The Moses epic Exodus: Gods and Kings topped Mockingjay to claim the top spot this weekend, but with a $140 million budget, it's $24.5 million gross isn't really all that impressive. Add that to the dreadful reviews and a less than stellar B- Cinemascore and it's unlikely this will turn into much of a hit. The other new release this week was Chris Rock's Top Five, which opened wide but in less than 1000 theaters, pulling in just $7 million despite glowing critical praise (90% on Rotten Tomatoes).
Mockingjay sits at No. 2, earning another $13 million for a new domestic total of $277 million and counting- it looks like a 50/50 shot that it will overtake Guardians of the Galaxy's $332 million total to wear the crown of the year's biggest movie. Other holdovers in the top five slots were kiddie flicks Big Hero 6 and Penguins of Madagascar, both of which held well this weekend, but will be served with direct competition soon when the live action family flicks Annie and Night at the Museum 3 are released in the next couple weeks.
Top 5:
- Exodus: Gods and Kings- $24.5 million
- The Hunger Games: Mockingjay- Part 1- $13.2 million
- Penguins of Madagascar- $7.3 million
- Top Five- $7.2 million
- Big Hero 6- $6.1 million
In limited release, Wild is expanding quickly and doing well, now in 116 theaters to bring in $1.6 million, while Inherent Vice opened on five screens for a $65k PTA- not bad but with no real awards buzz and divisive reviews, can probably not expect to reach an audience wider than the most die hard Anderson fans. Next week the final Hobbit movie finally reaches the big screen, as well as Annie and Night at the Museum, all of them huge releases, so you can expect a big rest of December at the box office, when Oscar movies and family friendly fare are all vying for attention during the holiday weeks.
