By Ryan Parsons | Images property of Walt Disney Pictures, Hollywood Reporter
Disney's A Christmas Carol
As expected, Disney's A Christmas Carol took the top spot at the box office this weekend. What I didn't expect, however, is that the film would scare the crap out of me.
Box Office Winner: Disney's A Christmas Carol
Seriously, I can only imagine how many parents were forced to cover the eyes of their children. That is one dark movie dude! While having Jim Carrey on board typically means laughs, there were few to be had in A Christmas Carol. Instead, Jim Carrey turned out being a great selection for voice casting, as he did a fine job as Scrooge and the Christmas spirits. With him and the help of 3D, the Disney adaptation opened to a solid $31 million. Less than what Disney was hoping for, but the film still has some upcoming holidays to take advantage of.
Coming in second was This Is It, which dropped a miniscule 40% in its second frame. After that came The Men Who Stare at Goats, which likely suffered from poor reviews. The film starring George Clooney and Ewan McGregor was still able to pull in $13.3 million.
A respectable weekend, but still down 14% from the same frame last year due most in part to the strong openeing ($63.1 million) of Madagascar: Escape 2 Africa a year ago.
Showing just how popular 3D has become, A Christmas Carol owes just about three-quarters of its opening revenue to 3D venues. "There's a natural connection between Zemeckis and Imax," Imax president of filmed entertainment Greg Foster said.
Agreed Disney distribution president Chuck Viane: "The 3D of it all is where the public is going. They are choosing to see this picture in 3D, and it's spectacular in 3D."
Add to Heffee!
