Usually a 60% drop in revenue can spell disaster for a film…but considering what The Hunger Games made last week, the estimated $61.1 million it made this week is not the problem that it seems. With a total gross of $251 million domestic, The Hunger Games seems to be the summer film to beat. It certainly saw more business than Wrath of the Titans, which opened with a comparatively disappointing estimated $34.2 million domestically. Wrath of the Titans is doing much better in the overseas market, the $150 million budgeted film gaining an estimated $78 million in the foreign market. However, the first of two Snow White adaptations due out this year, Mirror Mirror starring Julia Roberts, is a disappointment no matter who it compares to…it earned an estimated $19 million for a distant third place finish, and even the $11 million foreign box office places it a long ways away from the $85 million it cost to make. And though Mirror Mirror is getting better critical reviews than Wrath of the Titans, the audiences themselves seem to be more forgiving of the latter…as the current ticket sales make plain.
21 Jump Street, while it only made an estimated $15 million, is still holding up quite well for its third week, closing in on $93 million domestic; so is Dr. Seuss’ The Lorax, which adds an estimated $8 million to a $189.6 million domestic gross. John Carter may be flagging stateside, its estimated $2 million a wide gap between it and Dr. Seuss’ The Lorax, but the film isn’t quite the bomb it appears, the action blockbuster doing almost three times as well overseas ($188.3 million) as here ($66.2 million), so while it may not see a sequel anytime soon, it at least made back its investments.
Opening to…well, somewhat larger release (a few shy of 500 theaters); Salmon Fishing in the Yemen made an estimated $1.3 million. The romantic comedy/drama starring Ewan McGregor has no current budgetary information available, but considering the track record of the latest independent films (The Descendants, The Devil Inside, Casa de Mi Padre), it is likely to make money even if it is not a huge success…barring high salaries for the stars. Act of Valor was the last film of the week to break a million, though just barely, making a little over an estimated $1 million. Still, in its six weeks in the theater, it has turned out a decent profit, while A Thousand Words continues to fall flat, with an estimated $915,000 and not even making up half of its costs so far ($16.5 million against a $40 million investment). Journey 2: The Mysterious Island continues to hang onto the box office, the eight week veteran only making an estimated $835,000 this weekend, but the action adventure has proven itself a hit here ($98.4 million) and an even bigger one overseas ($214 million).
Weekend Box-Office (March 30th – April 1st)
- The Hunger Games…$61.1 million
- Wrath of the Titans…$34.2 million
- Mirror Mirror…$19 million
- 21 Jump Street…$15 million
- Dr. Seuss’ The Lorax…$8 million
- John Carter…$2 million
- Salmon Fishing in the Yemen…$1.3 million
- Act of Valor…$1 million
- A Thousand Words…$915,000
- Journey 2: The Mysterious Island …$835,000
Jen_J_R
John Carter has already acquired a steady fan base and many positive reviews from the average movie goer. Top critics have been polarized, but most at least acknowledged the film was fun in places, even while decrying it as a box office bomb. Others genuinely liked it, and more positive reviews on blogs from last-minute movie goers pile up every day.
Reviews don’t generally affect revenue either. The New York Times online critic hated “The Lorax” more than John Carter, and yet it’s done solidly at the box office. “Wrath of the Titans,” has a 29% Fresh rating on Rottentomatoes, which is 30 percentage points lower than John Carter. Yet “Titans” scored $8 million more in its opening weekend.
The bottom line is that John Carter has been the victim of an uninspired marketing campaign and a ton of bad press buzz. Perhaps its 1800s-cum-Mars storyline was not fortuitously attached to any particular item of pop culture that is particularly relevant. Despite all that its intake has climbed to more than $250 million in worldwide revenue, not including the $30 million generated in China last week, and also not including whatever money it will make when it opens in Japan.
Meanwhile, the film has lost a lot of 3-D and IMAX screens to “Hunger Games” and now “Wrath of the Titans,” which have affected its revenue and made it look like it’s faring worse with the public than it really is. But a lot of people love this film. Some even go so far as to say they liked it more than Star Wars (the originals!). Some have gone to see it more than 6 times (sometimes more than 9 times), in a day when theater tickets cost at least $11 a pop.
There’s something really enjoyable about this film that’s got people talking. Swim against the current, be a trendsetter. Go check it out!
Steve Turner
I have read at a few sites that Disney barred the media from production sets during filming and limited access to the stars. apparently critics and reporters got their revenge. At the cost of their reputation for being an objective viewer who is only supposed to give their honest opinion and not be moved by personal issues.
Cheslyn Owen
John Carter is a brilliant film, Its got that classic cult movie feel to it. I enjoyed every second of it and will watch it again. And Lynn Collins is always a treat.
Smartguy
John Carter made back its investments? What kind of idiot is writing this? It has grossed $254.5 million worldwide – that’s $127.25 million profit (split with exhibitors). Production budget was $250 (low side estimate) plus $100 million marketing, meaning that it is still $222.75 million in the red. It’s North American run is over and it only has a few more markets to open in worldwide – glad they made their investment back!!!