In what
The Hollywood Reporter call, "one of the biggest box office upsets in recent memory",
The Smurfs has tied with
Cowboys & Aliens at $36.2 million a piece at the US box office. As the weekend began, Jon Favreau's latest movie was expected by Universal to open somewhere between $40 million to $45 million range, while
The Smurfs were expected to debut at a disappointing $25 million to $30 million.
Some are already calling
Cowboys & Aliens a flop, especially considering its high profile cast and $160 million budget, but its success now depends on how it does internationally over the next new weeks.
The Smurfs meanwhile cost $50 million less, and the fact it has performed so much better bodes well for the animated flick.
And what of
Captain America: The First Avenger? No news yet on how it's doing internationally, but the movie is expected to hold on to the #3 spot in the US with an admirable weekend total of $24.9 million (-62%) and estimated cume of $116.7 million. (as reported by
Deadline) I've seen the movie twice in the UK now after it opened on the 29th, and the cinema was near empty both times. Hopefully this isn't the case around the rest of the country.
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