DreamWorks' SHREK 2 exceeded all expectations by collecting $108M over the weekend ended May 23, 2004, and $128.9M for its first five days. That's the best opening ever for an animated feature (besting FINDING NEMO) and the second biggest opening ever (behind only SPIDER-MAN). SHREK 2 also posted the best single day gross (Saturday's $44.8M), the third best five-day opening and the widest opening ever (on 4,163 screens). It bodes well that more than 70% exited the theater saying they would see it again.
As for the rest of the pack, Warner Bros.' TROY (with vfx from Cinesite (Europe), Framestore CFC and The Moving Picture Co.) took second place in its second week with $23.9M and $85.9M. Universal's VAN HELSING (with vfx by ILM) came in third with $10.5M and $100.5M. Paramount's MEAN GIRLS placed fourth with $6.9M and $64.7M. Fox's MAN ON FIRE secured fifth place with $3.6M and $69.4M. Screen Gems' BREAKIN' ALL THE RULES took the sixth position with $2.8M and $9M. Sony/Revolutions' 13 GOING ON 30 came in seventh with $2.5M and $52M. Warner Bros.' NEW YORK MINUTE settled for eighth place with $1.3M and $12.6M. Miramax's KILL BILL VOL. 2 (with vfx by K.N.B. EFX Group) held ninth place with $1M and $62.7M. And IDP's SUPER SIZE ME broke into the top 10 with $973,644 and $2.9M. Box office information obtained from boxofficemojo.com.
Bill Desowitz, former editor of VFXWorld, is currently the Crafts Editor of IndieWire.
