It’s all systems go for ‘Failure to Launch’

Amid a rapidly dimming afterglow for Academy Award winners, new movies appealing to females, families and young males took the top three spots this weekend.

Belying its title, “Failure to Launch” took in an estimated $24.6 million to open in the No. 1 position, a good deal more than pre-opening research had indicated. Paramount Pictures head of distribution Jim Tharp said the movie’s audience skewed female and mature -- 70% females and 59% age 25 or older.

With an estimated $16 million, Disney’s second-place comedy, “The Shaggy Dog,” commanded a crowd that was 70% families, president of distribution Chuck Viane said, and the horror remake “The Hills Have Eyes” took third with about $15.5 million. Anecdotal evidence indicated audiences for “Hills” were predominantly young men, Fox Searchlight distribution chief Steve Gilula said, although the studio did not do comprehensive exit surveys.

The best picture Oscar winner, “Crash,” which had been out of release and available on DVD for several weeks, added a modest $357,000 or so as Lionsgate reopened it in 150 locations. The theatrical total for “Crash” is now about $53.8 million, and the studio reported last week that the movie had sold about 4 million DVDs. Assuming an average store price of $15, that would mean an extra $60 million, although Amazon.com on Sunday was selling it for $9.96 (full-screen format) and $11.96 (wide-screen). An advance-order director’s cut listing for $26.98 was available for $19.96.

With a best picture that had played out its run, other movies with Oscar credentials faded quickly -- having disappeared from the top 10 three weekends ago. “Walk the Line” (starring best actress Reese Witherspoon) grossed an extra $330,000 over the weekend to bring its theatrical total to nearly $120 million. “Capote” (with best actor Philip Seymour Hoffman) added another $1.2 million to push its total to $27.2 million.

“Brokeback Mountain” (best director Ang Lee), which had benefited more than any other best picture nominee, took in an additional $1.25 million for a total of $81 million. Best foreign language film “Tsotsi,” which opened in the United States just three weekends ago, increased its run from seven theaters to 30 for an estimated take of $261,000, or $8,700 per venue, Miramax reported.

Although “Walk the Line” was the top-selling DVD in its first retail week ending March 5, reliable sales figures were not available for the movie, which like “Crash” showed a day-after uptick in DVD sales on Amazon.com and other retail outlets.

Among movies opening in a limited number of theaters, “Ask the Dust” took in slightly less than $73,000 in seven locations, and “Duck Season” debuted in half a dozen venues with a modest showing of a little more than $24,000.

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Box Office

Preliminary results (in millions) based on studio projections.

*--* Movie 3-day gross Total Failure to Launch $24.6 $24.6

The Shaggy Dog 16 16

The Hills Have Eyes 15.5 15.5

16 Blocks 7.3 22.7

Madea’s Family Reunion 5.8 55.8

Eight Below 5.4 66.4

Aquamarine 3.7 12.2

The Pink Panther 3.6 74.6

Ultraviolet 3.6 14.8

Date Movie 2.5 44.3 Source: Nielsen EDI, Inc. Los Angeles Times

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