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Box Office: Gran Torino Grabs $10M Friday, Could Reach $30M Weekend

Posted on Friday, January 9th, 2009 by Steve Mason

Clint Eastwood may have saved his biggest for last.

If Gran Torino (Warner Bros) is, as he has hinted, his final big screen acting role, he is going out on top. The 78-year-old multi-Oscar winning director has the #1 movie in America, and the biggest opening of his career.

Gran Torino, the redemptive story of a racist Korean War veteran named Walt Kowalski, has expanded to just over 2,800 playdates with an estimated $10M Friday. That puts the modestly budgeted film on target for a $30M wide opening, easily the biggest of the screen legend’s career.

ALL-TIME BEST CLINT EASTWOOD OPENINGS
- wide release –
1. Gran Torino - $30M (projected)
2. Space Cowboys - $18.09M
3. In the Line of Fire - $15.2M
4. Unforgiven - $15M
5. Absolute Power - $14.6M

Novice screenwriter Nick Schenk managed to get a copy of Gran Torino into Eastwood’s hands and the legendary actor/director/composer decided to star in and direct the movie without changing a word of dialogue. Including a spectacular platform performance over the holidays, Torino will have banked about $41M by Monday morning. Will this commercial success lift Eastwood to his third Best Actor nomination at this year’s Oscars?

Any hopes of Eastwood snagging a Best Director nomination dissipated this week when he was not nominated for the DGA Award. (He had, in my estimation, only a fleeting chance at scoring for Changeling.) With the five Best Picture nominees all but locked up – Benjamin Button, Slumdog Millionaire, Frost/Nixon, Milk and The Dark Knight – both of his 2008 movies are locked out. He has a chance at an acting nod, but it still may be uphill despite his new blockbuster status.

Mickey Rourke (The Wrestler), Frank Langella (Frost/Nixon) and Sean Penn (Milk) are sure things. That leaves Brad Pitt (Benjamin Button), Leonardo DiCaprio (Revolutionary Road), Richard Jenkins (The Visitor) and Eastwood for the last two nominations. For me, it’s hard to watch the movie and not be awed by this man’s whole career. Despite being snubbed by the Golden Globes and the SAG Awards, I don’t think Eastwood should be counted out of the Best Actor race yet. (Even if Clint misses out here, he will almost certainly be nominated for Best Original Song. The title song was co-written with son Kyle and jazz vocalist Jamie Cullum, and it is as catchy as it is haunting.)

Finishing second, in line with industry expectations, is Bride Wars (Fox), produced by and starring Kate Hudson. The movie has grabbed about $7.5M on opening day and should reach $21.28M or so by Sunday night. Hudson recruited soon-to-be-Oscar nominee Anne Hathaway (Rachel Getting Married) to co-headline this horribly-reviewed comedy (12% Fresh on Rotten Tomatoes). Directed by Gary Winick, who once upon a time delivered smart comedies like 2002’s Tadpole and the Jennifer Garner high concept vehicle 13 Going on 30 back in 2004, Bride Wars, on the surface, seems out of step with the times.

Given the current economic climate, it’s interesting that a movie about shallow consumerism would connect this well, especially with Under 25’s. Then again, this is a generation fascinated by the meanness of MTV’s The Hills, where girls are portrayed as selfish, scheming and materialistic. That is what probably puts Bride Wars in the proverbial “cultural wheelhouse.”

It’s been a longtime since Hudson received her lone Oscar nomination (Best Supporting Actress for Almost Famous in 2000), but she has proven herself as a go-to young star. Bride Wars is a huge improvement over the $8.26M opening for September’s My Best Friend’s Girl, and it ranks as her all-time fourth-best 3-day start.

ALL-TIME KATE HUDSON OPENINGS
1. How To Lose a Guy in 10 Days - $23.7M opening [$105.8M cume]
2. Fool’s Gold - $21.5M opening [$70.2M cume]
3. You, Me & Dupree - $21.5M opening [$75.6M cume]
4. Bride Wars - $21.28M opening (projected)
5. The Skeleton Key - $16M opening [$47.9M cume]

The Unborn (Rogue), written and directed by David S. Goyer, has outperformed industry expectations. With Gary Oldman, The Wire‘s excellent Idris Elba and Jane Alexander as the only recognizable names on the marquee, the cheaply-made genre pic managed a very strong $7.5M and will likely scare up $18M by Monday morning good for third place.

Platinum Dunes, headed by Tranformers director Michael Bay, produced The Unborn, and it is the latest in their string of low budget horror pics including the remake of The Texas Chainsaw Massacre ($28M opening - $80.5M cume), the remake of The Amityville Horror ($23.5M opening - $65.2M cume), Texas Chainsaw Massacre: The Beginning ($18.5M opening - $39.5M cume) and the remake of The Hitcher ($7.8M opening - $16.4M cume). To Rogue and Platinum Dunes’ credit, they did screen The Unborn for critics, but the reviews have been anything but rave (14% Fresh on Rotten Tomatoes).

The overall #4 movie for the weekend is the holiday box office champion Marley & Me (Fox), which fetched another $3.6M Friday for a possible $12.96M third weekend. That will push the lovable lab to just over $125M domestic.

The Curious Case of Benjamin Button (Paramount) rounds out the top five with an estimated $3.3M Friday. David Fincher’s epic-in-reverse should sweep up another $11.38M in receipts this weekend for a new domestic cume of just over $96M. Paramount could get a huge boost from multiple Ben Button wins at Sunday night’s Golden Globes.

The other wide release is Sony’s Not Easily Broken, a well-meaning, faith-based urban drama with lukewarm reviews (37% Fresh on Rotten Tomatoes) starring possible Oscar nominee Taraji P. Henson (for Benjamin Button). Directed by Bill Duke and released on just 724 screens, this one clearly has a solid marketing plan grabbing $2M on Friday and a surprising $5.8M opening weekend for an excellent $8,000 Per Theatre Average.

EXCLUSIVE STEVE MASON EARLY FRIDAY ESTIMATES
1. Gran Torino (Warner Bros) - $10M, $3,561 PTA, $21M cume
2. NEW – Bride Wars (Fox) - $7.6M, $2,356 PTA, $7.6M cume
3. NEW – The Unborn (Rogue) - $7.5M, $3,183 PTA, $7.5M cume
4. Marley & Me (Fox) - $3.6M, $1,035 PTA, $115.96M cume
5. The Curious Case of Benjamin Button (Paramount) - $3.3M, $1,120 PTA, $88.17M cume
6. Bedtime Stories (Disney) - $3.1M, $883 PTA, $91.72M cume
7. Valkyrie (UA/MGM) - $2.75M, $969 PTA, $67.59M cume
8. Yes Man (Warner Bros) - $2.4M, $812 PTA, $85.65M cume
9. NEW – Not Easily Broken (Sony) - $2M, $2,762 PTA, $2M cume
10. Seven Pounds (Sony) - $1.68M, $686 PTA, $64.61M cume
11. Slumdog Millionaire (Fox Searchlight) - $1.1M, $1,839 PTA, $31.44M cume
12. Doubt (Miramax) - $1.1M, $855 PTA, $21.53M cume

EXCLUSIVE STEVE MASON EARLY 3-DAY ESTIMATES
1. Gran Torino (Warner Bros) - $30M, $10,684 PTA, $41M cume
2. NEW – Bride Wars (Fox) - $21.28M, $6,596 PTA, $21.28M cume
3. NEW – The Unborn (Rogue) - $18M, $7,640 PTA, $18M cume
3. Marley & Me (Fox) - $12.96M, $3,726 PTA, $125.32M cume
5. The Curious Case of Benjamin Button (Paramount) - $11.38M, $3,863 PTA, $96.26M cume
6. Bedtime Stories (Disney) - $11.16M, $3,179 PTA, $99.78M cume
7. Valkyrie (UA/MGM) - $8.8M, $3,101 PTA, $73.64M cume
8. Yes Man (Warner Bros) - $7.92M, $2,680 PTA, $91.17M cume
9. NEW – Not Easily Broken (Sony) - $5.8M, $8,011 PTA, $5.8M cume
10. Seven Pounds (Sony) - $5.56M, $2,265 PTA, $68.49M cume
11. Slumdog Millionaire (Fox Searchlight) - $4.03M, $6,711 PTA, $34.37M cume
12. Doubt (Miramax) - $4.01M, $3,120 PTA, $24.45M cume

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  • Harry
    "Any hopes of Eastwood snagging a Best Director nomination dissipated this week when he was not nominated for the DGA Award. "

    Not so. He wasn't a DGA nominee for 'Letters from Iwo Jima' but he still went on to secure Oscar nominations for Best Director & Best Picture. The usual rules don't seem to apply to Clint.

    And I think it would be unwise for anyone to rule him out as a Best Actor contender. There doesn't seem to be a voter in town that didn't love his performance & the spectacular box office of 'Gran Torino' - it may well have banked more money than any of its rival contenders by the time the Oscars roll around - is an enormous boost to the film's chances.

    This is a great film. I repeat, don't underestimate Eastwood.
  • Is The film any good. Im still yet to see it, and was wondering many people liked it.
  • It was freaking amazing.
  • Eastwood's the man. Gran Torino is a very good movie. I would recommend this movie to anyone. Eastwood does a great job in it and should be recognized for his role in the film.
  • Really liked the film, surprised me a little and made me think about race. He might get crowded out of Director and Acting noms though.
  • jacob
    Clint doesnt get "crowded out" of anything...
  • I think people are jaded by Eastwood, and think he can do no wrong. This movie was't that great. There were some humorous parts, and Clint is a BA, but there was poor acting and a forced message. Of course that is why the movie will do well. The masses love drivel.
  • HBKDinobot
    I graduated with Clint Eastwood... 2 years ago when he got an honorary degree from USC :)

    I enjoyed the movie a lot. The kid actors didn't really bother me that much, but Clint by far steals the show.

    Clint is definitely a legend.
  • Jacob
    "I graduated with Clint Eastwood... 2 years ago when he got an honorary degree from USC :) "

    Well don't you feel special!
  • Ben
    GT was great. It really nails Detroit.
    Eastwood's economy in filmmaking is astounding.

    That being said, I couldn't stop laughing at Clint & son singing.
    It's like Tarintino acting: are you sure you're the right person to be doing this...
  • hahahaah "are you sure you're the right person to be doing this... " The song over the end credits = I dieeee
  • Very good move, wouldn't be what it was without Clint though. I am a bit surprised that it's doing this well but Gran Torino is worth the attention.
  • This movie was brilliant. I personally loved the little nuances in the acting.
  • I didn't find this movie as great as most people. The story line felt forced and the acting wasn't up to par in most of the performances. Clint had some funny scenes, but overall I think he has done better.
  • Go Clint. Have'nt seen the film yet but i'm going to. Its sad though... this is his last acting role...
  • Antony
    that's awesome! i saw it last night and i thought it was amazing. i had no idea how funny it was going to be. i can't believe benjamin button got nominated over this for golden globes best picture. i thought it was a far superior film. but that's just my opinion i guess. i'd call it a must see for sure. and if this is really his last role ever, he sure went out with a bang, i thought every second of him on screen was captivating.
  • I really liked Benjamin Button when I saw that, but this is just a better film in general. The theater was packed with older couples, but my friends and I still had an awesome time. I had no idea this movie would be so hilarious.
  • just a guy
    I saw it last night. The acting is mostly terrible, but Clint is awesome. It's the funniest movie since Rambo. And I'm sure some people will argue, but I was in a half-filled theater in Glendale and most of the audience laughed thru the movie. Lines like "I stacked gooks like you five feet high in Korea"...insane movie but worth watching.
  • In the last few weeks I've seen Button, Torino, Slumdog and Valkyrie and I have to say that Torino is second to only Slumdog Millionaire of the four, with SM being one of the most uplifting movies I've seen in a great while and a great surprise for me. In any case Eastwood is amazing in GT and deserves a nomination over Pitt by far. There's no doubt that Ben Button hit all the right notes from a technical aspect (CGI/makeup effects were top notch) but Pitt's performance was no where close to Eastwood's. If this is the Man with No Name's final performance, I say it's a great cap to a legendary career.

    If GT is out near you, and most likely now it is, do yourself a favor and see it.
  • I watched this movie in a sold out AMC in Burbank, everyone in the room was enjoying the movie,I recommend the movie to anyone .
  • What other 78 year old guy could open a movie that big. This is one of 2008 best films and a must for Eastwood fans. I loved it!

    chuck
  • Erik U
    GT is a good film, but it is so obviously hanging on the back of Eastwood's performance. Without him this movie would likely be considered a poorly acted film with an average script for a drama.
  • Brice
    Liked the movie and loved Eastwood, but damn was the acting of the young actors was so terrible.
  • Lindsay
    It's official. I'm am literally the only person who hated everything about this movie. =[
  • Lindsay
    Hated it and can't speak English either. *I am
  • Jordan
    Clint was really the only thing I liked about Gran Torino. The young actors really are what killed it for me as well. It had a great message though.
  • iloveads
    thought this was another ad
  • Nick
    Maybe it's because you guys have been running an ad that looks like a news item all fucking day.
  • Agreed. It was a good movie. Clint was great as usual. But casting non-actors really only works if you are confident you can get a believable performance out of them. I felt at times, some of the non-actors really struggled giving the correct emotions to their lines. I found this especially true with the girl who played Sue, considering her role was a crucial one.
  • Regardless of Gran Torino's box office performance, Clint Eastwood is an absolute legend and he deserves nothing less. All his film should open at #1 by default. If only.
  • I must admit I will be quite surprised if it takes a $30m+ weekend, as 'Gran Torino' seemed a film with a theme that would appeal to the minority in my opinion (also many people who I know who have seen it, either thought it was average or a below-average film).
  • I loved Gran Torino... Eastwood was great in it..
  • Burt
    Eastwood will win Best Actor for Torino and as a career achievement award. Book it.
  • Jacob
    awesome movie.
  • Dr. Doc
    great, great, great film. cant say it enough

    i also thought this was better than Benjamin Button, which surprises me because i absolutely loved that movie
  • We will miss you clint
  • Rockme
    One of my favourite movies of the year
    1. Slumdog Millionaire and 2. Gran Torino
  • This film is a great way to go out.
  • ohhh yeah so Bride Wars got their ass owned
  • I'm curious if anyone knows what the budget behind The Unborn was.
  • Lori
    I just got back from seeing it and I was blown away! I love him, and I don't want to see him ever go! This film was fantastic and I can't wait to buy it. What a great story and only Eastwood could have played that role so well.
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