Top 10 for March 23-25, 2007 Summary: Final numbers are in.
Warner's mutant turtles overwhelmed the studio's own triumphant band of 300, as The Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles debuted with a strong $24.3 million to lead a busy weekend for newcomers. Averaging a top ten best $8,183 in 3,110 theaters, Warner's modestly budgeted Turtles knocked off two-week champ 300 as well as five other debuts this weekend. The fourth installment of the Ninja Turtles saga, TMNT is the first entirely computer-generated productions. And if estimates hold, it would represent the biggest opening ever for the franchise, surpassing the original's $25.39 million back in 1990 (ticket prices were far cheaper then, which makes this new record somewhat hollow). Budgeted at just $34 million -- thanks in part to the production being made in Hong Kong -- this is the second film in a row for Warner, which suffered through a rough 2006, to surpass both expectations and be on a path to profitability domestically.
Overall, six debuts helped push the box office to a 29% increase in ticket sales compared to last year, when Spike Lee's Inside Man opened at No. 1 with $29 million.
Warner's war epic 300 was finally overrun by six major debuts, but not before bringing in $19.9 million and pushing its three week cume to a remarkable $162.4 million. Falling just 40%, the $65 million budgeted R-rated blockbuster is now on pace to become the first March release to ever break $200 million domestically. Even more encouraging was its monstrous $48 million overseas take this weekend, with several strong debuts in the U.K. and other major European markets. Its international total is now $79 million, pushing its global haul to a jaw-dropping $241 million. With strong word of mouth and most likely a huge overseas numbers, expect a $500+ million theatrical run.
Paramount's action thriller Shooter debuted in third with $14.5 million, averaging a solid $5,176 in 2,806 theaters. Budgeted at $61 million, the Mark Wahlberg starrer faced stiff competition with both 300 and Fox's sequel The Hills Have Eyes 2. Despite being the one of the better reviewed films released this weekend, a poor marketing campaign doomed the release to its third place finish. Unless word of mouth is strong, look for a saturated marketplace to cause steep declines in the coming weeks.
A continued lack of comedies kept Buena Vista's Wild Hogs running strong, as the motorcycle comedy slipped a top ten best 24% to an estimated $14.4 million in fourth. In four weeks the John Travolta-Tim Allen starrer has grossed $123.8 million, making it the second biggest film of 2007 behind only 300.
New Line's children's adventure pic The Last Mimzy played second fiddle to TMNT debuting in fifth place with an estimated $10.2 million, averaging a weak $3,381 in a wide 3,017 theaters. In seventh was Fox Atomic's horror sequel The Hills Have Eyes 2 with $10 million, averaging $4,087 from 2,447 theaters. Bearing more of a resemblance to The Descent than the first Hills remake, the R-rated pic finished well short of its predecessor, which debuted with $15.7 million on its way to $41.8 million domestically.
Sony's 9/11-themed drama Reign Over Me opened in eighth with $8 million, averaging $4,787 in 1,671 theaters. Starring Adam Sandler and the great Don Cheadle, the $20 million pic could see strong holds in the coming weeks. Finishing off the newcomers list was Lions Gate's swimming drama Pride, which debuted with just $4 million in ninth place. Averaging a pathetic $2,635 in 1,518 theaters, don't expect to see this poorly-reviewed release in the top ten again.
Out of the top ten for the first time was Disney's family drama Bridge to Terabithia, which fell 55% to an estimated $2.3 million in part due to the Ninja Turtles debut. In six weeks, the modestly budgeted pic has grossed a strong $78.9 million.
In limited release, Fox Searchlight's The Namesake continued to perform well, grossing an estimated $1.4 million in 117 theaters for a strong $11,581 average. In three weeks, the Mira Nair film has grossed $2.7 million, and will once again double its theater count this Friday.
Thanks to a strong third weekend from 300 as well as six major debuts, the top ten films grossed an estimated $120.6 million, up a massive 27% from last year's comparable frame when Spike Lee's Inside Man debuted with $29 million.
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