“Wall-E” blasted off at the box office Friday, earning an estimated $23.1 million and giving Disney-Pixar its best opening day ever.
Meanwhile, Universal’s actioner “Wanted” based on the comic strip by Mark Millar loaded up a boffo $18.8 million in second at 3,175 theaters, giving Angelina Jolie her highest opening day ever for a live-action pic. Jolie’s previous top live-action opening day belonged to 2001’s “Lara Croft: Tomb Raider” which made $18 million.
The tale about a lonely robot who romantically pursues another robot from outer space, “Wall-E” also took the record for the top G-rated opening day, besting “Finding Nemo’s” $20.2 million in 2003.
Playing at 3,992 theaters, “Wall-E” is Pixar’s ninth animated release.
Pixar’s previous opening day high belonged to 2005’s “The Incredibles” which grossed $20.5 million on its first Friday and $70.5 million over three days.
Among the top debut days of all-time for animated fare, “Wall-E” ranks third behind last summer’s “Shrek the Third” ($38.4 million) and “The Simpsons Movie” ($30.8 million).
Both new entries are expected to keep a lock on their respective top slots through Sunday.
Last weekend’s number one film, Warner Bros. and Village Roadshow’s “Get Smart” placed third yesterday, taking in $6.6 million at 3,915 venues, a 50% decline from a week ago, for an eight day cume of $63.9 million.
DAILY BOX OFFICE RESULTS
CLICK HERE to read the WEEKEND Box Office Results! See how GET SMART and THE LOVE GURU made!
Read reviews of the top 6 films at the box office this weekend
Nobody's getting much sleep at Cirque du Soleil these days.
Over a five-week period this fall, Cirque will be opening a productions in Macau, Las Vegas and Tokyo, at an estimated total cost of close to $500 million. That's a giant leap forward for an organization that began by mounting one new show every two years.
First up on Aug. 28 is "Zaia," Cirque's Asian production bowing at the Venetian Macao Hotel. Theater/film director Gilles Maheu oversees this journey of a young woman through space.
"Criss Angel Believe" opens Sept. 12 at the Luxor in Vegas. It represents a rare instance of Cirque uniting with a solo performing artist, in this case, illusionist Angel.
On Oct. 1, "Zed" arrives at the Tokyo Disney resort, with filmmaker Francois Girard creating a show based on Tarot card characters.
By the start of November, there will be 17 different Cirque du Soleil productions performing around the world; by the end of 2010 that number will rise to 23.
There's a lot of money and a lot of artistic reputations on the line and -- with the global economy proving unpredictable these days -- there's literally no margin for error.
A situation like the delays and budget overruns that plagued Robert Lepage's production of "KA" in 2005 -- which opened nearly six months behind schedule and a rumored $40 million above the planned cost -- would be disastrous on Cirque's current frenetic schedule, not to mention in today's economic climate.
WALL*E
Kung Fu Panda
Get Smart
Wanted
The Incredible Hulk
The Love Guru
CIRQUE DE SOLEIL GOING GLOBAL TOUR
