Stupid scored big with an estimated $50 million opening weekend for “Jackass 3D,” Johnny Knoxville’s third foray into theaters. The film, which lured in 15 percent more women than “Jackass 2,” may break the record for highest-grossing October opening of all time, if projections hold. The R-rated laugh fest will surpass “Scary Movie 3,” which earned $48 million back in 2003, and a single-day opening record of $21.8 million for its opening day Friday. The film scored well with audiences, mostly young males, earning a B+ from exit pollster CinemaScore.The weekend was also successful for “Red,” Summit Entertainment’s adaptation of Warren Ellis’ cult graphic novel. The movie, which earned an A- from audiences, grossed $22.5 million this weekend for a second place finish. Starring Bruce Willis, Helen Mirren, and a slew of other pedigreed actors, “Red” drew in a primarily over-35 crowd, but that could expand with positive word-of-mouth.
Third place belonged to “The Social Network,” which continued to hold well in theaters its third weekend out. The David Fincher-directed flick fell only 29 percent for an additional $11 million and a three-week cume of $63.1 million. Fourth place went to “Secretariat,” which earned $9.5 million its sophomore session. The Diane Lane-starrer fell only 25 percent its second weekend — the best week 2 hold of any film in 2010 — to put its total take at $27.5 million. And spot 5 went to the Katherine Heigl-Josh Duhamel dramedy “Life As We Know It,” which earned $9.2 million and a total gross of close to $29 million.
The rest of the top 5 belonged to holdovers with “Legend of the Guardians: The Owls of Ga’Hoole” earning another $4.2 million and a total gross of $46 million. “The Town” continues to hold in well, grossing another $4 million to put its five-week cume at $80.6 million. Wes Craven’s “My Soul to Take” lost 40 percent of its opening frame value for a weekend gross of $3.1 million and a total cume of $11.9 million. Spot 9 went to the Emma Stone-starrer “Easy A,” which grossed another $2.6 million for a total cume of $52.3 million. “Wall Street 2: Money Never Sleeps” rounded out the top 10, grossing $2.3 million for a total of $47.8 million.
Even with such a strong showing from the two new releases and the holdovers, the weekend was still off around 5 percent from last year at this time. Come back next weekend when “Paranormal Activity 2” opens and Clint Eastwood’s “Hereafter” goes wide – Cnn
