LORAX,/em> SOARS PAST FORECASTS

Dr. Seuss’ The Lorax opened with an estimated $70.7 million, far exceeding experts’ forecasts of $50-60 million — setting a record as the biggest opening for an animated family film that was not a sequel. It is also the biggest opening so far this year, Universal’s fourth-biggest opening ever, and the biggest opening for a film based on a Dr. Seuss book. Warner Bros.’ Project X came in second with $20.8 million, but that film, too, came in above pundits’ predictions. Last week’s winner, Act of Valor dropped to third place with a solid $13.7 million, while Universal’s Safe House landed in fourth place with $7.2 million. Its gross has now reached $108.2 million. In its 15th week, The Weinstein Co.’s Oscar-winning The Artist returned to the top-ten list with $3.9 million, bringing its gross to date to $37.1 million. The success of The Lorax pushed the overall box office up 24 percent above the same weekend a year ago and marks the ninth consecutive week of overall hikes in both revenue and attendance.

The top ten films for the weekend, according to studio estimates compiled by Box Office Mojo:
1. Dr. Seuss’ The Lorax, $70.7 million; 2. Project X, $20.8 million; 3. Act of Valor, $13.7 million; 4. Safe House, $7.2 million; 5. Tyler Perry’s Good Deeds, $7 million; 6. Journey 2: The Mysterious Island, $6.9 million; 7. The Vow, $6.1 million; 8. This Means War, $5.6 million; 9. Ghost Rider: Spirit of Vengeance, $4.7 million; 10. The Artist, $3.9 million.

UPDATE:
Final Figures for the Top Five Films
1. Dr. Seuss’ The Lorax, $70,217,070
2. Project X, $21,051,363
3. Act of Valor, $13,572,578
4. Safe House, $7,390,935
5. Tyler Perry’s Good Deeds, $7,047,061