"The Incredible Hulk" debuted with a romping, stomping $55 million opening weekend, further proof that the current Marvel formula -- cast the lead smartly, keep production in-house, don't get too artsy-fartsy -- is paying dividends. Despite worries that the film followed too closely on the big green heels of Ang Lee's "The Hulk," which made $62 million its opening weekend almost exactly five years ago, the new movie benefited from good buzz and benevolent spillover from "Iron Man." (I still say the only time "Incredible Hulk" gets a lift is when Downey Jr's Tony Stark turns up at the end).
"The Happening" knocked out a much higher than expected $31 million in advance of terrible reviews and (I'm guessing) seriously burned audiences. There's perverse appeal in the idea of a quiet end-of-the-world movie -- one that sticks it to moviegoers by showing us going out with a whimper instead of a bang -- but the problem is that M. Night Shyamalan hasn't given us a good one. So brickbats all around, except from Roger Ebert, God bless him.
"Kung Fu Panda" retained water, dropping a mere 45% from its opening weekend. This thing's going to be with us a long time, and you know they're already thinking sequel. "You Don't Mess with the Zohan" dropped off more sharply -- 57% -- as the parents of America suddenly realized that not all PG-13 movies are the same and that this one carries serious raunch. (Or, as the 11-year-old daughter of a friend of mine told her mom as the end credits rolled: "That was so inappropriate!" I think she meant it as a compliment.)
Here's the Box Office Mojo chart and here's Leonard Klady at Movie City News.
