“‘Couples Retreat’ a popular destination, ‘Paranormal Activity’ sets record”
Per the LA Times:
It was a big weekend at the box office for the ultra-mainstream and the ultra-indie.
Universal’s romantic comedy “Couples Retreat” grossed a studio-estimated $35.3 million in the U.S. and Canada, surpassing expectations and becoming the studio’s first domestic hit since the spring. Paramount’s “Paranormal Activity,” meanwhile, set a new ticket-sales record for a movie playing at fewer than 200 theaters, collecting a phenomenal $7.1 million.
Couples Retreat is a surprise. Critic response has been flaccid. And at Rotten Tomatoes — admittedly a tough crowd — movie currently has a 13% rating. But it’s a rom-com with zero competition (it was the only major movie to debut this week) and stars a good cast. Movie cost in the $60–70M range. If it has legs, it could be a money-maker for Universal, which is desperately in need of a hit.
The bigger news, I think, is Paranormal Activity:
This weekend was a big test for the mainstream appeal of ultra-low-budget horror movie “Paranormal Activity” as Paramount expanded it beyond midnight shows to play at all hours of the day in 160 theaters. Word-of-mouth and a marketing campaign that focused on Internet buzz paid off handsomely — “Paranormal” averaged a phenomenal $44,162 at each theater. That puts it in a virtual tie with with “Hannah Montana / Miley Cyrus: Best of Both Worlds,” a concert film that played only on pricier 3-D screens, for the highest per-theater average of all time for a movie playing at more than 100 locations.
$44K per screen is phenomenal. The movie looks certain to emerge as a phenomenon with buzz building toward 10/23 breakout into wide release.
Any of you who’ve seen Paranormal Activity — does it deserve the hype in your opinion?