Last weekend was a big release weekend in Ireland with 4 movies opening, and all 4 entering the Top 10.
The lowest entry of these, at 10, was Adam Sandler’s new comedy That’s My Boy, marking a low point critically and takings-wise for the once box-office king. An opening weekend of €33,401 for an average per venue take of €879 does not bode well for this staying long in the Top 20.
New in at 4 was Pete Travis’ Karl Urban starring Dredd 3D with a respectable €63,074 from 39 venues. This is a good opening for an 18 rated comic-book title and with strong word of mouth fuelling attendances this one should have legs.
Universal will be somewhat disappointed at Anna Karenina‘s second placing in the charts, with strong buzz in the lead-up to the release not resulting in the big box-office that it’s counter-programming to Lawless and Dredd 3D would suggest they expected. A respectable €78,656 is nothing to be sneezed at and Anna Karenina will hang around in the Top 20 for some time based on audience responses. Still one can’t help but think that a winter release might have suited this better.
The fourth and final new entry straight in at No. 1 is John Hillcoat’s Lawless. Starring homme-de-jour Tom Hardy and profitting from a great marketing campaign Lawless reaped a collective €123,816 for an almost €3,000 per venue admission. Given that this is a hard 16 rated gangster film with intensely violent scenes this is a remarkably good haul and a sign that Irish audiences can recognise ambitious storytelling and great acting.
Elsewhere Ted continued it’s strong run with another €58k to bring its total to almost €4 million. It will sail past that mark making it easily the biggest comedy in Ireland in years. The Dark Knight Rises continues it’s assault on €5.5 million and cements it’s place as Ireland highest grossing film of 2012. The Imposter and Shut Up and Play the Hits both continue to do strong business at the art-house with €3k and €2k per venue figures respectively.
Next week sees the release of The Sweeney, ParaNorman and Premium Rush. The later two aired at the recent Movie Fest in Dublin and are generating strong word-of-mouth. ParaNorman will be in a likely 3 way fight with Lawless and Dredd 3D for next week’s top-spot.
Weekend of 7th September, 2012 – 9th September, 2012
Rank |
Title |
Distributor |
Locations |
Weeks in Chart |
Weekend Amount € |
Running Total € |
| 1 | Lawless | MOMENTUM | 44 | 1 | 123,816 | 126,619 |
| 2 | Anna Karenina | UNIVERSAL | 38 | 1 | 78,656 | 78,656 |
| 3 | Total Recall | SONY | 63 | 2 | 74,447 | 391,110 |
| 4 | Dredd | ENTERTNMT | 39 | 1 | 63,074 | 63,074 |
| 5 | Brave | DISNEY | 65 | 6 | 60,335 | 1,577,621 |
| 6 | Ted | UNIVERSAL | 55 | 6 | 58,055 | 3,909,886 |
| 7 | Watch, The | 20TH FOX | 53 | 2 | 44,646 | 427,920 |
| 8 | Possession, The | LIONSGATE | 49 | 2 | 37,797 | 145,043 |
| 9 | Three Stooges, The | 20TH FOX | 54 | 3 | 35,639 | 298,822 |
| 10 | That’s My Boy | SONY | 38 | 1 | 33,401 | 33,401 |
| 11 | Bourne Legacy, The | UNIVERSAL | 36 | 4 | 26,042 | 1,085,661 |
| 12 | Diary Of A Wimpy Kid: Dog Days | 20TH FOX | 58 | 6 | 23,502 | 984,360 |
| 13 | Dark Knight Rises, The | WARNER | 17 | 8 | 19,812 | 5,447,514 |
| 14 | Few Best Men, A | DISNEY | 29 | 2 | 15,009 | 75,805 |
| 15 | Dr. Seuss’ The Lorax | UNIVERSAL | 42 | 7 | 12,222 | 1,030,144 |
| 16 | Shadow Dancer | PARAMOUNT | 24 | 3 | 12,040 | 176,379 |
| 17 | Samsara | ARROW | 8 | 2 | 9,317 | 32,930 |
| 18 | Imposter, The | PICT/REV | 2 | 3 | 6,471 | 51,409 |
| 19 | Expendables 2, The | LIONSGATE | 8 | 4 | 4,727 | 417,030 |
| 20 | Shut Up And Play The Hits | PULSE | 2 | 2 | 4,603 | 15,783 |
Source: Rentrak. Correct as of 11th September 2012.