Weekend Box Office - Knowing Big On Numbers, Low On Cash

By Scott Gwin: 2009-03-22 20:21:20

For a weekend featuring new films starring folks like Clive Owen, Julia Roberts and Nicholas Cage you might expect to see big box office numbers. You'd be wrong, but you shouldn't be surprised. Despite being major Hollywood names none of the big players this weekend have recent track records for making huge splashes on opening day.

Thriller Knowing debuted in the top spot with $24 million. It may seem a mediocre sum given Nicolas Cage's name on the poster but it's above average for the Cage. Apart from the National Treasure flicks and Ghost Rider, Knowing enjoyed the biggest opening of Cage's last fifteen movies. That's not to say the man's not bankable - many of his films turn a profit - but you don't see him signing on for many blockbusters. Lesser thrillers and dramas like Bangkok Dangerous and World Trade Center keep his box office totals in check.

Clive Owen has also churned out over fifteen films in the last ten years, most of them with starring roles. But the last several, including Shoot 'Em Up, Children of Men and his latest, The International have all struggled or failed financially. His new movie Duplicity opened this weekend with all the signs of being another money pit. At third place it made only $14 million.

Having Julia Roberts as a co-star didn't help, but she hasn't been a recent box office draw either. Except for the Oceans movies she hasn't had a film make big opening weekend cash since 2001.

Paul Rudd and Jason Segel's comedy I Love You, Man took an offset second place with $18 million. Neither actor has headlined very many films, but they clearly can't complain when they can top Clive and Julia in such a marginally humorous flick.

Graphic novel adaptation Watchmen took another big hit this weekend, dropping over 60% from last weekend's total. Now running in the single digit millions in the US it's looking to be something of a financial wash for Warner Brothers. Fortunately the studio has The Dark Knight to make up for it. The movie, which finally closed in U.S. theaters two weeks ago after an incredible 33 week run, wrapped with more than a billion dollars world wide.