Well, maybe not that lucky: "Ocean's Thirteen" opened nicely but not fantastically, its $37 million first-weekend take a hair below those of "Ocean's Eleven" ($38 mill) and "Ocean's Twelve" ($39 mill). It's worth noting the new film's $10K per-theater average was notably lower than the first two installments, though (both averaged around $12K per theater), indicating some franchise burn-out.
But not much, by God. Audiences have learned what to expect from this series -- good-looking stars pleasantly deadpanning their way through an intricate plot -- and as long as things don't get smug (see "Ocean's Twelve"), those low expectations are rewarded.
With an anemic $18 million, "Surf's Up" is now destined to be remembered (if at all) as "the other animated penguin movie." It will join "The Wild" (a.k.a. "the other 'Madagascar'") in pop culture limbo.
Eli Roth's "Hostel, part II" made chump change, $8 million, more due to audience torture-horror fatigue than from bad reviews. Since the movie cost about a buck fifty to make, it's doubtless already in the black.
"Pirates of the Caribbean: At World's End" continues to print money in the weekend's No. 2 slot. Just below it, "Knocked Up" dropped 38 percent in its second week out. Pretty solid legs, but nowhere near as solid as "The 40-Year-Old Virgin," which dropped only 24 percent in its sophomore weekend.
Among the smaller fish, Edith Piaf biopic "La Vie En Rose" pulled in a tres chic $21,000 per theater at eight arthouses, indicating there are more fans of either The Little Sparrow or star Marion Cotillard than you thought. Count me in the latter camp, although I can get misty if I hear "Non, Je Ne Regrette Rien" after a pastis or three. The movie opens in Boston this Friday.
More box office noodlings at Box Office Mojo and Leonard Klady.
