The first week of March is off to a slow start for the box office.
"Jack the Giant Slayer" had little competition from this week's other new releases, "21 and Over" and "The Last Exorcism Part II." However, the film fell very short of expectations.
Nearly $30 million for "Jack" doesn't sound like a terrible box-office opening until you realize the production budget cost nearly $200 million.
So far, the film isn't faring much better overseas, only earning roughly $14 million.
Both "21 and Over" and "The Last Exorcism II" were expected to earn more than double given last year's results on similar films "Project X" and "The Last Exorcism Part II."
Last week's new films, "Snitch" and "Dark Skies" have faded at theaters, and "Silver Linings Playbook" remains the only Oscar-nominated film left in the top ten after awards season.
Out of the top ten this week include Summit's twist on the regular zombie tale, "Warm Bodies," and Mara Rooney's "Side Effects."
Meanwhile, Warner Bros.' attempt at the next "Twilight" series, "Beautiful Creatures," tumbled ten spots at theaters in its third week. The film adaptation of the book series has earned $32.3 million worldwide of its estimated $60 million budget.
Here are this week's winners and losers in Hollywood:
10. Keri Russell's "Dark Skies" barely manages to hold on in week two earning $3.6 million. The thriller only cost an estimated $3.5 million to produce and has already earned $13.5 million.
9. "A Good Day to Die Hard" falls a fast four spots with $4.5 million after three weeks. Despite a lowly $59.6 million intake at home, the film is making nearly triple that overseas, bringing the film's worldwide total to $221.1 million.
8. After Jennifer Lawrence's Best Actress win at the Oscars, "Silver Linings Playbook" still remains in the top ten earning $5.9 million. The film has earned $175.6 million worldwide since its release 16 weeks ago. "SLP" cost an estimated $21 million to make.
7. Nicholas Sparks' latest film "Safe Haven" drops another three spots in week three earning $6.3 million. The film is currently tracking slightly ahead of Sparks' last two adaptations, "The Lucky One" and "The Last Song."
6. As the only cartoon out, The Weinstein Company's "Escape from Planet Earth" brings in another $6.7 million. The film, which cost an estimated $40 million to produce, has earned a paltry $43 million in three weeks.
5. The Rock's action thriller, "Snitch," falls three spots earning $7.7 million. In two weeks, the film has earned $24.4 million.
4. "The Last Exorcism Part II" earned $8 million opening weekend. In 2010, Lionsgate put out "The Last Exorcism" on a small $1.8 million budget and received a huge $20.4 million upon its debut in theaters. The sequel's estimated budget was only set at $5 million.
3. Despite a low budget estimated at $13 million, "21 and Over" only earns $9 million opening weekend. Last year's surprise hit "Project X" opened to $21 million the same weekend in March before descending quickly from the box office top ten. The first big weekend for "X" was most likely because it looked like another "SuperBad"—teens at an outrageous party. Having seen last year's "X," audiences most likely knew what was in store with this film.
2. "Identity Thief" continues to ride out near the top earning $9.7 million. The poorly critiqued film has now grossed $108.4 million.
1. With little competition, "Jack the Giant Slayer" wins the weekend with $28 million. The film will need to do well overseas if it wants to come anywhere close to its estimated $195 million budget.
Please follow The Wire on Twitter and Facebook.
Join the conversation about this story »
