch", meanwhile, falls from the runner-up spot to No. 5 with $7.8 million.
On the other hand, several movies who won big at last week's Academy Awards enjoyed a bump post-the show. "Silver Linings Playbook" is up 3.3|percent| in its 16th weekend with additional $5.9 million after Jennifer Lawrence won the Oscar for best actress, though the movie is down one place to No. 8 in the chart.
"Life of Pi", which nabbed four Oscars including the best director title for Ang Lee, adds $2.3 million to its domestic gross for a 43|percent| in its 15th weekend, up two places from No. 14 to No. 12. Oscars' best picture "Argo", meanwhile, is up 20.7|percent| with $2.2 million haul in its 21st weekend despite dropping one place to No. 13.
Top Ten Movies at Box Office for Mar 1-3:
*UPDATE (Mar. 5, 2013 01:50): When the final figures came out on Monday, March 4, "The Last Exorcism Part II" turned out earning less than "Snitch". Hence, the horror movie swapped place with the action thriller, which now secured the fourth position on the chart.
