The Hollywood Outsider – Film and Television Podcast | Reviews An award-winning film and television podcast for the fan in all of us
Milla Jovovich has saved the world AND the box office, all in one fail swoop. Thanks to her flagship franchise, Resident Evil: Retribution opened to an estimated $21 million and a CinemaScore rating of C+, which is about average for the series. That’s a little lower than the last couple films in the franchise, but it’s still a solid start and apparently the international numbers (where this series REALLY makes its money) are through the roof. Since the last film made only $60m US but $236m overseas, expect another RE film in the near future.
Finding Nemo 3D opened with about $16.6m, so pretty much on par with expectations. Pixar’s biggest original hit didn’t quite go as high as Lion King did the same weekend last year with its $30m opening, but a LOT of older flicks have been re-released since then. This trend only lasts as long as people go to see them, so expect it to start dying down.
Outside of those, nothing much exciting happening expect for The Master’s limited release. Paul Thomas Anderson’s latest about a religious zealot and his follower opened with $736k from only a handful of theaters. Sure to be nominated for scores of awards, this is the latest critical ‘darling’ to hit cineplexes. If it doesn’t star Sho’ Nuff’ from The Last Dragon, our interest is low.
In other releases: Possession scared up another $5.7m for a $41m total; Lawless robbed another $4.3m for a $30m total; and Stallone & Co. blew up another $3m for an $80m total in Expendables 2. Overseas, Expendables 2 is bigger than the first film so look for a 3rd and final film in the next couple of years.
Listen to an all new HO, Ep 59, where we talk about next weekend’s releases: End of Watch, The House at the End of the Street, Dredd 3D and Trouble With the Curve.