May 26, 2012

The Last Exorcism and Takers Duke it Out

by Rebecca Pahle | Published August 30, 2010

The Last Exorcism (2010).

This is it, guys, summer movie season is over! And what a last hurrah—a demon-possessed child with chiropractic problems vs. Hayden Christensen in Some Generic Heist Movie. The Last Exorcism and Takers were neck-and-neck for the top two spots at the box office this past weekend. The Last Exorcism grabbed spot number one by a narrow margin—$21.3 million to Takers‘ mere $21 million. The Expendables was pushed down to third place, with a weekend gross of $9.5 million and a total gross of $82 million. Sounds like a lot, but there are so many big names in that movie that if they split the profits equally everyone probably only gets $1.50. Eat Pray Love took spot number four (weekend gross $7 million, total gross $60.7 million), and number five went to The Other Guys (weekend gross $6.6 million, total gross $99.3 million).

Meanwhile, the re-release of Avatar—because this is a movie that really needed new footage—took in $4 million on just over 800 screens. New release Centurion took in $44,200 on 12 screens.

Next weekend brings you George Clooney in The American, the Drew Barrymore/Justin Long romcom Going the Distance and Machete. Out in limited release are (deep breath): My Dog Tulip, A Woman, a Gun and a Noodle Shop, The Winning Season, 16 to Life, Clear Blue Tuesday, L’ennemi public n°1, Last Train Home, We Are Family and White Wedding.