News
Imagi's Astro Boy Brings in US$1.8 Million on Friday (Updated)
posted on by Egan Loo
The Deadline.com website reports that David Bowers and IMAGI's US$65-million computer-animated film adaptation of Osamu Tezuka's Astro Boy (Tetsuwan Atom) manga earned an estimated US$1.8 million on its opening day in the United States. With about 3,000 theaters screening it on October 23, the film release had an estimated per-screen average of US$600. Deadline.com estimates that it will earn US$7 million this weekend.
By comparison, Ponyo debuted at #9 with US$1,174,539 on its August 14 opening day in 927 U.S. theaters. Its per-screen average was US$1,267, and it has grossed US$15,006,092 as of October 22. Dragonball: Evolution opened on April 10 at #8 with US$2,174,663 in 2,181 theaters. Its per-screen average was US$997, and it ended its American run with US$9,362,785.
Speed Racer opened on May 9, 2008 at #3 with US$6,192,227 in 3,606 theaters. Its per-screen average was US$1,717, and it ended up with US$43,945,766. IMAGI's TMNT opened on March 23, 2007 at #1 with US$8,741,441 in 3,110 theaters. Its per-screen average was US$2,811, and it eventually grossed US$54,149,098.
The other two new films in the top 10 are Saw VI (#2) and Vampire's Assistant (#6). Friday's #1 film was Paranormal Activity.
Source: Box Office Mojo
Image © IMAGI Crystal Limited
Original Manga © Tezuka Productions Co., Ltd.
Update: Box Office Mojo revised its theater count slightly to 3,014, which gives the film an approximate Friday per-screen average of US$597.
this article has been modified since it was originally posted; see change history