Mirror Mirror 2012: Snow White Spoof Disappoints

Overseas, Wrath of the Titans is, as expected, faring much better, having collected an estimated $78 million in 60 territories.

Directed by Jonathan Liebesman (of the solid international box office performer Battle Los Angeles), Wrath of the Titans features Sam Worthington, Liam Neeson, Ralph Fiennes, Edgar Ramírez, Toby Kebbell, Rosamund Pike, Bill Nighy, Danny Huston, John Bell, Spencer Wilding, and Lily James.

At no. 3 was Mirror Mirror, the sumptuous but poorly received Snow White fairy-tale directed by Immortals‘ Tarsem Singh, and starring Julia Roberts (reportedly to be seen next in August: Osage County and The Normal Heart), Lily Collins (The Blind Side, Taylor Lautner’s leading lady in Abduction), and Armie Hammer (The Social Network, Leonardo DiCaprio’s love interest in Clint Eastwood’s J. Edgar).

At 3,603 theaters, the Relativity Media release was expected to collect $20-$25 million. Sunday estimates had the film earning $19 million. But it turns out that the $85 million-budgeted comedy-fantasy took in only $18.1 million, averaging a quite modest $5,032 per site.

For comparison’s sake: at no. 4 on the chart, Channing Tatum / Jonah Hill’s action-comedy 21 Jump Street brought in $14.8 million on its third weekend out, averaging $4,711 per theater.

Now it remains to be seen whether Mirror Mirror will perform like Chris Weitz’s The Golden Compass (2007) or Michael Apted’s The Chronicles of Narnia: The Voyage of the Dawn Treader (2010). (Though neither is a comedy, both are fantasy tales that appealed to children and their obliging parents, guardians, what-have-you.) The former debuted with $25.7 million and went on to gross $70.1 million domestically; the latter opened with $24 million, but ultimately proved to have stronger legs by taking in $104.3 million. Either way, Mirror Mirror will be very lucky if it reaches $70 million in the U.S. and Canada.

Singh’s humorous version of the Snow White tale has little in common with Disney’s animated feature Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs and closet to nothing in common – save the characters’ names – with Rupert Sanders’ dark Snow White and the Huntsman, which stars Prometheus’ Charlize Theron, The Twilight Saga: Breaking Dawn - Part 2‘s Kristen Stewart, and The Avengers’ Chris Hemsworth. Snow White and the Huntsman opens June 1.

Rounding out the top twelve movies in North America were Dr Seuss’ The Lorax with $7.8 million, Andrew Stanton and Taylor Kitsch’s John Carter with $2 million (down 60 percent), Ewan McGregor-Emily Blunt’s Salmon Fishing in Yemen with $1.27 million (up 81 percent after the addition of 359 locations), the flag-waving Act of Valor with $1 million (down 51 percent), and the widely panned Eddie Murphy bomb A Thousand Words with $902,000 (down 54 percent).

Plus Dwayne Johnson / Josh Hutcherson / Vanessa Hudgens’ Journey 2: The Mysterious Island with $810k (-40 percent), the wild-party comedy Project X with $807k (-58 percent), and Ryan Reynolds / Denzel Washington’s Safe House with 780k (-44 percent).

Though among the top twelve when studio estimates were released yesterday, the anti-abortion Christian drama October Baby was actually no. 13 on the chart. It drew $771k (down a steep down 55 percent).

Armie Hammer / Mirror Mirror photo: Relativity Media.

April 1

The Hunger Games topped the North American box office this weekend with $61.1 million according to studio estimates found at Box Office Mojo. That represents a 60 percent drop from last weekend – which, admittedly, had the advantage of Thursday midnight screenings and IMAX surcharges. Even so, that’s considerably less than the $75 million Deadline.com‘s sources had estimated last Friday night.

For comparison’s sake (among non-sequels): James Cameron’s Avatar was down a minuscule 2 percent on its second weekend. Sam Raimi / Tobey Maguire’s original Spider-Man was down 38 percent. Chris Columbus / Daniel Radcliffe’s Harry Potter and the Sorcerer’s Stone was down 36 percent. Michael Bay / Shia LaBeouf / Megan Fox’s Transformers was down 47.5 percent. Tim Burton / Johnny Depp’s Alice in Wonderland was down 46 percent. And Catherine Hardwicke / Robert Pattinson / Kristen Stewart’s original Twilight was down 62 percent.

Among sequels, Christopher Nolan / Christian Bale’s The Dark Knight was down only 52.5 percent on its second weekend. David Yates’ Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows: Part 2 was down 72 percent, while Bay’s Transformers: Revenge of the Fallen was down 61 percent and Transformers: Dark of the Moon was down 55 percent. Raimi’s Spider-Man 2 was down 49 percent, while Spider-Man 3 was down 61.5 percent.

Looking at those percentage rates, it’s clear that The Hunger Games – much like Twilight – has performed more like a “sequel” than like an “original.”

But in spite of its relatively abrupt slowdown, if studio estimates are correct The Hunger Games has already passed the $250 million mark at the domestic box office. (Box-office actuals will be released on Monday.) The film’s cume after 10 days is an estimated $251.03 million.

Ignoring inflation, The Hunger Games is the non-sequel that most rapidly reached the $250 million milestone in North America. Gore Verbinski / Orlando Bloom / Johnny Depp / Keira Knightley’s Pirates of the Caribbean: Dead Man’s Chest also passed $250 million after ten days, while only three movies managed that feat in less time: The Dark Knight (eight days), Deathly Hallows 2 (nine days), and Revenge of the Fallen (also nine days).

Now, if inflation is taken into account – as it should, for then one would have a better idea of actual ticket sales – Spider-Man reached $250 million after only nine days.

At the international box office, The Hunger Games is lagging way behind its North American popularity. The film earned $34.8 million (down 41 percent) this weekend, thus losing the box office crown to Jonathan Liebesman’s Wrath of the Titans. The fantasy adventure starring Avatar‘s Sam Worthington took in an estimated $78 million – more than twice as much as the $34.2 million it earned in the U.S. and Canada. The Hunger Games’ international total is $113.9 million, or less than half its domestic cume. The film’s worldwide total is $364.93 million.

At no. 2 in the U.S. and Canada, Wrath of the Titans grossed $34.2 million (vs. $78 million internationally in 60 territories) at 3,545 theaters this weekend, according to studio estimates found at Box Office Mojo. Domestically, Clash of the Titans opened with $61.23 million two years ago. Both movies star Avatar‘s Sam Worthington.

At no. 3 was new release Mirror Mirror. At 3,603 theaters, the Relativity Media release was expected to collect a little over $20 million after scoring an estimated $5.88 million on Friday. It turns out that Mirror Mirror took in only $19 million. The comedy-fantasy reportedly cost $85 million, though earlier reports had the film pegged at $60 million. Relativity claims that after rebates, foreign pre-sales, and all, it has only $30 million invested on Mirror Mirror.

As of last weekend, Mirror Mirror had earned nearly $12 million internationally.

Note that Singh’s version of the Snow White fairy tale has little in common with Disney’s animated feature Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs and just about nothing in common with Rupert Sanders’ Gothic Snow White and the Huntsman, which stars Charlize Theron, Kristen Stewart, and Chris Hemsworth. Snow White and the Huntsman opens June 1.

Rounding out the top five in North America this weekend were Channing Tatum / Jonah Hill’s action-comedy 21 Jump Street with $15 million (down 27 percent), and the animated feature Dr Seuss’ The Lorax with $8 million (down 39 percent).

And rounding out the top twelve were Andrew Stanton / Taylor Kitsch’s John Carter with $2 million (down 60 percent), Ewan McGregor / Emily Blunt’s Salmon Fishing in Yemen with $1.27 million (+81 percent after the addition of 359 locations), the flag-waving Act of Valor with $1 million (down 51 percent), and the widely panned Eddie Murphy comedy A Thousand Words with $915k (-53 percent).

Plus Dwayne Johnson / Josh Hutcherson / Vanessa Hudgens’ Journey 2: The Mysterious Island with $835k (-39 percent), the wild-party comedy Project X with $825k (-57 percent), and the anti-abortion Christian drama October Baby with $779k (-54 percent).

Bear in mind that there should be some switching around when final box office figures are released on Monday.

Armie Hammer / Lily Collins / Mirror Mirror photo: Relativity Media.

That The Hunger Games would easily top the North American box office this weekend was a given. Now, how much exactly Gary Ross’ film adaptation of Suzanne Collins’ novel would earn was open to debate. Perhaps that still is.

Last night, Deadline.com reported early estimates of $24 million for Friday and $75 million for the weekend, as The Hunger Games is still playing at 4,137 venues (minus IMAX screens). However, it turns out that the futuristic adventure tale collected a much more modest – though still impressive – $18.85 million on Friday as per studio estimates. That’s down 72 percent compared to a week ago, which also included $19.5 million from Thursday midnight screenings. Taking those into account, The Hunger Games actually dropped 61 percent.

Anyhow, instead of the previously announced $75 million for the weekend, The Hunger Games is now expected to earn around $60 million. If so, it’ll be down 61 percent compared to last weekend. That’s a high drop-off rate – though not unusual for movies with huge opening weekends. Yet, much like the 62 percent drop-off rate for Catherine Hardwicke’s original Twilight, that’s still a marked drop when compared to the slow-down rates of popular non-sequels.

For comparison’s sake: James Cameron’s (admittedly, highly unusual) Avatar was down a minuscule 2 percent. Sam Raimi’s original Spider-Man was down 38 percent. Chris Columbus’ Harry Potter and the Sorcerer’s Stone was down 36 percent. Michael Bay’s Transformers was down 47.5 percent.

Among sequels, Christopher Nolan’s The Dark Knight, seemingly an exception to most “sequel” box office rules, was down only 52.5 percent on its second weekend. David Yates’ Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows: Part 2 was down 72 percent, while Bay’s Transformers: Revenge of the Fallen was down 61 percent.

Despite its relatively abrupt slowdown, The Hunger Games has already passed the $200 million mark at the domestic box office. The film’s cume after 8 days is an estimated $208.78 million.

Ignoring inflation (or, for that matter, the assistance of 3D/IMAX surcharges), The Hunger Games is one of only six movies to reach $200 million in the U.S. and Canada after only eight days. The other five are:

• Gore Verbinski / Orlando Bloom / Johnny Depp / Keira Knightley’s Pirates of the Caribbean: Dead Man’s Chest (2006),
• Chris Weitz / Robert Pattinson, Kristen Stewart, and Taylor Lautner’s The Twilight Saga: New Moon (2009),
• Michael Bay / Shia LaBeouf / Josh Duhamel / Rosie Huntington-Whiteley’s Transformers: Dark of the Moon (2011),
• Sam Raimi / Tobey Maguire / Kirsten Dunst’s Spider-Man 2 (2004),
• George Lucas / Ewan McGregor / Natalie Portman / Hayden Christensen’s Star Wars: Episode III - Revenge of the Sith (2005).

Three other movies reached that milestone on their fifth day out. Those were:

• Christopher Nolan / Christian Bale / Heath Ledger / Maggie Gyllenhaal’s The Dark Knight (2008),
• David Yates / Daniel Radcliffe / Emma Watson / Ralph Fiennes / Rupert Grint’s Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows: Part 2 (2011),
• Michael Bay / Shia LaBeouf / Josh Duhamel / Megan Fox’s Transformers: Revenge of the Fallen (2009).

Previously posted

The Hunger Games will easily top the North American box office this weekend. That’s no news. Now, how much exactly Gary Ross’ film adaptation of Suzanne Collins’ novel will earn is still open to debate.

According to Deadline.com, The Hunger Games is poised to take in $75 million from 4,137 venues by Sunday evening, after grossing an estimated $24 million today. If those figures are correct, The Hunger Games will have dropped 51 percent compared to last weekend’s $152 million. That’s not bad at all, considering the film’s $19.5 million earned from Thursday midnight screenings last week and the fact that it’ll have lost numerous IMAX screens this weekend (though the theater count remains the same).

Additionally, that would mean The Hunger Games has passed the $200 million mark at the domestic box office some time earlier today. The film’s cume after 8 days would be $214 million. Ignoring inflation (or, for that matter, the assistance of 3D/IMAX surcharges), The Hunger Games is one of six movies to reach $200 million in North America after only eight days. The other five are:

• Gore Verbinski / Orlando Bloom / Johnny Depp / Keira Knightley’s Pirates of the Caribbean: Dead Man’s Chest (2006),
• Chris Weitz / Robert Pattinson, Kristen Stewart, and Taylor Lautner’s The Twilight Saga: New Moon (2009),
• Michael Bay / Shia LaBeouf / Josh Duhamel / Rosie Huntington-Whiteley’s Transformers: Dark of the Moon (2011),
• Sam Raimi / Tobey Maguire / Kirsten Dunst’s Spider-Man 2 (2004),
• George Lucas / Ewan McGregor / Natalie Portman / Hayden Christensen’s Star Wars: Episode III - Revenge of the Sith (2005).

Three other movies have reached that milestone after five days. They are:

• Christopher Nolan / Christian Bale / Heath Ledger / Maggie Gyllenhaal’s The Dark Knight (2008),
• David Yates / Daniel Radcliffe / Emma Watson / Ralph Fiennes / Rupert Grint’s Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows: Part 2 (2011),
• Michael Bay / Shia LaBeouf / Josh Duhamel / Megan Fox’s Transformers: Revenge of the Fallen (2009).

I should also mention that besides being the no. 1 movie in the United States, The Hunger Games also happens to be the country’s no. 1 book and no. 1 album.

While Gary Ross’ The Hunger Games will undoubtedly top the North American box office this weekend, there’s a very good chance that the international box office crown will go to Wrath of the Titans, which is opening in 60 territories, including most major ones (Japan is one exception).

In the U.S. and Canada, Wrath of the Titans is going to land at no. 2 with an expected $35 million or whereabouts for the weekend (several million more than Deadline’s sources predicted last night) after collecting on Friday an estimated $12.42 million – including $1 million from Thursday midnight screenings – at 3,545 theaters, among them approximately 4,400 3D and 290 IMAX screens.

Even so, at the domestic box office Wrath of the Titans will fare far worse than Clash of the Titans, which opened with $61.23 million two years ago. The first movie was lambasted for its poor 2D-to-3D conversion; the sequel has been lambasted for just about everything, except its special effects. Both movies star Avatar‘s Sam Worthington.

International prospects, on the other hand, are good for Wrath of the Titans:

• a) it’s a sequel; brand recognition seems to be remarkably important abroad
• b) it’s filled with mind-numbing action and special effects that have helped movies as diverse as Daniel Radcliffe’s Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows: Part 2 and Roland Emmerich’s 2012 to become major international blockbusters
• c) Clash of the Titans grossed $330 million internationally – more than twice the film’s box office take in North America.

Anyhow, Wrath of the Titans better perform quite well, as it cost Warner Bros. a reported $150 million – about twice the amount Lionsgate spent on The Hunger Games.

Sam Worthington / Wrath of the Titans photo: Jay Maidment / Warner Bros.

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As per Deadline.com, there’s “zero doubt” that The Hunger Games will top not only the domestic box office, but also the international one. Now, there’s really less than zero doubt that the Gary Ross / Jennifer Lawrence movie will remain at the top in the United States / Canada, but also overseas?

Last weekend, The Hunger Games opened with an acceptable $59.25 million in 67 territories. But if it drops 50 percent this weekend – something quite possible – the futuristic adventure drama would gross only about $30 million. If so, could Wrath of the Titans beat it?

Wrath of the Titans is expected to earn $29 million in North America at 3,545 theaters, among them approximately 4,400 3D and 290 IMAX screens. The adventure fantasy’s estimated Friday take is $11.2 million, including a just okay $1 million from Thursday midnight screenings.

Additionally, Wrath of the Titans is opening in 60 territories, including most major ones. If it earns about as much (or more) overseas as it’s expected to earn in North America, the Clash of the Titans sequel starring Sam Worthington could easily surpass The Hunger Games. International prospects are good for Wrath of the Titans:

• a) it’s a sequel; brand recognition seems to be remarkably important abroad
• b) it’s filled with mind-numbing action and special effects that have helped movies as diverse as Daniel Radcliffe’s Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows: Part 2 and Roland Emmerich’s 2012 become major international blockbusters
• c) Clash of the Titans grossed $330 million internationally – more than twice the film’s box office take in North America.

We shall see whether Hunger or Wrath will come out on top abroad. Either way, Wrath of the Titans better perform quite well, as it cost Warner Bros. a reported $150 million – about twice the amount Lionsgate spent on The Hunger Games.

Directed by Jonathan Liebesman, Wrath of the Titans features Avatar‘s Sam Worthington, Kinsey‘s Liam Neeson, The English Patient‘s Ralph Fiennes, Carlos’ Edgar Ramírez, Toby Kebbell, Rosamund Pike, Bill Nighy, Danny Huston, John Bell, and Lily James.

At no. 3 in North America on Friday (behind The Hunger Games and Wrath of the Titans), was new release Mirror Mirror, the Snow White tale directed by Tarsem Singh, and starring Oscar winner Julia Roberts, Lily Collins, and Armie Hammer.

At 3,603 theaters, the Relativity Media release is expected to collect for the weekend $21 million after scoring an estimated $5.9 million on Friday (about $500,000 less than expected). Though slightly less than early estimates published yesterday, $21 million would be an acceptable figure for a $60 million production, depending on its box office stamina and its performance abroad.

Julia Roberts’ recent vehicle, the Ryan Murphy-directed romance Eat Pray Love, opened with $23.1 million in August 2010 and went on to gross $80.6 million in the U.S. and Canada, and $124 million internationally. Will Mirror Mirror perform as well?

It’s possible.

In Russia alone, Mirror Mirror has taken in $7.7 million as of March 25, in addition to $1.4 million in Spain, and scattered change in a handful of smaller territories for a cume of almost $12 million after ten days.

Now, Deadline.com reports the film actually cost $85 million, while Relativity Media claims that after rebates / foreign sales, etc., the studio has only $30 million at stake in the film. Mirror Mirror has a mediocre 38 percent approval rating among Rotten Tomatoes‘ top critics.

Note that Singh’s version of the Snow White fairy tale has little in common with Disney’s animated feature Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs and just about nothing at all in common with Rupert Sanders’ Gothic Snow White and the Huntsman, which stars Charlize Theron, Kristen Stewart, and Chris Hemsworth. Snow White and the Huntsman opens June 1.

Julia Roberts, Lily Collins Mirror Mirror movie image: Relativity Media.

Previous post

Also opening this weekend in North America is Mirror Mirror, the Snow White tale directed by Immortals’ Tarsem Singh and starring Julia Roberts, Lily Collins (Taylor Lautner’s leading woman in Abduction), and The Social Network actor Armie Hammer.

At 3,603 theaters, the Relativity Media release is expected to collect a perfectly acceptable $22 million – it could go as high as $25 million – for the weekend, after scoring an estimated $6.4 million on Friday. The studio is expecting a weekend box office take in the low $20 million range as well.

The fantasy / comedy / adventure’s reported budget is $60 million, on a par with Roberts’ recent vehicle, the Ryan Murphy-directed romance Eat Pray Love, which opened with $23 million in August 2010 and went on to gross $80 million in North America and $124 million internationally.

Note that Singh’s version of the Snow White fairy tale has little in common with the 1937 Disney version Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs and just about nothing at all in common with Rupert Sanders’ Gothic, dark tale Snow White and the Huntsman, which stars Charlize Theron, Kristen Stewart, and Chris Hemsworth. Snow White and the Huntsman opens June 1.

Rounding out the top five in North America this weekend should be Channing Tatum / Jonah Hill’s action-comedy 21 Jump Street with $11 million, and the animated feature Dr Seuss’ The Lorax with $8.5 million.

Julia Roberts / Lily Collins / Mirror Mirror photo: Relativity Media.

Source: boxofficemojo.com