Lionsgate-Summit’s
Divergent had an especially strong debut, pulling in over $23 million in Thursday and Friday screenings. That puts the young-adult book-to-film on track for $54 million, give or take a million. This would give
Divergent the second-best opening for a 2014 film, after
The Lego Movie, which opened to $69 million. While $54 million is nothing to sneeze at it is short of recent projections that were north of $60 million. Critics didn't take a shine to
Divergent, with a 40 percent rating on
Rotten Tomatoes. Audiences on the otherhand seemed to enjoy the sci-fi adventure quite a bit. It received an 'A' CinemaScore from audiences. That audience was 59% female and 41% male equally over and under the age of twenty-five.
Coming in a distant second this weekend was Disney's
Muppets Most Wanted. The sequel will open with a disappointing $18 million. The 2011
The Muppets film, which starred Amy Adams and Jason Segel opened to $41 million over the Thanksgiving holiday, including $29 million for the weekend. The sequel's lackluster totals are probably caused by stiff competition from other family-friendly films,
Mr. Peabody & Sherman and
The Lego Movie. Audiences gave it a 'B+' CinemaScore.
1). Divergent (LGF), 3,936 theaters / $22.8M Fri.
3-day cume: $54M to $55.9M / Wk 1
2). Muppets Most Wanted (DIS), 3,194 theaters / $4.6M Fri.
3-day cume: $17M to $17.7M / Wk 1
3). Mr. Peabody And Sherman (FOX), 3,607 theaters (0) / $2.7M Fri.
3-day cume: $10.8M to $11M / Total cume: $80.1M to $80.6M / Wk 3
4). 300: Rise Of An Empire (WB), 3,085 theaters (-405) / $2.4M Fri.
3-day cume: $7.9M to $8.1M / Total cume: $93M+ / Wk 3
5). God’s Not Dead (FREE), 780 theaters / $2.8M Fri.
3-day cume: $7.7M to $8M+ / Wk 1
6). Need For Speed (DIS), 3,115 theaters (0) / $2.2M Fri.
3-day cume: $7.1M to $7.4M / Total cume: $29.8M to $30.1M / Wk 2
7). The Grand Budapest Hotel (FSL), 304 theaters (+238) / $1.8M Fri.
3-day cume: $6.1M to $6.3M / Total cume: $12.4M / Wk 3
8). Non-Stop (UNI), 2,945 theaters (-238) / $1.8M Fri.
3-day cume: $6.1M / Total cume: $78.4M / Wk 3
9). The Lego Movie (WB), 2,501 theaters (-539) / $970K Fri.
3-day cume: $3.7M / Total cume: $242.9M / Wk 7
10). Tyler Perry’s Single Mom’s Club (LGF), 1,896 theaters / $939K Fri.
3-day cume: $3M / Total cume: $12.8M / Wk 1
The story is set in a future where people are divided into distinct factions based on their personalities. Tris Prior (Woodley) is warned she is Divergent and will never fit into any one group. When she discovers a conspiracy to destroy all Divergents, she must find out what makes being Divergent so dangerous before it's too late.
DIVERGENT is directed by Neil Burger (Limitless), and is based on a best-selling book series by Veronica Roth. The cast includes: Shailene Woodley, Theo James, Kate Winslet, Ray Stevenson, Mekhi Phifer, Maggie Q, Jai Courtney, Zoe Kravitz, Ashley Judd and Miles Teller. It's set to hit theaters on March 21st, 2014.