Well ladies and gentlemen “Gone Girl” is officially a pop culture phenomenon. The David Fincher thriller held on to the top spot this weekend dropping only 29% for another $26.8 million and $78.2 million in just 10 days. That drop is one of the best first to second week “holds” (as the industry likes to call it) for a no. 1 movie this year. For comparison's sake, “The Lego Movie” dropped 27.8% in its second weekend. The 20th Century Fox and New Regency production will face some competition from “Fury” this upcoming weekend, but $100 million domestic is a given. Whether it can crack $150 million will be an intriguing storyline to watch over the rest of the Fall movie season.
Debuting somewhat surprisingly at no. 2 was Universal Pictures and Legendary Pictures' “Dracula Untold.” The latest reimagining of the Dracula legend earned $23.4 million over the three-day frame. That's a good start for a potential franchise starter with little known Luke Evans in the title role, but “Untold” has a long way to go if it can make up its reported $100 million price tag. Still, the lower than expected Friday to Saturday drop has to be encouraging. Like many big budget tentpoles international grosses will tell the tale.
Arriving at no. 3 was Walt Disney Pictures' “Alexander and the Terrible, Horrible, No Good, Very Bad Day.” The family flick was expected to earn over $20 million for the weekend but came in at just $19.1 million. With a reported budget of just $28 million “Alexander” has a shot of eventually breaking even. Still, it's another example that outside off massive tentpoles the Mouse House is having trouble knocking its midrange priced pictures out of the park.
Dropping to no. 4 was Warner Bros. horror hit “Annabelle.” The prequel to “The Conjuring” pulled in another $16.1 million for a strong $62.5 million in less than two weeks. Moreover, at a cost of just $6.5 million the thriller is a much needed cash cow for WB this year.
One reason why Warner's will continue to celebrate “Annabelle” is the disappointing debut of “The Judge.” The Robert Downey, Jr. melodrama lost the adult audience to “Gone Girl” earning just $13.3 million. Negative reviews didn't help, but this certainly puts a dent in Downey, Jr.'s superstar armor. Especially after he had big hits outside of Marvel with the “Sherlock Holmes” franchise and “Due Date.”
In limited release, Sony Classics' critically acclaimed Sundance winner “Whiplash” found $143,503 in just 6 theaters for a very good $23,917 average. The Weinstein Company's Bill Murray and Melissa McCarthy comedy “St. Vincent” opened in just 4 theaters and did even better. The Toronto Film Festival selection earned a $30,264 per screen or $121,054 overall. Both films will expand across the nation in the coming weeks.
Friday's new releases include the Guillermo Del Toro animated feature “The Book of Life,” the latest Nicolas Sparks adaptation “The Best of Me” and “Fury” with Brad Pitt.
Final box office actuals are released on Monday.