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Craig Younkin
Friday Box Office Analysis (1/14)
By Lee Tistaert Published January 15, 2005
The figure {for Carter} is right in line with Save the Last Dance ($7.5 million), the movie Paramount/MTV Films used as the basis for their ad-campaign.
Having been relentless in their advertising campaign for over three months now, Paramount and MTV Films succeeded with their new sports flick, Coach Carter, as it dethroned Meet the Fockers from its victory position. The Samuel L. Jackson picture took in $8.3 million in 2,524 theaters, averaging $3,278 per-screen. The figure is right in line with the studio collaboration, Save the Last Dance ($7.5 million - $3,369 per-screen), the movie Paramount/MTV Films used as the basis for their ad-campaign (?From the director of?).
Two years ago, though in December, Fox surprised with a $4.1 million opening day take for Drumline in 1,836 theaters, leading to a $12.6 million weekend. A more appropriate comparison, Love & Basketball, opened in January five years ago to $3.2 million on Friday in only 1,237 theaters, for a strong $2,568 average. Coach Carter boasts stronger appeal over the two movies given Jackson?s fan base and the consistent potential of its studio collaboration.
Sports movies tend to attract a devoted following, however predictable (or stupid) they may seem in the ads. Though it?s not really a sports movie, Bring It On broke out with $7.1 million in 2000 for a hot $2,979 average, in line with Legally Blonde. You Got Served also made more than anticipated, having raked in $5.8 million for $3,014 per-screen. And even Dodgeball shocked last summer, delivering $11.3 million on opening day for a robust $4,205 average in 2,694 theaters. And this fall?s football flick, Friday Night Lights, brought in $6.8 million, even though Billy Bob Thornton is not a marquee name.
Save the Last Dance increased 22% on Saturday but it also benefited from being a date movie, and it also crossed over in its racial appeal. Coach Carter could see similar success, but since it does lack the female draw factor of Last Dance, its second day jump will be questionable. Saturday should be close to $10 million if not slightly over, placing the 3-day at $24 - 25 million.
Universal managed two big surprises in December; one being the $300 million-potential Meet the Parents sequel, and the other being the colossal limited release debut of In Good Company. Directed by About a Boy?s Paul Weitz and starring Topher Grace, Dennis Quaid, and Scarlett Johansson, the romantic comedy/drama killed three weeks ago with $152,000 from 3 theaters, averaging a dynamite $50,667 per-screen. That figure was right in line with the critically acclaimed underdog, Sideways, which was hard to believe. Some people wondered if its limited exposure helped at a time when going to the movies is about the only thing to do, or if it really was in anticipation.
The movie widened to 1,565 theaters this weekend and delivered $4.5 million on Friday, averaging another surprising $2,902 average. Having come right off of Win a Date with Tad Hamilton, Topher Grace?s appeal was questionable, though the project has two other recognizable faces and a director who appeals to adults. Critics agree that it?s one of the more enjoyable movies in a while; and while these debuts are generally achieved after Oscar talk, moviegoers, in a rare feat, seem to concur with these normally hard-to-please reviewers.
What wasn?t expected is that the feature debuted broadly with the same success as the drug picture, Traffic, which took in $4.5 million and $2,981 per-screen. Traffic saw a bold increase on Saturday given its strong adult appeal and Oscar buzz, and In Good Company shouldn?t be so lucky. The movie might earn roughly $5 million on Saturday, giving it a 3-day haul of $13 million.
One of the early signs I had noticed that Elektra might not do so hot is that the movie wasn?t even being booked a theater in the UCLA region, which is an extremely rare thing (almost everything plays around there). That is where its target audience resides, which definitely made me raise my hand in question (Coach Carter was getting the huge theater Elektra might?ve gotten, which was another sign). The action flick (a spin-off from Daredevil) proved that Jennifer Garner is no Julia Roberts quite yet, as after 13 Going on 30 many folks had her pegged as the next big thing. Elektra opened to a less-than-thrilling $4.5 million, averaging a tame $1,401 per-screen in 3,203 theaters.
The performance is in gear with similar big (theater count) launches like Battlefield Earth ($4.3 million - $1,305 per-screen), and also Anacondas ($4.4 million - $1,509 per-screen). The fact that Elektra wasn?t even able to live up to Catwoman's opening day take ($6.1 million - $1,955 per-screen) and that movie was terribly buzzed (even by potential fans) is a sad note. The reviews on Elektra are not helpful, and even on the Rotten Tomatoes web-site it has matched Gigli?s awful 7% status, which means that 93% of critics view it as being either mediocre or God-awful. Granted, Elektra?s audience doesn?t read reviews and even White Noise made $24 million last weekend off a 9% status, but word was hideous on Catwoman even months before it hit theaters.
Elektra's debut is more in line with The Punisher ($5.2 million - $1,955 per-screen), though that movie played in 550 fewer theaters, which makes Elektra?s feat less impressive. Saturday could look like $4.6 - 5.3 million or so, which should put Elektra on course for a 3-day weekend of $13 million.
Warner Bros. was hoping for similar success as Kangaroo Jack with Racing Stripes, and they achieved it for the most part. The family feature debuted to $3.3 million in 3,185 theaters, averaging a slow but encouraging $1,029 per-screen. Friday was expected to be pretty tame considering its core audience is in school, and Saturday should see a very lively boost with matinees. A second day incline of 65 - 75% should be on the outlook, which should put Saturday at $5.5 - 6.0 million. Sunday should be considerably larger than Friday given the Monday holiday, with a figure of $4.3 - 4.6 million likely. Racing Stripes should be heading for a 3-day gross of $13.0 - 13.5 million.
Two years ago, though in December, Fox surprised with a $4.1 million opening day take for Drumline in 1,836 theaters, leading to a $12.6 million weekend. A more appropriate comparison, Love & Basketball, opened in January five years ago to $3.2 million on Friday in only 1,237 theaters, for a strong $2,568 average. Coach Carter boasts stronger appeal over the two movies given Jackson?s fan base and the consistent potential of its studio collaboration.
Sports movies tend to attract a devoted following, however predictable (or stupid) they may seem in the ads. Though it?s not really a sports movie, Bring It On broke out with $7.1 million in 2000 for a hot $2,979 average, in line with Legally Blonde. You Got Served also made more than anticipated, having raked in $5.8 million for $3,014 per-screen. And even Dodgeball shocked last summer, delivering $11.3 million on opening day for a robust $4,205 average in 2,694 theaters. And this fall?s football flick, Friday Night Lights, brought in $6.8 million, even though Billy Bob Thornton is not a marquee name.
Save the Last Dance increased 22% on Saturday but it also benefited from being a date movie, and it also crossed over in its racial appeal. Coach Carter could see similar success, but since it does lack the female draw factor of Last Dance, its second day jump will be questionable. Saturday should be close to $10 million if not slightly over, placing the 3-day at $24 - 25 million.
Universal managed two big surprises in December; one being the $300 million-potential Meet the Parents sequel, and the other being the colossal limited release debut of In Good Company. Directed by About a Boy?s Paul Weitz and starring Topher Grace, Dennis Quaid, and Scarlett Johansson, the romantic comedy/drama killed three weeks ago with $152,000 from 3 theaters, averaging a dynamite $50,667 per-screen. That figure was right in line with the critically acclaimed underdog, Sideways, which was hard to believe. Some people wondered if its limited exposure helped at a time when going to the movies is about the only thing to do, or if it really was in anticipation.
The movie widened to 1,565 theaters this weekend and delivered $4.5 million on Friday, averaging another surprising $2,902 average. Having come right off of Win a Date with Tad Hamilton, Topher Grace?s appeal was questionable, though the project has two other recognizable faces and a director who appeals to adults. Critics agree that it?s one of the more enjoyable movies in a while; and while these debuts are generally achieved after Oscar talk, moviegoers, in a rare feat, seem to concur with these normally hard-to-please reviewers.
What wasn?t expected is that the feature debuted broadly with the same success as the drug picture, Traffic, which took in $4.5 million and $2,981 per-screen. Traffic saw a bold increase on Saturday given its strong adult appeal and Oscar buzz, and In Good Company shouldn?t be so lucky. The movie might earn roughly $5 million on Saturday, giving it a 3-day haul of $13 million.
One of the early signs I had noticed that Elektra might not do so hot is that the movie wasn?t even being booked a theater in the UCLA region, which is an extremely rare thing (almost everything plays around there). That is where its target audience resides, which definitely made me raise my hand in question (Coach Carter was getting the huge theater Elektra might?ve gotten, which was another sign). The action flick (a spin-off from Daredevil) proved that Jennifer Garner is no Julia Roberts quite yet, as after 13 Going on 30 many folks had her pegged as the next big thing. Elektra opened to a less-than-thrilling $4.5 million, averaging a tame $1,401 per-screen in 3,203 theaters.
The performance is in gear with similar big (theater count) launches like Battlefield Earth ($4.3 million - $1,305 per-screen), and also Anacondas ($4.4 million - $1,509 per-screen). The fact that Elektra wasn?t even able to live up to Catwoman's opening day take ($6.1 million - $1,955 per-screen) and that movie was terribly buzzed (even by potential fans) is a sad note. The reviews on Elektra are not helpful, and even on the Rotten Tomatoes web-site it has matched Gigli?s awful 7% status, which means that 93% of critics view it as being either mediocre or God-awful. Granted, Elektra?s audience doesn?t read reviews and even White Noise made $24 million last weekend off a 9% status, but word was hideous on Catwoman even months before it hit theaters.
Elektra's debut is more in line with The Punisher ($5.2 million - $1,955 per-screen), though that movie played in 550 fewer theaters, which makes Elektra?s feat less impressive. Saturday could look like $4.6 - 5.3 million or so, which should put Elektra on course for a 3-day weekend of $13 million.
Warner Bros. was hoping for similar success as Kangaroo Jack with Racing Stripes, and they achieved it for the most part. The family feature debuted to $3.3 million in 3,185 theaters, averaging a slow but encouraging $1,029 per-screen. Friday was expected to be pretty tame considering its core audience is in school, and Saturday should see a very lively boost with matinees. A second day incline of 65 - 75% should be on the outlook, which should put Saturday at $5.5 - 6.0 million. Sunday should be considerably larger than Friday given the Monday holiday, with a figure of $4.3 - 4.6 million likely. Racing Stripes should be heading for a 3-day gross of $13.0 - 13.5 million.
