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