Friday Report: 'Pirates' Booty Sinks
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On Friday, Pirates of the Caribbean: On Stranger Tides swooped in with the top-grossing first day of the year so far. The supernatural swashbuckler claimed an estimated $35 million at 4,155 locations, edging out Fast Five's $34.4 million Friday launch. That was also the tenth highest-grossing May opening day ever, slotting behind Iron Man's $35.2 million. Since nearly half of On Stranger Tides' gross was from 3D presentations (and due to today's general ticket prices), its attendance level would not chart as highly.

Relative to its predecessors, Pirates of the Caribbean: On Stranger Tides sank: At World's End drew $42.9 million on its first day in May 2007 (not including $13.2 million in previews from the night before), while Dead Man's Chest raked in a then-record $55.8 million first day back in July 2006. Adjusted for ticket price inflation, those grosses would be the equivalent of $49 million and $67 million, respectively. Since the first Pirates of the Caribbean movie was the franchise establisher, its opening day was in a lower league. On Stranger Tides's first day was also less than that of the last Johnny Depp spectacle Alice in Wonderland (2010), which began with $40.8 million.

While Pirates was somewhat water-logged, Bridesmaids held its ground. The comedy grabbed an estimated $6.4 million, lifting its total to $44.8 million in eight days. Its 19 percent Friday-to-Friday drop was smaller than any recent comparable comedy at the same point, including The 40-Year-Old Virgin and The Hangover.

Thor took a typical third Friday hit, dropping 52 percent to an estimated $4.4 million. Its sum grew to a solid $134.3 million in 15 days. Fast Five was in a similar boat, down 47 percent to an estimated $3.2 million and rocking a $178.7 million tally in 22 days.

What little faith was left in Priest evaporated on Friday. The action horror movie bled 74 percent to an estimated $1.45 million for an anemic $20.5 million total in eight days.

Meanwhile, at just six locations, Woody Allen's Midnight in Paris took in an estimated $171,000.

Related Story:

Forecast: 'Pirates' Has Some Life Left in It



Related Charts:

Grosses for Friday, May 20, 2011