Nothing too sensational this weekend, though “Black Swan” did extremely well in limited release. (The Academy screening was held this weekend and I hear there was very little response.) “127 Hours,” meanwhile, is crawling to $10 million.
(Courtesy: Exhibitor Relations)
Comments
38 responses to “BOX OFFICE: ‘Tangled’ tops”
“The Academy screening was held this weekend and I hear there was very little response.”
Meaning people didn’t seem to love it? Dammit.
Yeah, what does very little response mean, Kris?
Little response in the theater, or little response afterwards? etc.
Public/user reviews are very high on it no matter which site I visit. I hope AMPAS goes for it.
It’s the best film I’ve seen this year (Black Swan, that is) right there with ‘I Am Love’. Both are ambiguous, challenging films, hence why they AMPAS isn’t going for it. W/E.
Though I must say, if I have to watch Bening take home the Oscar rather than Portman, I’mma go apeshit. Her work in this film was nothing short of astonishing, particularly the last twenty minutes.
I actually wouldn’t be shocked if Black Swan gets only one nomination for best actress, sure it has gained a lot of buzz in the last few days but it doesn’t seem like the type of film AMPAS goes for.
I know the genre argument was brought up in one of the podcasts for The Town and Black Swan, but whereas I think The Town could be compared to films that won BP like The French Connection and The Departed, I’m can’t recall any film like Black Swan that was even nominated. Not saying it can’t get in, but I don’t see how it is a sure thing as I’ve seen some suggest.
Good to see Tangled win the b.o., I caught up with the film this afternoon and it is charming- my new #8 of the year.
Little response means there wasn’t a reaction, no applause, etc.
“Tangled” beating “Deathly Hallows” is a pretty big deal. If my box office knowledge is correct, the last time a film that opened to less-than-first went to first on a later weekend was “How to Train Your Dragon,” and the last time before that was a few years ago with the first “Narnia” movie. It’s not a common occurence at all.
It is very common on this particular weekend. The Blind Side did it last year.
@ Ben
The film that comes to mind for me that’s most similar recently(ish) to Black Swan is Mulholland Dr. And seeing as that got completely shunned by the Academy except for a nomination for Lynch, I wouldn’t be terribly surprised to see the film get snubbed, and to see Portman get snubbed as well.
Hmm, I wonder if the ‘no reaction’ wasn’t necessarily a bad thing? I don’t know the ending yet – but isn’t it supposed to be pretty breathless? BS doesn’t seem like the type of movie to make audiences erupt into applause (appreciative to the filmmakers or not).
I haven’t seen Black Swan but from what I’ve been reading it strikes me as maybe the kind of picture that is not necessarily going to incite major applause, cheering etc. so maybe not too much should be read into the Academy screening reaction.
As I said though I haven’t seen it. Kris, I’d be interested to hear your thoughts.
I think Black Swan’s fate with the AMPAS will undoubtedly rest with the younger members of the Academy. Not to say that all members over the age of 60 will hate it, but it seems like the majority of Black Swan’s fanbase is significantly younger. Hopefully those people will put it at #1 on their ballots.
JJ1 just beat me to it.
Yeah, the ending of Black Swan doesn’t really invite applause. I saw it opening night and one person tried to clap, and I normally would have joined in, but it just seemed inappropriate.
So- I don’t think a non-response should be read into.
Haha, I just saw that deeks. :)
JJ/deeks: AMPAS is applause-happy when it comes to films they love. And Black Swan got that kind of reaction out of me and a great many in the two audiences I saw it with, so take it for what it’s worth. I do agree with what Isaiah said, though.
The Fighter also screened this weekend for AMPAS, to a small crowd.
K, thanks for the insight/info, Kris. :)
I think that Academy screenings draw a very small minority of the Academy, who do not necessarily represent the Academy at large, so the Oscar blogger reliance on them for indicators is increasingly absurd.
Just saw Black Swan this afternoon, and the reaction sounds kind of similar to the AMPAS one. I heard a few people at the ending trying to start clapping, but no one really caught on with that and people just started to walk out of the theater. There were also audience members laughing at more parts of the movie than I think were really intended… but I still liked it.
Clapping after a movie is eminently gauche.
Toy Story 3 – $414,806,932 (no longer in most theatres *there are a handful of IMAX showings nationwide)
Inception – $292,316,474
How To Train Your Dragon – $217,581,231 (no longer in theatres)
Shutter Island – $128,012,934 (no longer in theatres)
The Town – $91,532,604
The Social Network – $90,966,000
The Kids Are Alright – $20,811,365 (no longer in theatres)
127 Hours – $6,593,000
Winter’s Bone – $6,226,773
Black Swan – $1,394,000
The King’s Speech – $809,000
Looking at those numbers I can really see Shutter Island getting into the BP 10. Certainly wouldn’t be my pick (god I hated that movie) but you can’t argue with it’s box office. Shutter Island made close to 300m worldwide.
Shark: I don’t rely on them as indicators by any means, but they can be fairly representative of the overall take of a film. See any number of examples over the last few years.
Don’t shoot the messenger.
It’s odd that Hollywood considers the post-Thanksgiving weekend a dumping ground. Yes, people are surely spent and broke after all the moviegoing and shopping during Thanksgiving, but at the same time, if you were to open a really big movie on this weekend, no doubt people would go see it. Would Tron Legacy do so much poorer if it opened this weekend than in two weeks?
Anyway, great for the indie releases.. At least they are able to thrive on this weekend.
I mean when I saw “Black Swan” both times there were little applause, but its wasn’t because it wasn’t received well, it was due to the shock and awe the audience was in. Walking out of the theater everyone was praising it. I mean the way the film ends, it’s not not really an ending in which one immediately leaps out of their seat in applause. Aronofsky knew that, and that is probably one of the reasons there is applause playing on the track at the end.
Just to point out, the ending does reminds me a bit of “I Am Love” though
Black Swan is the kind of film that’ll inspire passion among those who loved it though, and in terms of the Oscars, what you need more than anything is to be placed at the top of the ballot.
Compare that with a film like The Town, which might be more well-liked overall than something like Black Swan, but how many voters are going to feel so passionate about it that they’ll put it at the top of the list?
Graysmith: You miss the point of what’s really valuable with this balloting system. The Town will likely be #2 and #3 on a bunch of ballots (I’m betting), much like The Blind Side last year. Depending on what’s in the #1 spot on those ballots, of course, I think that will play to its benefit.
“More well-liked overall” is what bubbles to the top in this scheme more than concentrated passion.
Extremely happy for “Tangled.”
Black Swan is just too cool for the Academy to handle.
Looking forward to seeing Tangled a second time, I loved it the first time but went to a matinee screening on Saturday which was basically overcrowded with little kids and I CAN’T STAND seeing movies with little kids! I think it has already surpassed expectations and once it starts to get released in more countries overseas it will surely start to make a sizable profit.
Anyone know how wide ‘127 Hours’ will get to, given the somewhat-of-a-stall?
Black Swan is benefiting from a very real 3D bump. In viewers’ pants.
Oh yeah, it’s real.
I certainly understand your point of “More well-liked overall” Chris, but wouldn’t you agree that a small-fanbase passion film like “Black Swan” benefits from the preferential ballot system. “A Serious Man” certainly got in under those circumstances last year.
*Kris (Sorry about that)
Yes, I would, but the problem is I don’t know if that base is big enough to get it there on the first round. Because Black Swan isn’t likely to be a #2 or #3 film on many ballots.
you think so Kris?
i’m not sure.
i mean for me personally it is at number 2 now (behind the social network)
but i suppose there’s gonna be a lot of people out there like me who think it’s a little too over the top to be THE best, but it’s audacious and ambitious enough to be unique and different in its own way. (which is always something to appreciate)
Thanks Chad, I didn’t know that.
Kris,
Do you know,if “The Way Back” was screened for AMPAS already?
Thank you.
I saw Black Swan in Venecia and loved it, and I could not applause by the ending, I was in shock…
This site is kind of anti-Black Swan in a subtle way, as the old academy members like… It´s almost the only one of the oscars bloggers which hasn´t Black Swan in any category but actress as a possible nomination, and that´s just a little bit too much… Not even cinematography, score, costumes etc… Sorry but Black Swan deserves more than actress nod, much more.. This is just my opinion though