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Friday the 13th Still Lucky at Box Office with $42 Million

February 16, 2009

Shopaholic buys up a $15 mil opening Derek Mears is one scary Jason

By Keith Williams

HOLLYWOOD, CA (RushPRnews-Hollywood Today) 2/16/09 — Slashing his way back to the big screen after an absence of six years, Jason Voorhees kill kill kill kill killed an estimated $42.2 million at 3105 lakeside camps, making the new remake of Friday the 13th the most popular film in America over the three-day weekend. Seen scurrying into the woods for safety, Confessions of a Shopaholic admitted to spending $15.4 million at 2507 boutiques, leaving the new Naomi Watts/ Clive Owen thriller The International to withdraw a lacklustre $10 million from 2364 eurobanks.



Directed by Marcus Nispel, rebooter of 2003’s Texas Chainsaw Massacre, this twelfth outing for Jason opening as big as it has suggests a new splatter franchise has been reborn, keeping Freddie Krueger no doubt waiting impatiently in the wings. Of all the F13s made, only the original and part VI were worthy of note, the rest being repetitive and tedious, despite an attempt to machete audiences more convincingly in 3D with the third offering. Should that newly revamped system continue to obsess studio executives, and leave audiences puzzled and angry as to why they have to keep buying the throwaway glasses time after time again, don’t be surprised to see the next sequel trot out those pricey glasses, hoping that fans desperate for in-your-face action will attend in similar numbers to those who turned out for My Bloody Valentine 3D.



The other two major releases of the long weekend fared less well, with Confessions of a Shopaholic proving itself to be the poorer cousin of Sex and the City and He’s Just Not That Into You. More The Devil Doesn’t Wear Prada, this latest chick-flick offering suffered not so much from scathing reviews as questionable timing. In periods of economic stress, audiences will gladly pay to see films that provide a bit of glamor and cheer them up. However, to see that glamor coupled with recklessness is another matter entirely, and coupled with a non-star cast, provided no incentive for would-be romantics to fork out twelve bucks and receive little Valentine’s Day love in return.

Naomi Watts and Clive Owen’s latest, The International, a heist thriller from director Tom (Run, Lola, Run) Twyker, alas came a cropper, despite its topical villains - banks. With a vibe similar to that of 2005’s The Interpreter - starry cast, european locations, boring title - it’s hardly surprising that this failed where Taken has so spectacularly succeeded. Luc Besson may make schlock rather than pertinent political thrillers, but at least you don’t fall asleep or come out wondering why you ever bothered.

Pushed into second place, HJNTIY dropped by 29.4% to take $19.6 million, Taken in third a barely believable decline of 6.3% for $19.2 million ($77.9 million so far), Coraline a 9.1% drop for $15.3 million, while Paul Blart: Mall Cop actually rose by 7.5% to secure another $11.7 million for the kitty. Falling to no 7 in its second week by 22.3%, Pink Panther 2 stole a fading $9 million, Slumdog Millionaire correctly guessed $7 million on the whisper of 0.4% decline, leaving the top ten exit door beckoning Push, down by 31.2% for a time-bending $6.9 million.

Sincerest apologies incidentally are in order for Pink Panther 2, having credited its awful direction to Shawn Levy. The awful direction was in fact committed by Harald Zwart.

Weekend Estimates courtesy boxofficemojo.com

Hollywood Today

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