Monsters vs. Aliens scores 2009′s best opening to date.
Despite finishing behind the opening weekend grosses of its predecessors Madagascar: Escape 2 Africa and Kung Fu Panda, DreamWork’s Animation’s newest animated blockbuster Monsters vs. Aliens still set a record its first weekend out: biggest opening of 2009 so far. The sci-fi action comedy earned $58.2 million, besting Watchmen‘s $55.2 million opening earlier this month. That record will likely fall in another month when the summer movie season kicks off with X-Men Origins: Wolverine, but for now, Ginormica, B.O.B. and the rest of the gang can hold their heads high while fighting the good fight against extra-terristrials that pop up on Earth with plans for world domination.
Speaking of Watchmen, Zack Snyder’s disappointing adaptation of Alan Moore’s seminal graphic novel fell to the number eight spot, earning just $2.8 million for a total gross of $103.2. Almost certainly destined to drop out of the Top Ten next weekend, the movie will likely finish out its theatrical run with a little over $105 million–not a great return on Warner Brother’s rumored $140-$150 million investment. In other words, don’t expect to hear that Snyder will be directing a movie version of another Alan Moore book (Lost Girls anyone?) any time soon.
In happier news, Lionsgate has to be thrilled with the second-place finish of their haunted house tale, The Haunting of Connecticut. After what felt like a never-ending promotional campaign (seriously, I’ve been seeing the trailer for five months at least), the film opened to a robust $23 million, the studio’s best opening of 2009. Last week’s number one movie Knowing dropped to third place this weekend with $14.7 million, knocking former bonze medalist I Love You, Man down one spot to fourth. The Julia Roberts comic thriller Duplicity rounded out the Top 5 with $7.5 million.
Elsewhere, in the battle of the WWE superstars-turned-actors, Dwayne Johnson gave John Cena a B.O. smackdown. Race to Witch Mountain earned $5.6 million in its third week of release, finishing roughly $300K ahead of the new-to-theaters action movie 12 Rounds. That’s $4 million below Cena’s last big-screen effort, 2006′s The Marine. The Liam Neeson revenge picture Taken made what will likely be its final appearance in the Top Ten, finishing in ninth place with $2.7 million. During its nine-week run, the movie banked an impressive $137 million, which is even more amazing when you consider that it arrived on U.S. screens a year after its international run and was widely available online and via bootleg DVD. Taking the final spot was the remake of Wes Craven’s Last House on the Left, which has earned $28.4 million over three weeks–only $5 million than what The Haunting of Connecticut earned in one weekend.
Looking at limited releases for a moment, Ramin Bahrani’s critically acclaimed Goodbye Solo had a sparkling debut, earning $40,000 from just three theaters. That’s about $13,000 per screen–not bad for a movie with no movie stars or glamorous locals. The fashion doc Valentino: The Last Empero contineus to do big buessiness as well. The movie earned another $30,000 in its second week out for a total gross of $88,000.
The full Top Ten list is below, courtesy of the-numbers.com. Next weekend, Vin Diesel looks to recapture his former box-office glory with Fast & Furious and the baseball-themed indie film Sugar arrives in theaters just in time for Opening Day.
Click here to read GIANT’s review of Monsters vs. Aliens and Goodbye Solo
The Top Ten: March 27-March 29, 2009
1. Monsters vs. Aliens: $58.2
2. The Haunting in Connecticut: $23
3. Knowing: $14.7/$46.2
4. I Love You, Man: $12.6/$37
5. Duplicity: $7.5/$25.6
6. Race to Witch Mountain: $5.6/$53.2
7. 12 Rounds: $5.3
8. Watchmen: $2.7/$103.2
9. Taken: $2.7/$137
10. The Last House on the Left: $2.6/$28.4
