Weekend Box Office: 'Captain America' opens behind 'Thor' but beats 'Harry Potter'

[The Clown Prince]

Though I may have to change the title if final numbers don't support that, because then that would make Thor the top film. But still Captain America: The First Avenger stormed the box office this weekend and became the latest superhero film this summer to top the box office in it's debut with $65.8 million! Besides taking in $4 million in midnight shows making it the highest midnight debut among the four superhero movie this summer X-Men: First Class ($3.38 million), Green Lantern ($3.35 million), and Thor ($3.25 million). It was also the highest opening among the four superhero films Thor ($65.7 million), X-Men: First Class ($55.1 million), and Green Lantern ($53.2 million).

Box Office Mojo notes that

Captain had nine percent greater estimated attendance than Thor, which received more bolstering from 3D (and had IMAX): Captain's 3D share was 40 percent at 2,511 3D locations, compared to Thor's 60 percent at 2,737.

It's RottenTomatoes score is currently at 73% with 98 Fresh and 36 Rotten.

Dropping one spot to second was Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows Part 2 which took a massive near 72% hit in business over it's record setting weekend last week. Box Office Mojo says on that

As moviegoers rallied 'round Captain America, they fled from Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows Part 2. The wizard wunderkind mustered an estimated $48.1 million, but its 72 percent fall was far more severe than past opening weekend record breakers The Dark Knight (53 percent), Spider-Man 3 (62 percent) and Pirates of the Caribbean: Dead Man's Chest (54 percent) and by far the worst yet for a Harry Potter movie. However, that spoke more to the fan frenzy of Deathly Hallows Part 2's opening day than to the fans' reaction to the movie, and, with a whopping $274.2million tally in ten days, Deathly Hallows Part 2 was still the fastest-grossing Potter yet, topping Deathly Hallows Part I's $219.1 million ten-day run. In fact, Deathly Hallows Part 2 posted the second highest-grossing ten-day opening ever, behind The Dark Knight's $313.8 million, and it ranked 15th in estimated attendance.

Opening in third place was the R rated comedy Friends with Benefits with $18.5 million.

In fourth place was Transformers: Dark of the Moon with $12 million and a $325.7 million total.

And rounding out the top 5 is Horrible Bosses with $11.7 million and a $82.4 million total.

Out of the top 12 is Mr. Popper's Penguins (13th), and Super 8 (14th) which leaves with $124.2 million on a $50 million production budget.

Opening next weekend are three new movies. First up is Cowboys and Aliens (rated PG-13) starring an impressive cast of Daniel Craig, Harrison Ford, Olivia Wilde, Sam Rockwell, Adam Beach, Paul Dano, Noah Ringer, Keith Carradine, Clancy Brown, Ana de la Reguera, and Abigail Spencer.

Up next is Crazy, Stupid, Love (rated PG-13) with Steve Carell, Ryan Gosling, Emma Stone, Julianne Moore, Marisa Tomei, Kevin Bacon, John Carroll Lynch, Jonah Bobo, Analeigh Tipton, Josh Groban, Liza Lapira, and Joey King.

Finally we have the live action debut of The Smurfs (rated PG) Neil Patrick Harris and Hank Azaria in the live roles with voices provided by Jonathan Winters, Alan Cumming, Katy Perry, Fred Armisen, George Lopez, Anton Yelchin, Kenan Thompson, Jeff Foxworthy, Jeff Oliver, Wolfgang Puck, Paul Reubens, B.J. Novak, Tom Kane, John Kassir, Joel McCreary, and Frank Welker.

Here are your numbers....


1) Captain America: The First Avenger- $65,827,000 ($65,827,000) NEW!
2) Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows Part 2- $48,065,000 ($274,182,000)
3) Friends with Benefits- $18,500,000 ($18,500,000) NEW!
4) Transformers: Dark of the Moon- $12,000,000 ($325,789,000)
5) Horrible Bosses- $11,720,000 ($82,402,000)
6) Zookeeper- $8,700,000 ($59,204,000)
7) Cars 2- $5,726,000 ($176,445,000)
8) Winnie the Pooh- $5,141,000 ($17,573,000)
9) Bad Teacher- $2,600,000 ($94,355,000)
10) Midnight in Paris- $1,899,000 ($44,878,000)
11) Bridesmaids- $1,346,000 ($163,853,000)
12) Larry Crowne- $1,030,000 ($34,338,000)

[Beat]

This is actually a huge surprise financially. Companies were pretty much calling superhero fatigue for Captain America to do poorly. I feel like that might have been the case except here it's still tied into the insane hype of the Avengers coupled with good word of mouth and critical review. So it all worked out.

[iluvtgif]

Great Job, Captain! Good Luck Smurfs, they're going to need it this weekend.

[Anime Freak]

I'm not too surprised by Captain's good numbers. Out of all the superhero movies this summer, Captain America was the one film I saw advertised most in previous movies. It also had a lot more commercial marketing than I feel xmen or green lantern did.

I forsee Cowboys and Aliens being #1 next weekend. And hoping Smurfs will bomb hard. There's been a lot of family movies this summer for families to choose from so hopefully the excitement for this one will be minimal.

[Ioz]

I said in last week's thread that I thought Captain America would do Thor type numbers and it did. I'm going to go watch it in about an hour.

[kid rabbit]

actully compared to past superhero movies all 4 underperformed none of them broke any records

[HG Revolution]

This is actually a huge surprise financially. Companies were pretty much calling superhero fatigue for Captain America to do poorly. I feel like that might have been the case except here it's still tied into the insane hype of the Avengers coupled with good word of mouth and critical review. So it all worked out.

I think Green Lantern sucked up the flop-energy this summer, allowing people to give Cap a chance.

[Takao]

That Potter drop isn't surprising at all. The bigger they are...

[suss2it]

actully compared to past superhero movies all 4 underperformed none of them broke any records

A movie doesn't have to break records in order to be a success.

[Temple Fugate]

A movie doesn't have to break records in order to be a success.

I think kid rabbit was responding more to the notion of theater-goers suffering super hero fatigue. I'd say it's a little early to call that one. If Dark Knight Rises and Avengers do poorer than expected next year, then it'll be much clearer whether that is the case. Right now, I see the box office takes of the four summer superhero films as a sign that we had a crowded summer and people were limiting their choices for financial reasons.

[Beat]

Super Hero fatigue I feel would apply to any new films with heroes in them. Avengers is set up as not only the culmination of all these other films, but THE movie event of 2012.

If a third party tries to do a super hero film though, they should probably hold off.

[Dragnatek]

I'm glad Cap Am came on top this week. I was worried that Harry Potter might take the one spot for the second week in a row.

[Blankments]

I'm very happy Captain America is doing well, and it should be able to keep up well in the upcoming weeks. Along with it being the first movie I saw at midnight, it's also become the first movie I've seen twice on opening weekend. It deserves all the money it gets.

[iluvtgif]

That Potter drop isn't surprising at all. The bigger they are...

The harder they fall.

[Superpan]

I personally think Captain America has done so well because more people know him or are at least aware of him than Thor or Green Lantern. So more people would want to see his movie.

[the greenman]

I noticed both films (cap and thor) had a lot of single ladies in the audience. The two Chris' pecs excercises paid off.

[Shift]

The harder they fall.

Don't you mean the more pancakes they can eat?

It's odd, I haven't been to see a super hero movie in theaters since the 3rd X-men, and I still don't feel any pull from any this summer. Glad other folks are enjoying 'em.

[Dragnatek]

No no it's "The more bones they break."

[Hanshotfirst113]

That Potter drop isn't surprising at all. The bigger they are...

The harder they fall.

I somehow doubt that Warner will be all that disappointed though. Lets face it, the hype finally wound down after a week or so. I'm sure it'll still be a success, to put it modestly.

[GWOtaku]

So much for people supposedly not caring about Cap or the idea of his limited appeal because his name is Captain America. Take that, cynics! I love how it did those numbers without IMAX (I totally would have seen that) and fewer 3D ticket sales than Thor (that's it! Starve the gimmick!). This really should be the year that teaches Hollywood to quit giving us half-baked 3D.

Potter's performance is in no way disappointing given Box Office Mojo's analysis...that ten-day performance is extraordinary, it beat Deathly Hallows part 1 by over 65 million dollars. The end result is what really matters, not how long it's #1 at the box office.