By Ryan Parsons | Image property of Sony Screen Gems, Variety
Underworld: Rise of the Lycans
While we expected Underworld: Rise of the Lycans to take the top spot at the box office, it looks like Kevin James has just proved he's got some staying power. In its second frame, Paul Blart: Mall Cop was able to take down Lycans and hold onto the number one spot.
Mall Cop Battles Lycans at the Box Office
Mall Cop continues to beat out expectations in its second frame by declining a miniscule 32% to earn another $21.5 million over the weekend. Underworld: Rise of the Lycans followed at number two with $20.7 million.
While the number is still strong, Lycans is the worst opening we've seen from the franchise. The first Underworld bowed to $21.8 million and the sequel, Underworld: Evolution, saw a boost with $26.9 million. While I'm sure Sony will find a way to spin a reason for the drop in ticket sales, we can all assume that an Underworld installment lacking in Kate Beckinsale just didn't feel right. Lycans cost $35 million to produce, so Sony should have no problem earning some positive cash flows with what should be the franchise's final installment.
Probably the biggest disappointment was Inkheart. New Line's latest attempt at fantasy, the family adventure was only able to gross $7.7 million in its opening bow. With a strong cast and a family audience, this film should have done much, much better.
“We’re disappointed. We wish the opening would have been bigger, but I think it was always going to be this type of result. Unfortunately, the audience wasn’t excited to see it,” said Warner exec VP of domestic distribution Jeff Goldstein.
The final film worth a mention is Clint Eastwood's Gran Torino. Though the film didn't get the love that many hoped from the Oscar nominations, Gran Torino was still able to hold onto the number three spot over the weekend after declining only 27% from the last frame. Tack on the latest earnings of $16 million and the film is close to jumping the $100 million mark. By next weekend it looks like Gran Torino will quickly become Clint Eastwood's highest grossing film for both directing and acting.
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