by Matt Marshall
For the second time in 2013, Hugh Jackman is atop the weekend box office. His latest child kidnapping thriller, Prisoners debuted over the weekend in the top spot with over $21 million. While Prisoners is Jackman’s weakest opening since 2008’s Australia, the film has received plenty of critical praise.
Falling 64% from last weekend, Insidious: Chapter 2 settled for second place, scaring up an additional $14 million in its second week. Insidious: Chapter 2 continues to trail James Wan’s other supernatural film from this year, The Conjuring. Insidious: Chapter 2 is already one of the most successful horror films of 2013, but ultimately miss the century mark.
The rest of the Top 5 this weekend offered plenty of surprises as well. Instructions Not Included returned after dropping to sixth place last week, while newcomer Battle of the Year claimed a fifth place debut.
Note: These #’s are based on Sunday’s projections and can change with Monday’s actual #’s.
#1 – Prisoners (NR)
$21.4 million / $21.4 million total
Could Hugh Jackman be looking at his fourth $100 million hit in the past 12 months? A long shot, but possible. Debuting at #1 this weekend, crime thriller Prisoners has arrived at the right time. Oscar-bait films replace the summer blockbusters in the charts and yes, Prisoners kicks off the golden season with a bang. Critics and audiences alike are labeling Prisoners as one of the most riveting films of 2013 and that by itself should spark strong word of mouth.
#2 – Insidious: Chapter 2 (1)
$14.5 million / $60.9 million total
Insidious: Chapter 2 has already spent 10 days in theaters and outgrossed its 2011 predecessor’s entire run. But as expected, this supernatural sequel has burnt up the majority of its run thanks to weak dailies and a 64% decline in its sophomore frame. Right now, Insidious: Chapter 2 is behaving exactly like Paranormal Activity 2, which ended its frontloaded run under $85 million. Insidious will follow suit.
#3 – The Family (2)
$7.0 million / $25.6 million total
Just like with last week’s Insidious: Chapter 2, Robert DeNiro’s The Family dropped like a rock. While a 50% decline isn’t a total free fall, it’s not great either. With four new releases scheduled for this Friday, expect another hard hit to knock The Family out of the Top 5 and straight to a quick home release. See you soon on Netflix, DeNiro.
#4 – Instructions Not Included (6)
$5.7 million / $34.3 million total
Instructions Not Included has been so unpredictable the past few weeks, even the most experienced box office analysts have been left astounded. Last week, Instructions dropped out of the Top 5, yet this week it unexpectedly returns to fourth place. Adding less than 50 more theaters to its total count, Instructions increased 17% from last weekend, jumping over We’re the Millers and The Butler.
#5 – Battle of the Year (NR)
$5.0 million / $5.0 million total
Going into the weekend, it wasn’t a guarantee that Battle of the Year would even sneak in the Top 5. Dance films come from a niche genre and outside of the Step Up franchise, it’s extremely difficult getting people into seats for these type of movies. Opening in little over 2000 theaters, Battle of the Year, starring Chris Brown, danced its way to a weak $5 million. Even with the 3D surcharge slapped on, Battle of the Year is one of the lowest openers of 2013.
Opening Next Week: Cloudy with a Chance of Meatballs 2, Don Jon, Baggage Claim, Rush (expanding), Metallica Through the Never (IMAX exclusive)
Source: Box Office Mojo
ABOUT THE AUTHOR:
Matt Marshall is a YouTube movie reviewer who hosts MNMreviews. He has a B.A. in Communications/Journalism from St. John Fisher College and resides in Rochester, NY.
