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.
Paramount Pictures and Marvel Studios’ Captain America: The First Avenger opened in first place at the domestic weekend box office with an estimated $65.8 million from 3,715 theaters. Averaging $17,719 per theater, the Joe Johnston-directed comic book adaptation narrowly beat Thor‘s opening weekend of $65.7 million. The final figures on Monday will show whether that remains the case. Made for about $140 million, not counting marketing costs, the action adventure stars Chris Evans, Tommy Lee Jones, Hugo Weaving, Hayley Atwell, Sebastian Stan, Dominic Cooper, Toby Jones, Neal McDonough, Derek Luke and Stanley Tucci. The studios say that 40% of the ticket sales came from 3D theaters.
Dropping a larger than expected 72% in its second weekend, Warner Bros.’ Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows – Part 2 had to settle for second place but still managed to add $48.1 million from 4,375 theaters for a domestic total of $274.2 million . It should easily top the international box office again and should be able to pass up Harry Potter and the Sorcerer’s Stone‘s $317.6 million to become the franchise’s top domestic box office earner.
Screen Gems’ new R-rated romantic comedy Friends With Benefits debuted in the third spot with an estimated $18.5 million at 2,926 theaters. The Will Gluck-directed film, starring Justin Timberlake and Mila Kunis, cost $34 million to make.
In its fourth weekend, Paramount’s Transformers: Dark of the Moon added $12 million to push its domestic total to $325.8 million. The Michael Bay-directed third installment was budgeted at $195 million.
WB’s Horrible Bosses earned $11.7 million in fifth place its third weekend for a total of $82.4 million while Sony’s Zookeeper took in $8.7 million in sixth to bring its three-week total to $59.2 million.
Disney’s animated films Cars 2 added $5.7 million for a total of $176.4 million after five weeks and Winnie the Pooh received $5.1 million for a total of $17.6 million after two weeks.
