If you’re one of the few that didn't shed a couple tears saying goodbye to Bella and Edward, chances are you saw something at the movies this weekend, as the U.S. had its sixth highest grossing weekend ever for total box office cash. (Going to make the unsubstantiated claim that this was a top five finish for popcorn consumption as well.) Bill Condon's Breaking Dawn closer dominated with $141 million and the eighth highest grossing weekend of all time. Box Office Mojo claims this as a very slight disappointment, given that the finale wasn't the highest grosser in the Twilight saga (see: Return of the King, Revenge of the Sith). But I would direct them to the scenic corollary that beggars cannot be choosers, and to this link.
Top 10 (weekend US estimates via Box Office Mojo)
1. The Twilight Saga: Breaking Dawn Part 2 - $141,300,000
2. Skyfall - $41,500,000
3. Lincoln - $21,000,000
4. Wreck-It Ralph - $18,312,000
5. Flight - $8,615,000
6. Argo - $4,070,000
7. Taken 2 - $2,100,000
8. Pitch Perfect - $1,260,000
9. Here Comes the Boom - $1,200,000
T-10. Cloud Atlas - $900,000
T-10. The Sessions - $900,000
What We Learned
Twilight: Bros before Bond
Part of Twilight's success is getting chalked up to the mild sausage fest in theatres. 21 per cent of the audience was male—the highest percentage of the whole saga. Did they all see Bond last weekend? Has every male under 25 seen Taken 2 at this point? Perhaps “Dude Nation” has realized that spending a few hours with a special girl and a classic love story can be a worthwhile experience. Also, UFC fights don't start until super late on Saturdays.
Forget Reagan. Lincoln is the best movie star president
Spielberg's biopic, Lincoln, opened wide this weekend and earned a very respectable $21 million. Mojo pegs this as a runaway winner for best $$ weekend for a presidential biopic ever. Not bad for a guy who literally never watched a movie in his life. Also keeps him in the top five for the next decade, after the next four Obama movies inevitably debut.
It’s Ben Affleck's year and we’re just living in it
Argo keeps its status as the sleeper hit of the fall with another $4 million. This all but guarantees the Canadian-infused thriller will surpass $100 million and become Ben's highest grossing film to date. How do you follow that up? Yesterday, the Canadian-infused Toronto Argonauts shocked the Montreal Alouettes to make their first Grey Cup final since 2004. Just a great year for Argo, Argos, and Affleck.
Opening This Weekend
Life of Pi - Ang Lee’s $100 million epic hits theatres. Prepare yourself for a barrage of “the book was better” arguments from aunts worldwide.
Rise of the Guardians - Hollywood Reporter says this could be the “Animated Avengers.” Can Santa defeat Iron Man?
Red Dawn - Josh Hutcherson and Chris Hemsworth cash in on all that “we saw Twilight last weekend” cash.
