Immortals hit the box office this weekend and performed higher than originally expected grossing $32m. These aren't titan earnings. They are rather good in this economy, but thoughts are with expecting higher grosses on a holiday weekend. Immortals opened Friday at approximately 900 locations offering midnight showings in 3D earning $1.4m. As Immortals expanded to over 3000 multiplexes nationwide, its final weekend performance came in down $4m from the revised weekend pace. 3D ticket sales, offered at a higher price point, did not bring in substantial revenue as compared to its 2D counterpart. Fanboy support for the genre and the actor(s) has been awarded credit with helping to make Immortals reach the numbers it did.
Read Immortals opens at $35m; Positioned for highest R-rated film of 2011
With an estimated film budget of $75m, it has faced mixed reviews from critics and movie-goers. Critics have primarily criticized the story for lack of continuity and story holes. Its Rotten rating is an embarrsing 37%. Reactions have varied much more from the audience: from high end praise to stating the script could have been better, while praising break out star Henry Cavill for his acting chops. Immortals also opened in foreign markets this weekend, such as China and Russia, and will continue to achieve foreign openings through the end of November.
Some critics have also called Immortals a poor remake of Clash of the Titans or a 300 knock-off. However, director Tarsem Singh has been clear it is neither, and expressed disagreement with marketing the movie as such. Ryan Kavanaugh, CEO for Relativity Media, previously explained the structuring of the agreements for foreign distribution reduces financial risk due to pre-sales in those markets. In response to the box office opening, a Relativity rep stated yesterday:
300 was absolutely a big success, but we are in a different economy, marketplace, and time of year[…] Young males have been hard to get over the past year. It’s a significant accomplishment that we got them. We are well positioned to be the 3rd highest R-rated film this year and the highest R-rated action film this year. This is a win for us.
Following at #2 was new release Jack and Jill at $27.5m and coming in 3rd was Puss in Boots at $27m in its 3rd week. Bringing up the rear at #10 was Real Steal with $2m in its 6th week. In one week The Twilight Saga: Breaking Dawn- Part 1 opens in the box office.
Also available on 11-11-11 from the iTunes store is Immortals: Gods and Heroes HD, an interactive graphic novel application for Apple iPhone and iPad users. From Archaia Entertainment and produced in partnership with Relativity Media, it tells the story of the war in the heavens, offering the background story up to the point of the movie and providing an immersive Immortals experience. Click here to view the HD video teaser.
Read Immortals: Gods and Heroes HD application ties to movie release on Nov 11
Directed by Tarsem Singh and written by Charley and Vlas Parlapanides, Immortals stars Henry Cavill as Theseus, Mickey Rourke as King Hyperion, Luke Evans as Zeus, Freida Pinto as Phaedra, and Stephen Dorff as Stavros. In theaters now, Immortals is rated R for scenes of strong bloody violence and a sexual scene. This movie is not recommended for audiences under 18 years of age.
Phoenix area residents can find the movie playing in theaters now in 3D and 2D.
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