With Box Office Mojo reporting weekend box office estimates, Snow White and the Huntsman has taken its place at the top of the movie kingdom (for now, at least). With an estimated $56.2 million, the film took the number one spot for the three-day weekend. That’s a fairly impressive opening, one Universal Pictures should be happy with after recent releases like Battleship have flopped.
With a budget of $170 million, it’s not ideal, but given how poorly other non-Avengers summer releases have done as of late, I’d count this one as a moderate success. The studio’s marketing for the film was undeniably effective, and one wonders if the success of The Avengers made co-star Chris Hemsworth a sizable draw for audiences.
Meanwhile, Men in Black 3 fell to number 2 with $29.3 million. That’s a decent hold, falling 46.3% from last weekend. The film still isn’t expected to break even domestically, but the number certainly could have been worse with demographic-crossing Snow White stealing audience attention.
The Avengers continues to conquer the world, coming in at number 2 with $20.2 million. That’s enough for the film to surpass the lifetime domestic gross of The Dark Knight; with $552.7 million earned to date, The Avengers currently stands at number 3 on the all-time domestic gross chart. Whether or not it can earn the extra $100 million needed to surpass Titanic at number 2 has yet to be seen, but I don’t think anyone at Marvel is complaining.
Battleship continues its hilarious stumble down the economic latter, tumbling another 56.5% to come in at number 4 with $4.8 million. Let’s put it this way: with only $55.1 million earned to date, Snow White earned more than the film in one weekend. Yup, giant-alien-at-sea-fighting movie, you lost to a fairy-tale princess.
Rounding out the top five is another financial disappointment, The Dictator, which fell another 49% to $4.7 million. This is another movie that simply won’t break even domestically, but it could recoup some costs overseas.
With expected hit Madagascar 3 and possible hit Prometheus entering the fray next weekend, this summer could very well get energized in a hurry. Or both movies will underperform, just like everything else, and we’ll be left talking about the most recent Avengers record again. Sigh…
Weekend Estimates – Top Ten
1. Snow White and the Huntsman – $56.2 million
2. Men in Black 3 – $29.3 million
3. The Avengers – $20.2 million
4. Battleship – $4.8 million
5. The Dictator – $4.7 million
6. The Best Exotic Marigold Hotel – $4.6 million
7. What To Expect When You’re Expecting – $4.4 million
8. Dark Shadows – $3.8 million
9. Chernobyl Diaries – $3 million
10. For Greater Glory – $1.8 million
