(Universal Pictures/Amblin Entertainment via AP)
LOS ANGELES (AP) -- Dinosaurs are anything but extinct at the box office.
"Jurassic
World," the fourth film in the series, became the highest global opener
of all time with a staggering $511.8 million in its first days in
theaters. It also devoured a number of domestic box office records with a
$204.6 million take, the Rentrak media-measurement company estimated on
Sunday.
In addition to setting a record for
2015, "Jurassic World" is now the second-highest domestic opening of all
time, right behind "Marvel's The Avengers" which took in $207.4 million
in 2012. By the time Monday actuals roll in, there is a chance the film
could dethrone "Avengers."
It has been 14
years since there has been a new "Jurassic" film in theaters, and the
combination of cinematic grandeur, nostalgia and awareness helped
"Jurassic World" far surpass analyst predictions going into the weekend,
which had the film on track for a $125 million opening.
"This
over-performed in a way that I've never seen," Rentrak's Senior Media
Analyst Paul Dergarabedian said. "It broke the box office sound
barrier."
Universal Pictures and Legendary
co-financed the $150 million, PG-13 rated film. Audiences in every
quadrant turned out to see the film in theaters. According to exit
polls, 39 percent were under the age of 25, signifying the massive
interest of both a new generation and the continued enthusiasm of those
who saw "Jurassic Park" in 1993.
Also,
audiences shelled out the extra money to see the film in the biggest
format possible. About 48 percent of domestic audiences opted for 3D.
"It
is extraordinary. The film has resonated with audiences around the
world," said Nick Carpou, Universal's president of domestic
distribution.
Directed by Colin Trevorrow and
executive-produced by Steven Spielberg, "Jurassic World" is the third in
a series of blockbusters for star Chris Pratt, who also starred in the
2014 box office hits
"Guardians of the Galaxy" and "The Lego Movie."
"He's like Jimmy Stewart with a leather vest and muscles," Dergarbedian said. "He's a great modern-day action hero."
This
is also likely not the last "Jurassic" film audiences will see. Pratt
has stated in interviews that he has signed on for future installments.
But right now, Universal is focusing on what's in theaters.
"Jurassic World" is just the latest hit for Universal in 2015, following "Fifty Shades of Grey" and "Furious 7."
No
studio even tried to compete with the unbeatable dinosaurs this
weekend, and thus holdovers populated the rest of the top five. Melissa
McCarthy's "Spy" earned $16 million in its second weekend in theaters,
bringing its domestic total to $56.9 million. "San Andreas" added
another $11 million, and "Insidious Chapter 3" and "Pitch Perfect 2"
took the fourth and fifth spots, with $7.3 million and $6 million,
respectively.
The dino-sized debut of
"Jurassic World" is of utmost importance to the industry, too, which has
seen three consecutive down weekends in what was supposed to be a
record-setting summer.
"We got the wind back
in the summer sails," said Dergarabedian, citing upcoming films like
"Inside Out," "Mission: Impossible-Rogue Nation" and "Ted 2" as some of
the big films on the way. "This gets the summer back on track."
---
Estimated
ticket sales for Friday through Sunday at U.S. and Canadian theaters,
according to Rentrak. Where available, the latest international numbers
for Friday through Sunday are also included. Final domestic figures will
be released Monday.
1."Jurassic World," $204.6 million ($307.2 million international).
2."Spy," $16 million ($13.5 million international).
3."San Andreas," $11 million ($42.5 million international).
4."Insidious Chapter 3," $7.3 million ($6.7 million international).
5."Pitch Perfect 2," $6 million ($2 million international).
6."Entourage," $4.3 million ($1.8 million international).
7."Mad Max: Fury Road," $4.1 million ($5.4 million international).
8."Avengers: Age of Ultron," $3.6 million ($2 million international).
9."Tomorrowland," $3.4 million ($4.6 million international).
10."Love & Mercy," $1.8 million ($60,000 international).
---
Estimated
ticket sales for Friday through Sunday at international theaters
(excluding the U.S. and Canada), according to Rentrak:
1. "Jurassic World," $307.2 million.
2. "San Andreas," $42.5 million.
3. "Spy," $13.5 million.
4. "Insidious Chapter 3," $6.7 million.
5. "Mad Max: Fury Road," $5.4 million.
6. "Tomorrowland," $4.6 million.
7. "Hamari Adhuri Kahaani," $4.1 million.
8. "Stand by Me Doraemon," $4 million.
9. "Pitch Perfect 2" and "Avengers: Age of Ultron," $2 million.
10. "Entourage," $1.8 million.
---
Universal
and Focus are owned by NBC Universal, a unit of Comcast Corp.; Sony,
Columbia, Sony Screen Gems and Sony Pictures Classics are units of Sony
Corp.; Paramount is owned by Viacom Inc.; Disney, Pixar and Marvel are
owned by The Walt Disney Co.; Miramax is owned by Filmyard Holdings LLC;
20th Century Fox and Fox Searchlight are owned by 21st Century Fox;
Warner Bros. and New Line are units of Time Warner Inc.; MGM is owned by
a group of former creditors including Highland Capital, Anchorage
Advisors and Carl Icahn; Lionsgate is owned by Lions Gate Entertainment
Corp.; IFC is owned by AMC Networks Inc.; Rogue is owned by Relativity
Media LLC.
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Follow AP Film Writer Lindsey Bahr on Twitter at: http://twitter.com/ldbahr
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