Studio estimates have put director Kathryn Bigelow’s controversial drama Zero Dark Thirty at the top of the weekend box office.
Although the film has been playing in select markets since December, the film didn’t open wide until January 11. According to Flix 66 , the decision to expand into more markets ultimately paid off in the end. Estimates suggest Bigelow’s flick generated around $25 million.
Director Ruben Fleischer’s delayed Gangster Squad is likely to debut in second place with approximately $18 million in ticket sales. The late 40s crime drama was originally slated to arrive in theaters towards the end of the summer. However, the tragic shooting at a movie theater in Aurora, Colorado prompted Warner Bros. to push the film back until early 2013.
Cinema Blend reports that Zero Dark Thirty brought in $9.6 million on Friday, whereas the Ryan Gosling gangster flick snagged around $6.6 million. The Marlon Wayans comedy A Haunted House , a spoof of “found footage” movies like “Paranormal Activity,” earned $6.5 million on opening day. Estimates put the movie’s box office total at around $17 million.
Lionsgate’s gory horror outing Texas Chainsaw 3D experienced a dramatic drop in receipts between this week and last. Although the horror movie opened in the first place position last weekend, Chainsaw plummeted all the way to ninth place with an estimated $5.5 million in receipts.
Outside of the this weekend’s new releases, the Top 10 hasn’t really changed too much from last weekend. Quentin Tarantino’s Django Unchained , Steven Spielberg’s Lincoln , and Tom Hooper’s Les Miserables continue to post strong numbers despite being in theaters for several weeks.
The list of estimates has been included below.
1. Zero Dark Thirty , $26 million 2. Gangster Squad , $18 million 3. A Haunted House , $17 million 4. Django Unchained , $11.5 million 5. Les Miserables , $10 million 6. The Hobbit: An Unexpected Journey , $9 million 7. Lincoln , $6.5m 8. Parental Guidance , $6 million 9. Texas Chainsaw 3D , $5.5 million 10. Silver Linings Playbook , $5 million
Did you contribute to the box office totals this weekend?