A new Disney 3D movie, a carryover behemoth with a big assist from IMAX, and a DreamWorks Animation 3D comedy with legs drove box-office grosses to the second biggest Thanksgiving weekend ever.
The debut of Disney’s family animated musical “Tangled” in 3D was a pleasant surprise to most prognosticators, generating the second-biggest Thanksgiving opening ever with $69 mil. domestically for the five-day Wednesday – Sunday holiday period, according to Hollywood.com Box Office. About 56% of that, nearly $39 mil., came from 3D showings at 2,461 3D locations of the overall 3,603 locations (5,400 screens), even without an assist from IMAX, according to Box Office division president Paul Dergarabedian. “Tangled” wove in another $13.8 million overseas for a global total of $82.8 mil, which trails only “Toy Story 2” (1999) for a Thanksgiving weekend debut and bodes well for a continued strong run through the entire holiday period.
Warner Bros.’ “Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows – Part 1” dropped over the five-day frame but still conjured up a massive $76.2 million to lead the weekend again after its franchise record-setting opening three-day weekend of $125 mil. IMAX’s contribution increased to 12%, or $5.8 mil. of the $50.34 mil. Friday-Sunday sales, despite less than 10% of the overall number of theaters.
Despite the competition of two other new family movies and direct demographic appeal from “Tangled,” Paramount’s release of DreamWorks’ “Megamind” in 3D still ranked third in its fourth weekend by adding another $17.5 mil. from the 5-day weekend, 70% of which came from 3D screens, to bring its cumulative total to $130.2 mil., according to Box Office Mojo.
— By Scott Hettrick
best movie i’ve seen in a long time. 3d was top notch.
Disney is really a great company ,and I like Japanese cartoons too!