Godzilla Is A Monster At The US Box Office
Though the film has had mixed reactions – and it’ll be interesting to see how it plays in its second weekend – Gareth Edwards’ first big studio effort has already earned huge dividends. Godzilla is a hit out of the gate, drawing in an impressive $93.2 million in the US on its first weekend of release.
Add to that a successful opening overseas and the film has $196.2 million in the bank in just a few days, easily surpassing its $160 million production budget and likely headed into healthy profit within the next week or so. Despite opening the weekend before the unofficial Memorial Day kick off of summer across the pond, the film has seen huge excitement from punters and benefitted from IMAX and 3D earning power. Compared to the 1998 version’s $44 million opening, this is a resounding success, opening the door wide for a sequel, something that will be covered in another story…
With the big beast stomping all over the competition, (Bad) Neighbours was shaken down to second place, but still held well, earning $25.9 million this weekend. The Amazing Spider-Man 2 lost its grip on second, falling to third with $16.8 million, which gives it $172.1 million in the US so far. Disney attempted to counter-program Godzilla’s arrival, betting on inspirational based-on-reality baseball tale Million Dollar Arm. It earned in line with the Mouse House’s expectations, scoring $10.5 million. It pushed revenge rom-com The Other Woman down to fifth, with the Cameron Diaz / Leslie Mann film earning $6.3 million.
Heaven Is For Real landed sixth with $4.4 million, while Fox/Blue Sky’s Rio 2 was seventh, taking home $3.8 million. Captain America: The Winter Soldier fell to eighth, earning $3.7 million, not bad considering it has been in the charts for seven weeks now. That has notched up $250.6 million in the States alone. ‘Toon Legends Of Oz: Dorothy’s Return was ninth, taking in $1.95 million and Moms’ Night Out fell from seventh to 10th, making $1.9 million.
To see a giant radioactive beast fight Seth Rogen in the full chart listings, head to Box Office Mojo.
