Top 10 for May 27-30, 2005 (Memorial Day Weekend) Summary: Monday estimates are in.
The Empire continued to expand its dominance over the box office for the second straight weekend, as
Star Wars: Episode III: Revenge of the Sith pulled in an estimated $70.8 million over the long Memorial Day weekend, pushing its 12-day total to a
staggering $271.2 million. Directed by George Lucas, the final installment of the Star Wars saga broke the record as the fastest film to reach $250
million, accomplishing the feat in a sizzling eleven days, one day faster than last summer's "Spider-Man 2." The box office as a whole continues to swell
since the launch of "Revenge of the Sith" last weekend as moviegoers propelled two newcomers, "Madagascar" and "The Longest Yard," to $61 and $60 million
openings respectively, making the weekend the first time in history that two films have opened with more than $40 million a piece, and three films with more
than $60 million a piece.
With its record shattering opening a week ago, "Sith" is running 35% stronger than "Episode II: Attack of the Clones," which had grossed $201.3 million
after its Memorial Day weekend sophomore frame. What might be troubling for "Sith" (but more likely just a consequence of such a huge opening weekend) is its
Friday-Sunday showing, which saw a 49% drop over last weekend's Friday-Sunday frame, compared with a 40% drop in the sophomore frame for "Episode II."
Internationally "Revenge of the Sith" is performing even better, as its $233.3 million overseas take is running over 80% better than "Clones" did.
Worldwide, "Sith" has grossed over half a billion dollars ($504.4m) in less than two weeks, an absolutely insane figure that could eventually make the film
the highest grossing of all-time. At its current pace one can expect the $113 million budgeted sci-fi fantasy to reach $400 million by the end of its
domestic run, and over $1 billion worldwide.
The race for second was too close to call, but according to Monday estimates PDI/DreamWorks' computer-animated family comedy Madagascar edged out the
Paramount football remake The Longest Yard by just $1 million to finish in the second spot, earning an estimated $61 million over the four-day
Memorial Day weekend. From Friday-Sunday the film pulled in $47.1 million, making it the third biggest opening in studio history for an animated film,
behind only Shark Tale's $47.6 million and Shrek 2's record $108 million opening last summer. Despite the big opening the numbers have
to be a tad bit disappointing for the studio, which launched the film in an ultrawide 4,131 theaters (only the fourth film in history to launch in more than
4,000). With the novelty of computer-animated films quickly waning, studios are having to come up with bigger and better ideas for their computer-animated
productions. DreamWorks took a big chance with Madagascar, creating one of the most uniquely stylized worlds yet realized in the animation
medium, yet reviews were mixed; and one wonders whether DreamWorks, let alone any computer animation studio, will ever produce a box office blockbuster like
the "Shrek 2" juggernaut last summer. "Shark Tale" shrugged off poor reviews to finish with $160.8 million domestically, albeit against little direct
competition. With a busy summer schedule ahead, this next weekend will be a critical indicator for Madagascar's potential summer take.
Adam Sandler continues to add to his box office lore, as his latest entry The Longest Yard posted the largest opening of his career with an estimated
$60 millon over the four-day weekend. Kicking off in 3,634 theaters, the remake of the 1974 Burt Reynolds starrer averaged an impressive $16,511 per
theater. Over the Friday-Sunday period Yard took in $48.1 million, surpassing Sandler's previous best Anger Management, which debuted with
$42.2 million back in April, 2003. Budgeted at $82 million, the Paramount release also became the biggest opening in history for a sports-themed picture,
surpassing Sandler's own The Waterboy, which debuted with $38.1 million on its way to $161.5 million domestically. Sandler's highest grossing film to
date is still 1999's Big Daddy, which took in $163 million domestically.
