By Ryan Parsons | Image property of DreamWorks Animation
Madagascar: Escape to Africa
Madagascar: Escape to Africa came out swinging this weekend for DreamWorks Animation. So well in fact that the film has quickly taken the title of "Best 2008 Opening for an Animated Title" from Pixar's WALL•E.
Box Office Winner: Madagascar: Escape 2 Africa
Madagascar: Escape 2 Africa bowed to an estimated $63.5 million domestically from 4,065 theaters while WALL•E opened to $63 million back in June. DreamWorks's Madagascar sequel has quickly become the seventh best opening of all time for an animated pic.
Another big hitter over the weekend was Universal Pictures' Role Models. Starring Seann William Scott and Paul Rudd, this R-rated comedy exceeded expectations by earning an estimated $19.3 million. It was predicted to earn between $10-12 million, especially considering that Zack and Miri Make a Porno opened to similar numbers only a week before.
The Kevin Smith comedy did hold up just fine in its second bow with $6.5 million.
Thanks to Madagascar: Escape 2 Africa, the weekend box office was up 30% over the same frame last year.
"I think we exceeded expectations. It's a great entry for the Madagascar franchise and for the box office overall," DWA prexy of worldwide marketing Anne Globe said. "I think we succeeded in broadening the audience."
Besides counting on families and teenagers, Madagascar 2 ended up being a great date movie over the weekend, something that helped push its BO numbers. Families only made up half the audience.
Add to Heffee!
