There was an undue amount of pressure for Bridesmaids this weekend, as the Judd Apatow-produced film had to shoulder the burden of being a test case for the bankability of female-ensemble comedies. Not merely able to get solid reviews and open with enough to be profitable, the film basically had to send a message to Hollywood that audiences would pay to see female-driven comedies that weren't squarely in the romantic comedy genre. Whether or not Hollywood will actually take any heed is subject to debate (doubtful, any success that doesn't fit in the 'boy-centric fantasy/comedy' box is usually written off as a fluke), the film performed quite well in its debut weekend, grossing $26.2 million in its first three days. Just as importantly, the film scored a big 3.34x weekend multiplier, meaning that its word of mouth matched its reviews and that it worked as a date-night choice for Friday and Saturday night (the film rose 36% on Saturday). The film scored a solid B+ from Cinemascore and it played 67% female and 63% over-30. That gives the film solid room to grow as the younger folks check it out over the next couple weekends, although the coming tsunami that is The Hangover II (opening May 26th) won't help matters. Still, the film cost just $32 million, so it's another win for Universal, a studio that has done best in the comedy arena over the last few years. Point being, you can write up Bridesmaids as a triumph for female-driven comedies or just the triumph of a terrific movie opening well (in a just world, Kristen Wiig would be getting Oscar talk). You pick. Win/win. And it will be Win/Win/WIN! as Nikki Finke makes good on her promise to retire from box office punditry (she swore to leave the field if Bridesmaids opened to over $20 million). The only other wide release opener was
Priest
, the Screen Gems adaptation of a cult comic book. The film got terrible reviews, was apparently cut down to a PG-13, and ran just 87 minutes long: all signs of a surefire winner. But the film opened with $14.5 million anyway. Attribute it to the usual Screen Gems marketing machine, which can seemingly open anything in the $14-20 million range (that the film screened in 3D with higher ticket prices didn't hurt either). But I do think there is a small niche (I can't say how big) that comes out for religious-themed horror or science fiction that would otherwise stay at home. It's merely a way to explain how almost every even remotely religious-themed horror film that would otherwise be a dump ends up opened around $14-23 million (
Priest
,
Legion
,
Stigmata
,
The Last Exorcism
,
The Rite
,
The Haunting In Connecticut
, etc). It's just a theory (and
The Last Exorcism
and
The Haunting In Connecticut
are actually quite good), but it's why I never expected
Priest
to outright tank. Of course, unlike those generally lower-budgeted genre films,
Priest
cost $60 million, so um... yeah, good luck with overseas business. Amongst the various limited releases, we had the Will Ferrell drama
Everything Must Go
, which inexplicably went limited on just 218 screens. Why Roadshow Attractions/Lionsgate didn't go semi-wide, I do not know. Arthouse patrons don't generally flock to Will Ferrell films and Ferrell fans don't generally go to arthouses. But the film earned just over $800,000 for a mediocre $3,600 per screen average. It's actually a pretty good film, and Ferrell again proves (after the superior
Stranger Than Fiction
) that he is as good as low-key drama as he is at boisterous comedy.
The number one film of the weekend was again
, which held up a little better than expected thanks to strong matinée/kiddie business on Saturday and Sunday. Since the film is quite kid-friendly (
), that makes sense. I have to wonder if the Friday numbers were hurt by the various genre fans who stayed home to watch the
finale... Anyway, the film dropped 49% in weekend two, grossing $34.5 million and ending day ten with a solid $119 million in domestic grosses. Worldwide, the film is well over $300 million and has already outgrossed both
Hulk
films, the second
Fantastic Four
, and the first
X-Men
). By next weekend, it will be the biggest-grossing Marvel comic film that isn't part of the
X-Men
,
Iron Man
, or
Spider-Man
series, and soon it will have outgrossed all of the
X-Men
films and every DC Comics film except
The Dark Knight
. Point being, the film is playing as solid kid-friendly meat-and-potatoes entertainment, although we'll see how it weathers the storm of
Pirates of the Caribbean: On Stranger Tides
next weekend.
Fast Five held up better in weekend three, dropping just 37% for a $19.5 million third weekend. The dynamite action picture has racked up $168.8 million domestic thus far, easily outgrossing the previous entries and racking up $440 million worldwide thus far. Rio sits at $124 million, having surpassed Rango as the year's second-biggest domestic grosser (for the moment...). Something Borrowed and Jumping the Broom both sit at just-above $25 million (the latter cost a lot less than the former) and both Madea's Big Happy Family and Water For Elephants both sit at around $50 million.
That's it for this weekend. Join us next time for the theoretically mammoth opening of Pirates of the Caribbean: On Stranger Tides (why I am waiting until opening day to review the film) and the wider expansion of The Beaver, which has grossed just $308,000 thus far. Until then, take care, keep reading, and keep commenting.
Our 2024 Coverage Needs You
It's Another Trump-Biden Showdown — And We Need Your Help
The Future Of Democracy Is At Stake
Our 2024 Coverage Needs You
Your Loyalty Means The World To Us
As Americans head to the polls in 2024, the very future of our country is at stake. At HuffPost, we believe that a free press is critical to creating well-informed voters. That's why our journalism is free for everyone, even though other newsrooms retreat behind expensive paywalls.
Our journalists will continue to cover the twists and turns during this historic presidential election. With your help, we'll bring you hard-hitting investigations, well-researched analysis and timely takes you can't find elsewhere. Reporting in this current political climate is a responsibility we do not take lightly, and we thank you for your support.
Contribute as little as $2 to keep our news free for all.
Can't afford to donate? Support HuffPost by creating a free account and log in while you read.
The 2024 election is heating up, and women's rights, health care, voting rights, and the very future of democracy are all at stake. Donald Trump will face Joe Biden in the most consequential vote of our time. And HuffPost will be there, covering every twist and turn. America's future hangs in the balance. Would you consider contributing to support our journalism and keep it free for all during this critical season?
HuffPost believes news should be accessible to everyone, regardless of their ability to pay for it. We rely on readers like you to help fund our work. Any contribution you can make — even as little as $2 — goes directly toward supporting the impactful journalism that we will continue to produce this year. Thank you for being part of our story.
Can't afford to donate? Support HuffPost by creating a free account and log in while you read.
It's official: Donald Trump will face Joe Biden this fall in the presidential election. As we face the most consequential presidential election of our time, HuffPost is committed to bringing you up-to-date, accurate news about the 2024 race. While other outlets have retreated behind paywalls, you can trust our news will stay free.
But we can't do it without your help. Reader funding is one of the key ways we support our newsroom. Would you consider making a donation to help fund our news during this critical time? Your contributions are vital to supporting a free press.
Contribute as little as $2 to keep our journalism free and accessible to all.
Can't afford to donate? Support HuffPost by creating a free account and log in while you read.
As Americans head to the polls in 2024, the very future of our country is at stake. At HuffPost, we believe that a free press is critical to creating well-informed voters. That's why our journalism is free for everyone, even though other newsrooms retreat behind expensive paywalls.
Our journalists will continue to cover the twists and turns during this historic presidential election. With your help, we'll bring you hard-hitting investigations, well-researched analysis and timely takes you can't find elsewhere. Reporting in this current political climate is a responsibility we do not take lightly, and we thank you for your support.
Contribute as little as $2 to keep our news free for all.
Can't afford to donate? Support HuffPost by creating a free account and log in while you read.
Dear HuffPost Reader
Thank you for your past contribution to HuffPost. We are sincerely grateful for readers like you who help us ensure that we can keep our journalism free for everyone.
The stakes are high this year, and our 2024 coverage could use continued support. Would you consider becoming a regular HuffPost contributor?
Dear HuffPost Reader
Thank you for your past contribution to HuffPost. We are sincerely grateful for readers like you who help us ensure that we can keep our journalism free for everyone.
The stakes are high this year, and our 2024 coverage could use continued support. If circumstances have changed since you last contributed, we hope you'll consider contributing to HuffPost once more.
Support HuffPostAlready contributed? Log in to hide these messages.