AVENGERS ASSEMBLE CONTINUES TO CAPER A BOX OFFICE MARVEL
No doubt spurred on by the force of Thor’s mighty hammer, the long weekend proved a thoroughly rainy affair, prompting something of a storm at the UK box office fiscally speaking. Second week smash AVENGERS ASSEMBLE reigned supreme in first place at a whopping four day total of £11.6M, while at second position, gross out comedy sequel AMERICAN PIE: REUNION clocked a healthy four day take of £5.9M after decent previews last week. Finally at third place, financial mileage could still be found in a tale as old as time with 3D reissue BEAUTY AND THE BEAST taking a healthy £1.2M, albeit down considerably on a three day launch for LION KING 3D at £2.8M back in October last year.
The remainder of the top five saw schmaltzy opener THE LUCKY ONE take a decent £1.2M from the hands of tween romantics at fourth place, while at the fifth spot violent Jason Statham actioner SAFE kept meatheads happy with a decent £917K take just a fraction down on the opening for THE MECHANIC at £922K in January last year. At sixth, grey pound magnet SALMON FISHING IN THE YEMEN finally seemed to be slowing down in week 3 at £886K, while at seventh claymation hit PIRATES! trundled along nicely to take 634K in week 6. Eighth place saw THE HUNGER GAMES add to a whopping running total of £23M with £515K in its seventh week, while ninth saw MIRROR MIRROR hold remarkably well with £398K. Tenth place however, proved far more disappointing with a very poor opening for high concept horror flick SILENT HOUSE with £285K to average £1371 from a mid level 208 site launch. What is the secret of Silent House? Apparently no one cared.
With the box office dominated by a film about superheroes punching each other, another about a man looking back nostalgically on a youth spent fucking pastry goods, and a 21 year old Disney film, only the small but feisty success of a pair of limited openers could keep hope alive for the future of cinema. Low-key drama MONSIEUR LAZHAR took a promising £45K from a 15-site launch to average a very strong £3,684, while tender coming of age tale GOODBYE, FIRST LOVE took a solid £5K from 18 sites to average a fair £2,520. Less fortunate however was a launch for Werner Herzog’s CGI dinosaur documentary oddity DINOTASIA which took £3800 to average just £200. Disappointing.
Over in the states AVENGERS ASSEMBLE opened to an absurd $207M figure to average $48K from saturation release, streets ahead of all other competition. Third week sleeper smash THINK LIKE A MAN took second place with $8M, while seventh week sustainer hit THE HUNGER GAMES took £5.6M to make a $381M gross to date.
From this Friday expect tits n‘ killer fish flick PIRANHA 3DD; violent Mel Gibson caper HOW I SPENT MY SUMMER VACATION; mainstream mumblecore crossover JEFF WHO LIVES AT HOME; and gothic Tim Burton spectacle DARK SHADOWS to hit screens country-wide. While on limited release expect French Canadian navel gazer CAFÉ DE FLORE, dense Russian thinkster FAUST, as well as truly delightful all-star Gallic musical BELOVED to duke it out for the speciality pound.
PR.
