In today’s Hollywood climate, reaching $70.6 million over a three-day weekend doesn’t sound as good as it used to. While Star Trek Into Darkness easily knocked off Iron Man 3 and The Great Gatsby, the film didn’t reach the heights that Paramount expected.
Into Darkness, the 12th film in the iconic sci-fi franchise and the first since J.J. Abrams successfully rebooted the series in 2009, made $70.6 million from Friday to Sunday. Add in the total take from early IMAX screenings and that only brings it up to $84.1 million, reports The Los Angeles Times.
Paramount was hoping for $100 million, considering the popularity of the previous film, which grossed $75.2 million in its first three days.
While it’s an early disappointment, the film has earned wide praise, winning an “A” CinemaScore grade from audiences, reports Box Office Mojo.
It’s also noteworthy that most audiences went for the standard 2D showings during the first weekend. While IMAX 3D made up 16 percent of the total, only 29 percent of the total was from non-IMAX 3D screenings. Hollywood hasn’t seen a 3D release make up 50 percent of its opening total since Oz: The Great and Powerful.
Into Darkness still has to face Fast & Furious 6 and The Hangover Part III over Memorial Day weekend, so it will have difficulty matching the $257.7 million total that the 2009 film reached.
“The good news is, when you have a really good movie like this one, the word of mouth is going to bring the audience in over time,” Paramount head of distribution Don Harris told The Wrap. “Expectations aside, big-picture we’re in a very good place, particularly when you consider how well it’s doing overseas.”
Into Darkness did add $80 million from the foreign box office.
Iron Man 3 added $35.1 million over the weekend, while Gatsby grossed $23.4 million in its second weekend.
image: Paramount/Facebook