Posted on 05/22/2005 3:40:26 PM PDT by Extremely Extreme Extremist
Frank Oz provides the voice of Yoda in Star Wars: Episode III - Revenge of the Sith
'Star Wars' earns $108.5 million in first U.S. weekend Sunday May 22, 3:03PM ET
George Lucas' final "Star Wars" movie scored the second-best three-day weekend of all time on Sunday, but the Force was not strong enough to prevent overall ticket sales in North America from posting a year-on-year-decline for the 13th consecutive weekend.
"Star Wars: Episode III -- Revenge of the Sith" sold an estimated $108.5 million worth of tickets for the Friday-to-Sunday period, taking its total to $158.5 million since it opened after midnight on Thursday.
Its four-day haul sets a new record, surpassing the $134.3 million tally of 2003's "The Matrix Reloaded." Its Thursday tally of $50 million also set a one-day record, beating the $44.8 million sum for "Shrek 2" last year.
The three-day weekend record is held by "Spider-Man," which opened to almost $115 million in 2002. "Revenge of the Sith" narrowly pipped "Shrek 2," which opened with $108 million. Rankings could change when final data are issued on Monday.
The new "Star Wars" film easily beat the opening weekends of its two most recent predecessors, all of which were released by Twentieth Century Fox, a unit of News Corp.
"Star Wars: Episode II: Attack of the Clones" nabbed $80 million during its first weekend three years ago, while 1999's "Star Wars: Episode I: The Phantom Menace" kick-started the 28-year-old franchise with a $64.8 million bow. They ended up with $311 million and $431 million respectively.
"Revenge of the Sith" answers the age-old question of how the evil warlord Darth Vader crossed over to the dark side. The critics were generally kind, perhaps mindful that "Sith" marks the end of an era and was not as bad as the last two much-maligned films. But Rolling Stone magazine lamented writer/director Lucas' "special knack ... of turning flesh-and-blood characters into cardboard cutouts."
According to box office tracking firm Exhibitor Relations, the top 12 films earned about $156 million during the weekend, down 4.5 percent from the year-ago period. The losing streak is expected to continue into the upcoming Memorial Day weekend since last year's holiday was a record.
"It's going to take a lot to reverse this trend," said Exhibitor Relations president Paul Dergarabedian. New releases next weekend include the animated comedy "Madagascar" and the football comedy remake "The Longest Yard."
Elsewhere at the box office, last weekend's champ "Monster-in-Law," starring Jennifer Lopez and Jane Fonda, slipped to No. 2 with $14.4 million, followed by sports comedy "Kicking & Screaming," starring Will Ferrell and Robert Duvall, with $10.5 million.
"Monster-in-Law" was released by New Line Cinema, a unit of Time Warner Inc. "Kicking & Screaming" was released by Universal Pictures, a unit of NBC Universal, which is majority owned by General Electric Co.
I'm a little surprised that it didn't beat Spiderman.
I really think, other than Star Wars, Batman Begins, and War of the Worlds, this batch of summer movies are total crap. Lots of remakes.
I'm sure I'll be thinking about it long after I've forgotten about Star Wars.
I just saw it today and thought it was awesome. This film definately saved the franchise after the lackluster Episodes I & II. A dark film that manages to be fun as well. This is as much the Emperor's story as it is Vader's.
Popular the film is.
Decades old questions it answers.
Besides, it's already planned available on DVD in time for Christmas 2005.
That said, I'm planning to see it this week. I can see the first showing of the day for $5 which is about as much as any movie is worth first-run.
The Sith has hit the Fans.
Agree. Next they'll be doing remakes of such classics as Flight of the Phoenix
The Fantastic Four movie makes me nervous. I'd love to see a top-notch film of these characters, but it looks like they screwed up Doctor Doom's backstory, and Jessica Alba is a fair choice, but not quite who I had in mind to do the Invisible Woman. I do like Michael Chiklis as the Thing, though.
Actually if you take the first three days, Thurs-Sat. 'Sith' beat 'Spideys' three day record handily.
Once you open the door by wearing politics on your sleeve, you kill the impact of the movie, no matter how much money the lunatic left-wing Democrats support it with. Just ask this question who and where is Michael Moore these days? George Lucas has put himself in the same category. The "Star Wars" saga is dead, and the rest of left-wing Hollywood is bleeding to death at the box office. I mean com'n, "Monster-In-Laws" did $14M its second weekend. Sickening revenue flow for Ms. Jane Fonda and village bicycle girl (everyone has had a ride) Jennifer Lopez. Those Hollywood folks just don't get it!!!!
Oh, did I miss something by not seeing Flight of the Phoenix? :)
The weekend box office total includes Sunday showings, yet comes out before Sunday showings are started?
Damn, I want them to start picking my lottery numbers!
Actually, if you saw the trailer, you pretty much saw the whole movie. That's why I didn't go to see it.
It is pretty amazing that despite all the money Star Wars made the box office still went down this week. It will probably just stay down all summer because this is the biggest movie of the summer.
Alba as the Invisible Woman? I don't quite see it!
"Once you open the door by wearing politics on your sleeve, you kill the impact of the movie, no matter how much money the lunatic left-wing Democrats support it with. Just ask this question who and where is Michael Moore these days? George Lucas has put himself in the same category. The "Star Wars" saga is dead,"
Star Wars isn't just a movie it's an industry and one that's been pulling in millions of $ for 28 years. It will continue to pull in millions for years to come.
Very Good!
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.