Aug 17 2009
Audiences Not Finding Sandler’s Latest All Too ‘Funny’
Adam Sandler- pictured with co-star Seth Rogen in Universal’s Funny People- probably is not smiling at the performance of his latest film. (image courtesy of AP/Universal/Tracy Bennett)
Adam Sandler may have 10 films that have grossed more than $100 million each in the United States and Caada- but his latest will not be joining that elite list.
In its third weekend at the box office, Funny People dropped an estimated 62 percent to roughly $3 million, bringing its cume to an unimpressive $47.9 million. This disappointing performance follows three consecutive $100 million-plus releases: 2008’s Bedtime Stories and You Don’t Mess with the Zohan, and 2007’s I Now Pronounce You Chuck and Larry.
Despite his popularity with moviegoers, it’s not like Sandler is immune to disappointing box office returns. Any time he takes a more serious turn, his box office recepits suffer: A couple of years back, Reign Over Me (which co-starred Don Cheadle) grossed a mere $19.66 million- though at its peak, it played at just 1,747 theaters, notably less than most Sandler releases.
Like most big Sandler movies, Funny People saw wide release in 3,000-plus theaters, and actually is one of his better-reviewed films with critics. At www.metacritic.com, Funny People has an average of 60 out of 100; by comparison, Bedtime Stories has a score of 33 and …Chuck and Larry a 37.
Nonetheless, Sandler has been one of the biggest critic-proof movie stars of the last two decades, and this blip on his box office success probably will pass once his next blockbuster hits theaters.
Meanwhile, the non-star sci-fi drama District 9 knocked G.I. Joe: The Rise of the Cobra out of the top spot this weekend, grossing an estimated $37 million from play at 3,049 theaters. G.I. Joe dropped an estimated 59 percent to $22.5 million ($98.8 million to date).
Chick flick The Time Traveler’s Wife fared decently, pulling in an estimated $19.2 million from play at 2,988 theaters. Last weekend’s female-powered film Julie & Julia dropped a reasonable 38 percent to an estimated $12.4 million, upping its cume to roughly $43.7 million.
Disney’s G-Force rounded out the top five, with an estimated $6.9 million; it will cross the $100 million plateau today or tomorrow.
