Dr. Seuss’ The Lorax killed it at the weekend box office, earning $70.7 million. The film took the honor of the highest-grossing debut of the year. The second place film Project X, also a debut, made almost $50 million less. The found-footage party film grossed $20.8 million in its first week of release. Toss in third place’s Act of Valor with its $13.7 million and the top three films of this first weekend in March made over $100 million for Hollywood. To say box office has improved over this point last year is a gross understatement.
Fourth place belonged to a former weekend box office winner, Denzel Washington’s Safe House. The film that co-stars Ryan Reynolds added another $7.2 million to its haul. Tyler Perry and his Good Deeds continued to do solid business with their fifth place finish and a $7 million weekend.
Movie Fanatic wondered if any of the Oscar winners would get a bounce in business due to scoring Academy Award gold. In fact, they did… as The Artist returned to the top ten, finishing in tenth place with $3.9 million.
Box office top 10:
1. The Lorax, $70.7 million
2. Project X, $20.8 million
3. Act of Valor, $13.7 million
4. Safe House, $7.2 million
5. Tyler Perry's Good Deeds, $7 million
6. Journey 2: The Mysterious Island, $6.9 million
7. The Vow, $6.1 million
8. This Means War, $5.6 million
9. Ghost Rider: Spirit of Vengeance, $4.7 million
10. The Artist, $3.9 million