Hollywood B.O.: '42' is More Than '5'

Sunday April 14, 2013

Hollywood B.O.: '42' is More Than '5'

“42,” the Jackie Robinson biopic written and directed by Brian Helgeland, grossed more than $27 million at the weekend box office for the top spot. It's the biggest opening weekend for a baseball movie ever, beating out (believe it or not) “Benchwarmers,” the Rob Schneider comedy, which opened at $19.6m in 2006 (on its way to $59.8m), and “Moneyball,” which opened at $19.5 in 2011 (on its way to $75.6m). Even if you adjust for inflation “42” is still the biggest baseball opener. “A League of Their Own,” now No. 2, opened at an adjusted $26.6m in 1992.

Though I had my problems with “42,” word-of-mouth is pretty good, so it might have a shot of breaking the all-time box-office record for a baseball movie: “A League of Their Own” at $107m. (“Moneyball” is No. 2). Adjusted, it has no shot. It's “League” with $208m.

The other movie opening wide was “Scary Movie V.” Here's the top 10 for the weekend:

�	Title	Wknd Gross	% Change	Thtrs	Average	Total Gross	Week
1	42	$27,250,000	-	3,003	$9,074	$27,250,000	1
2	Scary Movie 5	$15,153,000	-	3,402	$4,454	$15,153,000	1
3	The Croods	$13,200,000	-36%	3,689	$3,578	$142,524,000	4
4	G.I. Joe: Retaliation	$10,800,000	-48%	3,535	$3,055	$102,426,000	3
5	Evil Dead	$9,500,000	-63%	3,025	$3,140	$41,500,000	2
6	Jurassic Park 3D	$8,820,000	-53%	2,778	$3,175	$31,929,000	2
7	Olympus Has Fallen	$7,283,000	-28%	2,935	$2,481	$81,890,000	4
8	Oz The Great and Powerful	$4,923,000	-39%	2,504	$1,966	$219,444,000	6
9	Tyler Perry's Temptation	$4,500,000	-55%	1,805	$2,493	$45,422,000	3
10	The Place Beyond the Pines	$4,080,000	480%	514	$7,938	$5,455,000	3

Source: Box Office Mojo

Quick poll. What's the scariest thing about the above list?

“Scary Movie V” still grossed $15 million despite a 5% Rotten Tomatoes rating and a 0% Top-Critics RT rating, with sentiments from critics such as these:
- If I ever have to watch another Scary Movie film, I'll give up on writing, cinema, and society forever. --Matt Donato
- I have been to funerals a LOT less sad than this laughless 85 minutes. --Teddy Durgin
- This is the sort of movie where you feel bad for Sheen and Lohan, because they hadn't actually hit rock bottom until they agreed to appear in it. --Alonso Duralde
“GI Joe: Retaliation” has now grossed more than $100 million at the box office.
There's not one movie in the top 10 you want to see.�

I am happy for “42,” Jackie, and baseball movies in general. Will more be greenlit? Or one? May I put in a vote for a screen adaptation of Jane Leavy's Mickey Mantle bio?