WEEKEND TOP 5 STUDIO ESTIMATES, JUNE 5-7, 2009 Rank. Movie Title - Weekend Gross | Theaters | Total Gross | Week # 1. The Hangover - $44.9 million | 3,269 | $44.9 million | 1
2. Up - $44.1 million | 3,818 | $137.3 million | 2
3. Land of the Lost - $19.5 million | 3,521 | $19.5 million | 1
4. Night at the Museum: Battle of the Smithsonian - $14.7 million | 3,807 | $127.3 million | 3
5. Star Trek - $8.4 million | 3,202 | $222.8 million | 5
Source: Box Office Mojo (www.boxofficemojo.com)
Call it a comeback. All signs pointed to Pixar's Up winning the box office for the second week in a row, but then a funny thing happened on the way to the finish line ... The Hangover rebounded (as most do).
It's shocking that Sunday was so strong for the R-rated comedy, but I have a hunch why ... those end credits. It leaves you on such a high note that you can't help but talk to everyone you know about it.
And the movie nobody wants to talk about anymore, the under-performing Land of the Lost. It just makes you think that there's no reason to pay for Will Ferrell and all those special effects when you can have the cheaper names of Bradley Cooper, Zach Galifianakis and Ed Helms plus twice the money.
Guess what this does do ... Put Old School Dos (yes, that's the working title on Old School Part 2) on the map. Todd Phillips is in the perfect position to get Ferrell back and the studio to give up the cash for the sequel.
I'll have more on this later in the week, when I post my interview with Phillips ... sorry it's late, but look, I was in Greece for 10 days, and I'm on no sleep. Please forgive me.