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 Tuesday for the final figures based on actual box office.
It was widely believed that Garry Marshall’s new ensemble romantic comedy Valentine’s Day would top the four-day Presidents’ Day weekend, but the movie still surprised, earning an estimated $66.9 million from 3,665 theaters for an average of $18,241 per theater. The New Line/Warner Bros. release, made for about $52 million, set a new record for the holiday weekend, surpassing 2007’s Ghost Rider, which opened to $52 million over the four days. Valentine’s Day‘s big cast includes Jessica Alba, Kathy Bates, Jessica Biel, Bradley Cooper, Eric Dane, Patrick Dempsey, Hector Elizondo, Jamie Foxx, Jennifer Garner, Topher Grace, Anne Hathaway, Ashton Kutcher, Queen Latifah, Taylor Lautner, George Lopez, Shirley MacLaine, Emma Roberts, Julia Roberts and Taylor Swift. Given the film’s success, we’re guessing the thematic follow-up titled New Year’s Eve will be getting the green light soon.
Second place belonged to 20th Century Fox’s Percy Jackson & The Olympians: The Lightning Thief, an adaptation of Rick Riordan’s book series, which opened to $38.8 million from 3,356 theaters over the four days. Averaging $11,546 per site, the fantasy-adventure was made for $95 million. The Chris Columbus-directed film stars Logan Lerman, Brandon T. Jackson, Alexandra Daddario, Sean Bean, Pierce Brosnan, Steve Coogan, Rosario Dawson, Catherine Keener, Kevin McKidd, Joe Pantoliano, Uma Thurman and Ray Winstone.
Following close in third was Universal Pictures’ The Wolfman, which debuted to $36.5 million in 3,222 theaters, an average of $11,325 per theater. Carrying a budget of about $150 million, the film was directed by Joe Johnston and stars Benicio Del Toro, Anthony Hopkins, Emily Blunt, Hugo Weaving and Art Malik.
James Cameron’s Avatar added $30 million from Friday to Monday and its domestic total has now reached $667.6 million in nine weeks. Worldwide, the 20th Century Fox release has earned a massive $2.352 billion so far.
Screen Gems’ Dear John rounded out the top five with $18.8 million, pushing its total to $56.7 million after two weeks. The Channing Tatum and Amanda Seyfried-starrer cost about $25 million to make.
Fox Searchlight Pictures added 186 theaters for Scott Cooper’s Crazy Heart, starring Jeff Bridges and Maggie Gyllenhaal, allowing the drama to pull in $5 million from 1,005 theaters in its ninth weekend for a total of $17.5 million.
Fox Searchlight also opened Bollywood title My Name is Khan in 120 theaters in which the romantic drama earned a solid $2.3 million for an average of $18,958.
Click here for the full box office results of the top 12 films.
