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'Superman' Flies Past $100 Million
Brandon Routh
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'Prada' steals box office dollars from Man of Steel
Since opening late last Tuesday (June 27) the Bryan Singer-directed comic adaptation has taken in an estimated $106 million, according to media reports. As was previously reported, "Superman Returns" made $52.5 million for the three-day weekend, bringing its total to $84.5 million through Sunday.
With a gross of $39.6 through the Fourth of July, "The Devil Wears Prada" was second for both the weekend and the five-day holiday frame.
"Superman Returns" is playing in 4,065 theaters, compared to 2,847 for "Prada."
The disparity between the first and second place films for the weekend also somewhat melts away when budgets are taken into consideration. Even conservative estimates put the budget for "Superman" at over $250 million before prints and advertising (a figure that may or may not include money sunk into previous false starts for the project, depending on whose spin you listen to). "Prada," with or without spin, is said to have cost Fox a mere $35 million, putting the Meryl Streep/Anne Hathaway vehicle well on its way to profitability.
The friendly folks over at BoxofficeMojo.com note that the Independence Day weekend opening for "Superman Returns" was well below the $64.9 million and $88.2 million taken in by "War of the Worlds" and "Spider-Man 2" in the past two July Fourth three-day frames. It was more, though, than the $44 million "Terminator 3: Rise of the Machines" made in 2003. It was also well ahead of the $48.7 million opening weekend for "Batman Begins," a fellow WB/DC Comics venture released last summer.
Although it has towered over the box office since opening last week, "Superman Returns" isn't expected to have a long reign. Industry speculation suggests that "Pirates of the Caribbean: Dead Man's Chest" may equal or exceed the "Superman" seven-day gross in its first three days after opening this Friday (July 7).
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