Box Office Breakdown: Watchmen Finally Gets Its Time to Shine

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Posted by Veronica Santiago Categories: 20th Century Fox, FOCUS, Disney, Fox Searchlight, Lionsgate, Sony, Warner Bros, Action, Adaptation, Adventure, Animation, Drama, Family, Music, Romance, Comedy, Thrillers, Box Office, Lists

When is a $55.7 million weekend considered a slight disappointment?

• When the film is the only new major release that weekend.
• The movie involves superheroes.
• The story is based on a popular graphic novel.
• The project has received a significant amount of attention due to a lengthy court battle.
• The director earned more for his last film. (300 grossed $70.9 million over its first three days back in 2007.)
• The R-rated film features plenty of gore and nudity.
• It cost between $120-$150 million to make.

Read More | Variety

Even though Watchmen didn’t match expectations, there were plenty of reasons for Warner Bros. to be happy about this weekend. The lengthy movie (it’s running time was 2:40) currently stands as the best opener of the year. The Zack Snyder project also had the fifth best debut ever for an R-rated film.

1. Watchmen, Warner Bros., $55,214,334 (avg. $15,291)
2. Tyler Perry’s Madea Goes to Jail, Lionsgate, $8,532,412 (avg. $3967)
3. Taken, 20th Century Fox, $7,334,814 (avg. $2432)
4. Slumdog Millionaire, Fox Searchlight, $6,808,383 (avg. $2356)
5. Paul Blart: Mall Cop, Sony, $4,146,316 (avg. $1621)
6. He’s Just Not That Into You, New Line, $4,017,326 (avg. $1643)
7. Coraline, Focus Features, $3,255,852 (avg. $1662)
8. Confessions of a Shopaholic, Disney, $3,100,298 (avg. $1354)
9. Jonas Brothers: The 3D Concert Experience, Disney, $2,832,454 (avg. $2220)
10. Fired Up, Sony, $2,478,381 (avg. $1378)

(You can review last week’s numbers here.)