Posted on 12/11/2006 3:06:39 PM PST by SirLinksalot
Gibson Delivers Another Box Office Win
Dec 10 10:36 PM US/Eastern
By DAVID GERMAIN AP Movie Writer
LOS ANGELES
Mel Gibson's bloody epic "Apocalypto" debuted as the No. 1 weekend movie, proving the filmmaker still can deliver a winner despite his drunken-driving arrest and anti-Semitic rant last summer.
"Apocalypto," a Disney release set in the Mayan civilization and told in an obscure Mayan language, opened with $14.2 million, according to studio estimates Sunday.
It was a modest haul compared to the $83.8 million opening weekend of Gibson's last movie, the 2004 religious blockbuster "The Passion of the Christ," which went on to do $370 million domestically.
But "Apocalypto" overcame the baggage of Gibson's personal troubles as well as its difficult subject matter, which features a no-name cast in a hyper-violent tale that includes beheadings and images of hearts ripped from people's chests.
"The movie obviously succeeds on its own level. I think people probably are a bit on the surprised side around town that it's No. 1," said Chuck Viane, head of distribution for Disney. "Two months ago, nobody would have bet on that."
Sony's romance "The Holiday" debuted at No. 2 with $13.5 million. Directed by Nancy Meyers, the movie stars Cameron Diaz, Kate Winslet, Jack Black and Jude Law in the story of American and British women who swap homes for the holidays and find love in the process.
The Warner Bros. thriller "Blood Diamond," starring Leonardo DiCaprio, Jennifer Connelly and Djimon Hounsou, opened at No. 5 with $8.5 million. Set against Sierra Leone's civil war in the 1990s, the film follows a mercenary pursuing a rare diamond.
Also from Warner Bros., the holiday comedy "Unaccompanied Minors," about a group of kids run amok while stranded at an airport Christmas Eve, premiered at No. 6 with $6.2 million.
The Warner Bros. animated hit "Happy Feet" and Sony's James Bond adventure "Casino Royale," which had been the top-two movies for three-straight weekends, slipped to Nos. 3 and 4, respectively.
"Happy Feet" took in $12.7 million, raising its total to $137.7 million. "Casino Royale" grossed $8.8 million, lifting its total to $128.9 million.
The overall box office fell sharply, with the top-12 movies grossing $86.8 million, down 25 percent from the same weekend last year, when the blockbuster "The Chronicles of Narnia: The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe" opened with $65.6 million.
Disney reported that Gibson's "Apocalypto" drew solid crowds across- the-board, with movie-goers equally split between men and women and the core of the audience ranging from 18 to 45.
The publicity over Gibson's problems and his contriteness since last summer may have stoked interested in "Apocalypto," said Paul Dergarabedian, president of box-office tracker Media By Numbers.
"Whenever I tell people I saw the movie, they'd be like, `You saw it? How was it?' There was a huge curiosity factor," Dergarabedian said. "A movie about Mayan civilization was never destined to be a big hit, let alone a No. 1 movie. But through Disney's marketing, which highlights Mel Gibson _ I believe they associated him very closely with the movie _ I think that strategy paid off."
Estimated ticket sales for Friday through Sunday at U.S. and Canadian theaters, according to Media By Numbers LLC. Final figures will be released Monday.
1. "Apocalypto," $14.2 million.
2. "The Holiday," $13.5 million.
3. "Happy Feet," $12.7 million.
4. "Casino Royale," $8.8 million.
5. "Blood Diamond," $8.5 million.
6. "Unaccompanied Minors," $6.2 million.
7. "Deja Vu," $6.1 million.
8. "The Nativity Story," $5.6 million.
9. "Deck the Halls," $3.9 million.
10. "The Santa Clause 3: The Escape Clause," $3.3 million.
It was always obvious to me that it'd be a hit, and I'm nobody, It's because it's DIFFERENT. Hollywood will never get it.
And dropping fast, it is too bloody and mainstream will not go for it.
I hate the 'win' aspect of Box Office reporting. It's not a contest.
I would think this movie would be of much interest to the peoples of Mexico, Guatemala and Belice
I knowe he's got baggage but I love this guy. I suspect others are really frightened by him because he conveys the Christian message so powerfully. He's a dangerous man to some folks for sure. You know it's true when his films are being mocked as ultra violent and shallow by people who have always fought tooth and nail for artistic freedom - liberals. Mel Gibson's done a lot with his life. It's stark realism. It's the real deal. It's the way the story needs to be told.
For every showing of Dances with Wolves (which curiously enough was ultra violent too), there should be a showing of Apocalypto immediately afterwards.
I saw it and I agree
What Christian message is being conveyed powerfully in Apocalypto?
Gibson has had a vast slew of movies that he's directed or starred in that have been commercial successes. ONE of those movies conveyed a Christian message.
If anything, this suggests that Passion was a success because Gibson was attached to it, not the subject matter, though people won't want to hear that.
My wife and daughter saw The Holiday. They said it was pretty good. They also noticed that the audience was all women save one man.
Being different wouldn't be enough, and isn't enough for me. This one just doesn't look like one I'd want to sit through.
I saw it this past weekend for the same reason - it's not the typical, cookie-cutter film.
The thing that disturbs me about Mel Gibson is he has this strange obsession with BLOOD and GORE.
It's all over the movies he starred in or made -- BRAVEHEART, THE PATRIOT, THE PASSION, and now this one APOCALYPTO.
Why does he like doing these kinds of movies ??
He's a wacko. I think he's filled with rage which he channels into his films. And this is nowhere near a really big box office weekend for him. He opened against rather weak competition, plus it's usually downhill from opening weekend, money-wise.
Oh, and did you see "Payback?" Great movie, but again, the gore.
...and still wouldn't make any money.
$14million is hardly knocking down the lobby doors to get seen. This reviewer is basically a tout.
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.