CinemaNerdz

Box Office Weekend: Oz Remains Top Draw as Audiences Ignore the Other Films Behind the Curtain

Seth Paul
Box Office

Oz the Great and PowerfulOz the Great and Powerful did it again; though it has yet to make up its costs domestically (the film cost $215 million), it is well on its way there, with a second week performance of an estimated $42.2 million. So far, the film has been a strong contender here and overseas, its $281.1 million in worldwide totals making it a solid blockbuster success. The Call cannot claim that level of success, but the Halle Berry-starring thriller, despite its mixed reviews, relied on the tried and true method of low cost filmmaking as it made an estimated $17.1 million over its $13 million budget. Unfortunately, Steve Carrell could not make magic with The Incredible Burt Wonderstone, the comedy earning an estimated $10.3 million, a poor start for a film garnering negative reviews and a $30 million price tag.

Of films that wish they could be Oz the Great and Powerful, Jack the Giant Slayer remains a top ten draw, but not much else…critically panned, it has not even broken half its costs in total worldwide revenue. Its estimated $6.2 million in weekend earnings nearly confirms its status as a box office flop. Identity Thief, on the other hand, may have only made an estimated $4.5 million over the weekend, but its critical hammering did not seem to matter much as it continues to add to its $123.7 million domestic earnings. Snitch, too, once a mystery, has been revealed to be a success, as the $15 million budgeted film, with its estimated $3.5 million, has earned a decent if not thrilling $37.3 million, while 21 and Over made an estimated $2.6 million and $21.9 million over its $13 million costs. Again, not a thrilling amount, but a decent turnout on a film that received a critical scorching.

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In the final stretch, Silver Linings Playbook, slated for home video release next month, holds on for another week on the big screen, earning an estimated $2.6 million. Safe Haven rounded out its successful run with an estimated $2.5 million, and Escape from Planet Earth proved a minor success as it most likely falls from the top ten next week, earning an estimated $2.3 million for the weekend and $52.2 million domestically.

Weekend Box Office (March 15th – March 17th)

  1. Oz the Great and Powerful…$42.2 million
  2. The Call…$17.1 million
  3. The Incredible Burt Wonderstone…$10.3 million
  4. Jack the Giant Slayer…$6.2 million
  5. Identity Thief…$4.5 million
  6. Snitch…$3.5 million
  7. 21 and Over…$2.6 million
  8. Silver Linings Playbook…$2.6 million
  9. Safe Haven…$2.5 million
  10. Escape from Planet Earth…$2.3 million

Seth Paul

When not failing to write novels and screenplays, box-office guru Seth writes humorous comedy tracks for films under the name "The One Man Band" that can be found at Rifftrax.com. Although, he has recently succeeded in writing the novella "Jack Alan and the Case of the Not-Exactly Rocket Scientists," available as an eBook on Amazon. He is also the English voice of Zak in "Zak McKracken: Between Time and Space."
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