'Madea's Family Reunion' took in an impressive $30.3 million.
Madea's family grew substantially as Lionsgate's second Tyler Perry vehicle opened to an impressive $30.3 million.
But while "Madea's Family Reunion" rocked the B.O., frame's other two openers were DOA. Weinstein Co. toon "Doogal" grossed just $3.6 million, New Line's "Running Scared" only $3.1 million.
"Madea" took 38% more than studio scored the same weekend last year with "Diary of a Mad Black Woman." This year's pic averaged $13,788 at 2,194 locations, compared with $14,771 at 1,483 for "Diary."
African-American women 35 and over comprised 52% of the aud. That's down from 58% for "Diary," indicating a modest broadening of theater star Perry's appeal.
If "Madea" follows the same pattern as "Diary," it could end up with a cume around $70 million. Following on the success of "Hostel," which has grossed $47.3 million, Lionsgate is off to a strong start in 2006 (despite limited flop "A Good Woman").
"We hope Tyler and Madea's families will be part of Lionsgate's family for a long time to come," CEO Jon Feltheimer said in a statement.
The next two spots on the chart were taken by family pics that experienced very modest declines. Disney canine adventure "Eight Below" fell only 22% in its second frame, grossing $15.7 million at 3,072 locations. Per-play average was $5,118; cume is $45 million.
"The Pink Panther" continues to hold well for Sony, dropping 32% on its third weekend to $11.3 million. Steve Martin starrer averaged $3,411 at 3,313 playdates. Cume is now $61 million.
"Doogal" came in at No. 8, averaging $1,557 at 2,318 locations. Pic reps one of the few missteps in the red hot CG animation space, though TWC had modest expectations for the toon, which targeted young auds.
Studio bought North American rights to the British pic and recorded new voices and altered the plot from the European version -- which was based on a hit Blighty TV show -- in hopes of appealing to Americans. Weinstein Co. execs may now be regretting the opening date -- where they competed against numerous family pics, including kids' toon "Curious George." They had to bow it in this frame as part of a promotional partnership with McDonalds.
New Line's mob thriller "Running Scared" was just behind in ninth place, taking $1,909 per play in 1,611 theaters. It's the second Paul Walker starrer in as many weeks along with "Eight Below," albeit to very different results.
Studio bought domestic distribution rights to "Running," financed by Media 8, for $6 million last year.
As is typical for pics aimed at young auds, "Date Movie" fell 52% in its second frame, coming in at No. 4 with $9.3 million from 2,898 locations. Regency-produced and Fox-distributed spoof averaged $3,183; total take is $33.9 million.
Sony and Revolution's "Freedomland" took a 50% hit from its weak bow, grossing $2.9 million in 10th place. Drama averaged $1,228 at 2,361 playdates and has cumed $10.8 million.
According to Nielsen EDI, this frame marked the first time there were no Oscar-nominated films in the top 10 the weekend before the ceremony since 1999, when "Shakespeare in Love" was No. 11.
"Brokeback Mountain" grossed $2.3 million at 1,359 locations, or $1,718 per play, bringing cume to $75.4 million. Other three best picture nominees in release made around $1 million or less at a few hundred theaters.
In limited release, Miramax debuted South African foreign language Oscar contender "Tsotsi" at six theaters in Gotham and L.A. to a healthy $78,000, or $13,000 per. Crime drama expands to Toronto this weekend before hitting more major American markets, which could accelerate if it wins an Oscar.
Sony Pictures Classics expanded "The Three Burials of Melquiades Estrada" from 41 runs to 347 and got so-so results. Tommy Lee Jones-helmed Western grossed $1.1 million, or $3,623 per play. Cume is nearly $2 million.
Weinstein Co. had slightly worse results for "Transamerica," which doubled its print count to 317 and grossed $826,000 or $2,606 per play. Cume for the transgender drama is $4.8 million. Studio is hoping for an Oscar win for star Felicity Huffman to fuel further expansion.
Indie added 73 runs for "Mrs. Henderson Presents," bringing the total to 504. Brit import grossed $973,000, or 1,930 per theater, lifting cume to $7.1 million.
Paramount Classics added 10 print for "Neil Young: Heart of Gold." Concert pic averaged $4,875 at 40 theaters, grossing $195,000 for the weekend and upping its total take to $515,000.
Russian sci-fi import "Nightwatch" was off substantially from its spectacular bow, as it grossed a still decent $200,000 at 34 locations, up from $87,000 at three theaters last weekend. Cume is $328,000.
In its second frame, foreign-language Oscar nominee "Sophie Scholl: The Final Days" grossed $40,000 at seven locations. Zeitgeist's German import has cumed $68,415.
IFC expanded "Confederate States of America" from a day and date release at its own theater in New York and on cable pay-per-view last weekend to nine theaters this frame and took a decent $42,377, or $4,708 per play. Revisionist history of America, which expands around Gotham and in Dallas and Atlanta next weekend, has cumed $90,000.
Despite "Madea's" success, frame was down 5% compared with a year ago. Overall, 2006 box office is virtually flat thus far compared with 2005.
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