`Quantum of Solace` expected to be #4 at US box-office this Thanksgiving

30-Nov-2008 • Quantum Of Solace

Holiday-themed comedy is paying off nicely for Warner Bros. and New Line, with Vince Vaughn-Reese Witherspoon comedy "Four Christmases" on track to win the Thanksgiving box office - reports Variety.

On Friday--a huge moviegoing day--"Four Christmases" grossed $13.2 million from 3,310 runs for a three-day cume of $28.2 million. Laffer is proving more of a crowd-pleaser than expected.

Perhaps the most watched wide release off the holiday is Baz Luhrmann's sweeping epic "Australia," from 20th Century Fox. The Hugh Jackman-Nicole Kidman starrer was up 96% on Thursday, and 30% on Thursday, indicating that the film is building interest among adult moviegoers, as with Luhrmann's previous films.

On Friday, "Australia" grossed $5.8 million from 2,462 runs for a three day cume of $11 million. Pic's performance is in line with Fox's expectations, even if it is only in fifth place at the holiday box office. Friday's day-over-day gain of 96% was the best among adult-skewing titles.

Adults aslo are turning out for Focus Feature's specialty opener "Milk." Gus Van Sant's Harvey Milk biopic is off to a strong start, grossing $498,086 from 36 runs on Friday for a per locaiton average of $13,836 and coming in No. 10 overall. "Milk," toplining Sean Penn, has earned $982,681 since Wednesday.

Family fare surged on Thursday. Disney's 3-D animated toon "Bolt" was up 150% over Thursday, grossing $10.8 million on its second Friday for a cume of $51.1 million. Film was up an impressive 54% over the previous Friday, when it opened.

"Bolt" tied with Summit Entertainment's "Twilight" for second place on Friday. "Twilight" jumped the $100 million mark in its 8th day in release, grossing $10.8 million from 3,425 runs for a cume of $104.

"Twilight" did decline a steep 70% over the previous Friday, but saw a 112% gain over Thanksgiving day.

Sony/MGM's James Bond installment "Quantum of Solace" hasn't lost its box office heat as it heads into its third weekend. Pic grossed $8.2 million from 3,501 runs on Friday for a cume of $130.8 million, and putting it at No. 4. "Quantum" was up 80% over Friday.

DreamWorks Animation/Paramount's "Madagascar: Escape 2 Africa" placed an impressive No. 6 on Friday. Entering its fourth sesh, toon grossed $5.5 million from 3,709 playdates for a cume of $150.3 million. "Mad 2" was up a whopping 154% over Thursday, and 50% over the previous Friday.

The holiday's third new wide release is Lionsgate's "Transporter 3." Actioner came in No. 7 on Friday, grossing $4.8 million from 2,626 runs for a three-day cume of $11 million.