'Alice' wins weekend with $62 million

Source: thehollywoodreporter

Disney's 3D fantasy "Alice in Wonderland" shrank just a bit in its second weekend but again topped domestic rankings in eye-popping fashion with an estimated $62 million tally in the latest frame.

Tim Burton's newest Johnny Depp starrer fell a scant 47% from its week-earlier opening, while pushing cumulative boxoffice to a surreal $208.6 million through just its first 10 days. Enjoying a simultaneous rollout in about 60% of the international marketplace, worldwide cume on "Alice" now totals $430 million.

Four pics opened wide on Friday, with Universal's Paul Greengrass-helmed "Green Zone" proving the strongest of a ho-hum group. The Matt Damon-toplined Iraq War thriller rung up $14.5 million, to bow about as expected in second place.

Paramount's romantic comedy "She's Out of My League" grabbed the weekend bronze medal with $9.6 million in its first frame, while Summit Entertainment's Robert Pattinson starrer "Remember Me" bowed faintly with $8.3 million in fourth place. Fox Searchlight's Forest Whitaker starrer "Our Family Wedding" registered $7.6 million from 1,605 playdates to open in sixth.

Overture Film's cop thriller "Brooklyn's Finest" dropped a big 68% in its sophomore session to $4.3 million in ninth place, with a $21.4 million cume.

Collectively, the top 10 grossers in the first post-Oscars weekend rung up $129 million, or 53% more than top performers in the comparable frame last year, boxoffice tracker Rentrak said.

Among notable platform campaigns, Sony Pictures Classics doubled distribution of its French thriller "A Prophet" to 60 engagements and grossed $218,546, or an acceptable $3,642 per playdate. "Prophet"cume reached $786,315.

Fox Searchlight's music-filled drama "Crazy Heart," for which Jeff Bridges earned a best-actor Oscar, added 87 theaters for a total 1,361 and grossed $3.1 million, or $2,296 per venue. "Crazy" cume hit $34.2 million.

Disney distribution boss Chuck Viane touted the broad demographic appeal of "Alice" for its remarkable second-session hold. Imax screens contributed $7.9 million to the latest "Alice" tally.

Produced by Working Title and co-financed by Relativity Media, "Green Zone" attracted audiences comprised 54% of males and 67% of patrons aged 30 or older.

With a negative cost of at least $100 million, the R-rated pic's smallish opening means only an unusually leggy run will put "Green Zone" in the profit zone. But execs waxed philosophically, in light of the low-grossing track record of other Iraq War films.

"We did better than most pictures about this subject matter," Universal distribution president Nikki Rocco said.

Also rated R, "League" drew audiences comprised 52% of females, with 50% of patrons under age 25.

"The opening was at the higher end of what expectations were," Paramount exec vp distribution Don Harris said. "We're pleased."

Rated PG-13, "Remember" skewed a whopping 84% female, with 53% of patrons under age 25.

"It was along the lines we expected," Summit distribution topper Richie Fay said. "We'll end up OK."

Rated PG-13 and targeting urban moviegoers, "Wedding" attracted audiences comprised of 60% females, with 35% of patrons under age 25.

"It played largely to an African-American and Hispanic audience, and we're happy with this opening," Fox senior vp distribution Bert Livingston said.

Looking ahead, three wide openers are set for Friday: Fox's family comedy "Diary of a Wimpy Kid," Sony's actioner "The Bounty Hunter" and Universal's scifi thriller "Repo Men."