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Filed under: Box-Office News

'Watchmen' Manages $25.2 Million in Early Friday Box-Office Estimates

Looks like the record books are safe

BY: Brad Brevet | March 7th 2009 at 1:23 AM

Steve Mason has weighed in with early Friday estimates and Watchmen managed $25.2 million on opening day and he predicts it is on its way to a $62.5 million three-day weekend. I am sure Laremy, our Box-Office Oracle, will shed a tear as his lofty $88.5 million prediction won't be coming to fruition — sometimes using too much logic bites back.

Should Mason's prediction hold it will make Watchmen the fourth best opening for an R-rated film, the third best March opening, the twelfth best opening day for a non-sequel and the estimated $25.2 million opening day places it around number 32 among all films just above Indiana Jones and the Kingdom of the Crystal Skull.

While the opening weekend numbers are something everyone was looking at closely the success of Watchmen is likely to be determined over the next two weekends. Will it be able to hold strong or will it drop like a rock? Will word of mouth generate additional sales or will the general audiences simply wait for it on DVD as home video release windows shrink and the first of many releases is already scheduled for July with a 2009 holiday special edition expected to follow at the end of the year.

Mason estimates no other films will crack the $10 million mark for the weekend as Watchmen opened against no other major releases and Tyler Perry's Madea Goes To Jail will be closest in the second spot with an estimated $8.62 million take for the weekend.

I have included the early Friday estimates below, Laremy will be here on Sunday with a complete wrap-up.

  1. Watchmen (Warner Bros) – $25 million
  2. Tyler Perry's Madea Goes To Jail (Lionsgate) – $2.43 million
  3. Taken (Fox) – $2.21 million
  4. Slumdog Millionaire (Fox Searchlight) – $2.05 million
  5. He's Just Not That Into You (Warner Bros) – $1.3 million
  6. Jonas Brothers: The 3-D Concert Experience (Disney) – $1.27 million
  7. Paul Blart: Mall Cop (Sony) – $995,000
  8. Confessions of a Shopaholic (Disney) – $865,000
  9. Coraline (Focus) – $725,000
  10. Fired Up (Sony) – $700,000

Permalink   |   RSS Feed | 10 comments so far
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Post #1
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AWESOME movie! I just saw it and I am speechless…soooo much going on…yes its a long movie, but to me, i have never read any comic books, it was fucking awesome!

- aweandrew
( March 7th, 2009 | 4:23 am )
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Post #2
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How much did Watchmen cost to make?

- Dan Tralder
( March 7th, 2009 | 11:40 am )
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Post #3
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@Dan Tralder: I tried to get that information a while back and from what I could manage it looks like anywhere between $120-150 million before marketing. However, that is entirely unconfirmed and just a guesstimate based on conversations I've had.

- Brad Brevet (Post Author)
( March 7th, 2009 | 11:46 am )
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Post #4
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@Dan Tralder:

I think the estimated budget was around $120 million or so; It'll take a bit to make back the budget, but Watchmen should have no problem with that.

- Vince
( March 7th, 2009 | 11:48 am )
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Post #5
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Does that number include the 4.5 million from midnight showings? If so, then the records definitely safe…if not, I know all the IMAX showing in the NY area are sold out through the weekend, a sign that it might earn well through Sunday. I'd think the Saturday number will be somewhere between 26-28, which would put the film between (assuming the midnight showings are included in the 25.2 figure) 51-53 million. A 20 million Sunday could creep past 300's record, but The Matrix Reloaded's 91 is safe

- Chris C.
( March 7th, 2009 | 1:24 pm )
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Post #6
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The movie is taking way too much crap from critics. Saw it Friday night and loved it. It's not without faults but it beat my expectations, which were very lofty.

As for the weekend numbers, I expected higher but the number makes sense. I'm sure it will end up making plenty of profit (considering overseas numbers and the eventual DVD sales, which will probably be massive).

Overall though, it will probably be a pretty good success money wise.

- Trevor
( March 7th, 2009 | 6:03 pm )
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Post #7
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Gotta disagree. It's bad news on the financial front because of studio splits + WB having to cut FOX in on profits.

Watchmen would need to make about $500m worldwide in box office to start breaking even. Since that's no longer probable it will need a huge DVD push. Warner Bros. is probably chalking this one up as a moderate loss.

- Laremy
( March 7th, 2009 | 11:21 pm )
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Post #8
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@Laremy: Very good point and I have a feeling it won't do that great overseas

- Josh
( March 8th, 2009 | 12:35 am )
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Post #9
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It will do fantastic overseas, especially in Europe.

- matty
( March 8th, 2009 | 3:30 am )
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Post #10
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Why do you make dumb movies like Watchmen ?

Watchmen's budget can be used to make 7 Slumdog Millionaires .

Hollywood makes too much crap .

America watches too much crap .

16 of 24 Oscars this year went to non – Americans .

Quality of cinema in USA Is falling quite badly .

- MILEY
( March 8th, 2009 | 10:49 am )
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