Paramount and DreamWorks Animation’s 3D toon “How to Train Your Dragon” saw healthy returns this weekend at the domestic B.O., but failed to set the frame ablaze, with an estimated $43.3 million at 4,055 playdates.
The frame’s other wide release, MGM’s laffer “Hot Tub Time Machine,” debuted with $13.7 million at 2,754. Pic, starring John Cusack and Rob Corddry, played best among its targeted demo, mainly older males, repping 65% over 25.
Meanwhile, the specialty market offered auds a wide-range of titles from well-known filmmakers, led by Focus Feature’s holdover “Greenberg,” starring Ben Stiller, with $1.1 million at 181 engagements and Sony Pictures Classics’ launch of the Atom Egoyan-directed “Chloe,” grossing $713,542 at 306 Stateside locations.
Overseas, “Dragon” claimed an estimated $31 million on 5,594 screens in 54 territories, accounting for 62% of the international market. Added to revenue from early bows last week in three markets, including Russia, toon’s international cume now stands at $42 million.
“Dragon’s” 3D component repped a sizeable portion of the toon’s overall domestic take, accounting for 65% of the weekend gross.
Leading up to its release, some circuits raised 3D ticket prices by as much as 8%, which could have affected the toon’s overall performance. Ticket hikes typically hit family-friendly films hardest, and in the case of 3D films, families have to shell out more coin for multiple admissions.
DreamWorks Animation’s 3D toon “Monsters vs. Aliens” launched with $59.3 million during the same weekend last year at 1,550 3D locations out of a total 4,104. With fewer 3D locations than “Dragon” — and cheaper tickets — “Monsters” drew 56% from its 3D runs.
Total 3D count for “Dragon” stands at 2,178 locations, with an additional 186 3D-equipped Imax locations.
Imax reported its share at $5 million, repping 11.5% of the pic’s domestic earnings on less than 3% of the pic’s total runs. “Monsters” accounted for an 8% share.
Still, “Dragon” had enough spark to singe Disney’s reigning 3D champ “Alice in Wonderland,” which earned $17.3 million at 3,384 locations, dropping to the No. 2 spot in its fourth frame. “Alice” has cumed $293.1 million, domestically.
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