'Lorax' Movie Has Year's Biggest Opening

'Lorax' cleans up at box office with $70.7M debut: "Dr. Seuss Lorax" fired in all types of green, earning $ 70.7 million in first weekend on the occasion of big box office debut of the year to date.

3-D animation film about a family for Universal Pictures, starring voices of Danny DeVito, Zac Efron and Taylor Swift, based on the importance of preventing Seuss fable for the environment. Opening his mail, $ 5.4 million, or 8 percent, came from the screens of IMAX, which is located on the high side for a family movie.

In second place with a strong start on its own R-rated was "Project X", a trio of school losers who throw a raging party in hopes of becoming popular. Warner Bros. comedy was about $ 20.8 million, studio estimates Sunday.

"Lorax" comes from the creators of "Despicable Me" - coverage of entertainment, led by producer Christopher Meledandri - and director Chris Renaud. This actually has more in the opening movie, which opened with $ 56.4 million in July 2010. He also scored the biggest opening for the adaptation of Dr. Seuss, in his head. $ 55.1 million, "How the Grinch Stole Christmas" did in 2000

Until that date, "The Oath" was the best start in 2012 with $ 41.2 million.

"I was shocked on Friday," when the "Lorax" of $ 17.4 million, said Nikki Rocco, Universal's president of domestic distribution. Then he made a huge jump on Saturday, earning $ 31.3 million. "Who would have expected such a result?"

Rocco explains the success of the film "a combination of) a great film, and b) an incredible marketing campaign, and b-more), you must have a family film market. I think it has a lot to do with it ....

"People like Dr. Seuss," she added, "and viewers now know, the lighting and Chris Meledandri, what he does."

High for the "Lorax" continues the trend of outperformance movies this year, said Paul Dergarabedian, box office analyst with Hollywood.com. Revenue rose 19 percent from this point in 2011.

"It's so different from what we saw last year and especially at the end of last year. Now it looks like a box office bonanza," said Dergarabedian ". What a turn from where we were last year with a week downtrend after a week and the lowest in 15 years of presence. If we continue at the pace we are going to look at the mass of the summer. "

Some huge extension this summer, said Dergarabedian, including "The Avengers",'' The Dark Knight Rises "and" The Amazing Spider-Man. "

Dergarabedian expected "Lorax" will open somewhere in the $ 45 to $ 50 million and wide as "Project X" in a few drawbacks, the programming would be in the high teens, "Warner Bros is perfect to put their R-rated, comedy is hot at the same weekend, as the "Lorax», and both films have done very well. "

Number one movie last week, "Courage," fell to third place with $ 13.7 million. Action with Relativity Media, which has a real active duty U.S. Navy SEALs, was more than $ 45.2 million as a whole.

Best Picture winner at the Academy Awards this year, silent, black and white "artist", hit on 34 percent of the last victory of his weekend. Weinstein Co. The film made $ 3.9 million to come in 10th place and now has collected more than 37 million.

Estimated income from Friday through Sunday at U.S. and Canadian theaters, according to Hollywood.com. If necessary, the latest international numbers are also included. Final figures will be released Monday citizens.



1. "Dr. Seuss' The Lorax," $70.7 million ($500,000 international).

2. "Project X," $20.8 million ($1.7 million international).

3. "Act of Valor," $13.7 million.

4. "Safe House," $7.2 million ($10.8 million international).

5. "Tyler Perry's Good Deeds," $7 million.

6. "Journey 2: The Mysterious Island," $6.9 million ($14.7 million international).

7. "The Vow," $6.1 million ($4.1 million international).

8. "This Means War," $5.6 million ($14.1 million international).

9. "Ghost Rider: Spirit of Vengeance," $4.7 million ($6 million international).

10. "The Artist," $3.9 million ($5.3 million international).

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Estimated weekend ticket sales at international theaters (excluding the U.S. and Canada) for films distributed overseas by Hollywood studios, according to Rentrak:

1. "Journey 2: The Mysterious Island," $14.7 million.

2. "This Means War," $14.1 million.

3. "Safe House," $10.8 million.

4. "War Horse," $10.6 million.

5. "Hugo," $10.25 million.

6. "The Devil Inside," $7 million.

7. "Chronicle," $6 million (tie).

7. "Ghost Rider: Spirit of Vengeance," $6 million (tie).

9. "The Woman in Black," $5.6 million.

10. "Intouchables," $5.4 million.

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Online:

http://www.hollywood.com

http://www.rentrak.com

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Universal and Focus are the property of NBC Universal, subdivision Comcast Corp, Sony, Columbia, Sony Screen Gems and Sony Pictures Classics are units of Sony, Paramount owned by Viacom Inc, Disney, Pixar and Marvel are owned by Walt Disney Co, Miramax owns Filmyard Holdings LLC, 20th Century Fox and Fox Searchlight owned by News Corp, Warner Bros and New Line are units of Time Warner Inc, MGM owns a group of former creditors including Highland Capital, Anchorage Advisors and Carl Icahn, Lionsgate owns Lions Gate Entertainment Corp, IFC owns AMC Networks Inc. ; Rogue owned by Relativity Media LLC.