After its platform release in IMAX, Mission: Impossible – Ghost Protocol went wide this weekend collecting $29.5 million over three days and a sizeable $46.2 million over four. This fives the spy fourquel $78.6 million in the bank thus far, and considering that the last installment grossed only $134 million in its entire run, this is great news for a franchise that was all but written off as dead. Worldwide, “Ghost Protocol” has amassed $218 million, or over half of number three’s total and in just two weeks.
Two holdovers followed in second and third over the long weekend as Sherlock Holmes: A Game of Shadows and Alvin and the Chipmunks: Chipwrecked rebounded from middling debuts last weekend, falling just 20 percent and 14 percent respectively over the four day weekend. The period thriller has now grossed $90.6 million and is gaining on the initially wide gap given by its predecessor and rodents and friends have collected $56.9 million in booty.
The Top Ten (Four Day)
2. Sherlock Holmes: A Game of
Shadows - $31.8M…$90.6M
4. The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo - $19.4M…$27.8M
5. The Adventures of Tintin - $16.1M…24.1M
6. We Bought a Zoo - $15.6M…$15.6M
7. War Horse - $15.0M…$15.0M
8. The Darkest Hour - $5.5M…$5.5M
9. New Year’s Eve -
$5.0M…$34.2M
10. The Descendants -
$3.4M…$34.3M
Though coming in at number three over the three day weekend, David Fincher’s The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo could not hold up to the rise more accessible movies witnessed over Christmas day. Still, for a grim R-Rated, two-and-a-half hour movie to take nearly $30 million in its first few days is a solid start.
The Adventures of Tintin failed to reach the levels it did internationally, but it still managed $24.1 million since its midweek release and should play well into the New Year.
We Bought a Zoo was unremarkable in seventh with $15.6 million over the long weekend, which was way down from debuts of similar films such as Marley and Me and even Dolphin Tale from earlier this year.
If “Tintin” was weak for Spielberg, he more than made up for it with War Horse which, despite being in play only two days, galloped away with $15 million. Despite its war setting, the epic scope and lovable central creature connected with an array of audience members.
Finally, slumming it in at number eight was alien invasion flick The Darkest Hour which took in just $5.5 million since its Christmas Day debut. Expect a quick trip to store shelves for this one.