Posted on 11/04/2006 8:57:52 AM PST by meg88
UPDATED Saturday AM: (Keep refreshing screen for latest #s) All the box office guru predictions for this weekend went wrong.
I'm told that Fox's Borat, though playing in just 837 theaters, shocked the experts and became the No. 1 movie in the U.S. Friday.
Funnyman Sacha Baron Cohen's spoof took in a staggering $8.9 million for what should be an opening weekend of as much as $25 million.
Based on the anecdotal evidence pouring in to me about long lines at the box office, sold-out screenings, and fans driving more than an hour to find a theater showing the pic, I believe Borat was standing room only inside those screenings.
(I think the moviegoers weren't just rolling in the aisles, they were sitting in the aisles, for the film to make this much money.)
I'm still waiting on a per screen average. By contrast, the movie all the experts thought was going to finish first came in 2nd: Disney's Santa Clause 3, starring Tim Allen and opening in 3,458 theaters.
But it earned $5.2 million Friday for what should be a $20 mil weekend debut.
Since date night these days means a horor flick for young adults, Lionsgate holdover Saw III playing in 3,167 theaters took in $5.1 mil Friday (down 64%) to be the No. 3 pic.
It'll probably see a $13 mil weekend added for a new cume of $67.6 mil.
Newcomer Paramount / Dreamworks' animated Flushed Away opened in just 4th place Friday. Playing in 3,707 theaters, it earned $4.6 mil -- but, after the expected Saturday kiddie bounce, it should finish the weekend as No. 3 with $17.5 mil.
(So no "down the drain" jokes necessary there.) MORE
AWESOME! Can't wait to see it
Going to see it in a few hours! Niiiiiice
Fox strategy of limiting the screens in release turned out to be genius.
I saw him on SNL, and his shtick was just a bunch of crude sexual stuff. The trailers I've seen on television looked funny.
I'm taking my kids to see "Flushed Away" this afternoon. We're big Aardman fans, even if it is a CG movie.
Funniest movie I have ever seen, bar none and I love comedies
Vulgar, irreverent, bad reviews, offensive -- ingredients for a good movie, hm?
I guess I'm in the minority but I don't find him funny at all...
I saw Borat last night, and it's very, very, funny. It was running on two screens at the local Multiplex and both were sold out. Everyone in the theater, myself included, was laughing more or less through the whole film. Although, if you don't appreciate what what Cohen is doing, it would be quite easy to take the film the wrong way.
Niiiiiice! How mahch?
A person can see many segments on YOUTUBE.com
Never heard of him. What's his schtick?
Has a 30 minute show, Ali G .Played 3 characters. Ali G the hip-hop/newsman, Borat ,and a gay Austrian Bruno,obsessed with fashion and himself.
http://www.hbo.com/alig/
Some early reviews of Borat are negative.Seems he makes fun of Red States and rarely blue ones.
Thanks. Sounds like he pokes fun at some politically incorrect targets as well which is probably why he's popular.
My older son saw Borat last night. He said it was hilarious, and my son is not easy to impress.
This movie must be really, really funny.
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Here's Borat at a Gun Club, and some other places.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=S6ew9qZW2xY&NR
I saw a clip of him at an animal shelter. The lady running the shelter finally went in the puppy room, and locked the door to escape him when he told her his intentions for the puppy he wished to adopt.
I was just about to point out that there was nothing in this article that mentioned the manatees that were in the title....LOL! I read too fast for my mind to keep up.
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