Box Office: 21 Grabs $8.2M On Friday, Headed For $23M+

By Steve Mason/March 29, 2008 12:59 am EST

The book Bringing Down the House has long been one of my favorites, so it's not a huge surprise that Sony's film adaptation is the film equivalent of a blackjack. Produced by and featuring Academy Award winner Kevin Spacey, 21 has delivered an $8.2M opening day, and Sony will finish the weekend with a stack of chips totaling an estimated $23.39M.

21 is based on Ben Mezrich's account of the life of a former MIT student and card-counter named Kevin (real name Jeffrey Ma). I met Kevin or Jeffrey soon after the book became a bestseller, and the first time I interviewed him on my ESPN radio show, he didn't give his name because he still feared for his safety. After all, the guy was part of an operation that won millions of dollars from the casino industry. I talked with Ma on my radio show, The Steve Mason Show, back in February on radio row at Super Bowl 42. This is fascinating stuff. If you'd like to hear the conversation, here's a link.

The #2 spot for the day and for the weekend goes to Horton Hears a Who (Fox), which will score another nice weekend hold. Horton has cracked the $100M mark with a strong 3rd Friday of $5M, and the CGI animated Dr. Seuss adaptation will wrap the 3-day with an estimated $17.9M, pushing its new domestic cume to nearly $118M.

MGM/Weinstein's Superhero Movie, which used a clever viral Tom Cruise spoof to spread the word, debuted to a so-so $3.3M. That's less than half the opening day business of last year's Epic Movie ($6.8M) and January's Meet the Spartans ($6.8M), so it appears that this genre's appeal is waning. Still, Superhero Movie should have $8.75M banked by Sunday night.

One of the major surprises of the weekend is the staggering drop for Tyler Perry's Meet the Browns (Lionsgate). After a solid $20.1M opening, the film was expected to hold well, as has been the case for other Perry films. Meet the Browns, however, grabbed only $2.3M on its 2nd Friday, and it will likely finish the weekend with about $7.65M, which would be a 64% drop.

Drillbit Taylor (Paramount) will likely hold off Shutter (Fox) for the 5th spot this frame. Both films generated an estimated $1.9M on Friday, but the Owen Wilson comedy will likely finish the 3-day with about $5.8M, compared to $5.6 for the horror holdover.

There were 2 other new wide releases. The first is Stop Loss (Paramount/Dreamworks), written and directed by Oscar winner Kimberly Peirce (Boys Don't Cry). Expectations were low given its Iraq War theme, but the film has performed slightly better-than-expected with $1.65M on Friday at just 1,291 locations for a $1,278 Per Theatre Average. Buoyed by positive reviews, this low budget drama should manage $4.65M or so for the weekend.

The news was less positive for Run Fatboy Run (Picturehouse), directed by David Schwimmer. Despite opening on 1,133 screens, the offbeat comedy, co-written and starring the always-funny Simon Pegg (Hot Fuzz, Shaun of the Dead), limped to only $675,000 on opening day. That will translate to a disappointing $2M or so.

Some interesting new specialty titles show up on the Top Per Theatre Average list. Leading the way is Chapter 27 (Peace Arch Releasing), which opened on 1 screen, the Nuart in Los Angeles. Jared Leto plays John Lennon assassin Mark David Chapman in this film written and directed by JP Schaefer. Chapter 27 had a huge opening day of $5,881, and conservatively, I think it will likely score a $15,000 weekend.

Gay-themed movie A Four Letter Word (Ebrem Entertainment) sold $3,906 in tickets at the Clearview Chelsea Cinema in Manhattan, and it will likely top $11,000 for the weekend. Also scoring well are the quirky doc Hats Off (Canobie Films), the Italian film My Brother is an Only Child (Thinkfilm), Priceless (IDP Films), starring Audrey Tatou, and the new Michael Caine/Demi Moore caper film Flawless (Magnolia). Here's an early rough estimate for 3-Day PTA Top 10.

EXCLUSIVE FANTASY MOGULS EARLY 3-DAY PTA ESTIMATES

1. Chapter 27 (Peace Arch) â€" 1 location – $15,000 PTA

2. A Four Letter Word (Ebrem Entertainment) â€" 1 location – $11,300 PTA

3. 21 (Sony) â€" 2,648 locations – $8,835 PTA

4. The Counterfeiters (Sony Classics) â€" 44 locations – $8,182 PTA

5. Hats Off (Canobie Films) â€" 1 location – $7,862 PTA

6. Race (UTV Communications) â€" 34 locations – $7,588 PTA

7. My Brother is an Only Child (Thinkfilm) â€" 1 location – $7,099 PTA

8. Priceless (IDP Films) â€" 24 locations – $5,833 PTA

9. Flawless (Magnolia) â€" 35 locations – $5,429 PTA

10. Planet B-Boy (Elephant Eye Films) â€" 8 locations – $5,375 PTA

EXCLUSIVE FANTASY MOGULS EARLY FRIDAY ESTIMATES

1. NEW â€" 21 (Sony) – $8.2M – $3,100 PTA – $8.2M cume

2. Horton Hears a Who (Fox) – $5M – $1,307 PTA – $104.8M cume

3. NEW â€" Superhero Movie (MGM/Weinstein) – $3.3M – $1,115 PTA – $3.3M cume

4. Tyler Perry's Meet the Browns (Lionsgate) – $2.3M – $1,141 PTA – $27.3M cume

5. Drillbit Taylor (Paramount) – $1.9M – $621 PTA – $16.6M cume

5. Shutter (Fox) – $1.9M – $689 PTA – $15.6M cume

7. NEW â€" Stop Loss (Paramount/Dreamworks) – $1.65M – $1,278 PTA – $1.65M cume

8. 10,000 B.C. (Warner Bros) – $1.23M – $404 PTA – $81.2M cume

9. College Road Trip (Disney) – $995,000- $438 PTA – $35.8M cume

10. The Bank Job (Lionsgate) -$720,000 – $449 PTA – $22M cume

11. Never Back Down (Summit) – $710,000 – $380 PTA – $19.6M

12. NEW â€" Run Fatboy Run (Picturehouse) – $675,000 – $575 PTA – $675,000 cume

13. Vantage Point (Sony) – $660,000 – $380 PTA – $67.6M cume

14. NEW â€" Under the Same Moon (Weinstein) – $450,000 – $1,154 PTA – $4.8M

15. The Other Boleyn Girl (Sony) – $345,000 – $308 PTA – $24M cume

*Miss Pettigrew Lives for a Day (Focus) – $290,000 – $562 PTA – $8.5M cume

*In Bruges (Focus) – $95,000 – $452 PTA – $6.2M cume

*The Counterfeiters (Sony Classics) – $85,000 – $1,932 PTA – $2M cume

*Married Life (Sony Classics) – $72,000 – $1,263 PTA – $467,000

*Race (UTV Communications) – $62,000 – $1,824 PTA – $739,000 cume

*NEW â€" Flawless (Magnolia) – $54,000 – $1,483 PTA – $54,000 cume

*The Band's Visit (Sony Classics) – $41,000 – $932 PTA – $1.8M cume

*NEW â€" Priceless (IDP Films) – $39,000 – $1,556 PTA – $39,000 cume

*The Hammer (International Film Circuit) – $33,000 – $971 PTA – $159,000 cume

*Planet B-Boy (Elephant Eye Films) – $16,000 – $2,000 PTA – $57,000 cume

*Paranoid Park (IFC Films) – $14,000 – $378 PTA – $293,000 cume

*NEW â€" One Two Three (Eros Entertainment) – $13,000 – $770 PTA – $13,000 cume

*Snow Angels (Warner Independent) – $12,000 – $414 PTA – $142,000 cume

*Shelter (Regent) – $6,500 – $929 PTA – $13,000 cume

*NEW â€" Chapter 27 (Peace Arch)- $5,881 – $5,881Â PTA – $5,881 cume

*NEW â€" A Four Letter Word (Ebrem Entertainment) – $3,906 – $3,906 PTA – $3,906 cume

*The Grand (Anchor Bay) – $2,818 – $1,409 PTA – $25,000 cume

*Boarding Gate (Magnolia) – $2,580 – $1,290 PTA – $21,000 cume

*NEW â€" Hats Off (Canobie Films) – $2,154 – $2,154 PTA – $2,154 cume

*NEW â€" My Brother is an Only Child (Thinkfilm) – $2,119 – $2,119 PTA – $2,119 cume

*NEW â€" Happy Valley (Independent) – $1,273 – $1,273 PTA – $1,273 cume

*NEW â€" American Zombie (Cinema Libre) – $1,137 – $1,137 PTA – $1,137 cume

*Irina Palm (Strand) – $817 – $409 PTA – $7,000 cume

*NEW â€" Just Add Water (Independent) – $294 – $294 PTA – $294 cume

EXCLUSIVE FANTASY MOGULS EARLY 3-DAY ESTIMATES

1. NEW â€" 21 (Sony) – $23.39M – $8,835 PTA – $23.39M cume

2. Horton Hears a Who (Fox) – $17.9M – $4,679 PTA – $117.7M cume

3. NEW â€" Superhero Movie (MGM/Weinstein) – $8.75M – $2,956 PTA – $8.75M cume

4. Tyler Perry's Meet the Browns (Lionsgate) – $7.65M – $3,795 PTA – $32.7M cume

5. Drillbit Taylor (Paramount) – $5.8M – $1,895 PTA – $20.5M cume

6. Shutter (Fox) – $5.6M – $2,032 PTA – $19.3M cume

7. NEW â€" Stop Loss (Paramount/Dreamworks) – $4.65M – $3,602 PTA – $4.65M cume

8. 10,000 B.C. (Warner Bros) – $3.95M – $1,293 PTA – $83.9M cume

9. College Road Trip (Disney) – $3.58M – $1,578 PTA – $38.4M cume

10. The Bank Job (Lionsgate) -$2.44M – $1,525 PTA – $23.7M cume

11. Vantage Point (Sony) – $2.31M – $1,328 PTA – $69.2M cume

12. Never Back Down (Summit) – $2.09M- $1,121 PTA – $20.9M

13. NEW â€" Run Fatboy Run (Picturehouse) – $1.95M – $1,728 PTA – $1.95M cume

14. NEW â€" Under the Same Moon (Weinstein) – $1.77M – $4,561 PTA – $6.2M

15. The Other Boleyn Girl (Sony) – $1.17M – $1,048 PTA – $24.8M cume

*Miss Pettigrew Lives for a Day (Focus) – $1.02M – $1,995 PTA – $9.2M cume

*The Counterfeiters (Sony Classics) – $360,000 – $8,182 PTA – $2.3M cume

*In Bruges (Focus) – $330,000 – $1,571 PTA – $6.4M cume

*Married Life (Sony Classics) – $260,000 – $4,561 PTA – $655,000

*Race (UTV Communications) – $258,000 – $7,588 PTA – $935,000 cume

*NEW â€" Flawless (Magnolia) – $190,000 – $5,429 PTA – $190,000 cume

*The Band's Visit (Sony Classics) – $185,000 – $4,205 PTA – $1.9M cume

*NEW â€" Priceless (IDP Films) – $140,000 – $5,833 PTA – $140,000 cume

*The Hammer (International Film Circuit) – $91,000 – $2,676 PTA – $217,000 cume

*Paranoid Park (IFC Films) – $47,000 – $1,270 PTA – $325,000 cume

*Planet B-Boy (Elephant Eye Films) – $43,000 – $5,375 PTA – $84,000 cume

*Snow Angels (Warner Independent) – $43,000 – $1,483 PTA – $173,000 cume

*NEW â€" One Two Three (Eros Entertainment) – $42,000 – $2,625 PTA – $42,000 cume

*NEW â€" Chapter 27 (Peace Arch)- $21,000 – $21,000Â PTA – $21,000 cume

*Shelter (Regent) – $18,000 – $2,571 PTA – $25,000 cume

*NEW â€" A Four Letter Word (Ebrem Entertainment) – $13,000 – $13,000 PTA – $13,000 cume

*Boarding Gate (Magnolia) – $8,257- $4,128 PTA – $27,000 cume

*The Grand (Anchor Bay) – $8,171 – $4,086 PTA – $31,000 cume

*NEW â€" Hats Off (Canobie Films) – $7,862 – $7,862 PTA – $7,862 cume

*NEW â€" My Brother is an Only Child (Thinkfilm) – $7,099 – $7,099 PTA – $7,099 cume

*NEW â€" Happy Valley (Independent) – $3,819 – $3,819 PTA – $3,819 cume

*NEW â€" American Zombie (Cinema Libre) – $3,354 – $3,354 PTA – $3,354 cume

*Irina Palm (Strand) – $2,452 – $1,226 PTA – $8,450 cume

*NEW â€" Just Add Water (Independent) – $838 – $838 PTA – $838 cume