DreamWorks’ “How to Train Your Dragon” rode a wave of good reviews and 3D mania (what is this, the ’50s?) to bring in a solid $ 43.3 million this weekend. Its per-screen average of $10,678 isn’t too shabby either. William Castle would be so proud. We’re almost in April, and only three non-3D films have held the top spot so far in 2010: “Valentine’s Day,” “Shutter Island,” and “Dear John.” However, unlike “Alice in Wonderland” (which likely kept “Dragon” from even higher numbers), at least the Dreamworks film is about more than just wacky visuals. We hear there’s even something resembling a decent plot. Gasp!
“Alice” fell to second place with $17.3 million, but we can’t imagine Disney is shedding too many tears. In its fourth weekend, “Alice” is closing in on a $300 million total. This would be the box office story of the year, if it weren’t for that pesky little film called “Avatar,” which finally missed the top ten this week for the first time since it opened back in December.
The unfortunately (yet awesomely) titled “Hot Tub Time Machine” made a mediocre showing in third with $13.6 million. It reportedly cost $36 million to make, but hopefully its low take means we won’t be subjected to a ’90s-set sequel, likely called something along the lines of “Dodge Neon Time Machine.” We just hope it doesn’t mean a drop in offers for the always hilarious Craig Robinson, who’s made more than a few very bad films (*cough* “Dragon Wars”) almost watchable. Fellow R-rated comedy “She’s Out of My League” dropped to sixth place in its third week with $3.5 million, but it’s quite impressive considering the opener shares its audience.
Also, for those that are curious since we never reviewed it properly, “Hot Tub Time Machine” was perhaps the most hilarious, poorly thrown together/shoddily conceived story we’ve ever seen. In other words, it has many awesome absurd laughs — Rob Corddry steals the show at every turn — and the story really doesn’t matter one iota (its script feels like its duct-taped together at the falling-apart seems, but yes, ultimately, who cares).
“The Bounty Hunter” dipped just 40% to skid into fourth place with $12.4 million. We know criticism is supposedly dead, but what about word of mouth? Are there enough people who actually liked this movie enough to recommend it to their friends, or is it a particularly nasty way of getting back at their enemies? Regardless, we’re a little disappointed in the cinemagoing public, but it’s not the first time.
“Green Zone” just made it past $30 million in its third week, which isn’t bad for a film in the notoriously underperforming Iraq War genre, except that this one cost $100 million to make. The similarly slacking “Repo Men” did another $3 million to bring its total to $11.3 million. We’re not sure whether to feel worse for Oscar winner Forest Whitaker, the formerly ubiquitous Jude Law, or Universal. Perhaps condolences can be addressed to all three parties?
In limited-release news, Atom Egoyan’s erotic thriller “Chloe” bowed on 350 screens to make just over $1 million. Its $2.863 per-screen average isn’t fantastic, but the film may still make more than Egoyan’s other work. We’re likely to attribute its limited success to Amanda Seyfried’s boobs, but that’s because we’re 12-year-olds at heart.
Noah Baumbach’s “Greenberg” did similar numbers on fewer screens (it expanded in its second week from three screens to 181). We were curious to see how this film plays outside of New York City and Los Angeles, with its indie feel and A-list star, but it looks like it could bring bigger audiences to Baumbach’s work.
Meanwhile, Disney doc “Waking Sleeping Beauty” brought in $33,000 on five screens, and Truly Indie’s “Lbs.” held its own, earning $10,900 on a single Manhattan screen. Be sure to check out indiewire’s detailed rundown of the limited releases.
1. How to Train Your Dragon – $43.3 million ($43.3 mil.)
2. Alice in Wonderland – $17.3 million ($293 mil.)
3. Hot Tub Time Machine – $13.7 million ($13.7 mil.)
4. The Bounty Hunter – $12. 4 million ($38.8 mil.)
5. Diary of a Wimpy Kid – $10 million ($35.8 mil.)
6. She’s Out of My League – $3.5 million ($25.6 mil.)
7. Green Zone – $3.4 million ($30.4 mil.)
8. Shutter Island – $3.2 million ($121 mil.)
9. Repo Men – $3 million ($11.3 mil.)
10. Our Family Wedding – $2.2 million ($16.8 mil.)