The big budget disaster flick “2012″ blows away the competition with $65 million… blowing away last week’s number one “A Christmas Carol” by more than $40 million… but “2012″ has a long way to go to make up its $200 million budget.  

“The Men Who Stare At Goats” was 3rd again, just ahead of “Precious”, the movie with all kinds of Oscar buzz… it has made more than $35 million in just two weeks of limited release – in just 174 theaters.  Overall, the weekend was up 22% from last weekend, raking in $130 million… it also marks the 7th weekend in-a-row of a new number one at the top of the box office.

 TOP MOVIES AT WEEKEND BOX OFFICE (estimated results):
 1. “2012″ – $65 million (1st week)

2. “A Christmas Carol” - $22.33 million
(2nd week, was #1 last week, lost 26% of audience from last week)

3. “The Men Who Stare At Goats” - $6.20 million
(2nd week, was #3 last week, lost 51% from last week)

4. “Precious” – $6.09 million
(2nd week of limited release, was #12 last week, gained 225% more audience from last week, added 156 theaters)

5. “This Is It” - $21.30 million
(3rd week, was #2 last week, lost 61% from last week)

6. “The Fourth Kind” – $4.74 million
(2nd week, was #4 last week, lost 61% from last week)

7. “Couples Retreat” - $4.25 million
(6th week, was #7 last week, lost 31% from last week)

8. “Paranormal Activity” – $4.20 million
(8th week of release, was #5 last week, lost 49% from last week)

9. “Law Abiding Citizen” – $3.93 million
(5th week, was #8 last week, lost 35% from last week)

10. “The Box” – $3.19 million
(2nd week, was #6 last week, lost 58% from last week)

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11. “Pirate Radio” – $2.87 million (1st week)

12. “Where The Wild Things Are” - $2.42 million
(5th week, was #9 last week, lost 42% from last week)

CLICK HERE FOR LAST WEEK’S BOX OFFICE REPORT

“2012″ poster courtesy Columbia Pictures

Box Office numbers courtesy Box Office Mojo

Disney’s new animated 3D “A Christmas Carol” pulled in $31 million, but some were expecting/predicting clsoer to $40 million.   “The Men Who Stare At Goats” was 3rd behind last week’s number 1 “This Is It”, but had the 2nd highest per theater total (of movies playing in at least 1,000 theaters).

“The Fourth Kind” was 4th, ahead of “Paranormal Activity” in its 7th week, and “The Box” came in 6th.  Overall, the weekend brought in $110 million… a 33% boost from last weekend.

 TOP MOVIES AT WEEKEND BOX OFFICE (estimated results):
 1. “A Christmas Carol” - $31.00 million (1st week)

2. “This Is It” - $21.30 million
(2nd week, was #1 last week, lost 40% of audience from last week)

3. “The Men Who Stare At Goats” - $13.31 million (1st week)

4. “The Fourth Kind” – $12.52 million (1st week)

5. “Paranormal Activity” – $8.60 million
(7th week of release, was #2 last week, lost 48% from last week)

6. “The Box” – $7.86 million (1st week)

7. “Couples Retreat” - $6.43 million
(5th week, was #4 last week, lost 1% from last week)

8. “Law Abiding Citizen” – $6.17 million
(4th week, was #3 last week, lost 17% from last week)

9. “Where The Wild Things Are” - $4.23 million
(4th week, was #5 last week, lost 29% from last week)

10. “Astro Boy” – $2.59 million
(3rd week, was #7 last week, lost 25% from last week)

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11. “Saw VI” – $2.00 million
(3rd week, was #6 last week, lost 62% from last week)

12. “The Stepfather” – $1.88 million
(4th week, was #8 last week, lost 42% from last week)

13. “Precious” – $1.80 million (1st week) (limited release of 18 theaters)

CLICK HERE FOR LAST WEEK’S BOX OFFICE REPORT

“This Is It” poster courtesy Sony Pictures

Box Office numbers courtesy Box Office Mojo

Sure it opened Wednesday, but just the Friday-Sunday estimated numbers ($21 million) add up to a box office win for “This Is It” the Michael Jackson concert documentary.   “This Is It” dominated the weekend, becoming the highest grossing concert movie.   Sony Pictures announced today that the flick that was orignally scheduled to to play for two weeks, will now play for 4 1/2 weeks …. through the Thanksgiving weekend.

“Paranormal Activity” was the only other movie with more than $10 million ($16 million) this weekend, the horror thriller is now in more than 2,400 theaters, its widest release so far, and again with the highest per theater average of the top 12 movies… which means the movie is making more money/has more people per showing.

Overall, as you could guess with only 2 movies in double-digit millions, it was a down weekend.  The box office saw a 25% decrease from last weekend, and at $79.42 million for the top 12 movies, is the 2nd lowest total of the year (Sept. 11-13 was $76.21 million).  If you’re wondering, last year’s Halloween weekend was also weak, totalling just $73.99 million (a 38% drop from the previous weekend).

 TOP MOVIES AT WEEKEND BOX OFFICE (estimated results):
1. “This Is It” - $21.30 million (1st week)

2. “Paranormal Activity” – $16.54 million
(6th week of release, was #1 last week, lost 22% of audience from last week)

3. “Law Abiding Citizen” – $7.30 million
(3rd week, was #4 last week, lost 41% from last week)

4. “Couples Retreat” - $6.10 million
(4th week, was #5 last week, lost 43% from last week)

5. “Saw VI” – $5.56 million
(2nd week, was #2 last week, lost 61% from last week)

6. “Where The Wild Things Are” - $5.08 million
(3rd week, was #3 last week, lost 64% of audience from last week)

7. “The Stepfather” – $3.40 million
(3rd week, was #7 last week, lost 45% from last week)

8. “Astro Boy” – $3.03 million
(2nd week, was #6 last week, lost 55% from last week)

9. “Amelia” – $3.00 million
(2nd week, was #11 last week, lost 23% from last week)

10. “Cirque du Freak: The Vampire’s Assistant” – $2.81 million
(2nd week, was #8 last week, lost 55% from last week)

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11. “Cloudy with a Chance of Meatballs” – $2.70 million
(7th week, was #9 last week, lost 49% from last week)

12. “Zombieland” – $2.60 million
(5th week, was #10 last week, lost 38% from last week)

CLICK HERE FOR LAST WEEK’S BOX OFFICE REPORT

“This Is It” poster courtesy Sony Pictures

Box Office numbers courtesy Box Office Mojo

Wow… “Paranormal Activity” is in its widest release yet this weekend, but still in 1,000 fewer theaters than “Saw VI”, the 6th installment in one of the most successful horror franchises at the box office… despite those odds, ‘Paranormal’ beat out its scary competition by $7 million.

“Where The Wild Things Are” is a close 3rd, and may slide into 2nd place when the final numbers come in.  Other new movies “Astro Boy”, “Cirque du Freak: The Vampire’s Assistant”, and “Amelia” all made less than $10 million each and struggled to compete with returning movies.  The other limited release darling “A Serious Man” had the 2nd highest per theater average ($6,415) of the top 12 movies (2nd only to ‘Paranormal’’s $11,311)… “A Serious Man” won’t be in the Grand Rapids market until at least November 6th.

Overall, the weekend ($109.95 million) was down about 14% from last weekend’s huge weekend, but still the 2nd highest box office total of the fall movie season.

 TOP MOVIES AT WEEKEND BOX OFFICE (estimated results):
1. “Paranormal Activity” – $22.00 million
(5th week of limited release, was #3 last week, gained 12% – added 1,185 theaters from last week)

2. “Saw VI” – $14.80 million (1st week)

3. “Where The Wild Things Are” - $14.42 million
(2nd week, was #1 last week, lost 56% of audience from last week)

4. “Law Abiding Citizen” – $12.71 million
(2nd week, was #2 last week, lost 40% from last week)

5. “Couples Retreat” - $11.10 million
(3rd week, was #4 last week, lost 36% from last week)

6. “Astro Boy” – $7.02 million (1st week)

7. “The Stepfather” – $6.50 million
(2nd week, was #5 last week, lost 44% from last week)

8. “Cirque du Freak: The Vampire’s Assistant” – $6.35 million (1st week)

9. “Cloudy with a Chance of Meatballs” – $5.60 million
(6th week, was #6 last week, lost 30% from last week)

10. “Zombieland” – $4.30 million
(4th week, was #7 last week, lost 44% from last week)

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11. “Amelia” – $4.03 million (1st week)

12. “A Serious Man” – $1.13 million
(4th week of limited release, was #15 last week, gained 34% of audience, added 94 theaters)

CLICK HERE FOR LAST WEEK’S BOX OFFICE REPORT

“Paranormal Activity” poster courtesy Paramount

Box Office numbers courtesy Box Office Mojo

A quick look at box office returns and you would think “Where The Wild Things Are” dominated the weekend box office, winning by more than $10 million.   But if the box office were a level playing field, ‘Wild Things’ would have finished second to “Paranormal Activity”.

“Where The Wild Things Are” made an estimated $32.47 million at 3,735 theaters – a $8,693 per theater average.   “Paranormal Activity” grossed $20.16 million at just 760 theaters – a $26,530 per theater average.   If you extrapolate that per theater average, putting ’Paranormal’ in twice as many theaters (1,520), it would have made about $40 million… and if ‘Paranormal’ had been in just half the number of theaters that ‘Wild Things’ was playing (1,867) it would have made a whopping $49 million.

Last weekend’s #1 “Couples Retreat” was bumped to 4th.  Overall, the weekend saw a 36% increase from last weekend, with $129.8 million, it was the biggest weekend since August 7-9 (when “G.I. Joe: Rise of Cobra” was #1).

 TOP MOVIES AT WEEKEND BOX OFFICE (estimated results):
1. “Where The Wild Things Are” - $32.47 million (1st week)

2. “Law Abiding Citizen” – $21.25 million (1st week)

3. “Paranormal Activity” – $20.16 million
(4th week of limited release, was #4 last week, gained 155% – added 600 screens from last week)

4. “Couples Retreat” - $17.95 million
(2nd week, was #1 last week, lost 48% of audience from last week)

5. “The Stepfather” – $12.30 million (1st week)

6. “Cloudy with a Chance of Meatballs” – $8.10 million
(5th week, was #3 last week, lost 30% from last week)

7. “Zombieland” – $7.80 million
(3rd week, was #2 last week, lost 47% from last week)

8. “Toy Story”/”Toy Story 2″ – $3.01 million
(3rd week, was #4 last week, lost 61% from last week)

9. “Surrogates” – $1.92 million
(4th week, was #6 last week, lost 55% from last week)

10. “The Invention of Lying” – $1.91 million
(3rd week, was #7 last week, lost 43% from last week)

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11. “Whip It” - $1.53 million
(3rd week, was #8 last week, lost 46% last week)

12. “Capitalism: A Love Story” – $1.43 million
(4th week, was #9 last week, lost 46% from last week)

CLICK HERE FOR LAST WEEK’S BOX OFFICE REPORT

“Where The Wild Things Are” poster courtesy Warner Brothers

Box Office numbers courtesy Box Office Mojo

“Couples Retreat” dominated the weekend ($35.34 million), the biggest opening day for an October live-action comedy, although it was the only new movie in wide release… “Zombieland” held on to number two… “Cloudy with a Chance of Meatballs” lost the least and held on to number three.   “Paranormal Activity” jumped up to 5th place in its 3rd week of limited release with its viral push.

Overall, the weekend saw a 5% increase from last weekend’s very successful weekend at the box office and at $96.37 million, it brought in $10 million more than the same weekend last year.

 TOP MOVIES AT WEEKEND BOX OFFICE (estimated results):
1. “Couples Retreat” - $35.34 million (1st week)

2. “Zombieland” – $15.00 million
(2nd week, was #1 last week, lost 39% of audience from last week)

3. “Cloudy with a Chance of Meatballs” – $12.00 million
(4th week, was #2 last week, lost 24% from last week)

4. “Toy Story”/”Toy Story 2″ – $7.67 million
(2nd week, was #3 last week, lost 39% from last week)

5. “Paranormal Activity” – $7.07 million
(2nd week of limited release, was #20 last week, gained 1200% added 127 screens from last week) COMES TO WEST MICHIGAN NEXT WEEK

6. “Surrogates” – $4.11 million
(3rd week, was #5 last week, lost 43% from last week)

7. “The Invention of Lying” – $3.37 million
(2nd week, was #4 last week, lost 52% from last week)

8. “Whip It” - $2.80 million
(2nd week, was #6 last week, lost 40% last week)

9. “Capitalism: A Love Story” – $2.70 million
(3rd week, was #8 last week, lost 39% from last week)

10. “Fame” (2009) – $2.56 million
(3rd week), was #7 last week, lost 45% from last week)

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11. “The Informant!” – $2.21 million
(4th week, was #9 last week, lost 40% from last week)

13. “Love Happens” – $1.44 million
(4th week, was #10 last week, lost 48% from last week)

CLICK HERE FOR LAST WEEK’S BOX OFFICE REPORT

“Couples Retreat” poster courtesy Universal Pictures

Box Office numbers courtesy Box Office Mojo

The horror/comedy “Zombieland” feasted on the weekend box office, bumping “Cloudy with a Chance of Meatballs” out of the number one spot it held for 2 weeks.   The “Toy Story”/”Toy Story 2″ 3D double feature was 3rd, while other new movies “The Invention of Lying”, “Capitalism: A Love Story”, and “Whip It” were #4, #6, and #7.

Overall, the weekend offerings helped the box office rebound – up nearly 14% from last weekend and with $94.52  million, the highest grossing weekend of the fall.

 TOP MOVIES AT WEEKEND BOX OFFICE (estimated results):
1. “Zombieland” – $25.00 million (1st week)

2. “Cloudy with a Chance of Meatballs” – $16.70 million
(3rd week, was #1 last week, lost 33% of audience from last week)

3. “Toy Story”/”Toy Story 2″ – $12.50 million (1st week)

4. “The Invention of Lying” – $7.35 million (1st week)

5. “Surrogates” – $7.34 million
(2nd week, was #2 last week, lost 51% from last week)

6(tie). “Capitalism: A Love Story” – $4.85 million (1st week of wide release)

6(tie). “Whip It” - $4.85 million (1st week)

8. “Fame” (2009) – $4.75 million
(2nd week), was #3 last week, lost 53% from last week)

9. “The Informant!” – $3.80 million
(3rd week, was #4 last week, lost 43% from last week)

10. “Love Happens” – $2.78 million
(3rd week, was #7 last week, lost 36% from last week)

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11. “Tyler Perry’s I Can Do Bad All By Myself” – $2.67 million
(4th week, was #5 last week, lost 44% of audience from last week)

12. “Pandorum” – $1.92 million
(2nd week, was #6 last week, lost 57% of audience from last week)

CLICK HERE FOR LAST WEEK’S BOX OFFICE REPORT

“Zombieland” poster courtesy Columbia Pictures

Box Office numbers courtesy Box Office Mojo

“Cloudy with a Chance of Meatballs” overshadowed the weekend, with nearly $10 million more than new movie “Surrogates” in 2nd place, “Fame” was 3rd, and “Pandorum” was a distant 6th.

Overall, the weekend was down 5% from last weekend and with $82.77 million, it ranks as the 2nd lowest total revenue of 2009 (September 4-6 was $81.12 million).

 TOP MOVIES AT WEEKEND BOX OFFICE (estimated results):
1. “Cloudy with a Chance of Meatballs” – $24.60 million
(2nd week, was #1 last week, lost 19% of audience from last week)

2. “Surrogates” – $15.00 million (1st week)

3. “Fame” (2009) – $10.03 million (1st week)

4. “The Informant!” – $6.92 million
(2nd week, was #2 last week, lost 34% from last week)

5. “Tyler Perry’s I Can Do Bad All By Myself” – $4.75 million
(3rd week, was #3 last week, lost 52% of audience from last week)

6. “Pandorum” – $4.41 million (1st week)

7. “Love Happens” – $4.33 million
(2nd week, was #4 last week, lost 46% from last week)

8. “Jennifer’s Body” – $3.50 million
(2nd week, was #5 last week, lost 49% from last week)

9. “9″ – $2.83 million
(3rd week, was #6 last week, lost 49% from last week)

10. “Inglourious Basterds” – $2.72 million
(6th week, was #7 last week, lost 29% of audience from last week)

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11. “All About Steve” - $2.30 million
(4th week, was #8 last week, lost 32% from last week)

15. “District 9″ - $1.08 million
(7th week, was #13 last week, lost 44% from last week)

CLICK HERE FOR LAST WEEK’S BOX OFFICE REPORT

“Cloudy With A Chance of Meatballs” poster courtesy Columbia Pictures

Box Office numbers courtesy Box Office Mojo

The very good family 3D movie “Cloudy with a Chance of Meatballs” soared above the box office this weekend, winning with nearly 3x the revenue of 2nd place’s “The Informant!”, but the Matt Damon movie’s box office gross was a good showing, considering it nearly returned half of its $22 million budget.

“I Can Do Bad All By Myself” lost nearly 60% of its audience and slipped to 3rd place.   Other newbies “Love Happens” and “Jennifer’s Body” at least made the top 5… perhaps a surprise to some: “Love Happens” had the 3rd highest per screen average of the weekend, so it was pretty strong, but played in fewer theaters (only “The Final Destination” played in fewer theaters of the top 10).

Overall, the weekend was up about 15% from last weekend.

 TOP MOVIES AT WEEKEND BOX OFFICE (estimated results):
1. “Cloudy with a Chance of Meatballs” – $30.10 million (1st week)

2. “The Informant!” – $10.55 million (1st week)

3. “Tyler Perry’s I Can Do Bad All By Myself” – $10.06 million
(2nd week, was #1 last week, lost 57% of audience from last week)

4. “Love Happens” – $8.46 million (1st week)

5. “Jennifer’s Body” – $6.80 million (1st week)

6. “9″ – $5.46 million
(2nd week, was #2 last week, lost 49% from last week)

7. “Inglourious Basterds” – $3.60 million
(5th week, was #3 last week, lost 41% of audience from last week)

8. “All About Steve” - $3.40 million
(3rd week, was #4 last week, lost 40% from last week)

9. “Sorority Row” – $2.49 million 
(2nd week, was #6 last week, lost 51% from last week)

10. “The Final Destination” – $2.38 million
(4th week, was #5 last week, lost 57% from last week)

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11. “Whiteout” – $2.06 million 
(2nd week, was #7 last week, lost 58% from last week)

12. “Julie & Julia” – $1.90 million
(7th week, was #9 last week, lost 40% from last week)

13. “District 9″ - $1.85 million
(6th week, was #8 last week, lost 48% from last week)

14. “G.I. Joe: Rise of Cobra” - $1.37 million
(7th week, was #11 last week, lost 44% from last week)

CLICK HERE FOR LAST WEEK’S BOX OFFICE REPORT

“Cloudy With A Chance of Meatballs” poster courtesy Columbia Pictures

Box Office numbers courtesy Box Office Mojo

“Tyler Perry’s I Can Do Bad All By Myself” continues the success of all movies with the Director/Actor’s name in the title, earning at least $10 million on opening weekend.   The highly promoted animated action movie “9″ gained $15 million… not a ton considering that includes its Wednesday opening and Thursday box office returns.

Last weekend’s top 3 (”The Final Destination”, “Inglourious Basterds”, “All About Steve”) changed spots but out grossed newcomers “Soroity Row” and “Whiteout”.   Overall, the first weekend of fall was down just 4% from the last weekend of the summer season.

 TOP MOVIES AT WEEKEND BOX OFFICE (estimated results):
1. “Tyler Perry’s I Can Do Bad All By Myself” – $24.03 million (1st week)

2. “9″ – $10.86 million (1st week)

3. “Inglourious Basterds” – $6.55 million
(4th week, was #3 last week, lost 44% of audience from last week)

4. “All About Steve” - $5.80 million
(2nd week, was #4 last week, lost 48% from last week)

5. “The Final Destination” – $5.50 million
(3rd week, was #1 last week, lost 56% from last week)

6. “Sorority Row” – $5.27 million (1st week)

7. “Whiteout” – $5.10 million (1st week) 

8. “District 9″ - $3.60 million
(5th week, was #5 last week, lost 49% from last week)

9. “Julie & Julia” – $3.30 million
(6th week, was #7 last week, lost 38% from last week)

10. “Gamer” – $3.15 million
(2nd week, was #4 last week, lost 66% from last week)

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11. “G.I. Joe: The Rise of Cobra” – $2.53 million
(6th week, was #8 last week, lost 51% from last week)

14. “Extract” – $2.33 million
(2nd week, was #9 last week, lost 49% from last week)

16. “(500) Days of Summer” - $1.23 million
(9th week, was #13 last week, lost 34% from last week)

CLICK HERE FOR LAST WEEK’S BOX OFFICE REPORT 

“I Can Do Bad All By Myself” poster courtesy Lionsgate

Box Office numbers courtesy Box Office Mojo