‘The Amazing Spider-Man’ box office record in North America?
July 6 update: Directed by Marc Webb, and starring Andrew Garfield and Emma Stone, The Amazing Spider-Man grossed $34.2 million on Tuesday – reportedly the biggest Tuesday opening ever at the North American box office. Now, is that claim true? Well, yes and no.
After blowing off some box office steam the previous Monday evening – to the tune of $8.8 million – Michael Bay / Shia LaBeouf / Megan Fox’s Transformers collected $27.9 million on Tuesday, July 3, or about $32 million in 2012 dollars. It doesn’t take a math genius to see that Transformers would easily have beaten The Amazing Spider-Man‘s box office take had there been no Monday evening screenings. But that’s a “What If” proposition. (And for convenience sake, let’s ignore the fact that Spider-Man‘s Tuesday take includes about $7.5 million from Monday midnight screenings. The reboot is also supposed to have grossed an extra $850k from pre-midnight Monday evening screenings that – officially – haven’t been factored into the Tuesday gross.)
What’s not “What If” is the fact that Transformers sold many more tickets on its “opening” Tuesday than The Amazing Spider-Man. The latter film is in 3D, which can increase the cost of a movie ticket by up to 50 percent. Additionally, the Spider-Man reboot collected $4 million from pricier IMAX houses.
Officially, Sony Pictures claimed it was expecting The Amazing Spider-Man to collect $110m-$120 million by Sunday evening (first six days). Chances are the reboot will gross closer to $140m-$150 million.
The Amazing Spider-Man vs. Sam Raimi / Tobey Maguire Spider-Man movies
For comparison’s sake: Directed by Sam Raimi, and starring Tobey Maguire, Kirsten Dunst, and James Franco, the original Spider-Man opened on Friday, May 3, 2002, bringing in $114.84 million (about $156.5 million today) on its first weekend out – that’s three days. Spider Man 2, which opened with $40.42 million on Wednesday, July 3, 2004, earned $180.07 million (approx. $229.6 million today) in its first six days. Another Friday-in-May opening, Spider-Man 3 collected $151.11 million (approx. $174 million today) on its debut weekend – once again, that’s three days.
And bear in mind that none of the previous Spider-Man movies had the advantage of either 3D surcharges or wide IMAX releases.
Something else worth comparing: budgets. With a reported $220 million production cost, The Amazing Spider-Man was considerably more expensive than Transformers’ $150 million (approx. $166 million today) and Spider-Man‘s $139 million (approx. $178 million today), but (adjusted) less costly than Spider-Man 2‘s $200 million (approx. $243 million today) and Spider-Man 3‘s $258 million (approx. $286 million today).
In addition to Andrew Garfield and Emma Stone, The Amazing Spider-Man features Rhys Ifans, Martin Sheen, Sally Field, Campbell Scott, Denis Leary, Irrfan Khan, Embeth Davidtz, Chris Zylka, Max Charles, and C. Thomas Howell.
Andrew Garfield / The Amazing Spider-Man picture: Jaimie Trueblood / Columbia Pictures.
July 7 early morning
Katy Perry Part of Me movie 3D
Katy Perry Part of Me movie 3D box office. The Paramount Insurge Katy Perry concert documentary Katy Perry: Part of Me opened on Thursday with a modest $3.1 million at the North American box office. That’s at the lower end of expectations: Paramount Insurge had been expecting an opening in the $3m-$4 million range.
The $12 million-budgeted Part of Me movie may match (though it’ll certainly not recover*) its production costs at the North American box office by Sunday evening. The Katy Perry documentary is expected to collect between $2.5m-$3.5 million at 2,730 locations on Friday and finish its four-day run somewhere in the low to mid-teens as per very early, very rough estimates found in The Hollywood Reporter.
Katy Perry Part of Me movie vs. Justin Bieber, Miley Cyrus concert movies
For comparison’s sake: Justin Bieber: Never Say Never, another Paramount Insurge release, opened with $29.51 million at 3,105 sites in Feb. 2011, while the Disney release Hannah Montana / Miley Cyrus: Best of Both Worlds Concert Tour raked in $31.11 million at only 683 locations in Feb. 2008. It should be noted that neither concert movie caused much of a stir overseas: $25.42 million international vs. $73.01 million domestic for the Justin Bieber documentary, and $5.36 million vs. $65.28 million for the Miley Cyrus doc. In other words, Katy Perry: Part of Me – especially considering all the (quite literally) flag waving – doesn’t have much of a chance of striking it rich abroad.
Katy Perry Part of Me movie reviews
Katy Perry: Part of Me has a solid 78 percent approval rating – but only a mid-level 6.6/10 average rating – among Rotten Tomatoes‘ top critics. Also worth noting, the concert documentary reportedly received an “A” CinemaScore. Whether that’ll translate into longer legs at the domestic box office remains to be seen. At this stage, it doesn’t seem all that likely, considering the film’s weak start.
Directed by Dan Cutforth and Jane Lipsitz, Katy Perry: Part of Me also features Shannon Woodward, Rachael Markarian, Mia Moretti, and Glen Ballard.
* As a rule, studios pocket about 50 percent of their films’ domestic box office gross; 40 percent of the international take. And remember, Katy Perry: Part of Me‘s $12 million budget doesn’t include marketing / distribution expenses.
Katy Perry: Part of Me movie picture: Amanda Schwab / Starpix / Paramount Pictures.
Savages movie: Salma Hayek, Blake Lively
Savages movie box office. Taylor Kitsch’s lack of luck at the North American box office continues with the release of Oliver Stone’s R-rated action thriller Savages. Remember, Kitsch is the star of two of the year’s biggest domestic bombs: Andrew Stanton’s John Carter and Peter Berg’s Battleship. Things haven’t gotten at all better with Savages.
Co-starring Kick-Ass and the upcoming Anna Karenina‘s Aaron Johnson and Gossip Girl‘s Blake Lively, Savages will have earned $4–$5 million at 2,627 theaters on Friday, according to very early, very rough estimates found in The Hollywood Reporter. That means Savages may end up reaching only $11–$15 million over the weekend. (Probably at the lower end of this range.)
Such an opening will place Savages at no. 5 among the weekend’s top grossers, behind The Amazing Spider-Man, Ted, Pixar’s animated feature Brave, and Magic Mike. If those box office predictions are accurate, the most curious thing about the above roster is that three of the top five movies on the first weekend in July will be R-rated releases (Ted and Magic Mike are the other two.)
Mixed reviews
Originally scheduled to open in September, Savages was supposed to be a more “adult” alternative to summer fare such as Ted, Brave, and The Amazing Spider-Man. Reviews, however, have been mixed: Savages has a 60 percent approval rating and a 6.1/10 average among Rotten Tomatoes‘ top critics.
The Universal release is based on Don Winslow’s novel about two young pot-growing Americans vs. the Mexican drug cartel, which has kidnapped their shared girlfriend. Savages cost a reported $45 million.
Besides Aaron Johnson, Blake Lively, and Taylor Kitsch, Savages features John Travolta, Benicio Del Toro, Salma Hayek, Demián Bichir (Oscar nominated for A Better Life earlier this year), Joel David Moore, Emile Hirsch, and Mia Maestro.
Savages movie Blake Lively, Salma Hayek picture: Universal Pictures.
July 7
The Amazing Spider-Man 2012 box-office: excellent or just okay? Directed by Marc Webb, and starring Andrew Garfield as Peter Parker / Spider-Man and Emma Stone as Gwen Stacy, The Amazing Spider-Man added an estimated $20.7 million at 4,318 locations on Friday. Total after four days: $95.78 million. Projected total by Sunday evening: approximately $140 million after six days.
Now, even if The Amazing Spider-Man reaches $140 million – and that’s open to debate – is the Spider-Man reboot a solid, remarkable hit or just an okay one?
Box office: The Amazing Spider-Man 2012 vs. predecessors
For comparison’s sake: Directed by Sam Raimi, and starring Tobey Maguire, Kirsten Dunst, James Franco, Willem Dafoe (as the Green Goblin), Rosemary Harris, and Oscar winner Cliff Robertson (Charly), Spider-Man opened on Friday, May 3, 2002, scoring $114.84 million (approx. $156.5 million today) on its first weekend out – in other words, in three days. Spider Man 2, debuted with $40.42 million on Wed., July 3, 2004, drawing $180.07 million (approx. $229.6 million today) in its first six days. Another Friday-in-May opening, Spider-Man 3 took in $151.11 million (approx. $174 million today) on its debut weekend – once again, that means the film’s first three days of release.
And remember: none of the previous Spider-Man movies had the advantage of either 3D surcharges or wide (higher-priced) IMAX screenings.
The Amazing Spider-Man 2012 vs. Transformers, Batman Begins et al.
A few more comparisons: Michael Bay / Shia LaBeouf / Megan Fox’s Transformers, which opened on Monday evening, July 2, 2007, grossed $155.4 million in its first six days. Even deducting the $8.8 million earned at Monday evening shows, Transformers’ total remains ahead of The Amazing Spider-Man‘s (if current box office predictions are accurate): $146.6 million. When inflation is taken into account, the gap widens considerably: even without the 3D-surcharge boost, Transformers earned approx. $169 million in 2012 dollars.
Batman Begins opened on Wednesday in June 2005. In its first six days, the Batman reboot – without the assistance of a major weekday holiday – had collected $79.7 million (approx. $98 million today) at 3,858 locations. Starring Robert Downey Jr and Gwyneth Paltrow, Iron Man brought in $121.3 million (approx. $134 million today) in its first six days in early May 2008. Last June, Matthew Vaughn’s X-Men: First Class, featuring Michael Fassbender, James McAvoy, and Jennifer Lawrence, raked in $68.7 million in its first six days at 3,641 locations.
Once again, bear in mind that none of the aforementioned movies had the advantage of 3D surcharges.
Budget comparisons
Something else worth comparing: production costs. With a reported $220m-$230 million budget, The Amazing Spider-Man is considerably more expensive than Spider-Man ($139 million or approx. $178 million today) Transformers ($150 million or approx. $166 million today), Batman Begins ($150 million or approx. $176 million today), Iron Man ($140 million or approx. $150 million today), and X-Men: First Class ($160 million).
On the other hand, The Amazing Spider-Man cost less (adjusted) than Spider-Man 2‘s $200 million (approx. $243 million today) and Spider-Man 3‘s $258 million (approx. $286 million today).
Official weekend box office estimates will be released on Sunday. Box-office actuals come out on Monday.
In addition to Andrew Garfield and Emma Stone, The Amazing Spider-Man 2012 features Rhys Ifans (as The Lizard), Martin Sheen, Sally Field, Campbell Scott, Denis Leary, Irrfan Khan, Embeth Davidtz, Chris Zylka, Max Charles, and C. Thomas Howell.
Box-office information source: Box Office Mojo. Budget inflation adjustments via U.S. Department of Labor’s inflation index calculator.
The Amazing Spider-Man 2012 wallpaper: Columbia Pictures / Sony Pictures.
July 8
Emma Stone Spiderman
Emma Stone and Andrew Garfield Spiderman box office. According to studio estimates, The Amazing Spider-Man 2012 reboot grossed $65 million at 4,318 locations over the July 6-8 weekend, cuming at $140 million in its first six days in North America. Overseas grosses are considerably more impressive: $201.6 million after ten days (in some territories). The film’s top overseas market was the United Kingdom, where The Amazing Spider-Man collected $18.1 million.
Sam Raimi’s 2002 Spider-Man, starring Tobey Maguire, Kirsten Dunst, Willem Dafoe, and James Franco, went on to gross $821.7 million worldwide – or about $1.094 billion in 2012 dollars. At this stage, it seems highly unlikely that The Amazing Spider-Man will reach that figure, despite 3D surcharges and more widespread (and costlier) IMAX exposure.
The Amazing Spider-Man was budgeted at a reported $220-$230 million. Directed by (500) Days of Summer‘s Marc Webb, the adventure / actioner stars Andrew Garfield as Peter Parker / Spider-Man and Emma Stone as Gwen Stacy. Others in the Spider-Man cast: Rhys Ifans (as The Lizard), Martin Sheen, Sally Field, Campbell Scott, Denis Leary, Irrfan Khan, Embeth Davidtz, Chris Zylka, Max Charles, and C. Thomas Howell.
Box-office information source: Box Office Mojo. Domestic adjusted figures via Box Office Mojo, based on National of Theater Owner Association’s average ticket-price data. Foreign adjusted figures via the Department of Labor’s inflation index. Note that foreign figures can fluctuate depending on the strength/weakness of the U.S. dollar. UK box office data via The Hollywood Reporter.
Emma Stone Spiderman photo: Columbia Pictures / Sony Pictures.
July 14
Ice Age: Continental Drift box office. If early, rough weekend box office estimates are accurate, The Amazing Spider-Man will have to content itself with a single weekend at the top of the North American chart. 20th Century Fox Animation and Blue Sky Studios’ Ice Age: Continental Drift, the fourth installment in the Ice Age franchise, is expected to be the no. 1 movie this July 13-15 weekend.
Ice Age: Continental Drift is expected to gross $40m-$44 million at 3,879 theaters (2,731 in 3D) in the U.S. and Canada by Sunday evening, after earnings somewhere in the mid-teens on Friday as per Deadline.com. Note: Continental Drift has already collected an estimated $238 million overseas. The animated feature’s budget is a reported $100 million.
For comparison’s sake: the $59 million-budgeted Ice Age opened with $46.31 million in March 2002 (approx. $63 million today); the $80 million-budgeted Ice Age: The Meltdown debuted with $68.03 million in March 2006 (approx. $82 million today); and the $90 million-budgeted Ice Age: Dawn of the Dinosaurs opened with $41.69 million in July 2009 (approx. $44 million today). Bear in mind that Continental Drift is the only Ice Age movie benefiting from 3D surcharges.
Ice Age: Continental Drift has a mediocre 39 percent approval rating and 5.6/10 average among Rotten Tomatoes‘ top critics. That places the latest Ice Age movie slightly above its immediate predecessor – 33 percent (5/10 average) for Dawn of the Dinosaurs – but quite a bit below the 61 percent (6.3/10 average) for The Meltdown and the 76 percent (7.3/10 average) for the original Ice Age.
Rio‘s Carlos Saldanha directed (or co-directed) the previous three entries; Steve Martino and Mike Thurmeier were the Continental Drift directors.
Spider-Man frozen in second by the Ice Age?
At no. 2, The Amazing Spider-Man, directed by Marc Webb, and starring Andrew Garfield and Emma Stone, should rake in about $34 million this weekend after grossing around $11 million on Friday. That’s down about 45 percent – a tad high (if accurate), considering that The Amazing Spider-Man‘s first weekend box office take was relatively mild because of the film’s Tuesday opening date.
Rounding out the top five at the North American box office should be Seth MacFarlane / Mark Wahlberg / Mila Kunis’ Ted with $19m-$20m, Pixar / Disney’s Brave with $10m-$11 million, and, vying for the fifth spot, Steven Soderbergh / Channing Tatum’s Magic Mike and Oliver Stone / Aaron Johnson / Taylor Kitsch’s Savages, each with about $8m-$9 million.
Ice Age: Continental Drift voice actors include Alain Chabat, Aziz Ansari, Joy Behar, Peter Dinklage, Nick Frost, Queen Latifah, Denis Leary, John Leguizamo, Jennifer Lopez, Nicki Minaj, Heather Morris, Keke Palmer, Josh Peck, Simon Pegg, Ray Romano, Seann William Scott, Patrick Stewart, Wanda Sykes, Alan Tudyk, and Rebel Wilson.
Ice Age: Continental Drift image (Jennifer Lopez’s and Denis Leary’s characters Diego and Shira): Blue Sky Studios / 20th Century Fox.
3 comments
I thought the Katy Perry Part Of Me movie was amazing! I would see it over and over again if my parents would let me! :D I thought it could of been better with less sad parts but it was amazing and I know I will be buying it on DVD! Love you Katy <3
I’m a Spider-man fan. After seeing this movie, I appreciate the Raimi movies all the more. I’ve even ordered the third one to add to my collection.
Raimi understood the mythic tone of Spider-man and told it in the appropriate broad strokes, bright colors, and big emotions. It allows the power of the story to come through, and lets us disregard the nonsense. He understood that Peter Parker’s power is really his superhuman neuroticism more than his ability to stick to walls.
This movie has no ideas behind it. It’s hanging a indie-rom-com vibe onto a marketable story that it really doesn’t care about or understand. It creates a “realistic” tone that makes all the nonsense fair game for questioning. All those sightings and cell phone pictures, glimpse of Garfield’s distinctive hairdo, yet the police can’t compile a height, age, weight, race description of Spider-man. How does a 145lb. man stick to walls? Through his sneakers? On glass and metal? Finally, when did working class Ben and May Parker buy that NY house? It must be worth a fortune on today’s market.
This Spider-man can’t even swing through NY without the assistance of crane operators lining up, because the physics and parabolas of a real Spider-man wouldn’t allow it. Give me a break.
I appreciate the box office analysis. I’m interested in how it will go over with the public in the longer run. My guess is, not very well. This won’t be getting repeated play on the kiddies DVD players. It’s glum and morose. Batman Begins went on to grow in positive buzz. And for all it’s excessive realism, it keeps the audience too busy with intricate plots. It also has themes of fear, identity, and chaos. And it has a director with a distinctive style. One gets the sense that Raimi, Nolan, and Peter Jackson really own their movies. Everything from sets, actors, costumes, and soundtrack seem like it comes from their input. Webb doesn’t seem to have any control. What about that muzak soundtrack?
People won’t need the above “reasons” to dislike ASM. It simply won’t stick. But time will tell.
who gives a shit about katy perry’s life? ok her music sells but does she have the i-make-people-obsessed-with-me power that biebs and the others do? imo, she doesnt. i have about 5 songs of hers on my ipod, but i would have to get dragged to see this movie. its so unecessary.