THE BOX OFFICE REPORT: JULY 29

Well, it’s been two weeks since an official one of these, so I’ll just get right to it…

1. The Dark Knight Rises – $64.1 ($289.1 total)

Cynically, I can’t help but wonder how the tragedy in Aurora negatively affected the box office performance of TDKR. Although I understand that the film is not as flashy as its predecessor (or at the very least contain a performance – read: Ledger’s Joker – that encourages multiple viewings) it’s the FINAL film of a trilogy. I’m just surprised that it’s under-performing the way it is. This is not to say it’s doing poorly, because $64 million in its second weekend is a fantastic number. It appears that $400 million is definitely in sight and it will probably end in the $450-500 window, but TDK finished at $533 million and, maybe more impressively, The Avengers crossed the only-happened-twice-before $600 million plateau. Whatever the reason, it appears Marvel won this round.

2. Ice Age: Continental Drift – $13.3 ($114.9 total)

Not a bad third week for the animated film as it was able to beat out two new films. However, as it looks right now, this could actually go down as the lowest grossing film in the franchise. As I’ve mentioned before, it has had a gigantic audience overseas (now over $500 million alone internationally) and that is what will most likely keep them in business. Although the film has disappointed stateside, the worldwide total will still likely result in yet another version of Ray Romano voicing a wooly mammoth.

3. The Watch – $13.0 (first week)

Bombed.

Ok, first off, how does this film have a nearly-$70 million budget. Do Stiller/Vaughn/Hill command that large of a paycheck? Do the aliens look so real that Steven Spielberg would be ashamed? I don’t know, but it definitely looks like no one wanted any part of this comedy. My favorite review of the film (currently sporting a solid 15% on Rotten Tomatoes – and yes, that’s lower than both That’s My Boy and The Three Stooges) was written by Pete Vonder Haar at the Houston Press, who wrote this: “Dick joke, dick joke, gay joke, dick joke, piss joke, gangsta rap gag done better 13 years ago in Office Space, Andy Samberg cameo, dick joke.” Fantastic.

4. Step Up Revolution - $11.8 (first week)

Not even 3D could save this dancing film (and seriously, was the third dimension absolutely necessary?) from coming up short. However, a low budet ($33 million) could mean that this film could still manage make its money back, but it’s certainly no Magic Mike (more on that later).

5. Ted -$7.4 ($193.6 total)

It just keeps on rolling…. blunts!

(Isn’t that how pot humor works? I’m no expert…)

6. Amazing Spider-Man – $6.8 ($242.1 total)

Still a great start for the reboot franchise. Batman Begins only netted $205 million through its run and X-Men: First Class only got to $146 million (which is shocking – that was the best of the series!). I know Sony considers it a success, so I will treat it in the same light.

7. Brave – $4.2 ($217.3 total)

Hey, remember when someone said this film wouldn’t even get to $190 million? Yeah, that was dumb. You shouldn’t listen to him…(Wait! Don’t go!)

8. Magic Mike – $2.6 ($107.6 total)

The stripper drama (I still love calling it that) had a $7 million budget – that now means it has produced $100 million in profit!!!! This is amazing. Congrats to all involved.

9. Savages – $1.8 ($43.9 total)

Made back it’s budget (or, rather, will do so after the next week or so) – good for Kitsch. At least it didn’t bomb like John Carter and Battleship…

10. Moonrise Kingdom – $1.4 ($38.4 total)

And the requisite Wes Anderson inclusion. Go ahead and save the 10 spot for this film for the next month.

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This Friday, we see a couple new releases trying to take down Batman including the remake of Total Recall and the prepubescent comedy Diary of a Wimpy Kid: Dog Days (which is apparently the THIRD movie in this series). If I had to guess (and no one is forcing me) I would say that TDKR will stay on top for one more week. I’m guessing a high $30s-low$40s week for the film, with Total Recall hitting low to mid $30s. But Batman’s reign will end the following week when The Bourne Legacy hits theaters… but we’ll save that for next time!

Until next week…