One of the most peculiar and interesting clashes at the
North American box office has taken a mind-boggling turn, as a bunch of
vivacious teenagers managed to outclass an obsessed killer, while moviegoers
revealed their bloody and less gory preferences during harsh economic times.
The Walt Disney Company’s joyful “High School Musical 3:
Senior Year” sang and danced its way to the top spot of the weekend’s box
office, grossing an impressive $42 million, and proving its absurd popularity
among young audiences once again, according to studio estimates released on
Sunday.
On the other hand, Lionsgate’s horror sequel “Saw V” earned
$30.5 million, in step with the last three installments of the blood-drenched
franchise, and claimed the second position.
The top 12
productions helped boost Hollywood revenues, as they
obtained a total of $120.5 million and registered an increase of 41 percent
compared to the same weekend last year, when “Saw IV” reigned at the box office
after a $31.8 million opening.
Jigsaw and his follower may have numerous fans, but teen
spirit seems to be the most energetic even when it comes to films. Thus, the
crowds of young people and their parents, eager to see their graduating heroes
played by Zac Efron, Vanessa Hudgens, Ashley Tisdale, Lucas Grabeel and Corbin
Bleu, packed theaters and exceeded the number of “Saw” admirers.
“High School Musical 3: Senior Year” also took in $40
million in 19 other countries where it debuted, including Britain,
Germany and Spain.
Mark Zoradi, president of Disney’s motion-picture group,
explained that the enduring love story of teenagers Troy
and Gabriella drew impressive audiences of young girls, who had already been
acquainted to the television series.
“There’s no question there’s a female skew to it and a
family skew to it,” Mark Zoradi said, as reported by The Associated Press. “The
movie is working not only to that core preteen audience, but also aging up a
little bit and also bringing in some boys.”
“Pride and Glory,” a Warner Bros. police movie starring
Edward Norton and Colin Farrell, earned an anemic $6.3 million during its first
weekend in theaters, enough only for the fifth spot.
“Max Payne,” the video game turned into movie that reigned
last weekend at the box office, slipped to No. 3 with $7.6 million and took its
10-day total to $29.7 million, while
Clint Eastwood and Angelina Jolie are off to a good start,
as “Changeling” grossed $502,000 in limited release, playing only in 15
theaters,. The movie depicting a mother whose son is missing averaged a
remarkable $33,441 per cinema, while “High School Musical 3” averaged $11,593
per cinema. “Changeling” is scheduled for nationwide release on Friday.
Another production in limited release, Charlie Kaufman’s
“Synecdoche, New York,” gained
$172,926, although it opened in nine theaters, averaging $19,214.
“Beverly Hills Chihuahua”
grossed $6.9 million and claimed the fourth spot, while “The Secret Life of
Bees” came in sixth with $5.9 million. Oliver Stone’s much talked about “W.”
took in $5.3 million, enough for No. 7, followed by “Eagle Eye” with $5.1
million, “Body of Lies” with $4.1 million and “Quarantine” with $2.6 million.
Overall, “High School Musical 3” is up to an outstanding start, as the film cost an estimated $13 million to produce, an anemic budget taking into account the fact that an average studio production usually costs over $70 million, according to the Motion Picture Association of America.
Recent movies, such as “Body of Lies” or “W.,” which benefited from A-list casts and directors were unable to surpass the $20 million mark, so this is more than a success for the Disney picture, whose fourth installment can be already foreseen.
