A horde of zombies may have invaded theaters across the country this weekend. But when it comes to scaring up money, those running dead can’t hold a decayed finger to a few well-animated monsters.
Monsters University, Pixar’s prequel to Monsters, Inc., made its alma mater proud this weekend, collecting an estimated $82 million en route to a box office victory. Why, you could almost send someone to actual college for a semester or two for $82 million (if you cut a few corners here and there).
Brad Pitt’s frenetic zombie epic World War Z tried to scramble over the box office wall built by Monsters U, but eventually even those seemingly endless waves of undead flesh couldn’t surmount it. Eventually, they all just shambled off, dragging $66 million behind them for a second-place finish.
After a really nifty opening, Man of Steel came down to earth a bit in its second week of release. Superman lost nearly 65% of its audience, but he still managed to fly to a third-place finish. Man of Steel flew by the rest of the field, including the apocalyptic comedy This is the End (which earned $13 million for fourth place) and the illusionist caper Now You See Me ($7.9 million, fifth).
Over in Indieville, a couple of smaller flicks made some waves big enough to mention. The Bling Ring expanded into 650 theaters this weekend and bagged $2 million—enough for the well-reviewed (but R-rated) cautionary tale to move to 11th on the weeks’ box office charts. Meanwhile, Joss Whedon’s black-and-white Shakespearian tale, Much Ado About Nothing, expanded to 206 theaters end earned $762,000 for 15th place.
Final figures update: 1, Monsters University, $82.4 million; 2. World War Z, $66.4 million; 3. Man of Steel, $41.3 million; 4. This is the End, $13.3 million; 5. Now You See Me, $7.9 million.
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