Transformers: Dark of the Moon was the number one movie in theaters this holiday weekend snagging $97.5 million between Friday and Monday. Actually, it was released on Wednesday and in less than a week the total box office is an estimated $162.2 million. With a budget of $195 mil, the pic is closing in fast on recouping its costs.
Cars 2 dropped 60 percent from its first-place perch in its second week in theaters, but still landed in second position and raised an additional $26.1 million. The animated feature had a $200 mil budget and has recouped $117.1 mil to date. The good news is that the popular Disney franchises seem to have legs that last, which means Cars 2 could easily makes its money back.
Bad Teacher, starring Cameron Diaz and Justin Timberlake dropped from second to third place in its second weekend out. The movie picked up an additional $14.5 million and that brings its total box office to $59.9 mil…well past its $20 million production costs.
Larry Crowne, the romantic-comedy starring Tom Hanks and Julia Roberts hardly connected with moviegoers. The film, which received only lukewarm reviews, grabbed a meager $13.1 million over the holiday weekend. Mercifully for Universal, the flick only cost $30 million, so they should be able to make their money back…eventually.
Super 8 continued to entice moviegoers with an additional $7.8 million between Friday and Monday and managing to reach number five this holiday weekend. That brings the box office tally to $108.3 million – that’s over double the pic’s $50 mil budget.
Rounding out the top 10:
6. Monte Carlo: $7.4 million
7. Green Lantern: $6.5 million
8. Mr. Popper’s Penguins: $5.4 million
9. Bridesmaids: $3.6 million
10, Midnight in Paris: $3.5 million