You Touched Mah Child, and You Touched America's Hearts
Not content merely to wrestle with Ali Larter, a vengeful Beyoncé used this weekend's box office numbers to take on Channing Tatum, Robert Downey Jr., and an entire family of humpback whales. Unsurprisingly, she left all comers in her dust like they were nothing more than Michelle Williams in a pair of malfunctioning high heels. Welcome, then, to the Movieline Weekend Receipts.
1. Obsessed
Gross: $28,500,000 (new)
Screens: 2,514 (PSA: $11,337)
Weeks: 1 (Change: n/a)
A canny compendium that films the themes to all of Beyoncé's songs (the jukebox musical version of this shouldn't take long), Obsessed trumped most industry observers' estimations. Somewhere, an enraged Jennifer Hudson strokes her Oscar and eyes the red phone in her house that only accepts calls in case of emergency. It is ringing.
2. 17 Again
Gross: $11,665,000 (cume: $39,970,000)
Screens: 3,255 (PSA: $3,584)
Weeks: 2 (Change: -50.8%)
In the face of Obsessed's power with young women, Efron's film held up nicely, only dropping about 50%. Meanwhile, Lucas Grabeel refuses to take Anthony Michael Hall's calls for a proposed direct-to-DVD sequel.
3. Fighting
Gross: $11,441,000 (new)
Screens: 2,309 (PSA: $4,955)
Weeks: 1 (Change: n/a)
Sorry, Channing & Co.: America would rather have seen Catfighting.
4. The Soloist
Gross: $9,715,000 (new)
Screens: 2,024 (PSA: $4,800)
Weeks: 1 (Change: n/a)
Despite its star power, audience reaction to The Soloist was as indifferent as Downey Jr.'s line reading of, "C'mon, you can do it." It's hard out there for an adult drama with a paucity of fight scenes.
5. Earth
Gross: $8,554,000 (cume: $14,201,000 since Wednesday)
Screens: 1,804 (PSA: $4,742)
Weeks: 1 (Change: n/a)
Earth's weekend gross placed it in the runner-up slot to Fahrenheit 9/11's all-time record for a documentary (though Earth's Wednesday opening tempered things slightly). As promised, a pleased Disney will plant 14 million bonsai trees in Bob Iger's office.
[Data: Box Office Mojo]
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Comments
See what happens when you dis Hannah Montana?
When are the studios gonna learn that in these bad times people want to see comedies that take them away from misery for a little while? This economy has been in bad shape for more than a year now. I know projects done before that are gonna roll out for awhile but maybe it's time they head back to the "feel good" barn for awhile.
(And I know The Soloist may have a feel good ending, but it's hard to market a pic about a mentally illed homeless dude now.)
I think Beyoncé knocking the shit out of Ali Larter is just the feel egood we need in these economic times. I only wish Ghosts of Girlfriends Past was a sequel to Obsessed and involved Beyoncé knocking the shit out of Matthew McConaughey with Jennifer Garner's help.
I support any instance whereby Matthew McConaughey gets the shit kicked out of him.
Each week the box office gives us another surprise ... am still reeling over "Fast & Furious'" opening numbers.
"Obsessed" truly came out of nowhere ... no early reviews, no buzz of any kind. Yet it trumps "The Soloist" which only had six months of hype. Crazy.
I can't wait for two weeks from now, when I can go back to not knowing what movie Obsessed is, if someone brings it up.
Hell, "Obsessed" will be forgotten in one week ("Wolverine"). We just have to endure all the Beyonce's a movie star crap until then.