BOX OFFICE: RIDDICK Opens With $7.3M; On Track For A Disappointing $18M Weekend
After debuting with a disappointing $900,000 on Thursday night, Riddick ended up earning $7.3 million on Friday for a projected weekend total of $18 million. Hit the jump for further details on that and some interesting behind-the-scenes gossip!
With a 'B' CinemaScore from moviegoers, Riddick debuted with $7.3 million yesterday, putting the fourth instalment of the franchise (which cost $38 million to produce) well on its way to a disappointing $18 million three day total. The character hasn't been seen on the big screen for nine years and it looks set to make considerably less than its predecessors. As we told you yesterday, Vin Diesel managed to get his hands on the rights to this franchise from Universal by making a free cameo appearance in Fast & Furious: Tokyo Drift. Well, Deadline now adds: "Diesel has been both savvy and stupid behind the scenes of this pic. He leveraged a lot of his own assets because he loves this galactic ex-con character or hopes to earn more coin from it or both. When a completion bond fell through, Diesel personally advanced funds until bank loans were secured. Eventually Universal came back in with an equity position but also insisted on a PG13 rating. Diesel fought the studio for an R rating – and the result is more bone-crushing and blood gushing violence." It sounds like the actor has a lot riding on the success of this movie. It also opened in many international territories this weekend, so we'll bring you word on that when we have the numbers. Did you guys decide to check out Riddick this weekend?
The infamous Riddick has been left for dead on a sun-scorched planet that appears to be lifeless. Soon, however, he finds himself fighting for survival against alien predators more lethal than any human he's encountered. The only way off is for Riddick to activate an emergency beacon and alert mercenaries who rapidly descend to the planet in search of their bounty. The first ship to arrive carries a new breed of merc, more lethal and violent, while the second is captained by a man whose pursuit of Riddick is more personal. With time running out and a storm on the horizon that no one could survive, his hunters won't leave the planet without Riddick's head as their trophy.
STARRING:
Vin Diesel as Richard B. Riddick
Karl Urban as Lord Siberius Vaako
Katee Sackhoff as Dahl
Jordi Mollà as Santana
Nolan Gerard Funk as Luna
Dave Bautista as Diaz
Matt Nable as Boss Johns
Bokeem Woodbine as Moss
Antoinette Kalaj as Shirah
Andreas Apergis as Krone
Neil Napier as Rubio
Alex Branson as Lex Branman
RELEASE DATE: September 6th, 2013.