The ComingSoon.net Box Office Report has been updated with studio estimates for the weekend. Click here for the full box office estimates of the top 12 films and then check back on Monday for the final figures based on actual box office.
Universal Pictures’ new comedy Identity Thief, directed by Seth Gordon and starring Jason Bateman and Melissa McCarthy, topped the weekend box office with an estimated $36.6 million. Opening in 3,141 theaters, the $35 million film averaged $11,650 per location. Identity Thief had one of the top five openings of all time for an original R-rated comedy and the studio says that the film might have made more than $40 million if there had not been a snow storm in the Northeast. The film received a CinemaScore of B from audiences.
Last week’s champ, Warm Bodies, dropped to second place with another $11.5 million. The Summit Entertainment comedy has earned $36.7 million after two weeks.
Side Effects, Steven Soderbergh’s last theatrical movie as a director, opened in third place with $10 million from 2,605 theaters. The psychological thriller, starring Jude Law, Rooney Mara, Catherine Zeta-Jones and Channing Tatum, averaged $3,845 per theater and received a B CinemaScore.
David O. Russell’s Silver Linings Playbook continued to do well, making another $6.9 million its 13th weekend in theaters. The Oscar-nominated film has now reached $90 million on a budget of $21 million.
Paramount’s Hansel & Gretel: Witch Hunters rounded out the top five, adding $5.8 million and taking its three-week total to $43.8 million.
With the awards continuing to come in for Ben Affleck’s Argo, the film increased 23.2% in ticket sales its 18th weekend in theaters. The thriller earned $2.5 million and has now made $123.7 million.
Paramount also released Top Gun in 300 IMAX 3D theaters where it earned $1.9 million.
Even with Identity Thief doing so well, the overall box office was down 45% from last year when The Vow and Safe House both opened with over $40 million.
Click here for the full box office estimates of the top 12 films.
