Posted on 11/04/2006 8:57:52 AM PST by meg88
UPDATED Saturday AM: (Keep refreshing screen for latest #s) All the box office guru predictions for this weekend went wrong.
I'm told that Fox's Borat, though playing in just 837 theaters, shocked the experts and became the No. 1 movie in the U.S. Friday.
Funnyman Sacha Baron Cohen's spoof took in a staggering $8.9 million for what should be an opening weekend of as much as $25 million.
Based on the anecdotal evidence pouring in to me about long lines at the box office, sold-out screenings, and fans driving more than an hour to find a theater showing the pic, I believe Borat was standing room only inside those screenings.
(I think the moviegoers weren't just rolling in the aisles, they were sitting in the aisles, for the film to make this much money.)
I'm still waiting on a per screen average. By contrast, the movie all the experts thought was going to finish first came in 2nd: Disney's Santa Clause 3, starring Tim Allen and opening in 3,458 theaters.
But it earned $5.2 million Friday for what should be a $20 mil weekend debut.
Since date night these days means a horor flick for young adults, Lionsgate holdover Saw III playing in 3,167 theaters took in $5.1 mil Friday (down 64%) to be the No. 3 pic.
It'll probably see a $13 mil weekend added for a new cume of $67.6 mil.
Newcomer Paramount / Dreamworks' animated Flushed Away opened in just 4th place Friday. Playing in 3,707 theaters, it earned $4.6 mil -- but, after the expected Saturday kiddie bounce, it should finish the weekend as No. 3 with $17.5 mil.
(So no "down the drain" jokes necessary there.) MORE
BTW, the movie was rolling-in-the-aisle funny. I sprayed Coke out of my nose and spilled my popcorn.
So opening it slow (at almost 100% capacity) gets all the press at #1, and with the buzz comes bigger revenues later.
At least four frontal shots of full male nudity that should have been left out or blacked out.
Fox thowt uz peeple n tha fli-over staetes wuld not "get it".
As opposed to someone with a really sophisticated sense of humor like Jon Carry.
I think it'll be obnoxious, but I can't wait to see it.
HALP US JON CARRY
WE R STUK IN BORAT!!!
What in the name of everything good and bad was that? I laughed, but I don't really understand why.
Well .. he can ridicule the actions of Christians, but God will not be mocked!
One of the funniest movies I have ever seen!
Just check in anything that might offend you (and it's an equal opportunity offender) at the door and just revel in the anti-PC ness of this movie.
Niiiice
It was packed in the Twin Cities Suburb I saw it at. Maybe 20 open seats in a stadium seating venue.
Actually he doesn't say he is Christian, he says he follows the Hawk.
I went with my friends to see it, we had to drive an hour to get to a theater that showed it, but it was worth it.
I checked all my baggage at the door.
Of course I grew up in the South as an evangelical Christian that made fun of Baptists and Pentecostals
"Southern" Methodists can make fun of anyone, as long as we can disone the Methodists out east :)
Grains of truth coupled with humor can be a fun thing.
I loved it. Funny as can be.
The movie is great. You should go see it. Its brilliant satire.
Made it to number 1 with 26 million. Already made its money back and doubled expectations. I guess it is safe to say Borat will not be execute.
Sorry .. ridicule is not satire!
Ridicule is a part of satire though, so is irony and sarcasm. Regardless of political affiliation many of the people he makes fun of in the movie deserve it. Especially the rodeo promoter who tells him to shave his mustache in order to look less muslim and that we are trying to pass laws to kill homosexuals.
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