The animated film “Hotel Transylvania,” about a resort for monsters and their families, set a record for a September opening in U.S. and Canadian theaters, bringing in $43 million for Sony Corp. (6758)
The science-fiction thriller “Looper,” also from Sony, was second in its debut with $21.2 million in ticket sales, researcher Hollywood.com Box-Office said today in an e-mailed statement. “Hotel Transylvania” topped analysts’ estimates and overtook the record set by “Sweet Home Alabama” with its $35.7-million debut in 2002.
Sony’s one-two finish will keep the studio in first place in domestic 2012 ticket revenue. Culver City, California-based Sony had $1.28 billion in sales as of Sept. 23, giving it a narrow lead over Time Warner Inc. (TWX)’s $1.26 billion, according to Box Office Mojo. Sony’s biggest film this year was “The Amazing Spider-Man,” which has generated $751.7 million in worldwide sales, according to Mojo.
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“Sony really helped the industry this weekend by getting the momentum going,” Paul Dergarabedian, president of Hollywood.com Box-Office, said in an interview. “This was great news for the industry, which has been lacking good news for the last month or so.”
Dracula Party
In “Hotel Transylvania,” Dracula hosts a gathering of famous monsters, including Frankenstein, the Mummy and some werewolves to celebrate his daughter’s birthday. The celebration is complicated by the unexpected arrival of a human guest who falls for the vampire’s daughter. The film features the voices of Adam Sandler, Kevin James and Selena Gomez.
The film was expected to have $25.8 million in opening- weekend sales, the estimate of Box Office Mojo.
The time-travel tale “Looper” stars Joseph Gordon-Levitt as a hit man working for a mob that operates in the future, when time travel has become possible. To avoid prosecution, the mob sends victims back in time to be killed by a special team of assassins. Gordon-Levitt’s character is tasked with killing his future self. Bruce Willis plays the older version of Levitt’s character. “Looper” was expected to take in $16.1 million, according to Box Office Mojo.
Cops, Gangs
The police drama “End of Watch” fell to third from first with $8 million. The film, from Open Road Pictures, stars Jake Gyllenhaal and Michael Pena as Los Angeles police officers who run afoul of a vicious gang. The film has taken in $26.2 million since it opened on Sept. 21.
Clint Eastwood’s “Trouble with the Curve” from Warner Bros., was fourth with sales of $7.5 million. In the film, Eastwood plays aging professional baseball scout Gus Lobel, who tries to keep his job while battling failing eyesight and a trend toward computer-based scouting. His daughter, played by Amy Adams, tries to help by accompanying Lobel on an important scouting trip. Justin Timberlake co-stars as a washed-up pitcher who is attracted to the young woman.
“House at the End of the Street,” a horror film from Relativity Media LLC, collected $7.2 million to put it in fifth place in its second weekend. Jennifer Lawrence stars as a teen who learns too much about a double homicide committed years earlier in the house next door. Elisabeth Shue is featured as the girl’s mother.
“Pitch Perfect” from Universal opened in sixth place with $5.2 million. Anna Kendrick stars in the musical comedy as Beca, who upon arriving at college is persuaded to join an all-girls singing group. Dergarabedian called it a “huge” debut given it played in just 335 theaters.
“Finding Nemo 3D” placed seventh, with $4.1 million forWalt Disney Co. (DIS) The re-release of the 2003 animated hit is the fifth release in Disney’s plan to re-issue classic films in a three-dimensional format.
Weekend revenue for the top 12 films rose 21 percent to $108.3 million from the year-earlier period, Hollywood.com said. Domestic film sales this year have risen 2.6 percent to $8.1 billion, with attendance up 1.4 percent.
Edited By Cen Fox Post Team
