Box Office: A Teddy Bear and Male Strippers Lead the Pack

Tj Weaver July 5, 2012 0

This past weekend there was something for just about everyone at the theaters. If your girlfriend didn’t drag you to see Magic Mike then you probably headed down the hall to Seth MacFarlane’s Ted. If neither of those films peaked your interest, or you just wanted to see something a bit different, Tyler Perry’s Madea’s Witness Protection was there to offer up all the slapstick comedy to last for an entire year. But only one could top the first weekend in July. So who took the top spot? A pot smoking, smooth-talking, no-bullshitting teddy bear.

1. ‘Ted’

Many people knew Seth MacFarlane’s Ted was going to be funny. Did they know the film would go on to claim the highest opening of all time for an original R-rated comedy? Probably not. Ted blew away everyone’s expectations this past weekend and raked in an impressive $54.4 million. Believe it or not, that’s $10 million more than what Hangover did in its opening weekend. The Mila Kunis and Mark Wahlberg comedy sits at second place for the best debut for an R-rated comedy ever; Hangover 2 grossed a whopping $85 million in its opening weekend, holding on to the #1 spot. Looks like MacFarlane’s first live-action film was a huge success! Hopefully he has several more in the vault.

Related: ‘Ted’ Movie Review: A Comedy Stuffed with Laughs

2. ‘Magic Mike’

What do you get when Channing Tatum, Alex Pettyfer, Matt Bomer, Joe Manganiello and Matthew McConaughey strip down to nothing but ass-cheek baring thongs? A horde of excited women and gay men lining up for the year’s hottest ticket in town, Magic Mike. $12-$7 was all that was needed to gain admittance into this R-rated show. The Steven Soderbergh directed film grossed $39.155 million — a personal best for the Soderbergh, whose Ocean’s Twelve (2004) grossed $39.153 million in its first weekend. With the film’s star power, Channing Tatum’s creative promotion tactics, and a budget of just $7 million, there was no way the film wouldn’t succeed at the box office. Not to mention, Tatum’s on a career high right now. The Vow and 21 Jump Street, which both grossed over $100 million domestically, gave movie goers an all new perspective on the male entertainer turned actor. What would’ve been his fourth film this year, GI Joe: Retaliation was supposed to also hit theaters this weekend… but we all know what happened with that one.

Related: ‘Magic Mike’ Movie Review: It’s Raining Men

3. ‘Brave’

With a 76% on the Tomato Meter, Brave sits on the lower end of Pixar’s hit animated films. With mixed reviews praising the graphics but bombing the storyline, Brave experienced a 48% hit in its second weekend. That number is still lower than 2011′s Cars 2, which experienced a 60% drop in its second weekend. The film grossed $34 million this weekend for a domestic total of $149 million to date. Brave will no doubt pass the $200 million mark by the end of its run. However, Ice Age: Continental Drift will affect its numbers drastically come July 13th.

Related: ‘Brave’ Movie Review: A Modern Fairytale with Ginger Flair

4. ‘Tyler Perry’s Madea’s Witness Protection’

Madea’s Witness Protection raked in $26.3 million in its opening weekend. Compared to Tyler Perry‘s previous films, that’s only slightly higher than the opening weekend for Madea’s Big Happy Family ($25 million) and just barely half for the start of Madea Goes to Jail ($41 million). Should we even talk legs when it comes to Tyler Perry’s films? Unfortunately, 2012 is just a freakishly packed summer, so I’d expect this film to be the lowest grossing film for Perry.

5. ‘Madagascar 3: Europe’s Most Wanted’

The “circus animals” are still hanging in there! Madagascar 3: Europe’s Most Wanted grossed $11.8 million this weekend, and to date the film’s domestic gross currently sits at $184 million, just passing the second installment in the franchise, Madagascar 2 ($180 million). The third film is now on its way to surpassing 2005′s Madagascar ($193 million).

This week, The Amazing Spider-Man, Katy Perry: Part of Me and Savages hits theaters. Where do you think each film will land?

Box Office Report – June 29th-July 1st

  1. Ted – $54.4 million
  2. Magic Mike – $39.1 million
  3. Brave – $34 million
  4. Tyler Perry’s Madea’s Witness Protection – $26.3 million
  5. Madagascar 3: Europe’s Most Wanted – $11.8 million
  6. Abraham Lincoln: Vampire Hunter – $6 million
  7. Prometheus – $4.9 million
  8. Moonrise Kingdom – $4.8 million
  9. Snow White and the Huntsman – $4.4 million
  10. People Like Us – $4.3 million

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