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'Narnia,' 'Tourist' bomb at N. American box office
Source: Agencies |
December 13, 2010, Monday
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THE third movie in the shaky "Narnia" fantasy franchise and a romantic thriller starring ubiquitous celebrities Angelina Jolie and Johnny Depp both fell flat at the weekend box office in North America, according to studio estimates issued yesterday.
"The Chronicles of Narnia: The Voyage of the Dawn Treader" opened at No. 1, as expected, but with three-day sales of about US$24.5 million across the United States and Canada. Industry pundits had predicted a US$30 million to US$40 million start for the third adaptation of C.S. Lewis' Christian-themed books.
The film got off to a much better start overseas, earning US$81 million, and distributor 20th Century Fox said it was "excited" about its overall prospects.
"The Tourist," starring Jolie and Depp as a mismatched pair cavorting around Venice, came in at No. 2 with US$17 million -- short of dampened forecasts in the US$20 million range.
Both films were lambasted by critics, and both carried hefty price tags -- US$150 million and US$100 million, respectively -- requiring strong overseas sales to make them profitable.
"Narnia" marks the follow-up to "The Chronicles of Narnia: Prince Caspian," which opened to US$55 million in 2008 on its way to a weak total of US$142 million. The overseas haul was US$278 million. The first film, "The Chronicles of Narnia: The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe," ended up with US$292 million in North America after a US$66 million debut. Foreign fans kicked in an additional US$453 million.
The latest film was distributed by News Corp-owned Fox, which took over the franchise after Walt Disney Co dropped it in the wake of the "Caspian" flop. The series is produced by family-friendly film company Walden Media, which is owned by billionaire Philip Anschutz.
"The Tourist" marks the worst start in years for its high-profile stars. Jolie's last big flop was "A Mighty Heart," which opened to US$3.9 million in 2007. Depp has to go back to 2001 for a worse performance: "From Hell," with US$11 million.
Jolie was last in theaters with "Salt," whose so-so domestic total of US$118 million (including a US$36 million opening) was boosted by foreign sales of US$175 million.
Depp starred in one of the biggest movies of the year, "Alice in Wonderland," which grossed more than US$1 billion worldwide, two-thirds coming from overseas.
The new film also did worse than a recent pair of unloved match-ups between big stars, "The Bounty Hunter," with Jennifer Aniston and Gerard Butler (US$21 million); and "Knight and Day," with Tom Cruise and Cameron Diaz (US$20 million). They finished with US$67 million and US$76 million, respectively, in North America. "Bounty Hunter" made a similar amount overseas, while "Knight and Day" earned US$185 million internationally.
"The Tourist" was distributed by Sony Corp's Columbia Pictures, which has limited financial exposure. The studio is receiving a distribution fee from Oscar-winning producer Graham King ("The Departed"), who arranged financing himself.
Last weekend's champion, the Disney cartoon "Tangled," slipped to No. 3 with US$14.6 million. Its total rose to US$115.6 million after three weekends. Foreign sales stand at US$77 million from 17 markets.
"The Chronicles of Narnia: The Voyage of the Dawn Treader" opened at No. 1, as expected, but with three-day sales of about US$24.5 million across the United States and Canada. Industry pundits had predicted a US$30 million to US$40 million start for the third adaptation of C.S. Lewis' Christian-themed books.
The film got off to a much better start overseas, earning US$81 million, and distributor 20th Century Fox said it was "excited" about its overall prospects.
"The Tourist," starring Jolie and Depp as a mismatched pair cavorting around Venice, came in at No. 2 with US$17 million -- short of dampened forecasts in the US$20 million range.
Both films were lambasted by critics, and both carried hefty price tags -- US$150 million and US$100 million, respectively -- requiring strong overseas sales to make them profitable.
"Narnia" marks the follow-up to "The Chronicles of Narnia: Prince Caspian," which opened to US$55 million in 2008 on its way to a weak total of US$142 million. The overseas haul was US$278 million. The first film, "The Chronicles of Narnia: The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe," ended up with US$292 million in North America after a US$66 million debut. Foreign fans kicked in an additional US$453 million.
The latest film was distributed by News Corp-owned Fox, which took over the franchise after Walt Disney Co dropped it in the wake of the "Caspian" flop. The series is produced by family-friendly film company Walden Media, which is owned by billionaire Philip Anschutz.
"The Tourist" marks the worst start in years for its high-profile stars. Jolie's last big flop was "A Mighty Heart," which opened to US$3.9 million in 2007. Depp has to go back to 2001 for a worse performance: "From Hell," with US$11 million.
Jolie was last in theaters with "Salt," whose so-so domestic total of US$118 million (including a US$36 million opening) was boosted by foreign sales of US$175 million.
Depp starred in one of the biggest movies of the year, "Alice in Wonderland," which grossed more than US$1 billion worldwide, two-thirds coming from overseas.
The new film also did worse than a recent pair of unloved match-ups between big stars, "The Bounty Hunter," with Jennifer Aniston and Gerard Butler (US$21 million); and "Knight and Day," with Tom Cruise and Cameron Diaz (US$20 million). They finished with US$67 million and US$76 million, respectively, in North America. "Bounty Hunter" made a similar amount overseas, while "Knight and Day" earned US$185 million internationally.
"The Tourist" was distributed by Sony Corp's Columbia Pictures, which has limited financial exposure. The studio is receiving a distribution fee from Oscar-winning producer Graham King ("The Departed"), who arranged financing himself.
Last weekend's champion, the Disney cartoon "Tangled," slipped to No. 3 with US$14.6 million. Its total rose to US$115.6 million after three weekends. Foreign sales stand at US$77 million from 17 markets.
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