High School Musical’s third film was tops at the box office.
“High School Musical 3: Senior Year” and “Saw V” divided and conquered the movie biz over the weekend, opening with $42 million and $30.5 million, respectively.
Total B.O. rose about 30% from the year-ago frame, according to studio estimates, in large part because the G-rated and hard-R auds were almost totally distinct.
On the limited scene, Universal got spectacular results from 15 runs of “Changeling” in nine markets. The Clint Eastwood-helmed pic bowed with $502,000, or $33,441 per house. It breaks wide Friday in about 1,800 runs.
B.O. returns were not so rosy for sophomores “Max Payne” and “W.” “Payne” fell 57% to $7.6 million and “W.” dropped 49% to $5.3. Cume for the George Bush pic is $18.8 million, with a gross in the $25 million range likely after a post-Election Day exit.
The weekend’s top two films each entered record territory. Opening for Disney’s “HSM3” is by far the biggest ever for a musical, besting “Mamma Mia!”
Lionsgate’s “Saw” franchise is within $2 million of eclipsing “Friday the 13th” to become the top-grossing horror series ever.
“High School Musical 3” also raked in $40 million from 22 overseas markets. At $82 million, it was the first worldwide No. 1 opener since “The Dark Knight.” Disney said 35% of global territories are still to come.
Estimated ticket sales for Friday through Sunday at U.S. and Canadian theatres, according to Media By Numbers LLC. Final figures will be released Monday.
1. “High School Musical 3,” $42 million.
2. “Saw V,” $30.5 million.
3. “Max Payne,” $7.6 million.
4. “Beverly Hills Chihuahua,” $6.9 million.
5. “Pride and Glory,” $6.3 million.
6. “The Secret Life of Bees,” $5.9 million.
7. “W.”, $5.3 million.
8. “Eagle Eye,” $5.1 million.
9. “Body of Lies,” $4.1 million.
10. “Quarantine,” $2.6 million.
[Credit: Variety / Media By Numbers]