28 June 2009 11:10 AM, PDT | Studio Briefing - Film News | See recent Studio Briefing - Film News news »
Paramount's Transformers: Revenge of the Fallen came within inches -- well, $2.6 million -- of overtaking last year’s The Dark Knight as the film with the best 5-day opening of all time. According to studio estimates, it grossed $201.2 million versus $203.8 for Warner Bros.’ Knight. The figure included estimated results for Sunday, therefore final actual ticket sales, to be released on Monday, could push the total past Knight’s record mark. Then again, the Los Angeles Times reported that some competing studios estimated that the total will come in closer to $197-199 million. The newspaper said that Paramount spent about $200 million to produce the film and $150-175 million on worldwide marketing and distribution. IMAX, which has been expanding its giant-screen venues (some critics contend that the size of the newer screens is being misrepresented), contributed $14.4 million to the gross. Although IMAX theaters accounted for less than 4 percent of those screening the movie, they nevertheless produced 7.2 percent of the estimated gross.
The Transformers sequel performed nearly as impressively overseas, raking in $162 million in 58 countries, including $21.9 million in China, setting a record for an English-language film in that country.
Few analysts thought the movie would make such an explosive debut, although virtually all expressed certainty that it would dominate the box office. Several predicted that after its sensational opening on Wednesday that it would be brought down by negative word-of-mouth that would echo the caustic reviews of the major critics. That failed to materialize, and instead the film produced solid results each day.
Warner Bros./New Line attempted to counter-program Transformers with the female-oriented My Sister's Keeper, but showed little success in doing so. The film opened with an estimated $12 million to place third. It had been expected to earn $15-20 million. »
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