Set phasers to stun: the new Star Trek enjoyed a chart-topping opening weekend.
J.J. Abrams’ much-hyped Star Trek reboot went where no Trek feature has gone before: a $76.5 million first-weekend gross. To put that in perspective for a moment, before Abrams’ movie came along, the best opening for a Trek flick was Star Trek: First Contact‘s $30 million debut back in December 1996. It’s also worth noting that in one weekend, the new Trek surpassed the total domestic gross of the Enterprise’s last adventure, Star Trek: Nemesis, which finished its run with an anemic $67 million. Good reviews and positive word of mouth should help the Enterprise navigate the choppy waters known as the “second-weekend,” avoiding the fate that befell last week’s champ X-Men Origins: Wolverine, which dropped 68% for a $27 million haul, lifting its total to $129 million. Two weeks ago, I was convinced that Wolverine would easily cruise its way to the magic $200 million figure. Now I’m not so sure.
The news was similarly grim for the weekend’s only other new wide release, Next Day Air, which finished in sixth place. The latest release from Summit Entertainment–the studio responsible for one box-office smash (Twilight) and a lot of duds (Push, Never Back Down)–Air was soundly beaten by the trio of Ghosts of Girlfriends Past, Obsessed and 17 Again and just squeaked by The Soloist. The bottom three slots were occupied by family-friendly fare, beginning with Monsters vs. Aliens and ending with Hannah Montana: The Movie with Earth sandwiched in the middle.
The full Top Ten is below courtesy of the-numbers.com. Next week, Angels & Demons attempts to recapture the success of The Da Vinci Code and Star Trek hopes for another big haul before Terminator Salvation drops and decimates the competition.
The Top Ten: May 8-10
1. Star Trek: $76.5
2. X-Men Origins: Wolverine: $27/$129.6
3. Ghosts of Girlfriends Past: $10.4/$30.2
4. Obsessed: $6.6/$56.2
5. 17 Again: $4.4/$54.1
6. Next Day Air: $4
7. The Soloist: $3.6/$23.5
8. Monsters vs. Aliens: $3.3/$186.8
9. Earth: $2.4/$26
10. Hannah Montana: The Movie: $2.4/$74
