BOX OFFICE WATCH: 21 JUMP STREET Opens at #1
The TV series turned feature film has taken the weekend's top spot while Universal's The Lorax continues to stay strong and Disney's John Carter, wrapping up it's second week in theaters, moves to third place for the weekend of March 16 - 18, 2012.
#1 - 21 Jump Street
Weekend: $35,000,000 - Weeks in Theaters: 1
Total: $35,000,000 - Budget: $42,000,000
Screens: 3,121 / Studio: Sony Pictures
21 Jump Street is directed by Phil Lord & Christopher Miller and stars Jonah Hill, Channing Tatum, Brie Larson, Dave Franco, Rob Riggle and Ice Cube.
In the action-comedy 21 Jump Street, Schmidt (Jonah Hill) and Jenko (Channing Tatum) are more than ready to leave their adolescent problems behind. Joining the police force and the secret Jump Street unit, they use their youthful appearances to go undercover in a local high school. As they trade in their guns and badges for backpacks, Schmidt and Jenko risk their lives to investigate a violent and dangerous drug ring. But they find that high school is nothing like they left it just a few years earlier – and neither expects that they will have to confront the terror and anxiety of being a teenager again and all the issues they thought they had left behind.
#2 - The Lorax
Weekend: $22,800,000 - Weeks in Theaters: 3
Total: $158,400,000 - Budget: $70,000,000
Screens: 3,769 / Studio: Universal Pictures
Danny DeVito will lend his vocal talents to the iconic title character of the Lorax, while Ed Helms will voice the enigmatic Once-ler. Also bringing their talents to the film are global superstars Zac Efron as Ted, the idealistic young boy who searches for the Lorax, and Taylor Swift as Audrey, the girl of Ted's dreams. Rob Riggle will play financial king O'Hare, and beloved actress Betty White will portray Ted's wise Grammy Norma. Directed by Chris Renaud.
The 3D-CGI feature Dr. Seuss' The Lorax is an adaptation of Dr. Seuss' classic tale of a forest creature who shares the enduring power of hope. The animated adventure follows the journey of a boy as he searches for the one thing that will enable him to win the affection of the girl of his dreams.
To find it he must discover the story of the Lorax, the grumpy yet charming creature who fights to protect his world.
#3 - John Carter
Weekend: $13,515,000 - Weeks in Theaters: 2
Total: $53,172,000 - Budget: $250,000,000 (est.)
Screens: 3,749 / Studio: Walt Disney Pictures
John Carter is directed by Academy Award winner Andrew Stanton (Wall-E) and stars Taylor Kitsch, Lynn Collins, Samantha Morton, Mark Strong, Ciaran Hinds, Dominic West, James Purefoy, Daryl Sabara, Polly Walker, Bryan Cranston, Thomas Hayden Church and Willem Defoe.
John Carter is based on a classic novel by Edgar Rice Burroughs, whose highly imaginative adventures served as inspiration for many filmmakers, both past and present. The film tells the story of war-weary, former military captain John Carter (Taylor Kitsch), who is inexplicably transported to Mars where he becomes reluctantly embroiled in a conflict of epic proportions amongst the inhabitants of the planet, including Tars Tarkas (Willem Dafoe) and the captivating Princess Dejah Thoris (Lynn Collins).
In a world on the brink of collapse, Carter rediscovers his humanity when he realizes that the survival of Barsoom and its people rests in his hands.
