As expected, the return of John McClane propelled A Good Day to Die Hard to a box office win over the Presidents Day weekend, though a strong sophomore showing from Identity Thief almost resulted in an upset.
From Valentine’s Day on Thursday to that blissful Monday off, Bruce Willis’ fifth entry in the popular Die Hard franchise raked in $36.9 million and $28.6 million over four days. This was off from the $33.4 million Live Free of Die Hard snagged in 2007, though the return of the R-rating and overall franchise fatigue hinted at that result.
Though reviews were atrocious, audience approval was surprisingly positive and as expected the international setting meant big things overseas. So far the actionier has amassed an early total of $79.6 million for a global tally of $116.5 million.
Less than $2 million behind, runaway comedy Identity Thief dipped by only 20 percent to $27.5 million for a great cume of $74.7 million over two weeks. With another comedy not arriving for two more weeks, the Jason Bateman and Melissa McCarthy flick should rack up some impressive final numbers.
The Top 10 (Four Day)
1. A Good Day to Die Hard - $28.6M (weekend)…$36.9M (cume)
2. Identity Thief - $27.6M…$74.7M
3. Safe Haven - $24.6M…$33.3M
4. Escape From Planet Earth - $21.1M…$21.1M
5. Warm Bodies - $10.6M…$51.8M
6. Beautiful Creatures - $8.9M…$11.5M
7. Side Effects - $7.3M…$20.1M
8. Silver Linings Playbook - $7.4M…$99.8M
9. Hansel and Gretel: Witch Hunters - $4.1M…$50.4M
10. Zero Dark Thirty - $3.6M…$88.5M
Taking advantage of the day of love, Nicolas Sparks adaptation Safe Haven posted $33.3 million over 5 days, which is not too far behind Dear John with Channing Tatum, to date the biggest Sparks film debut.
Following in the footsteps of Gnomeo & Juliet in 2011, B-tier animated film Escape from Planet Earth easily capitalized on the utter lack of animated films in the market and scored a great $21.1 million over the long weekend. Though reviews were poor and the marketing scarce, sometimes timing means everything.
The only flop on the weekend, YA adaptation Beautiful Creatures managed an utterly limp $11.5 million over five days. A lack of starpower, a crowded weekend and poor reviews made this post-Twilight hopeful a non-event.
And finally, after 67 days in theaters, The Hobbit: An Unexpected Journey crossed the $300-million mark making it the fifth film of 2012 to do so – a record feat in terms of the milestone.
Next weekend, PG-13-rated horror hopes for another win with alien-supernatural thriller Dark Skies, the first of its kind since Mama blew past projections. Annd alsom Dwayne “The Rock” Johnson hopes to rake in the action lovers with Snitch. Both will open in roughly 2,500 theaters.
