'Shutter Island' on a familiar Scorsese-DiCaprio box office track [updated]

"Shutter Island" is starting to look a lot like Martin Scorsese and Leonardo DiCaprio's last collaboration, "The Departed."

Though the new thriller opened to $41 million, compared with $26.9 million for the 2006 crime drama, "Shutter" saw domestic ticket sales decline a studio-estimated 46% this weekend, its second, while "The Departed" dropped only 29%. 

"Shutter Island' is now on track to end up with a final domestic gross very close to that of "The Departed," which finished its run at $132.4 million. 

If that represents a habit for collaborations between the director and star, it's good news for Hollywood at a time when the only predictable outcome of late for R-rated dramas has been disappointment, with pictures including "Body of Lies," "The International," "The Informant" and "The Wolfman." [Update, 3:27 p.m.: A previous version of this post incorrectly included "Duplicity" on this list. It was not rated R.]

Paramount Pictures should end up in good shape on "Shutter Island," which a representative said cost $75 million after tax credits (one person close to the production said the initial cost was close to $100 million).

It remains to be seen, however, whether the new movie can come anywhere close to the $157.5-million international box office total of "The Departed." After opening in 20 foreign territories so far, including France, Germany, and Australia, "Shutter Island" has taken in $34 million. Major markets including Britain, Japan and all of Latin America are yet to come.

Among this weekend's new movies, Warner Bros.' buddy comedy "Cop Out" had the edge, debuting to $18.6 million compared with $16.5 million for Overture Films' horror remake "The Crazies." But "Cop Out" cost $37 million to produce, about twice as much as "The Crazies."

Both movies got an unimpressive average grade from audiences of B-, according to market research firm CinemaScore, meaning they likely won't be propelled by good word-of-mouth in the coming weeks.

Of the three big movies that opened over Presidents Day weekend two weeks ago, "Percy Jackson & The Olympians: The Lightning Thief" is showing by far the best staying power. Its ticket sales declined only 36% this weekend, putting it ahead of "Valentine's Day" and "The Wolfman," which debuted at the same time.

The ensemble romantic comedy "Valentine's Day" crossed the $100-million mark this weekend after debuting to a huge $56.3 million. Internationally, it has reached $95.4 million.

"Wolfman" started in a virtual tie with "Percy," with both pictures opening to just over $31 million in the U.S. and Canada. However Universal's monster-movie remake has quickly dropped, taking in only $57.2 million domestically so far and $63.3 million overseas. "Percy Jackson" has grossed $71.2 million domestically and $95.4 million overseas.

In limited release domestically, Roman Polanski's "The Ghost Writer" expanded from four to 43 theaters and took in a healthy $870,000, or more than $20,000 per location. Its total after 10 days is $1.1 million.

Sony Pictures Classics debuted "A Prophet," from France -- Oscar nominee for best foreign language film -- to a solid $170,000 at nine theaters in Los Angeles, New York and Montreal.

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

1. "Shutter Island" (Paramount): $22.2 million, down 46% on its second weekend. $19 million overseas in 20 foreign territories. Domestic total: $75.1 million. International total: $34 million.

2. "Cop Out" (Warner Bros.): Opened to $18.6 million.

3. "The Crazies" (Overture/Participant/Imagenation): Opened to $16.5 million.

4. "Avatar" (Fox/Dune/Ingenious): $14 million, down 14% on its 11th weekend. $36.1 million overseas in 70 foreign markets. Domestic total: $706.9 million. International total: $1.84 billion.

5. "Percy Jackson & The Olympians: The Lightning Thief" (Fox/Dune/Ingenious): $9.8 million, down 36% on its third weekend. $19 million overseas in 65 foreign markets. Domestic total: $71.2 million. International total: $95.4 million.

6. "Valentine's Day" (Warner Bros./New Line): $9.5 million, down 43% on its third weekend. $10.4 million overseas in 58 foreign markets. Domestic total: $100.4 million. International total: $87.4 million.

7. "Dear John" (Sony/Relativity): $5 million, down 30% on its fourth weekend. Domestic total: $72.6 million.

8. "The Wolfman" (Universal/Relativity): $4.1 million, down 58% on its third weekend. $10.8 million overseas in 57 markets. Domestic total: $57.2 million. International total: $63.3 million.

9. "The Tooth Fairy" (Fox/Walden): $3.5 million, down 21% on its sixth weekend. Domestic total: $53.9 million.

10. "Crazy Heart" (Fox Searchlight): $2.5 million, down 14% on its 11th weekend. Domestic total: $25.1 million.

-- Ben Fritz

Photo: Ben Kingsley, Mark Ruffalo and Leonardo DiCaprio in "Shutter Island." Credit: Andrew Cooper / Paramount Pictures

Comments

[Joel DErrico]

Go See Cuckoos Nest First then Shutter and See for yourself

[steve conn]

The best satire I've seen is on you tube http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9lUZiYwEhsY

[William Moore]

This movie was a complete waste of our money, we went in with high expectations fro the previews, and were thoroughly disinterested within the first half hour. We have no idea what anyone sees in this movie. Today we saw the Wolfman, and I this movie is one I would go see again.....and the One Flew Over The Cookoo's Nest was qoo time better than Shutter Island, they should just shut the doors on this movie!!!!

[Stiling moss]

Hollywood must be insane. Wolfman, Crazy and Shutter are all stink bombs. Cop out was at least some what funny. Why are they dumping this load of manure on us. The movies that have been coming out the month are just forgetable, not to mention boring/stupid.

[Patti]

This movie was incredible! The entire cast was excellent. Especially Leonardi DiCaprio. What a complete mind trip. I wasn't sure who was truly insane. But, the ending was so well done in terms of pulling all the pieces together. It requires a lot of concentration on the viewers part. If you are the least bit distracted you will miss a lot!