Box Office - 'District 9' Takes Off with $37 Million

It isn't often that a movie makes back its production budget in one weekend, especially in the summer, where the rules dictate that you've got to spend money to make money. District 9 is in the black after three days, minus marketing and advertising costs, having earned $37 million against a reported $30 million budget. That number is not just healthy on its own merits for a modestly budgeted sci-fi flick but it's also very good for a movie hitting around 3,000 theaters. Compare this $37 million with G.I. Joe, which earned $54 million last weeend in a thousand more houses, and the success of District 9 becomes more apparent, especially when you factor in its lower marketing costs and a budget roughly one-sixth of what Paramount spent on G.I. Joe. Joe fell to second place, slipping around 55% from last weekend, with $22 million in domestic receipts. That takes its ten-day total to just under $100 million. The Time Traveler's Wife opened in third place, making just under $20 million, a solid number considering Rachel McAdams gave away the entire movie on The Daily Show this Thursday. Thought it took two weekends to turn a profit, Julie & Julia, which is not a movie that has tremendous box office appeal, has crossed the $40 million barrier while dropping to fourth place. That's a big deal for literary adaptation (technically two of them) with no male actor in a leading role. No other new releases - The Goods, Ponyo, Bandslam - broke into the top five, with Bandslam being particularly slow; it didn't even crack the top ten. The Top Five:
1 - District 9 ($37 million)
2 - G.I. Joe ($22.5 million)
3 - The Time Traveler's Wife ($19.2 million)
4 - Julie & Julia ($12.4 million)
5 - G-Force ($7 million) DVD Movies Base Instant Download Access

Comments

[Orinn]

I know GI Joe had more effects, but they all looked so fake compared to the low budget and real feel of district 9. I dont know how they pull it off for so little in district 9, and how they spend so much and get such bad results for GI joe.