In case you hadn’t heard, Twilight completely sucked at the box office. Yes, it sucked the young, female blood of American capitalism in the dark, cool night of the weekend to the tune of $71 million. This is, in the land of Hollywood power brokers, big news. More on that, as Marketplace says, “after the numbers…”
Apparently, so-so reviews didn’t sap too much of Bond’s strength. Quantum Of Solace pulled in over $27 mil in its second domestic weekend. US total: $110 mil. Worldwide: $418 million!
Poor Bolt. Not only did he get lost and have to find out he wasn’t really a superdog, he also had to open against a bunch of vampires and Bond’s second week. He did okay, pulling in $27 mil. Hardly a success by Disney standards, for now, but execs are expecting it to do well over the family, er, holiday, weekend. (Side note: I have been seeing commercials for Bolt for what seems like months, but it wasn’t until last week that I finally caught that this movie is IN 3-D! Two points: A) Seriously, crap job marketing that, Disney. I definitely should have realized that earlier. B) Is 3-D really going to make it? I saw Beowulf last year, and, yes, it was absolutely friggin’ horrible, but the 3-D was kind of cooooool! I dug it. Kind of makes me want to go see Bolt…)
Madagascar: Escape 2 Africa continued to bring the crowds over the weekend, adding $16 mil to its coffers. Perhaps it’s maintaining momentum on the basis of its “So nice, you should see it twice” ad campaign. The flick has a lot going for it: franchise name-recognition, famous voices (Ben Stiller, Chris Rock, David Schwimmer), and, obviously, talking animals, which tend to do well (see: Chihuahua, Beverly Hills).
Finally, Role Models rounded out the pack, taking $7 mil from whatever audience was left. Not exactly Anchorman status, but RM is doing pretty well in the face of some tough competition.
Now, back to Twilight: If you haven’t noticed, ladies aren’t the treasured audience that the boys are. Transformers, James Bond (although one could argue he’s for the ladies, these days), Hellboy—all marketed to the swinging dicks that produce them. Warner Brothers made news earlier this year by saying they would no longer produce movies with female leads.
Sell now, WB stockholders.
Twilight’s stellar opening, with 65 percent of the audience female, suggests that women can drive box office success, a notion that was hinted at when Sex and the City and Mamma Mia broke into the top ten grossers earlier this year. (In contrast, zero movies with female leads made it into the top ten in 2007… or in 2006… in 2005, Mr. and Mrs. Smith eeked its way into the ten spot. 2004: none. 2003: none. 2002: My Big Fat Greek Wedding (!). 2001: none. 2000: none. Seeing a pattern here?)
Unlike those other two movies, though, Twilight has neither big-name stars nor an audience over 30. This is not your mom’s chick flick. With a box office take of $71 mil in its first weekend, and reportedly costing about $35 mil to produce, you can expect Hollywood’s movers and shakers to take note, and a rash of pics marketed to young women to hit the market in three… two… one…
That is, if there is anyone left to act in them! SAG leadership is seeking authorization from its members for a walk-out since the weekend mediation session stalled. Tucked inside this little nugget of gossip are allegations that the AMPTP hasn’t been honoring its residuals deal with the WGA, which, if you recall, went on strike last year over the same issue.
Given the economic conditions, the failure of last year’s strike, and the apparent unwillingness of the AMPTP to budge on the issue, SAG leadership might want to ask themselves if this is really the best next step.
