Box Office: 'The Dictator' can't overthrow 'The Avengers' on Wednesday
Sacha Baron Cohen comedy earns just $4.1 million
Sacha Baron Cohen has spent the last few weeks appearing all over the country as Admiral General Aladeen in hopes of enticing moviegoers to see his latest comedy, "The Dictator." So far, it hasn't worked.
The Larry Charles-directed comedy originally was supposed to open last Friday, but Paramount decided to move it to the Wednesday after in hopes of avoiding a clash with Johnny Depp's "Dark Shadows." Instead, both pictures seem to be suffering under the onslaught of "The Avengers." "The Dictator" opened on Wednesday to just $4.1 million. The film has been polling for a $35 million five-day gross, but with a C Cinemascore grade and mixed reviews it may struggle to get past $20 million.
Meanwhile, Joss Whedon's blockbuster keeps rolling right along. "The Avengers" found another $6.3 million on Wednesday for $395 to date. The picture should cross the $400 million mark domestically sometime on Friday. It's currently the 13th biggest release of all time and should jump to No. 10 or even No. 9 by Sunday.
"Dark Shadows" keeps trying to wake the dead, er, moviegoers with another $1.8 million and $36.4 million in just 6 days. With upcoming releases "Battleship" and "Men in Black 3" polling under expectations, Warner Bros. is hoping "Shadows" can find some light throughout the rest of the month.
Look for continuing box office updates this weekend on HitFix.
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May 17, 2012 at 7:17PM EST Reply to CommentWhat we are all suffering from, and not just "The Dictator" or "Dark Shadows", is the continued inanity of reporting on movies as if they were in a contest with each other. It is my belief that this repulsive habit, practiced by the entire mainstream media establishment, has ruined movies. It is a corrupt arrangement between the press and the movie studios, who often have the same corporate ownership, that reinforces and perpetuates a cynical, vision-free business model. Movies are no longer very good, and are more often very bad, because quality isn't the goal - only "winning" is. It is an insipid, destructive trend that has spread like a cancer throughout our culture, and there seems to be no escape from it.
ASFan
May 17, 2012 at 7:45PM EST Reply to CommentA. I don't think The Dictator was ever polling that high.
B. The Avengers will cross 400M today, not tomorrow.