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Sunday March 16, 2014

Mr. Peabody Strongarms ‘300,’ Blows Past ‘Need for Speed’

Mr. Peabody & Sherman

Mr. Peabody & Sherman: Fast enough.

In its second weekend, “Mr. Peabody & Sherman,” written by my friend Craig, was the top movie at the box office, grossing $21.2 million for a domestic total of $63.1. It’s made about that much again abroad. Not great but still #1. Plus I think the quality of it will find an audience with parents who want a bit of history with their kid’s roller-coaster ride.

Last week’s winner, “300: Rise of an Empire” fell off big, 57%, for a weekend gross of $19 million and second place. The less said.

Meanwhile, the new big release, “Need for Speed,” opened weak at $17.8 million. No surprise  Video game adaptations have never done well at the box office. According to Box Office Mojo, 33 video games have been turned into movies, and only one has grossed more than $100 million: “Lara Croft: Tomb Raider,” way back in June 2001; and that probably had a little to do with star Angelina Jolie in her tank top and shorts. Gamers just aren’t goers. And “Speed” star, Aaron Paul, may have made fans with AMC’s “Breaking Bad,” but I doubt those fans are also fans of dopey race-car movies. Anyone know the venn diagram on that? Anyone want to create one?

The other semi-big release, “Tyler Perry’s The Single Mom’s Club,” bombed, bringing in $8.3 million in 1,896 theaters, which is the second-weakest opening for any of his 16 films after last year’s “Tyler Perry Presents Peeples” ($4.6 million and a total gross of $9.1 million). Maybe the key is in the saturation: 16 films in nine years? Dude, spend some time on a rewrite.

“Non-Stop” grossed another $10 million ($68 domestic), “The LEGO Movie” another $7 ($236), “Son of God” another $5 ($50).

Happily, Wes Anderson’s “The Grand Budapest Hotel” grossed $3.6 million in just 66 theaters for eighth place. And “Frozen,” still in the top 10 after 17 weeks, added another $2 million for a domestic total of $396 and a worldwide of $1.026 billion. Let it go.

The numbers.

Posted at 10:03 AM on Sunday March 16, 2014 in category Movies - Box Office