Weekend Box Office Analysis

So its finally happened. The Box Office slump that has been with us since Christmas has been driven away by a franchise pic. With the Box Office 50% ahead of the same weekend last year, this is the best week in 2011 so far. The Summer Blockbuster season has well and truely started..... and a week early than many had assumed. Fast 5ive, the fourth sequel in the Fast and the Furious franchise has made $165 million in its first 10 days of worldwide release. That includes the massive $83.6 million Fri-Sun total from the North American Box Office. 


This has shattered the franchises previous best of $71 million opening for 2009's Fast and Furious. This will also go down as the best opening ever in April, and Universal's best opening as well. According to CinemaScore data, the public gave this an overall 'A' average which also includes the under 18's. This is fantastic news for Universal and no doubt a Fast 6ix announcement is not too far away. This huge total will not just be music to Universal's ears, but Hollywood in general. This proves that consumers will go out to see a film that is catered for them, and it is also a good sign for the summer as a whole. If the 5th film in a street racing franchise can do $80 million plus and smash records, surely a big budget superhero movie can do the same or better ? This will no doubt hit $400-450 million worldwide, making this the most profitable 'Fast' movie yet.

With Thor opening next week, expect a big drop off, but factoring in week long sales, look for Fast 5ive smash the $100 million mark at the American box office by next Saturday. If though Thor opens lower than Fast 5ive, no doubt eyebrows will be raised. Disney will have had high-ish hopes for their new teen flick Prom. Looking to capture the audience that would not find Fast 5 that appealing, they were hoping for a $10 million weekend. However, when finals are released on Monday, Prom may not even do half that! Fri-Mon numbers show Prom did $5 million. Even though the budget was a small $9 million, Disney would have been hoping to make this back on opening weekend. This is already been called a 'bomb' and the proposed fast track sequel will no doubt be reconsidered.


But the biggest bomb of the weekend is awarded to the Weinstein Co kids pic, Hoodwinked 2 in 3D. Budgeted at $36 million, this only managed $4.1 million for the Fri-Sun weekend. Considering 75% of the public saw this in 3D, with the inflated ticket prices, this is being viewed as a massive flop. Tracking had this doing $9-10 million, but seeing as Fast 5ive over-performed slightly, maybe that took some business from the other new releases. Parents might have wanted to see Fast 5ive for themselves, rather sit through yet another kid flick. All in all, this is a fantastic weekend for Universal, the cast and crew of Fast 5ive and the health of the Box Office overall. Summer has came a week early, and about time too. 


The Top 10: 


1. Fast Five $83.6 
2. Rio $10.0 
3. Madea Big Happy Family$ 9.9 
4. Water for Elephants $9.1 
5. Prom $5 
6. Hoodwinked $4.1 
7. Soul Surfer $4.1 
8. Insidious $2.8 
9. Hop $2.2 
10. Scream 4 $2.1