Exclusive Steve Mason Early 3-Day Estimates
1. The Hangover (Warner Bros) – $32M 3-day – $103.97M cume
2. Pixar’s UP (Disney) – $28.5M 3-day -$185.16M cume
3. The Taking of Pelham 123 (Sony) – $26M 3-day – $26M cume
4. Night at the Museum 2 (Fox) – $9.2M 3-day – $143M cume
5. Land of the Lost (Universal) – $8.8M 3-day – $34.62M cume
*Imagine That (Paramount) – $6M 3-day – $6M cume
*Star Trek (Paramount) – $5.1M 3-day – $231.52M cume
Knowing most people would not have seen the original before buying a ticket for the “retelling,” I deliberately chose not to screen the 1974 “Pelham” before writing my review. This proved wise. Had I, as my screening of the original last night proved, the review would’ve been much harsher. My love for Denzel aside, they’re not even in the same ballpark. There’s more texture, personality and narrative scope in the first ten minutes of Joseph Sargent’s urban classic than in all 106 minutes of this weekend’s offering.
That doesn’t mean the new “Pelham” doesn’t deserve an audience. It’s a fine summer diversion … just in that nothing memorable sort of way. A $26 million opener isn’t bad, but whether it’s a hit is now on the bubble.
“Up,” “Star Trek,”and “The Hangover” are making a gajillion dollars without the benefit of A-list stars, and “Imagine That” and “Land of the Lost” weren’t helped by A-list stars. Interesting.
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