TAKEN 2 rejuvenates box office with huge opening

8 Oct 2012

SINGAPORE - TAKEN 2 - the action thriller headed by Liam Neeson opens big. How big? Apart from being the 13th film to debut above US$1m this year (US$1,309,675), it also scores the 2nd highest screen average of the year (US$27,865) behind only SNOW WHTE AND THE HUNTSMAN (US$28,132) and ahead of blockbusters like THE AVENGERS (US$27,756), THE EXPENDABLES 2 (US$25,847) and THE DARK KNIGHT RISES (US$24,093). It also rejuvenates the overall box office, pushing it pass US$2m (the film's gross represents 65.30% of all tickets sold). And this feat was achieved with 47 prints in release (less than half of mega blockbuster releases like THE AVENGERS).

TAI CHI 0 (太极) debuts in 2nd place with US$194,142 and a modest US$6,471 screen average from 30 screens. This is slightly less than what THE ASSASSINS (铜雀台) achieved last week (US$221,553 from 25 screens for a screen average of US$8,862).

Other new releases include CELESTE AND JESSE FOREVER, which starts modestly at no. 10 with US$18,921 from 4 screens (screen average US$4,730) and THE WORDS, which crashes with US$17,848 from 9 screens (and a disastrous screen average of US$1,983).

DEAD MINE - the first film from Singapore's Infinite Studios and HBO Asia which was not ranked by Box Office Mojo last week grosses US$3,737 in its second week on 8 screens for a total of US$24,460 to date.

The re-rated IMPERFECT (我们都不完美) grossed another US$3,874 during its 2nd weekend of re-release. The PG13 version of the film has grossed an additional US$26,537 to date (or 5.64% of the total gross). Its total now stands at US$470,830, which puts it just ahead of GREEDY GHOST (贪心鬼) (US$469,823) to become the 3rd highest grossing local film behind WE NOT NAUGHTY (孩子不坏) (US$1,716,933) and DANCE DANCE DRAGON (龙众舞) (US$1,143,877) for 2012.

ENGLISH VINGLISH is the latest Hindi release to hit selected GV theatres. Previously, Indian films would be screened exclusively in dedicated cinemas like Bombay Talkies (formerly Jade cinemas). Some blockbusters would also be screened at regular cineplexes. The numbers have been on the rise with films like DON 2, GANGS OF WASSEYPUR and BARFI! making their way to selected GV screens. The Straits Times Life! has also been including reviews of Indian films for quite some time now.

Nevertheless, these releases (along with those screened exclusively at Filmgarde) continue to be missing in the Singapore Box Office rankings on Box Office Mojo and the Cinematograph Film Exhibitors Association.

Overall, the top ten box office declined for the 7th week in a row compared to a year ago. However, the decline this week is only by a marginal 3.61% for a total of US$2,005,678. Last year this time, REAL STEEL debut at no. 1 and the top ten box office gross was US$2,080,718.

http://www.boxofficemojo.com/intl/singapore/?yr=2012&wk=40&p=.htm