Opening day: 'Terminator' grosses $13.37M Thursday on way to 5-day earnings of more than $70M

"Terminator: Salvation" looks like it's heading toward a five-day gross between $70 million and $80 million after opening Thursday to $13.37 million.

That's a bit more than half of what "Indiana Jones and the Kingdom of the Crystal Skull" opened to on the same date last year. Also the fourth film in a beloved action-adventure series, it went on to sell $152 million worth of tickets by the following Monday.

Given its sizable budget of around $200 million, funded by independent production venture The Halcyon Co., which bought the underlying rights two years ago, "Salvation" will have to play well for a few weeks domestically and do solid business overseas to end up a success. Sony Pictures launches the film internationally in two weeks.

"Terminator" gets competition today in the U.S. and Canada in the form of Fox's "Night at the Museum: Battle for the Smithsonian." But since that movie appeals primarily to family audiences, it shouldn't impact the male-targeted "Salvation." Although Fox is conservatively predicting an opening weekend of less than  $60 million, other people with access to pre-release tracking say it should earn about as much in four days as "Terminator" is on track to gross in five.

Update: Friday box office grosses; Full box office analysis from Tuesday's Los Angeles Times.

-- Ben Fritz

Photo: Christian Bale in "Terminator Salvation." Credit: Warner Bros.

Comments

[Eric Southern]

More mindless drivel . . . for the mindless drivelers. On par with that Museum pablum. These aren't films . . . they are just an excuse to waste time and money before re-loading on junk 'food' to be followed by some cheap thrills. A modern way of life that has nothing to do with life.

I hear the producers of these two retreads are thinking of saving money on the next sequel by joining forces to create: 'Museum Salvation' - athough the marketing department fears that such a title implies a modicum of intelligence. They are probably right. A more action packed title would be 'Museum Terminator.' The plot synopsis is included in the title. That should earn a tidy billion. One should never overestimate the hoi polloi - and they never do.

[Eric Southern]

Having read the 'full legal terms' it is apparent that the only latitude one is allowed is self-censorship. Hence in attempting to comment on the two cinematic works of art in question: one about the further adventures of a replicant and the other concerning a public building used as a depository for old things, they are both perfect modern examples of unmitigated ......, designed to pander to contemporary . . . . . The producers should therefore be thanked for their further contribution to the ascent of . . . . .
Thank you for providing a form for unfettered self-expression.

[PW]

This ain't no modern way of life. It is the same way it has always been throughout the centuries. You, my friend Eric Southern, are no relativist.

[Toby]

But its the best movie this year!

[jerry w]

Sorry Toby,
If Terminator Salvation was the only film released this year, it still wouldn't be the best film of this year.
Yeah, it's that bad.
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