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Illumination and Universal's adaptation of the
Dr. Seuss holiday tale now ranks as the best start for a
Christmas film. Fellow new offerings "Overlord" and "The Girl In
the Spider's Web" weren't as gleeful, with mediocre debuts of
$10 million and $8 million, respectively.
Benedict Cumberbatch voiced the animated green grouch in "The
Grinch," which cost the studio $75 million to make. While it
trails the start of Illumination's latest Dr. Seuss story "The
Lorax" ($70 million), "The Grinch" should benefit from the
holiday corridor.
Though critics gave "Grinch" a mediocre 55% rating on Rotten
Tomatoes -- with many noting the second big-screen adaptation
didn't add much to the original 1966 TV special -- audiences,
for the most part, embraced the movie and gave it an A-
CinemaScore. Opening weekend crowds were 53% female and 29%
under the age of 12.
Universal's president of domestic distribution Jim Orr gave a
nod to the film's witty and snarky advertising campaign that
played on the Grinch's cynical humor for buoying opening
numbers.
"Our marketing was eye-catching and unique," Orr said. "It took
full advantage of the character. It was purposeful because we
knew we had a big property." Newcomers "The Girl in the Spider's
Web" and "Overlord" weren't able to best "Bohemian Rhapsody."
Fox's Queen biopic showed staying power with a solid $30.9
million in its sophomore frame, representing a drop of just 41
percent. That brings its 10-day domestic total just shy of $100
million.
Paramount's "Overlord," produced by J.J. Abrams, was able to nab
third place, opening with opened with $10 million from 2,859
theaters.
It hasn't been all Yuletide joy at the box office. In fourth,
Disney's "The Nutcracker and the Four Realms" slipped over 50
percent in its second weekend with $9.6 million to bring its
domestic total to a disappointing $35 million. The studio is
banking on its overseas run to justify the family film's pricey
$125 million budget. Globally, "Nutcracker" has made $96.7
million, including $61.4 million from international.
Meanwhile, "The Girl in the Spider's Web" might not even crack
the top five with a bleak $8 million. Sunday estimates show
Warner Bros.' "A Star Is Born," now in its sixth weekend, also
generated $8 million this weekend. The final order won't be
determined until official numbers come in on Monday morning.
While "Spider's Web's" debut was in line with the studio's
projection and not far behind the start of "The Girl With the
Dragon Tattoo's" ($12.7 million), the second film in the
Millennium series doesn't look like it will have the same legs
as David Fincher's original film. Fede Alvarez directed
"Spider's Web," which was budgeted at $43 million. Co-produced
by Columbia, MGM, and New Regency, it cost significantly less to
make than "Dragon Tattoo," however that film played strong
throughout the holiday season and went on to earn a huge $102
million stateside and $230 million worldwide.
Among arthouse releases, Sony's "The Front Runner" with Hugh
Jackman launched in four locations on Tuesday to coincide with
the midterm elections and picked up just $76,000 through Sunday.
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