Mel Wins Friday: #1 'Apocalypto' Bigger Opening Weekend Than 'Braveheart'

Deadline Hollywood Daily ^ | December 8, 2006 | Nikki Finke

[Mel Gibson]

Call it a Hollywood shocker: Mel's Apocalypto will have a bigger weekend opening than his Braveheart. Despite scandal, an R-rating, subtitles because of an ancient dialect, no stars, and direct competition from movieland AAA-listers Leonardo DiCaprio and Cameron Diaz, Gibson's Mayan epic won Friday's matinees and evenings, I'm told. At first, box office gurus were warning me that the weekend victor among three very competitive films all opening against each other would be too close to call. cameron_jude.jpgBut now I've learned it looks certain that Apocalypto will win the weekend -- bearing out my reporting back on December 1st when I was told that early tracking showed Mel's movie (playing in 2,465 theaters) would edge ahead. Tonight, I'm told Mel's movie took in nearly $6 million Friday for what's expected to be at least a $15 mil, and possibly $16 mil, weekend total -- exceeding Disney's hopes for the box office gross. That easily beats Mel's Braveheart, which made $9.9 mil for Fri-Sat-Sun when it opened in 2,037 theaters during Memorial Weekend back in 1995 ($12.9 mil for the four-day holiday) and went on to make $75.6 mil in the U.S. and $210.4 mil worldwide, helped by winning the Best Picture Oscar. Based on today's matinees, the No. 2 spot went to Sony's The Holiday (in 2,610 playdates), a date movie from director-writer Nancy Meyer, known for capturing that man-woman zeitgeist. The studio's hard work to deftly market this PG-13 debut (also starring Kate Winslet, Jack Black and Jude Law) obviously paid off because the movie earned $4.5 mil Friday despite all the rivalry. In 3rd place was Warner Bros' Blood Diamond (in 1,910 theaters), an African-set action-adventure pic. Important to note that this film is playing in 500-to-700 less theaters than the other two films...

[eleni121]

No doubt - it is a film I need to see again. It is complex and replete with historical metaphors that resonate with our times.

Splendid fare...one of the best in cinematic film history and I do not say that lightly...as a Hitch and Kubrick fan.

[Varda]

I went to see it again in a theater with DLP projection. It was much better. A digital movie projected digitally makes a for a better experience.

[eleni121]

I'd be interested in knowing your thoughts about the Christian references.

---

I'd be interested too...I have to see it again. The pace and the excitement of the work got in the way of the more analytical levels of thinking.

Your points though make so much sense. The everyday pace of life, the fun and enjoyment of friends, the shared solidarity of the community and its ways...and yet the harbingers of death are taken slightly and dismissed...until it's too late. And the cycle renews itself.

There is much to consider here....

[eleni121]

Where are you geting these fabulous photos?

[DCPatriot]

Google "Apocalypto photos"...and choose which of the half dozen links which appear in seconds. ;^)

[GovernmentIsTheProblem]

Fiancee unit and I just saw it - Apocalypto is going to go down in history as one of the best films ever made.

[Dave W]

I cannot believe you gave away the ending. You are the type of person I immensely dislike.

[Manic_Episode]

Some thimk accepting Christ as Savior and escaping hell is the emd of the transaction. It is only the beginning.

Being a Christian is much more than "fire insurance".

The "building" would be serving God in the fullness of The Holy Spirit, seeking Him with all our heart, mind, soul and strength, and growing closer to Him each day, preaching the good news of Christ and winning souls, and walking in holiness.

Thank you for asking.

[Manic_Episode]

P.S.
Catholics can and do build upon the foundation of Christ as I described above, but in my experience it was never taught as such Sunday mornings, and those who do don't walk around with a giant Catholic chip on their shoulder, they simply preach Christ.

[Howard Jarvis Admirer]

In order to defend Mel from his critics, the Mel's underlying theme had to be pointed out. Critics claimed that Mel was, among other things, a violence junky using Mayans to essentially make a slasher flick with no theme. I pointed out in my previous posts that Mel was making a point - that the Mayans represented the culture of death and the Spanish Christians arriving symbolized the culture of life - i.e. Western civilization, Christianity, and sanity. This is not a popular position among liberals. To bring out this point, the end of the movie had to be discussed and sums up my defence of Mel, where, inadvertently, Spanish Christians saved Jaguar Paws life.

When one is debating and defending the theme of the movie on Freerepublic - some parts of the movie may be exposed. I think I've shown part of Mel's motivation for making this movie - having a contrast between the Mayan culture of death and Western culture and Christianity.

[DCPatriot]

Well, I noticed right away the iron cross, the metal helmets.

The two Mayans forgot about Jaquar Paw...they were so taken by the 3 "giant" boats and white men.

It would like you and I witnessing a flying saucer land and aliens disembarking.

Suddenly, killing Jaquar Paw was not important to them.

And the Jesuits taught me that the Aztecs were brutally defeated and killed as savages by Cortez & Associates, Inc..

Even the Spaniards knew that you have to kill a lot of people before you can 'save' them...if you get my drift.

[DCPatriot]

BTTT!

[eleni121]

Give HJA a small break...the trip (of the film) is worth any ending.

[eleni121]

fabulous pics! And I agree...the more I think about what I saw...the more I believe in its genius.

[Howard Jarvis Admirer]

My guess is that the Spanish had to use persuasive methods to make it clear to the locals that they were not going to participate in the temple rituals :)

Cannons and swords can be very persuasive.

[DCPatriot]

And again...can you imagine seeing a demonstration of cannon fire and explosives for the first time.

It would be the same as you and I witnessing a successful ray gun that vaporizes the target...uh, like in the movies! ;^)

[abb]

Box Office MoJo update.
http://www.boxofficemojo.com/weekend/chart/?yr=2006&wknd=49&p=.htm

[Bernard]

So is the population when you compare this country across 10 years (or 60+ in the case of Gone With The Wind, etc.)

[Irisshlass]

Giant Catholic chip on their shoulder?

I don't know what that means.

You keep shooting arrows at Catholics, but then deny you really do. You're somewhat confusing. Reminds me of the type of tactics middle eastern countries play on much larger scale though.
Why do Christians as yourself continually attack the Catholic Church, when Catholics have respect for other faiths and don't succumb to this.

You say in your experience building on Christ is not taught as such in Sunday mornings.

Again, I question if you were truly a Catholic. We have the Mass, the greatest prayer on earth to God, the Eucharist, the Body and Blood, Soul and Divinity of Jesus Christ, whom Christ said and instituted this Holy Sacrament at the Last Supper, to Eat His Body and Drink His Blood in order to have everlasting life, life within you. How could you give up that up? God humbling himself to share Himself, His power within us to strengthened us. Other than the Greek Orthodox no other Church has this. Did you skip that part in the Bible? Christ said to think spiritual, not physical. Even Daniel speaks of the Daily Sacrifice in the last days, what does that mean to you? I could say every time I take Holy Communion I am Born Again! This is not building on Christ???? Or the Sacrament of Confession. It is not man that heals us, But Christ himself. The Great Healer who cleanses us. You say you know scripture why did you miss the part when Christ's first words to his Apostles and Command was to go out and forgive men's sins. We are on the ship and you are in the water. Grab a line so we can pull you in before you sink.

[carolinalivin]

Now we're into a formula I can't deal with. Percentages of population buying tickets. Movies rereleased over decades etc. I guess the best is box office adjusted for inflation.