Saw III Opens with $14.2 Million!

Necro

VIP Room Moderator

Saw III Opens with $14.2 Million!
Source: ShowbizData, Edward Douglas
October 28, 2006


Lionsgates' hit horror franchise looks like it will score big for the third Halloween weekend in a row as Saw III grossed an estimated $14.2 million in 3,167 theatres according to ShowbizData.com. That's compared to the $12.1 opening day of Saw II last October. That first day gross points to an opening weekend somewhere between $33 and $35 million compared to the $31.7 million debut of Saw II.

It didn't have very much competition as the next two movies, Christopher Nolan's The Prestige and Martin Scorsese's The Departed, each made less than $3 million on Friday.

The only other movie opening in wide release was Focus Features' South African drama Catch A Fire, starring Derek Luke and Tim Robbins, which didn't even place in the Top 10 on Friday, pointing to an opening weekend below $2.5 million.

On the other hand, Sony/Tristar's dark comedy Running with Scissors with Annette Bening made roughly $812 thousand in just 586 theatres on Friday, and it's likely to get into the bottom of the Top 10 over the weekend.

Check back on Sunday for full weekend estimates.

Blitzkrieg

Administrator

Good news for them. I wonder if they're going to just keep making them

Necro

VIP Room Moderator

From an interview I read in the past few days. He said that he was done making them, but I'm sure if the money was right he would...

Blitzkrieg

Administrator

Or they'll sell the rights to someone else.

Jayman

Super Moderator

Well I saw the movie last night....


****PARTIAL SPOILER!!!!!!!!!!!****












I have a hard time believing the COULD make another one. But that's my take. It would be great if they did! The movie was fantastic.

The following people rock:
Guardian Devil
Duke
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PeaceSells
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Simon

Necro

VIP Room Moderator

Saw III Chops Up the Competition
Source: Box Office Mojo, Edward Douglas
October 29, 2006


The ComingSoon.net Box Office Report has been updated with studio estimates for the weekend. Be sure to check back on Monday for the final figures based on actual box office.

This being the weekend before Halloween, Lionsgate released the third movie in their hit horror franchise Saw III, which opened with $14 million on Friday and wound up making an estimated $34.3 million for the weekend in 3,167 theatres, an average of $10,830 per site. That's an 8% increase above the opening of Saw II during the same weekend last year, before the sequel went on to make $87 million.

Martin Scorsese's star-studded crime drama The Departed was the first of three movies in the Top 12 to retain their position from last week, holding firmly to the #2 spot with $9.8 million. Having grossed $91 million this month, it's already become Scorsese's second highest grossing film, and it's likely to pass the gross of 2004's The Aviator by the time it leaves theatres.

Christopher Nolan's period mystery The Prestige dropped down to #3 with a second weekend take of $9.6 million for a total of $28.8 million, while Clint Eastwood's WWII epic Flags of Our Fathers added 300 theatres in its second weekend, grossing another $6.1 million to bring its total to just under $20 million.

Sony's computer-animated comedy Open Season dropped to fifth place with $6.1 million having grossed $77.3 million after five weeks, while Fox's family drama Flicka also dropped one place to #6 with $4.9 million.

Robin Williams and Barry Levinson's political comedy Man of the Year remained at #7 after adding another 100 theatres. Its $4.7 million weekend take brought its total to $28.9 million, as it pushed its way past Sony's horror sequel The Grudge which opened ahead of it three weeks ago but dropped another 57% in its third weekend to make $3.3 million. Its box office total as of this weekend is $36 million.

At #9, Sofia Coppola's third film Marie Antoinette, starring Kirsten Dunst, brought in $2.8 million million to bring its total gross to $9.7 million.

Expanding into 586 theatres, Augusten Burroughs' memoirs Running with Scissors, adapted and directed by "Nip/Tuck" creator Ryan Murphy, rounded out the Top 10 with $2.5 million.

Touchstone's Coast Guard drama The Guardian, starring Ashton Kutcher and Kevin Costner, was the third movie to hold its ground, remaining at #11 with $2.4 million as it crossed the $50 million mark this weekend.

Focus Features' South African drama Catch a Fire, starring Derek Luke and Tim Robbins, failed to find much of an audience, grossing just $2 million in 1,305 theatres to round out the Top 12.

Just outside the Top 12, Miramax's The Queen, starring Helen Mirren, continues to bring in business as it expands. Making $1.9 million in 152 theatres, it has grossed over $6 million while still in limited release.

Opening in 7 theatres in New York and L.A., Alejandro Gonzalez Iñarittu's global drama Babel, starring Brad Pitt and Cate Blanchett, made $366 thousand its opening weekend, averaging over $52 thousand per theatre. Paramount Vantage plans to open it nationwide on November 10.

The Weinstein Company documentary Shut Up & Sing, heralding the Dixie Chicks' 2003 problems stemming from a political comment made on stage, made $51 thousand in 4 theatres in New York and L.A.