Axiom’s Edge Science Fiction and Fantasy

By John J. Joex

Despite having a pirated copy leaked to the internet which generated a stream of negative buzz, X-Men Origins: Wolverine had no problems winning the box office for the weekend and pulling in a healthy draw of over $85 million. While the movie fell short of the opening weekend tallies of several other recent super hero movies such as The Dark Knight, X-Men 2 & 3 , and Spiderman 1 – 3, it still scored the 19th slot among top domestic opening weekends.

In second place, supernatural romantic comedy Ghosts of Girlfriends Past did a respectable $15 million as this weekend’s date movie of choice. The other Science Fiction and Fantasy movie to debut this weekend, Battle for Terra, did not rise above the competition. Despite some heavy promotion during the two weeks leading up to its release, it debuted outside the top 10 at number 12 with draw of only just over $1 million. Expect to see that one fade from the theaters quickly in the face of mounting Summer competition and show up on DVD within a few months.

In its sixth week of release, the 3-D animated Monsters and Aliens continued to hold its own, pulling in just under $6 million and bringing its total domestic tally to over $182 million. Expect to see this one on fewer screens in the coming weekends, though, as Star Trek, Terminator: Salvation, Up, and other heavy hitters start to take over the multiplexes.

Following are the results for all of the Science Fiction and Fantasy oriented movies in the Top 20 this past weekend:

1) X-Men Origins: Wolverine – Prior Wk: New, Draw (Total): $85.06 MM ($85.06 MM)
2) Ghosts of Girlfriends Past – Prior Wk: New, Draw (Total): $15.41 MM ($15.41 MM)
4) 17 Again – Prior Wk: 2, Draw (Total): $6.36 MM ($48.5 MM)
5) Monsters Vs. Aliens – Prior Wk: 6, Draw (Total): $5.8 MM ($182.41 MM)
12) Battle for Terra – Prior Wk: New, Draw (Total): $1.08 MM ($1.08 MM)
15) Knowing – Prior Wk: 12, Draw (Total): $.57 MM ($77.93 MM)
18) The Haunting in Connecticut – Prior Wk: 14, Draw (Total): $.42 MM ($55.03 MM)

Source:  Box Office Mojo