'New Moon' drives second-biggest weekend ever for movie industry

Summit Entertainment had the kind of opening studio executives dream about this weekend, but it's hard to find anyone in the movie business who's not smiling.

Although Summit's "The Twilight Saga: New Moon" opened to a massive $140.7 million in the U.S. and Canada, according to studio estimates, it wasn't the only film to perform well. "The Blind Side," which Warner Bros. distributed for financier Alcon Entertainment, opened to $34.5 million, very strong for a modestly budgeted drama. Festival and critics' favorite "Precious" more than tripled its theater count and kept up its winning ways, grossing $11 million at 629 locations.

With one huge hit, numerous strong performers and no real flops, total box-office receipts expanded to nearly $260 million, according to several studio executives and Hollywood.com. That's the second-biggest nonholiday weekend ever, behind only the one in July 2008 when "The Dark Knight" launched and movie theaters collected just over $260 million.

"It's a really good sign for the industry," said Dan Fellman, president of domestic distribution for Warner Bros. "It just goes to show you that good movies can expand the marketplace."

Several movies are well positioned to keep playing strongly throughout the holidays, most notably "The Blind Side," which garnered an average grade of A-plus from moviegoers, according to market research firm CinemaScore. It's only the second film this year to get a perfect grade, along with "Up." It could easily collect more than $150 million by the end of the year, making it very profitable for Alcon and Warner Bros., which receives a distribution fee.

"New Moon" is sure to drop significantly after its massive debut. The first "Twilight" fell 62% from its opening on Thanksgiving weekend and the sequel will probably do the same. Nonetheless, if it follows the path of its predecessor, "New Moon" will end up grossing more than $300 million domestically and the same amount overseas, making it one of the most profitable pictures of the year. Summit spent only $50 million to produce its second teen vampire flick based on the bestselling novels.

Overseas, "2012" continues to perform extremely well. It grossed $100.5 million overseas, down 37% from its international debut last weekend. That was helped by a huge $7-million launch in Japan, the biggest for any nonlocal movie this year. Domestically, "2012" dropped 59%. The worldwide total gross for Sony's disaster flick from director Roland Emmerich, which cost $200 million to produce, is a very strong $449.8 million.

Two films performed extremely well in limited release in the U.S. and Canada. Sony Pictures Classics opened the Pedro Almodovar picture "Broken Embraces," starring Penelope Cruz, to $107,597 at just two theaters. On its second weekend, Fox's stop-motion animated picture "Fantastic Mr. Fox" collected $199,200 from four theaters, down just 25%. It starts playing nationwide Wednesday.

First Look Pictures opened the new Nicolas Cage crime drama "Bad Lieutenant: Port of Call New Orleans," directed by Werner Herzog, to a so-so $257,267 at 27 locations.

Here are the top 10 movies at the domestic box office, according to studio estimates and Hollywood.com:

1. "The Twilight Saga: New Moon" (Summit): Opened to $140.7 million domestically and $118.1 million overseas.

2. "The Blind Side" (Warner Bros./Alcon): Debuted to a very healthy $34.5 million.

3. "2012" (Sony): Fell 59% on its second weekend to $26.5 million. Overseas it grossed $100.5 million, down 37%. Total domestic ticket sales are $108.2 million. Total foreign ticket sales are $341.1 million.

4. "Planet 51" (Sony/Ilion): The animated family film opened to a decent $12.6 million.

5. "A Christmas Carol" (Disney): Fell 45% on its third weekend, a much bigger drop than its second weekend, to $12.2 million. Domestic total: $79.8 million.

6. "Precious" (Lionsgate): $11 million on its third weekend as it expanded to 629 theaters. Domestic total: $21.4 million.

7. "The Men Who Stare at Goats" (Overture/BBC/Winchester Capital): $2.8 million, down 53% on its third weekend. $27.6 million domestic total so far.

8. "Couples Retreat" (Universal/Relativity): Fell 53% on its seventh weekend to $2 million. Domestic total is now $105 million. Foreign total: $37.7 million.

9. "The Fourth Kind" (Universal/Gold Circle): Down 62% on its third weekend to $1.7 million. $23.3 million domestic total.

10. "Law Abiding Citizen" (Overture/Film Department): Declined 57% to $1.6 million on its sixth weekend, bringing its U.S. and Canadian total to $70 million.

-- Ben Fritz

Top photo: Robert Pattinson, Kristen Stewart and Taylor Lautner in "The Twilight Saga: New Moon." Credit: Kimberley French / Summit Entertainment.

Bottom photo: Penelope Cruz and Lluis Homar in "Broken Embraces." Credit: Emilio Pereda / Paola Ardizzoni / Sony Pictures Classics.

Comments

[carolyn]

What a shock.... (in what world??!!). And though critics and commentators continue to relegate it's success to teens, 50% are over 21. I dare say the adult audience is larger than anyone wants to admit. That said, Melissa Rosenberg really needs help with recognizing the pivotal points of plot... Don't get me wrong, Jacob is crucial to this triangle, but he doesn't dominate in the books as much as he dominates here... which was too much. Robert/Edward was speaking in double-time in some crucial scenes trying to get in vital dialogue, story line. Summit how about 10-15 more minutes???!!! Loved the film, Twilight is here to stay - my hope is each film gets better and better. Much of the credit is Stephenies story and Rob Pattinson and Kristen Stewarts presence and skill. Taylor Lautner is definitely developing his craft as well - incredible casting overall is what catapulted this saga into the big time. David Slade, I hope you're paying attention to what was right and what was wrong here... if you give Bella and Edward a little more their due in Eclipse, I'm betting on $160 million opening weekend!! I'll be there!

[carolyn]

My other beef with Melissa Rosenberg is that she has over-sanitized Bella and Edward's relationship. I am not looking for rated X folks, but Edward kneeling at Bella's bedside? He barely spends any time in her room though this is pervasive all through the books. I hope Kristen and Rob get more input into Eclipse and Breaking Dawn - they have good instincts and obviously understand the chemistry of the character. Edward and Bella have waited for the "right one" and would understandably be affectionate - through the book Edward is always touching her face, she always touching his hand and close to him. This is natural "in-love" behavior - and yet is barely present in this film and was only slightly more present in the first one. On the other hand Jacob perpetually goes around shirtless and injected into scenes that were only Edward Bella scenes in the book...to try to exude and exacerbate sexual tension, which of course exists in the story-line, but is present throughout the series Even More So with Edward and Bella.
Maybe someone a little more into the Twilight Saga vision needs to write the screenplay - it's fairly obvious to most of readers I converse with. It's such a beautiful story, and cast to match, it will make millions regardless - so, Summit, go for attention to detail and don't drop the ball here and take the easy road - Twilight Saga has it, it has the indefinable combination to be a classic for many years to come - industry standards do not apply. Listen to the heart of this series, give attention where it is due and you will not regret the extra 10 million spent. This fan and millions of fans will reimburse you.