Obsessed Is The Biggest Last-Weekend-of-April Opener Ever!

[GreenScar]

Early estimates really has Beyonce packing in the movie goers! I had really been expecting this to be a lackluster weekend what with 4 majors opening wide and anticipation of the Blockbusters starting next week.

Recording superstar Beyonce Knowles is building a bankable resume for herself as an actress with Sony Screen Gems’ Obsessed as the latest title burnishing her resume. Co-starring the excellent Idris Elba (The Wire), this low budget, PG-13 genre pic has scored a far-above-expectations $11M on Friday, and it will likely reach $27.5M for the weekend. That is the best opening yet for the former Destiny’s Child lead vocalist as an above-the-title star, topping 2003’s The Fighting Temptations and Cadillac Records from late 2008.

OPENINGS FOR BEYONCE MOVIES
1. Austin Powers: Goldmember - $70.3M opening
2. Obsessed - $27.5M opening (projected)
3. Pink Panther (2006) - $20.2M opening
4. Dreamgirls - $14.1M wide break (after a platform start)
5. The Fighting Temptations - $11.7M opening
6. Cadillac Records - $3.4M opening

The last weekend in April has usually been kind of a dumping ground so to speak:

ALL-TIME TOP 10 OPENINGS ON LAST WEEKEND OF APRIL
1. Obsessed (2009) - $27.5M (projected)
2. Mean Girls (2004) - $24.4M
3. Hitchhiker’s Guide to the Universe (2005) - $21.1M
4. Baby Mama (2008) - $17.4M
5. RV (2006) - $16.4M
6. Identity (2003) - $16.2M
7. Harold & Kumar Escape From Guantanamo Bay (2008) - $14.9M
8. XXX: State of the Union (2005) - $12.7M
9. Driven (2001) - $12.1M
10. United 93 (2006) - $11.5M

Here's how the estimates look from early Friday numbers:

EXCLUSIVE STEVE MASON EARLY 3-DAY ESTIMATES
1. NEW – Obsessed (Sony) - $27.5M, $10,939 PTA, $27.5M cume
2. 17 Again (Warner Bros) - $10.83M, $3,327 PTA, $39.13M
3. NEW - The Soloist (Dreamworks/Paramount) - $10.29M, $5,084 PTA, $10.29M cume
4. Fighting (Rogue) - $9.74M, $4,219 PTA, $9.74M cume
5. NEW – Earth (Disney) - $9.39M, $5,208 PTA, $15.04M cume
6. State of Play (Universal) - $8.38M, $2,987 PTA, $26.61M cume
7. Monsters vs. Aliens (Dreamworks/Paramount) - $7.56M, $2,251 PTA, $173.85M cume
8. Hannah Montana: The Movie (Disney) - $7.41M, $2,295 PTA, $66.63M cume
9. Fast & Furious (Universal) - $5.79M, $1,625 PTA, $144.95M cume
10. Crank: High Voltage (Lionsgate) - $2.8M, $1,259 PTA, $11.91M cume

[EricJ]

Originally Posted by jasonbird

The last weekend in April has usually been kind of a dumping ground so to speak:

ALL-TIME TOP 10 OPENINGS ON LAST WEEKEND OF APRIL
1. Obsessed (2009) - $27.5M (projected)
2. Mean Girls (2004) - $24.4M
3. Hitchhiker’s Guide to the Universe (2005) - $21.1M
4. Baby Mama (2008) - $17.4M
5. RV (2006) - $16.4M
6. Identity (2003) - $16.2M
7. Harold & Kumar Escape From Guantanamo Bay (2008) - $14.9M
8. XXX: State of the Union (2005) - $12.7M
9. Driven (2001) - $12.1M
10. United 93 (2006) - $11.5M

Still is, basically--
Studios know we're waiting for Star Trek/Wolverine, and want movies that can attract an audience during a dry spell, but which no theater will feel that broken up about cannon-fodder clearing out to the back of the cineplex hallway one week later once the front-loaded May moneymakers start blitzing.
Excuse our giggles at "Biggest end of April ever!", which is equivalent to "Fastest swimming record in Death Valley!"

(And is it just me, or is anyone getting some REALLY squicky subliminal-message vibes from Beyonce' defending her respectable black husband against a Crazy White Girl?
One wonders how it would've played out if Will Smith had been the husband.)

[GreenScar]

This week also illustrates why Hollywood does what they do by making much more fluff than story heavy movies. The two story driven movies in the top 10 are going to have a very hard time making any profit while a rehash of Fatal Attraction (for the 92nd time) makes number 1.

[EricJ]

Originally Posted by jasonbird

This week also illustrates why Hollywood does what they do by making much more fluff than story heavy movies. The two story driven movies in the top 10 are going to have a very hard time making any profit while a rehash of Fatal Attraction (for the 92nd time) makes number 1.

Uh, it's not SUPPOSED to make #1 next week. (As in, they'll grab what bucks they get this week, and run for the video store next week before anyone notices it's gone.)
Neither were Baby Mama, Harold & Kumar, Driven, RV, or Hitchhiker's Guide.

That's why they were put in one week before Star Trek, Iron Man, Mummy Returns, M:I-3 and SW:Episode 3.

[GreenScar]

Originally Posted by EricJ

Uh, it's not SUPPOSED to make #1 next week. (As in, they'll grab what bucks they get this week, and run for the video store next week before anyone notices it's gone.)
Neither were Baby Mama, Harold & Kumar, Driven, RV, or Hitchhiker's Guide.

That's why they were put in one week before Star Trek, Iron Man, Mummy Returns, M:I-3 and SW:Episode 3.

Obviously. But the snapshot (of the top 10) is indicitive of Hollywood in general and their practices at this point.

As to your point, the same thing happens throughout the summer nowadays. It's all about the first weekend in the Summer. Very few movies are good enough to sustain the onslaught from the next week. Maybe with 2 or 3 exceptions (TDK, Iron Man)

[ngkf7]

I don't understand the need for the "!" at the end of the thread title, OP. I don't mean to rain on your announcement, but this movie looks horrible and it's depressing to see that it has the biggest opening ever for this weekend.

[fighthefutureofhd]

Originally Posted by EricJ

Uh, it's not SUPPOSED to make #1 next week. (As in, they'll grab what bucks they get this week, and run for the video store next week before anyone notices it's gone.)
Neither were Baby Mama, Harold & Kumar, Driven, RV, or Hitchhiker's Guide.

That's why they were put in one week before Star Trek, Iron Man, Mummy Returns, M:I-3 and SW:Episode 3.

i'm not sure what star trek has to do with it. it won't be out for 2 weeks. and revenge of the sith came out at the end of may. but i do see your point. though i think baby mama came out to try and capture some of the mothers day crowd possibly. counter programming sort of.

[EricJ]

Originally Posted by fighthefutureofhd

i'm not sure what star trek has to do with it. it won't be out for 2 weeks.

Okay, Wolverine, then--
Which is the one out next Friday, so it doesn't really matter what quick disposable one-weekend cannon-fodder opens this week?

[GreenScar]

1. Obsessed $28,500,000 Budget $20
2. 17 Again $11,665,000 ($39,970,000)
3. Fighting $11,441,000
4. The Soloist $9,715,000
5. Earth $8,554,000
6. Monsters Vs Aliens $8,524,000 ($174,817,000) Budget $175
7. State of Play $6,891,000 ($25,124,000)

I was hoping State of Play would've done better.

[bajor27]

Not trying to knock the post as I appreciate the info, but man, I hate stats like "Biggest Last-Weekend-of-April Opener Ever!"

While were at it, what's the biggest opening weekend for the third weekend in April which falls 3 days after a full moon?

These things are just ridiculous sometimes.

I will, however, probably give Obsessed a rent when it comes out. Looks like an enjoyable one-time watch.

[mikejet]

Should be a trend all year long. Movie attendance is WAY up. It's easy to get out and watch a movie for a few hours and make a night of it. GOod escape for people that want to forget about the economy and swine flu.