‘Transformers: Revenge of the Fallen’ became the highest-grossing pic of the year at the domestic B.O. with $293.5 million after 12 days out.
It was a win-win situation at the box office, with “Ice Age: Dawn of the Dinosaurs” raking in record international box office for an animated pic, while “Transformers:
Revenge of the Fallen” became the year’s domestic B.O. champ.
Opening on Wednesday to get the jump on the holiday weekend, 20th Century Fox’s “Ice Age 3″ won the five-day sesh with $67.5 million; the “Transformers” sequel took $65 million. The 3-D dinosaurs trampled the world’s box office, with the biggest opening ever for an animated film at $148 million. Worldwide total stands at $215.5 million.
For the three-day weekend sesh, “Ice Age” and “Transformers” raced to a rare tie, with $42.5 million. (The victor will likely be decided when the final numbers come in this ayem.)
“Revenge of the Fallen” lit up the holiday box office frame by becoming the highest-grossing pic of the year, with a domestic cume of $293.5 million in its 12th day in release. The only film to have amassed a higher gross in such a short time is “The Dark Knight.” Worldwide tally for “Transformers 2″ is a massive $591 million.
Universal’s Johnny Depp gangster pic “Public Enemies,” which also opened Wednesday, served as solid counterprogramming to the two tentpoles. Period piece, directed by Michael Mann, grossed $41 million in its first five days at the domestic B.O. and $5.3 million from five territories overseas, bringing worldwide cume to $46.3 million.
Distribs and exhibs were expecting a slow holiday Saturday, but the drop was even bigger than expected at 30% or more.
Estimated ticket sales for Friday through Sunday at U.S. and Canadian theaters, according to Hollywood.com. Final figures will be released Monday.
1 (tie). “Ice Age: Dawn of the Dinosaurs,” $42.5 million.
1 (tie). “Transformers: Revenge of the Fallen,” $42.5 million.
3. “Public Enemies,” $26.2 million.
4. “The Proposal,” $12.8 million.
5. “The Hangover,” $10.4 million.
6. “Up,” $6.6 million.
7. “My Sister’s Keeper,” $5.3 million.
8. “The Taking of Pelham 1 2 3,” $2.5 million.
9 (tie). “Year One,” $2.1 million.
9. (tie). “Night at the Museum: Battle of the Smithsonian,” $2.1 million.
[Credit: Variety / Hollywood.com]