SOFT LAUNCH FOR DAWN TREADER

Twentieth Century Fox’s The Chronicles of Narnia: Voyage of the Dawn Treader foundered upon launch this weekend as it earned just $24.5 million domestically, according to studio estimates — a figure well below analysts’ predictions. Overseas ticket sales saved the day, however, as Narnia raked in $81 million abroad. With Disney’s Tangled holding on to the lion’s share of 3D screens and Warner Bros.’ Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows: Part 1 grabbing most of the IMAX venues, Narnia was unable to benefit as much as the filmmakers had hoped from premium ticketing. Indeed, on a per-theater basis, Narnia’s average take was only 11.7 percent ahead of the 2D The Tourist, the Angelina Jolie/Johnny Depp drama that was savaged by many critics — an indication that about as many people went to see the former movie as the latter. Opening on 22 percent fewer screens than Narnia, The Tourist came in at the low end of forecasts with an estimated $17 million. Tangled, last week’s leader, took third place in its third week with $14.6 million, bringing its domestic total to $115.6 million, while Harry Potter dropped 50 percent to fourth place with $8.5 million, raising its four-week total to $257.7 million. Two films playing in limited release scored stand-out numbers. Playing on just 80 screens, Fox Searchlight’s Black Swan earned $3.3 million — or $41,250 per theater — and ranked sixth on the top-ten list, while Paramount’s The Fighter, starring Mark Wahlberg and Christian Bale, opened on four screens and earned $320,000 — or $80,000 per theater. By contrast, Narnia’s per-screen earnings came to $6,900. Overall, the domestic box office was down 3 percent from the same weekend a year ago.

The top ten films for the weekend, according to studio estimates compiled by Box Office Mojo:
1. The Chronicles of Narnia: The Voyage of the Dawn Treader, $24.5 million; 2. The Tourist, $17 million; 3. Tangled, $14.6 million; 4. Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows: Part 1, $8.5 million; 5. Unstoppable, $3.8 million; 6. Black Swan, $3.3 million; 7. Burlesque, $3.2 million; 8. Love & Other Drugs, $3 million; 9. Due Date, $2.55 million; 10. Megamind, $2.5 million.

UPDATE
Final Figures for the Top Five Films

1. The Chronicles of Narnia: Voyage of the Dawn Treader, $24,005,069
2. The Tourist, $16,472,458
3. Tangled, $14,331,687
4. Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows Part 1, $8,484,316
5. Unstoppable, $3,705,966