'Jackass 3D' vaults to top with record-breaking $50 million debut

By Sarah Sluis

Audiences just couldn't get enough of Johnny Knoxville and Steve-O's self-injuring clowning in Jackass 3D. Their exploits, filmed in 3D, grossed $50 million, breaking the record for the highest opening for a
fall (Sept.-Oct.) release, previously held by Scary Movie. The first and second Jackass movies earned $22 million and $29 million, respectively, so the third film's opening represents a 66% boost. Attendance was up from the second film, but the biggest reason the movie scaled such heights was because of 3D surcharges: 92% of the film's earnings came from 3D screens.

Summit's comic book action-comedy Red made a strong debut in second place with $22.5 million. A slight male majority turned out for the movie, with 58% of the audience over 35. Though many of the leading characters are older (Bruce Willis, Morgan Freeman, Helen Mirren), their youthful, gun-toting ways still appealed to younger audiences.

Hereafter had the strongest specialty debut of the week, scoring a stunning $38,500 per location during its six-theatre rollout. Clint Eastwood fans are a force to be reckoned with, and Hereafter seems poised to approach (though not meet) the success of his 2008 film Gran Torino, which opened with a $45,000 per-screen average and finished with $148 million.

Audiences were not as excited by Conviction, which sees Hilary Swank playing yet another real-life woman in adverse circumstances. Releasing in 11 theatres, it had a comparatively soft debut with a $10,000 per-screen average. Last year's Amelia, starring Swank, was also a disappointment for Fox Searchlight (earning just $14 million in theatres), so Swank may have to come up with some new tricks in order to lure back audiences.

Finishing just outside of the top ten, N-Secure, a drama/romance centering on affluent black professionals, accrued $1.3 million. The million-plus opening is an impressive showing, especially from first-time distributor Bluff City Films.

A documentary espousing financially conservative views, I Want Your Money, opened to just $520 per screen in its rather large 537-screen release. The amount of screens in release likely exceeded interest, driving down its per-theatre earnings.

This Friday, Hereafter will move into wide release on over 2,000 screens, and Halloween horror movie fans can get a head start on their scares with Paranormal Activity 2.