Solid reviews and strong counter-programming to one of the world’s biggest sporting events in the Super Bowl meant that zombie romantic comedy Warm Bodies claimed the top spot at the box office. The weekend’s other two newcomers didn’t fare quite as well.
With the third-best opening for a straight zombie flick and the seventh best for Super Bowl weekend, Warm Bodies launched to $20.3 million including Thursday night previews along with solid audience reception and reviews.
The Jonathan Levine directed mash-up looks to have unique legs within the zombie genre and hopes to see a strong tally for Lionsgate. That's pretty commendable for such an obscure feature.
Despite its equally bizarre premise and horrid reviews, Hansel and Gretel: Witch Hunters fell by only 52 percent to $9.4 million for a cumulative of $34.7 million. It should out gross Abraham Lincoln: Vampire Hunter sometime this week and improve on its sturdy $96.8 million worldwide total.
In the next three spots were Silver Linings Playbook, which once again fell by only a tiny amount; Mama, which upped its tally to a strong $58.1 million (the highest for a horror film since Paranormal Activity 3); and Zero Dark Thirty, which stands at $77.7 million.
The Top 10
1. Warm Bodies – $19.8M (weekend)…$20.4M (cume)
2. Hansel and Gretel: Witch Hunters – $9.4M…$34.7M
3. Silver Linings Playbook – $7.7M…$80.0M
4. Mama – $6.6M…$58.1M
5. Zero Dark Thirty – $5.2M…$77.7M
6. Bullet to the Head – $4.6M…$4.6M
7. Parker – $3.3M…$12.5M
8. Django Unchained – 3.0M…$150.9M
9. Les Miserables – $2.4M…$141.5M
10. Lincoln – $2.4M…$170.8M
18. Stand Up Guys – $1.5M…$1.5M
Flopping to sixth place with just $4.5 million was Sylvester Stallone’s Bullet to the Head which marks the third time this month an “Expendable” has wimped out, along with the mediocre bows for Parker and The Last Stand.
The single other new (semi) wide release was gangster comedy Stand Up Guys which registered as a non-event with only $1.5 million. Considering the release window, zero marketing, and theater count, the result isn’t surprising.
Next week should provide an interesting battle for the current box office champ with two major releases entering the market. Leading the way is comedy Identity Thief with Jason Bateman and Melissa McCarthy in 3,000 theaters, followed by Side Effects with Channing Tatum in 2,500. Top Gun also re-releases in 3D in 300 locations.
