OCT 4-6 BOX OFFICE REPORT: AUDIENCES GRAVITATE TO GRAVITY

How's this for a stellar start? Alfonso Cuaron's Gravity opened atop the US box office over the weekend with $55.8 million. If that doesn't sound brilliant to you (but it should), allow me to elaborate: that's the highest Autumn opening (September-October) in history, and one of only ten films to open above $40 million in this timeframe, and the only live-action non-sequel to do so. Its 80% 3D share is a new record too, and its 32% bump Friday-Saturday suggests that its grosses will remain strong through the end of the year. It will maintain hold on most of its IMAX and 3D screens throughout October. Runner Runner (3) was weak, not just comparatively, but generally: a $7.7 million start is the fifteenth-worst in over 3,000 theatres in all time.

Loads of films opened this weekend, but none were particularly strong. Parkland (25) bombed, following poor reviews, despite a starry ensemble cast. Cannes-winning A Touch of Sin (59) was fine, Adam Scott-starring A.C.O.D. (60) a little less so, documentary The Summit (58) even less so. Concussion (71) was soft, Dracula 3D (89) from Dario Argento and Bad Milo! (85) pretty dismal, and All Is Bright (83) and CBGB (86) took in very little, after a multi-platform release. Up top, there wasn't a lot of success for holdovers as they mostly fell by a considerable amount - Cloudy with a Chance of Meatballs 2 (2) fared best, predictably, Battle of the Year (18) fared worst.

The Winner / Highest Opener / Top Per-Theatre Average: Gravity ($55,785,112 / $15,604)

All this but in much more detail at Box Office Mojo!