Box Office: Moviegoers turn down 'Sex' as 'Shrek Forever After' pulls in $43 million
Is 'Prince of Persia' a bomb with only $30.2 million?
"Shrek Forever After" ruled the Saturday box office to take the first three days of the Memorial Day Weekend.
The magic may be over for two franchises, but one still has a little kick as it heads toward Hollywood semi-retirement.
In something of a surprise, "Shrek Forever After" won the Friday-Sunday box office over Memorial Day weekend with $43 million. This gives the reportedly "final chapter" in the "Shrek" franchise $133 million over 10 days. That's a far cry from "Shrek the Third" which had reached $203 million at this juncture three years ago with cheaper ticket prices and on less 3-D screens. At this point, "Forever After" should reach $225-250 million before "Toy Story 3" arrives on June 18 to steal its 3-D theaters.
This weekend's expected winner, "Sex and the City 2," continues to fall after its strong Thursday debut pulling in only $10 million on Saturday. The critically maligned comedy has an estimated weekend gross of $32.1 million and $46.3 million to date. It could match the original's $57 million debut after Memorial Day, but that was achieved in just three days, not five. It's seems likely unkind reviews diminished any chance "SATC2" had to expand beyond it's hardcore fanbase and a third installment is seriously in doubt.
Third place found Disney and Jerry Bruckheimer's "Prince of Persia: The Sands of Time" with just $30.1 million. The rumored $200 million budgeted adventure has to be a big disappointment for the Mouse House and proves Jake Gyllenhaal's transition to action star isn't an easy sell.
"Iron Man 2" landed in fourth with another $16 million for a new cume of $274.6 million. At this juncture, the "Iron Man" sequel will barely outgross the original's $318 million, but has already surpassed its international take (although not by much).
"Robin Hood" slid into fifth with another $10 million and a three week total of $83 million. Impressively, the latest Russell Crowe/Ridley Scott collaboration should pass $100 million after a disappointing start and may come close to breaking even if the foreign take continues to soar.
In a very limited New York opening, "Micmacs" grossed $48,700 on just four screens for a so-so $12,175 per screen. It expand to Los Angeles, Boston, Chicago, San Diego and San Francisco on June 4.
Among other releases, "Letters to Juliet" hit $36 million, "Just Wright" was just wrong with $18.1 million, "Date Night" has made it to $93.4 million, "MacGruber" took a 63.5% fall for $7.1 million so far and "Babies" has been a surprise with $5.9 million.
Next weekend's releases include "Get Him to the Greek," "Splice" and "Killers."
News From Our Partners
-
Jerry Seinfeld reveals least favorite episode of 'Seinfeld'
'Bristol Palin: Life's a Tripp' to premiere June 19 on Lifetime
'American Idol': Jimmy Iovine hopes Jennifer Lopez stays as a judge - because he doesn't want to be one
-
Random Roles: Veteran character actor Robert Picardo on his work in and out of the makeup chair
Music Review: Paul and Linda McCartney: Ram
Perfect Circle: An REM Story: Part 5: Feeling Gravity’s Pull (Fables Of The Reconstruction)
-
Martha Stewart Wants To Be In 'Avengers 2': 'I Want To Play The Hulk's Girlfriend'
'Fast And Furious' Mash-Up: Every Gear Shift In The Series (VIDEO)
'The Intouchables' iPad 2 Giveaway (CONTEST)
-
The Telefile - TV on DVD: Tuesday, May 22, 2012
The Telefile - The Cancelled 2011-12 TV Shows We'll Miss the Least
The Telefile - Today's TWoP News: Monday, May 21, 2012
-
'House' Goes Out With A Bang
Solar Eclipse Inspires Silly 'Twilight' Tweets
Matthew McConaughey Nabs Spot On 'Magic Mike' Soundtrack
-
Kate Gosselin Surprised Networks Don't Want Her
Bethany McHugh: Nielsen in the New Age
WATCH: William Levy Responds To Len Goodman's Criticism On 'Dancing With The Stars'
-
RT on DVD & Blu-Ray: Red Tails and This Means War
Trailer: Daniel Craig returns as James Bond in Skyfall
Box Office Guru Wrapup: The Avengers' Reign Continues
Comments
Option 1
Comment instantly as a guest GuestOption 2
Option 3
Login or create a HitFix account Login SignupConnor Marsden
May 30, 2010 at 1:49PM EST Reply to CommentI just don't understand Disney's thinking on PRINCE, why would they open it during such a busy time? Next weekend would have been much better, I know they choose dates far in advance, but surely they could have bumped it back a week if they wanted to. They knew far in advance that they would open against SATC 2 & they new Shrek was gonna be in 3D. For a movie they spent so much making & marketing, it sure does seem like they set it up for failure.
james
May 30, 2010 at 7:14PM EST Reply to CommentThats awesome about Shrek!
I cant wait to see the new movie "Get Him to the Greek". It looks like
its gonna be so funny! Anyone else going to see it?
labrat
May 31, 2010 at 12:28AM EST Reply to CommentWow, shrek still holds weight in the movie game. SATC 2 was supposed to dominate. Get him the greek looks like it's gonna be funny