BOX OFFICE: LOOPER Exceeds Expectations With $21.2M; Opens At #1 In China
Rian Johnson's Looper opened bigger than expected this weekend, sailing past the $19M/$20M estimates. Meanwhile, a strong opening in China may make it the first US film to EVER open there with a higher debut than in the states. Read on for details!
After the disappointing performance of DREDD last weekend (which now sits at #12 with a measly total of $2.2 million), it's good to know that audiences do actually still have a taste for high quality and intelligent filmmaking. After predictions of between $19 million and $20 million (still a very good opening for an R-Rated film), Looper has exceeded expectations. Earning a 'B' Cinemascore from moviegoers, it made $21.2 million in total for the weekend. However, the biggest surprise is in China, where the Rian Johnson helmed time travel adventure has taken the top spot with an estimated $24 million.
Sony/TriStar Pictures, FilmDistrict, and Endgame Entertainment co-produced the film with China’s DMG Entertainment and it looks set to become the first opening of there which actually outgrosses that of North America. Endgame's James Stern tells Deadline, "While we don’t have the final box office tally’s because of the Chinese National Holiday, it looks as if we are #1 in that market and at least on par if not exceeding the U.S. box office, marking the very first time in history that China would be world’s leading market for an international film. A big congratulations to my partner Dan Mintz and his team at DMG are in order." Read my 4* review of Looper by clicking HERE.
In the futuristic action thriller Looper, time travel will be invented – but it will be illegal and only available on the black market. When the mob wants to get rid of someone, they will send their target 30 years into the past, where a "looper" – a hired gun, like Joe (Joseph Gordon-Levitt) – is waiting to mop up. Joe is getting rich and life is good… until the day the mob decides to "close the loop," sending back Joe’s future self (Bruce Willis) for assassination. The film is written and directed by Rian Johnson and also stars Emily Blunt, Paul Dano, and Jeff Daniels. Ram Bergman and James D. Stern produce.
STARRING:
Bruce Willis as Joseph Simmons
Joseph Gordon-Levitt as Joseph Simmons
Emily Blunt as Sara
Paul Dano as Seth
Noah Segan as Kid Blue
Jeff Daniels as Jack Mitchell
Piper Perabo as Suzie
Garret Dillahunt as Jesse
RELEASE DATE: Out Now!
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