Madagascar 3 Rules Weekend Box Office With $60.4 Million

Madagascar 3: Europe’s Most Wanted bested blockbuster action-flick Prometheus over the weekend with a box office haul of $60.4 million. In comparison Ridley Scott’s high-budget flick Prometheus scored $50 million.

The DreamWorks/Paramount Animated flick also managed $75.5 million in 28 international markets, taking its opening weekend box office receipts to $135.9 million.

While Prometheus fell behind Madagascar the R-rated flick played well in 50 international markets where it raised $91.5 million for a total international gross of $141.5 million. Prometheus cost $130 million to produce after tax incentives.

In May 2012 box office totals were down year-over-year and that downturn changed quickly in June with box office totals already up 30 percent from 2011 when Super 8 opened.

Returning to the cast of Madagascar 3 were voice regulars Ben Stiller, Chris Rock, Jada Pinkett Smith and David Schwimmer. Making their first appaerances were Frances McDormand, Martin Short, Jessica Chastain and Bryan Cranston

What might be the most impressive aspect of Madagascar 3: Europe’s Most Wanted is the films high rating among critics and fans, scoring an A- CinemaScore. That rating is the highest of all three Madagascar films.

Prometheus actually performed better than Madagascar on Friday but fell off by 25 percent on Saturday.

In the meantime Universal’s Snow White and the Huntsman finished in third place with $23 million, a 58 percent decline from the past weekend for a domestic haul of $98.5 million. Snow White also pulled in an additional $24.6 million from 52 territories for an international gross-to-date of $182 million.

Still performing well was Men in Black 3 which earned $13.5 million for a total worldwide take of $487.5 million.

And while its official run in theater’s may be winding down The Avengers still held onto the No. 5 spot with $10.8 million earned for a haul of more than $1.4 billion.