A Long-Running Cineaste feature returns after a brief hiatus today.
“Twilight” three-peated during a slow weekend at the box office, while The Muppets remain in second place. From BoxOffice Mojo, here’s the weekend by the numbers:
| TW | LW | Title (click to view) | Studio | Weekend Gross | % Change | Theater Count /Change | Average | Total Gross | Budget* | Week # | |
| 1 | 1 | The Twilight Saga: Breaking Dawn Part 1 | Sum. | $16,900,000 | -59.5% | 4,046 | -20 | $4,177 | $247,300,000 | $110 | 3 |
| 2 | 2 | The Muppets | BV | $11,200,000 | -61.7% | 3,440 | – | $3,256 | $56,137,000 | $45 | 2 |
| 3 | 5 | Hugo | Par. | $7,625,000 | -32.9% | 1,840 | +563 | $4,144 | $25,188,000 | – | 2 |
| 4 | 4 | Arthur Christmas | Sony | $7,350,000 | -39.1% | 3,376 | – | $2,177 | $25,292,000 | – | 2 |
| 5 | 3 | Happy Feet Two | WB | $6,000,000 | -55.2% | 3,536 | -75 | $1,697 | $51,785,000 | – | 3 |
| 6 | 6 | Jack and Jill | Sony | $5,500,000 | -45.0% | 3,049 | +20 | $1,804 | $64,308,000 | $79 | 4 |
| 7 | 9 | The Descendants | FoxS | $5,200,000 | -29.2% | 574 | +184 | $9,059 | $18,087,000 | – | 3 |
| 8 | 7 | Immortals | Rela. | $4,394,000 | -50.5% | 2,627 | -50 | $1,673 | $75,588,000 | $75 | 4 |
| 9 | 10 | Tower Heist | Uni. | $4,100,000 | -42.9% | 2,404 | -70 | $1,705 | $70,800,000 | $75 | 5 |
| 10 | 8 | Puss in Boots | P/DW | $3,050,000 | -59.4% | 2,750 | -255 | $1,109 | $139,522,000 | $130 | 6 |
| 11 | 11 | J. Edgar | WB | $2,400,000 | -51.8% | 1,985 | +75 | $1,209 | $32,661,000 | $35 | 4 |
| 12 | 12 | My Week with Marilyn | Wein. | $1,180,000 | -32.6% | 244 | – | $4,836 | $3,861,000 | – | 2 |
With the second “Sherlock Holmes” feature about to hit theaters, The Observer of London runs down its list of the best fictional detectives. For me, the best on-page will always be Robert B. Parker’s Spenser. On-Screen, it’s Humphrey Bogart’s Sam Spade, hands-down.
Post your list in the comments section.
The Cineaste's Lament. 