LOS ANGELES: Man of Steel, the big-budget reboot of the Superman franchise, leaped over the apocalyptic buddy comedy This is the End, collecting a muscular $113.1 million to lead the domestic box office with the year’s second-largest debut weekend and the biggest June opening ever.
Man of Steel, starring British-born Henry Cavill in the first Superman movie released in seven years, carried a hefty budget of $225 million and took in a total of $125 million through Sunday, including early screenings, according to BoxOffice.com.
The special-effects laden film is the story of the infant Kal-El, who escapes his doomed home planet Krypton and grows up in the idyllic town of Smallville with his parents, played by Kevin Costner and Diane Lane. Amy Adams plays the budding super hero’s girlfriend Lois Lane.
The film, directed by Zack Snyder, with Christopher Nolan — who has directed movies such as The Dark Knight and Inception — serving as co-writer and one of its producers, added $71.6 million from overseas box offices in 24 markets.
“Today is a big day for us,” said Warner Bros’ president of theatrical distribution Dan Fellman, noting the film’s record opening. He added that Man of Steel was now well-poised to reap big box office winnings “in the heart of the summer play time.”
The studio was also pleased by 56% male, 44% female audience, which Fellman said bodes well being a higher-female makeup than was usual for superhero-centred pictures.
“The film is playing extremely well for fan boys, as well as the family,” he said.
This is the End, written by star Seth Rogen and his childhood friend Evan Goldberg, collected $20.5 million at theatres in the domestic market comprised of the United States and Canada, according to studio estimates collected by Reuters.
“We’re off to a really good start,” said Rory Bruer, Sony Pictures’ president of worldwide distribution.
Citing “great word of mouth,” Bruer predicted the movie “is going to be one of those films that’s going to be around for a good part of the summer. It’s so fresh and original,” he added.
The comedy, depicting the end of the world, stars more than a dozen well-known Hollywood actors, including James Franco, Jonah Hill, Michael Cera and Emma Watson.
In third place, the comedy heist caper Now You See Me, continued its stronger-than-expected showing, with ticket sales of $10.3 million, bringing its three-week total to $80 million.
Man of Steel came out of the gate roaring, with $9 million in midnight showings early on Friday morning, according to the box office division of Hollywood.com, adding $12 million in Thursday showings in association with retailer Walmart.
The film broke the record of $110.3 million held by 2010’s Toy Story 3 for a June opening and was this year’s second-biggest debut weekend after Iron Man 3.
The Purge, made for $3 million by the producer of the low-budget Paranormal Activity series, finished fifth with $8.2 million, behind the speeding car franchise’s sixth film, Fast & Furious 6, which took in $9.4 million in its fourth week of release for a total of $220 million since Memorial Day.
Published in The Express Tribune, June 18th, 2013.
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