The Hollywood Outsider – Film and Television Podcast | Reviews An award-winning film and television podcast for the fan in all of us
A LOT of people were off to see the Wizard this weekend as Oz the Great and Powerful opened with a golden $80.2 million over the weekend, including Thursday sneaks and midnight shows. That’s the 3rd largest March opening ever, the largest opening this year, more than the rest of the Top 10 COMBINED AND the most a Franco movie will EVER make on opening weekend. The only thing it wasn’t was a high for was director Sam Raimi, as his Spider-Man films routinely opened with more.
Oz received a lot of negative speculation as the film is a prequel to a beloved classic, had no real bankable stars and was opening during one of the worst Box Office years in memory as this first 3 months have been nothing but dud after dud. Who knew James Franco would save us all? With a strong supporting cast, a director who knows spectacle and a property Americans love – Oz was able to trump the naysayers and bring families and 3D lovers out in droves (3D accounted for over 50% of all tickets sold).
WAAAAAAAAAAAAY back at #2 was Jack the Giant Slayer with $10m for a limp $43.8m total. Jack effectively fell off his beanstalk the 2nd weekend and look for a sad total of $60m when it’s all said and done – this year’s John Carter. Identity Thief held strong at #3 with $6.3m for a $116.5m total.
Opening in #4 is Colin ‘Bomb Maker’ Farrell with $5.3m in Dead Man Down. Prepare for the jokes, because Farrell is officially a Dead Man at the Box Office. Rounding out the Top 5 was The Rock’s Snitch with $5.1m for a $31.8m total. Not awful, but not action star worthy either. The last new release was Emperor at #15 with $1 million. Yea. $1 million. They should just surrender.
Listen to our all-new HO Ep 83 for details on this coming weekend’s newest releases including Incredible Burt Wonderstone and The Call: