BOX OFFICE: 300: RISE OF AN EMPIRE Seizes Glory With $40M+ Opening
Warner Bros. and Legendary's ancient epic 300: Rise Of An Empire debuted at the North American box office with $40 million-plus. The R-rated actioner kicked off the weekend with an estimated $17 million on Friday.
300: Rise of an Empire pulled in $3.3M at early midnight screenings Thursday and have added another $17 million on Friday. Those numbers have pushed its estimated 3 day cume to somewhere between $43M to $45M. A solid debut for a sequel most felt was unnecessary. As a comparison: 2006's 300 which was directed by Man of Steel's Zack Snyder debuted with a record-breaking $70.9 million domestic tally and went on to make $456.1 million worldwide. Could 300: Rise of an Empire fair as well? Probably not. Audiences only gave the film a lackluster 'B' Cinemascore. On a positive note, international markets are turning out in droves for the actioner. It's grossed "$12.1 million from 31 markets in its first two days and placing No. 1 in 29 of those countries." Those numbers have it outpacing 2006's 300 by a healthy 20 percent.
DreamWorks Animation’s Mr. Peabody & Sherman is now on pace for a $30M to $32M weekend. That's a bit off from initial estimates of $35 million. The film got an 'A' CinemaScore from audiences. Peabody opened early in overseas markets and has accumulated $40 million so far. It features a solid voice cast: Ty Burrell, Max Charles, Ariel Winter, Allison Janney, Stephen Colbert, Stephen Tobolowsky, Mel Brooks, Leslie Mann and Stanley Tucci.
Also of note: Liam Neeson's actioner Non-Stop will slide into third with an additional $18M+ weekend (a drop of 37%), which will push its total to somewhere around $55M. The Lego Movie continues to show off its gams with $11.6M, putting it fourth at the domestic box office.
1). 300: Rise of an Empire (WB), 3,470 theaters / $17M Fri.
3-day cume: $43M to $45M / Wk 1
2). Mr. Peabody and Sherman (FOX) 3,934 theaters / $8M to $8.2M Fri.
3-day cume: $30M to $32M / Wk 1
3). Non-Stop (UNI), 3,113 theaters (+23) / $4.9M Fri.
3-day cume: $18M / Total cume: $54M to $55M+ / Wk 2
4). The Lego Movie (WB), 3,290 theaters (-480) / $2.4M to $2.6M Fri.
3-day cume: $11.6M / Total cume: 225.6M / Wk 5
5). Son of God (FOX), 3,271 theaters (+11) / $2.6M to $2.8M Fri.
3-day cume: $11M / Total cume: $41M to $43M / Wk 2
6). Monuments Men (SONY), 2,001 theaters (-1,001) / $4.9M Fri.
3-day cume: $3.2M to $3.5M / Total cume: $70.8M / Wk 5
7/8). Frozen (DIS), 1,660 theaters (-86) / $625K Fri.
3-day cume: $3M / Total cume: $393.1M / Wk 16
3 Days to Kill (REL), 2,348 theaters (-543) / $900K Fri.
3-day cume: $3M / Total cume: $25.5M to $26M / Wk 3
9). 12 Years a Slave (FSL) 1,065 theaters (+654) / 620K Fri.
3-day cume: $2.6M / Total cume: $53.6M / Wk 21
10). Ride Along (UNI), 1,323theaters (-546) / $555K Fri.
3-day cume: 1.9M / Total cume: $129.9M / Wk 8
After its victory over Leonidas' 300, the Persian Army under the command of Xerxes marches south towards the major Greek city-states. The Democratic city of Athens, first on the path of Xerxes' army, bases its strength on its fleet, led by admiral Themistocles. Themistocles is forced to an unwilling alliance with the traditional rival of Athens, oligarchic Sparta whose might lies with its superior infantry troops. But Xerxes still reigns supreme in numbers over sea and land.
300: Rise of an Empire - directed by Noam Murro, from a screenplay written by Kurt Johnstad and Zack Snyder. The film stars: Sullivan Stapleton as Themistocles, Eva Green as Artemisia, Lena Headey as Queen Gorgo of Sparta, Rodrigo Santoro as King Xerxes, Hans Matheson as Aeskylos, Andrew Pleavin as Daxos, Callan Mulvey as Scyllias, David Wenham as Dilios, Jack O'Connell as Calisto, Andrew Tiernan as Ephialtes and Yigal Naor as Darius. It will land in theaters March 7th, 2014.