20th Century Fox’s sci-fi remake of “The Day the Earth Stood Still” took the top spot at the weekend box office with an estimated $31 million.
Variety reports the film, which stars Keanu Reeves and Jennifer Connelly, took in an estimated $39 million internationally for an estimated worldwide total of $70 million. The film cost a reported $80 million to bring to the screen.
The remake was directed by Scott Derrickson, and also stars Jaden Smith, Kathy Bates, John Cleese and Jon Hamm. The plot moves away from some of the Cold War elements of Robert Wise’s 1951 black-and-white classic and revolves around global warming.
The film also did well with its 123 Imax showings – which made up 12.3% of the film’s opening gross.
In Variety, Imax’s Greg Foster stated: “It shows that despite the economic downturn, moviegoers are willing to spend a few extra dollars to see a movie in Imax.”
Fox senior VP of distribution Chris Aronson stated: “Audiences were moved to see the Earth stand still. We’re in orbit over this opening. To gross $70 million worldwide on a film that cost $80 million is fantastic.”
The Warner Bros./New Line holiday comedy “Four Christmases” dropped 21% in its third weekend. The film earned an estimated $13.3 million and claimed the No. 2 spot at the weekend box office. It has earned $88 million since it was released.
Baz Luhrmann’s epic “Australia,” which stars Nicole Kidman and Hugh Jackman, took the No. 5 spot with an estimated $4.3 million, but is still struggling to attract an audience.
The film failed to get the attention from the Golden Globes the studio was hoping for, and will need to do very well overseas for the studio to make back the money it took to bring the film to the screen.
Overture Films’ “Nothing Like the Holidays” landed at the No. 7 spot for its opening weekend with an estimated $3.5 million. The holiday film is on track to make the studio’s investment thanks to a low production cost of under $10 million.
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