Based on the strength of Friday's $17.5 million take, Alfonso Cuaron's 3D space epic Gravity is expected to gross between $48 million and $50 million in its North American debut. If so, it would mark one of the top October openings of all time and the best for a non-sequel.
Starring Sandra Bullock and George Clooney, the critically acclaimed Warner Bros. movie is doing huge business in 3D theaters (both conventional houses and Imax locations), with 83 percent of revenue coming from the more pricey format. It's a needed boost, considering the dramatic decline in 3D attendance. Imax's Friday take was a stellar $3.6 million.
Gravity is also destined to mark the biggest three-day opening ever for both stars, not accounting for inflation. Bullock's best is The Heat ($39.1 million); Clooney's record is Batman & Robin ($42.9 million). The 90-minute film earned an A- CinemaScore from moviegoers, and not the A+ that Bullock's The Blind Side enjoyed.
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Overseas, Gravity debuted to $3.8 million on Thursday in select markets and is likewise enjoying big business on 3D screens. Russia turned in $1.2 million to claim the No. 1 spot ahead of fellow openers Insidious: Chapter 2 and local comedy Vsyo Vklyucheno 2. The 3D share was 76 percent, including 15 percent from Imax.
Gravity revolves around two astronauts left floating in space when their space shuttle is damaged (Bullock has a far bigger role). Producers include David Heyman, who played a key role in the Harry Potter franchise.
Paranormal Activity 3 sports the top October opening of all time ($52.6 million), followed by Jackass 3-D ($50.4 million), Taken 2 ($49.5 million) and Scary Movie 3 ($48.1 million).
The only other new wide player this weekend is New Regency and 20th Century Fox's gambling thriller Runner Runner, starring Justin Timberlake and Ben Affleck. Runner Runner grossed $2.8 million Friday and may not hit $8 million in its opening, a disappointment for its stars. The saving grace is the film's reported $30 million budget.
Adding intrigue to the weekend, Sony has decided to sneak Paul Greengrass' Somali pirate drama Captain Phillips, starring Tom Hanks, into 800 theaters on Saturday night a week ahead of its opening. Both Captain Phillips and Gravity are considered awards contenders.
Runner Runner was directed by Brad Furman and also stars Gemma Arterton and Anthony Mackie. New Regency, which fully financed the film, partnered with Leonardo DiCaprio's Appian Way on the project.
From a script by Brian Koppelman and David Levien (Rounders), Runner Runner revolves around a Princeton University student (Timberlake) who is lured into an Internet poker scam by the owner of a popular gambling website (Affleck).
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Runner Runner placed placed No. 3 on Friday, where it's expected to stay for the weekend, after Gravity and Sony's holdover Cloudy With a Chance of Meatballs 2. The 3D animated family film grossed $4.7 million on its second Friday for projected $20 million weekend.
Alcon Entertainment and Warners' Prisoners placed No. 4 on Friday with $1.7 million. The dark drama, starring Hugh Jackman and Jack Gyllenhaal, should take in $5.6 million for the weekend, pushing its domestic total to nearly $48 million in its third weekend.
Ron Howard's Rush fell to No. 5 on its second Friday, grossing $1.4 million for a projected $4.6 million weekend and North American total of $18.3 million.
Among more limited offerings, Pantelion Films -- the joint-venture between Lionsgate and Grupo Televisa -- entered the market with another Spanish-language film on the heels of the success of Instructions Not Included.
Romantic comedy Pulling Strings, starring Mexican celebrity Jamie Camil, placed No. 9 Friday as it opened in 387 theaters, grossing $757,000 for a projected $2.8 million opening. That's well less than the $7.8 million opening of Instructions Not Included at the end of August, but with Gravity sucking up much of the oxygen, it's still a solid start. Pulling Strings is also facing competition from Instructions Not Included, which is expected to earn a pleasing $1.8 million for the weekend, bringing its North American total of $41 million.
Pulling Strings, set in Mexico City, stars Camil has a mariachi who falls for an American embassy employee (Laura Ramsay).
Nicole Holofcener's Enough Said, starring the late James Gandolfini opposite Julia Louis-Dreyfus, cracked the top 10 chart as it expanded into a total of 437 theaters in its third weekend, grossing $595,000 Friday. The dramedy is expected to earn $2.2 million for the weekend, pushing its domestic total to $5.4 million.
