Audiences continue their obsession with all things bright and shiny, propelling 3D “Alice in Wonderland” well past the $200 million mark in just nine days. Over the weekend, the Tim Burton hallucination brought in another $62 million at the box office, taking it to $209 million domestically. As if that weren’t impressive (or mind-numbing) enough, the film’s worldwide total stands at $430 million. Plus, unless the world collectively comes to its senses, “Alice” will be Burton’s biggest film ever. It’s already passed the domestic totals of “Planet of the Apes” ($180 million) and “Charlie and the Chocolate Factory” ($206 million), and it has “Batman” ($251 million) in its sights. What’s especially tragic about this is that Burton’s best, most original work (“Ed Wood” and “Edward Scissorhands”) can’t possibly keep up with his takes on other people’s ideas when it comes to the box office.
Paul Greengrass’s “Green Zone” brought in $14.5 million, which means it’s already made more money than “The Hurt Locker” and most other Iraq War films. That’s the good news; the bad news is that the Matt Damon vehicle cost $100 million, and this isn’t likely to be an international powerhouse. We gave the film a solid review, but other critics weren’t as kind and it looks as though moviegoers followed suit. Seriously, people: there are ways to engage your brain other than assaulting it with 3D.
“She’s Out of My League” snuck into third place with $9.6 million, which isn’t too shabby for a film that likely didn’t cost much more than that to make. With the otherwise unknown, “Tropic Thunder” scene-stealer Jay Baruchel topping the marquee, it apparently appealed to filmgoers on the merits of its, umm, story or its trailer. It might do fine in its second frame, but March 26 promises the arrival of another R-rated comedy, “Hot Tub Time Machine.”
Summit Entertainment continues to invest its future on the slumping shoulders of”Twilight” star Robert Pattinson, and it doesn’t seem to be the worst idea ever. Its $8.3 million take isn’t jaw-dropping, but considering that most of the budget must have gone into hygiene products for Pattinson, it’s not too bad.
The weekend’s other wide opener, the dismally reviewed “Our Family Wedding,” came in sixth place with $7.6 million. Considering that the movie has already been made approximately 87 times (“Guess Who’s Coming to Dinner,” “My Big Fat Greek Wedding,” “Guess Who,” etc.), its per-screen average of $4.735 is worth sending out thank-you notes, particularly to the slumming Forrest Whitaker and America Ferrera, who inexplicably agreed to star.
“Shutter Island” brought in another $8.1 million to make fifth place in its fifth week, pushing it past $100 million. Meanwhile, “Avatar” continues trucking, dropping just 18% even though it didn’t receive the Best-Picture bump. Do you think the Na’vi tears are blue as well?
The only tracked limited opener, Oscilloscope’s “The Exploding Girl” made $6,000 at just one location, New York City’s Landmark Sunshine. We’re holding out hope for high returns for Bong Joon-Ho’s fantastic “Mother,” but distributor Magnolia is often a bit slower with releasing its weekend estimates.
1. Alice in Wonderland – $62 million ($209 mil.)
2. Green Zone – $14.5 million ($14.5 mil.)
3. She’s Out of My League – $9.6 million ($9.6 mil.)
4. Remember Me – $8.3 million ($8.3 mil.)
5. Shutter Island – $8.1 million ($108 mil.)
6. Our Family Wedding – $7.6 million ($7.6 mil.)
7. Avatar – $6.6 million ($730 mil.)
8. Brooklyn’s Finest – $4.3 million ($21.4 mil.)
9. Cop Out – $4.3 million ($39.4 mil.)
10. The Crazies – $3.7 million (33.4 mil)