Hollywood was predictably shocked over the weekend to find that a well-reviewed drama succeeded at the box office even though it was aimed at geriatric moviegoers (industry definition: anyone over the age of 25). The Jackie Robinson biopic “42†was a strong No. 1 at North American movie theaters, taking in about $27.3 million, according to its distributor, Warner Brothers. Legendary Entertainment spent a relatively modest $38 million to make the film, which performed best among older men, the hardest demographic for studios to reach.
Sputtering in second place with about $15.2 million in ticket sales was “Scary Movie V†(Weinstein), according to Hollywood.com, which compiles box-office data. This parody movie was even cheaper â€" it cost about $20 million to make â€" but took in less than most analysts expected, especially considering the publicity generated by the stunt casting of Lindsay Lohan as herself. It’s safe to assume that this is the end of the road for the “Scary Movie†franchise. “The Croods,†“G.I. Joe: Retaliation†and “Evil Dead†rounded out the top five.
