Prometheus made $3.6 million dollars in last night's midnight screenings alone, and early numbers suggest that the film is on its way to $20-25 million Friday along with...wait for it...Madagascar 3!
It's really no surprise that either is doing well. Prometheus, starring Charlize Theron, is one of the most anticipated films of the summer, and Madagascar 3: Europe's Most Wanted continues an extremely successful animated franchise that has made a total of over $1 billion. One offers a movie night for adults, the other, for families.
Still, it's fun to see the two disparate films neck-and-neck in the Friday numbers. It got us thinking about some other films that, in a perfect world, would have competed in the box office. Who do you think would have won out in the following battles?
2001: A Space Odyssey vs. Alvin and the Chipmunks: Chipwrecked: While Space Odyssey is one of the best films ever made; a veritable sci-fi magnum opus from revered director Stanley Kubrick, Chipwrecked has singing rodents in sweaters. Advantage: Chipwrecked.
Gone With the Wind vs. Hannah Montana/Miley Cyrus: Best of Both Worlds Concert Tour: You may not know this, but, adjusted for inflation, Gone With the Wind is the highest grossing domestic film of all time. But, to be fair, it was released in 1939. And in 1939 you didn't go to the movies, you went to the movie. And the movie was Gone With the Wind. That's cheating. Hannah Montana's Concert film was just for 13-year-old girls and it still made over $65 million. Advantage: Hannah Montana.
Bridges of Madison County vs. Billy Madison: Both of these films were actually released in 1995, and were just a few months shy of actually competing in the box office. Usually advantage would go to the film with the most state capitals in its title, but alas: they're both tied at one. Bridges stars Oscar winners Meryl Streep and Clint Eastwood, but Billy Madison quotes include lines about peeing your pants and feeding donkeys beer, so... Advantage: Billy Madison.