Box office estimates for the weekend of April 29 - May 1 1. Fast Five -- $83.6 million | 3,644 | $83.6 million | 1 [TSR - 6/10]
2. Rio -- $14.4 million | 3,708 | $103.6 million | 3 [TSR - 6/10]
3. Madea's Big Happy Family -- $10.1 million | 2,288 | $41.1 million | 2 [TSR - 5/10]
4. Water for Elephants -- $9.1 million | 2,820 | $32.3 million | 2 [TSR - 5/10]
5. Prom -- $5.0 million | 2,730 | $5.0 million | 1 [TSR - 5/10]
Source: www.boxofficemojo.com
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As predicted by everyone here at TSR: fastest out of the gate this weekend was the fifth installment of the Fast/Furious franchise. Bringing in a record breaking $83.6 million domestically, Fast Five left all competition in the dust, and fared far better than even the most optimistic estimates. This was the most lucrative opening for the franchise to date, which all but ensures a sixth film's production. It was also the most lucrative opening so far in 2011.
Rio ran a strong third weekend pulling in another $14 million, bringing itself that much closer to the year's reigning champion, Rango. With pole position though, Fast Five is guaranteed to surpass both films, and will very soon find itself in the coveted top slot for 2011. Look for a mega-franchise, such as Pirates of the Caribbean and/or Transformers to be the first to dethrone the nitrous-infused escapade.
Tyler Perry's current comedic romp placed third, bringing in another $10 million, and Water for Elephants garnered a respectable fourth place with $9 million.
Rounding out the top five this weekend was Prom, which managed a mere $5 million. Considering this was Prom's debut weekend, and that it played at nearly 3,000 theaters, $5 million an embarrassing low figure, especially considering how much Disney marketed the film. Apparently, the allure of "the most important night of your life" has grown passe. Either that, or the film was just a lackluster attempt at capturing such. Heck, both preceding statements could be true. Yeah, I'd vote for both. Look for Prom and any related memories to disappear fast.
Calhoun Kersten vs. Aaron Ruffcorn
Each weekend Kersten and Ruffcorn go head to head in the Box Office Challenge, trying to pick the correct Top 5. This weekend ... Ruffcorn Wins! Season record: 1-1 Thoughts by TSR: Ruffcorn ties it up, but just barely. Given that Kersten's Fast Five prediction of $23 million was a whole $60 million off, and that Ruffcorn's prediction of $45 million was a mere $38 million off (LOL), we're going to have to give this week to Ruffcorn.
Ruffcorn did earlier claim he'd eat his hat if Fast Five made $73 million in its first weekend (a figure predicted by Jeff Bayer), and it should be reported that Ruffcorn has (literally) eaten his Milwaukee Brewers baseball cap, and that he's confirmed that it was both delicious and no great loss.