OBLIVION takes hold of no. 1

15 Apr 2013

SINGAPORE - OBLIVION opens at no. 1 with US$1,152,146 from 52 screens, including IMAX for a strong US$22,157 screen average. It's the 4th film this year to collect more than US$1m over its opening weekend.  

Last year this time, BATTLESHIP opened on 65 screens with a mighty US$1,668,591 (including sneaks) and a slightly higher weekend screen average of US$24,207. BATTLESHIP ended its 8-week run with US$4,189,981. 

The Tom Cruise led MISSION: IMPOSSIBLE - GHOST PROTOCOL (2011) grossed US$5,037,487 while JACK REACHER (2012) took in only US$1,383,532. OBLIVION is directed by Joseph Kosinski, whose previous film TRON: LEGACY (2010) grossed US$2,019,304. OBLIVION is likely to finish with around US$2.8m.

G.I. JOE keeps GENERAL YANG from No. 1

8 Apr 2013

SINGAPORE - G.I. JOE: RETALIATION grossed an additional US$828,338 in its second weekend - enough to hold on to the top spot despite a hefty 64.9% drop. This is similar to CLASH OF THE TITANS (2010) - another March blockbuster that opened big above US$2m on 70+ screens but dropped a hefty 68% in its second weekend. If it follows the same trajectory as CLASH, a US$4-US$4.4m final tally seems more likely rather than the US$5m predicted last week. So far, RETALIATION has amassed US$3,688,782. The road ahead will be rocky when OBLIVION - the next big budget action film starring Tom Cruise opens this week.

Making a huge debut in the runner-up spot is SAVING GENERAL YANG - it grossed US$545,158 for an amazing US$19,470 average from 28 screens. It's the highest screen average this week and the biggest debut for a China/Hong Kong release so far this year.

RETALIATION debuts with massive US$2.42m haul over 5 days!

1 Apr 2013

SINGAPORE - Opening twice as strongly as the first film and stomping its way to the top of the box office (with 3D and IMAX options), G.I. JOE: RETALIATION proved to be one of the biggest opening films in the last five years. The film gobbled up US$2,358,814 during its opening weekend across 78 screens for a mighty US$30,241 screen average. Add in Wednesday sneak previews and the total stands at US$2,428,150.

It's the 8th biggest opening film since 2007 when Box Office Mojo's data started being published, behind THE AVENGERS (2012) (US$5,766,054*), TRANSFORMERS: DARK OF THE MOON (2011) (US$4,162,564*), TRANSFORMERS: REVENGE OF THE FALLEN (2009) (US$3,155,292*), HARRY POTTER AND THE DEATHLY HALLOWS - PART 2 (2011) (US$3,020,290), THE DARK KNIGHT RISES (2012)  (US$2,650,244), THE AMAZING SPIDER-MAN (US$2,647,533*) and KUNGFU PANDA 2 (2011) (US$2,627,425). [* includes sneaks]

THE CROODS find their way to no. 1!

25 Mar 2013

SINGAPORE - THE CROODS claim the box office crown with US$823,466 from 54 screens for a US$15,249 screen average and a US$1,103,098 total including sneaks. These numbers are pretty good for a major animated film released in March. Back in 2010, HOW TO TRAIN YOUR DRAGON started with a similar US$816,212 gross on 51 screens and ended its run with US$2,968,823.

THE CROODS also opened stronger than both DR. SEUSS' THE LORAX from last year (US$411,708 opening weekend/US$1,601,837 final gross) and RANGO (US$308,799/US$977,083) from 2011.

Other debuts include works by some of the most prolific filmmakers from American today - DJANGO UNCHAINED (US$163,662) by Quentin Tarantino, SIDE EFFECTS (US$99,182) by Steven Soderbergh, PROMISED LAND (US$7,820) by Gus Van Sant and GAMBIT (US$9,414), which is written by Ethan & Joel Coen. Also debuting is the Japanese drama HELTER SKELTER (US$22,206). The horror anthology V/H/S is also released (probably on 6 screens) but is unranked (and probably grossed less than US$42,670).

BODIES warms its way to No.1

18 Mar 2013

SINGAPORE - It's the start of the one week school break as a whopping 11 films debut - none of which proved to be exceptional box office performers.  

Leading the pack is the horror romance comedy WARM BODIES, which crawls its way to the no. 1 spot, toppling OZ THE GREAT AND POWERFUL by a narrow margin. Released on 34 screens, WARM BODIES grabs hold of US$473,970 for a decent US$13,940 screen average - it's a modest no.1 debut as only two other films opened to lower numbers at the top this year - GANGSTER SQUAD (US$362,354) and THE IMPOSSIBLE (US$382,475). Last year, 5 films managed to debut at no.1 with a gross that's less than US$500,000.

The big budget fantasy adventures films OZ THE GREAT AND POWERFUL and JACK THE GIANT SLAYER managed to hold off the rest of the new releases. OZ grossed another US$468,716 to push its total to US$1,494,973 while JACK adds another US$187,828 for a US$2,061,878 tally - becoming the 3rd film to cross US$2m this year to date.

OZ THE GREAT AND POWERFUL debuts at no. 1

11 Mar 2013

SINGAPORE - OZ THE GREAT AND POWERFUL opens on top of the box office with US$846,163 from 56 screens (including 3D and IMAX) for a US$15,110 screen average. That's less than last week's similar fabled-based JACK THE GIANT SLAYER which opened to US$1,097,754 on a slightly stronger US$16,143 screen average.

In comparison, OZ's debut is similar to parent company Disney's JOHN CARTER and HANSEL & GRETEL: WITCH HUNTERS. JOHN CARTER opened with US$868,818 on the same weekend a year ago while the (also) fabled-theme special effects heavy HANSEL & GRETEL: WITCH HUNTERS started with US$878,605 but a higher NC16 rating 6 weeks ago. CARTER finished its 5-week run with US$2,070,634 while HANSEL & GRETEL has collected US$1,736,257 after 7 weeks. OZ looks likely to finish in the same range as well.

GIANT SLAYER climbs to top of box office

4 Mar 2013

SINGAPORE - JACK THE GIANT SLAYER climbs to the top of the box office with a US$1,097,754 haul from 68 screens (including 3D and IMAX) for a US$16,143 screen average. It's a stronger debut than A GOOD DAY TO DIE HARD - the top Hollywood film in Singapore to date this year, which started with US$799,183 from 54 screens over the Lunar New Year period. DIE HARD 5 has amassed US$2,087,479 in its 4th week of release. JACK also looks likely to cross US$2m when it reaches the finishing line but it will be facing strong competition from OZ: THE GREAT AND POWERFUL opening this week.

AH BOYS TO MEN 2 - last week's no.1 film drops 48.2% and collects another US$271,906 for a US$6,070,803 total to date. BOYS 2 has been depreciating at a rate that is a rarity and the envy of most blockbuster releases. A spot as one of the year's Top 5 grossers is almost a given.