We have yet another overachiever this weekend, as The Lorax opened to a whopping $70 million, the largest opener for a film in 2012. The film, which received an impressive ‘A’ CinemaScore, has set the record for the highest-grossing non-sequel animated/family film of all-time. (I know, it’s a mouthful.)
Here’s the top five from the weekend’s box-office:
1. The Lorax – $70.7 million – Newcomer – (review) |
59%
2. Project X – $20.7 million – Newcomer – (review) |29%
3. Act of Valor – $13.7 million (-44%) – Week Two – (review) |29%
4. Safe House – $7.3 million (-34.1%) – Week Four – (review) |53%
5. Tyler Perry’s Good Deeds – $7 million (-55%) – Week Two |29%
While clearly there is always a demand for a children’s film, and a Dr. Seuss adaptation will mean the parents are more likely to take their children, this opening seems a bit extreme. Not to take away from the clear popularity of the film (it did get an ‘A’ CinemaScore, after all), but it’s more than likely that at least of portion of the ticket sales for The Lorax came from younger teenagers trying to sneak into Project X, which has gotten a lot of attention as being a bad influence for a younger audience. This type of attention usually means that audience will seek out the movie even harder. Anyway, it’s just a theory, but I don’t think a single prognosticator had The Lorax opening anywhere near this strong.
Do you have any theories on this? Were you able to make it out to the theater this weekend? Perhaps you were a part of the $3.8 million accumulated by Best Picture-winner The Artist?