UPDATED: EARLY BOX OFFICE: CARS 2 drives towards $75mil/ TEACHER high at $30mil/LANTERN drops 63%

"Bright lights and colours distract from little plot!"

Early box office numbers for the weekend at Deadline Hollywood show CARS 2 grabbing the pole position with an expected (if not overwhelming) estimated $75mil (updated) for this weekend.  

This can be considered a disappointment of sorts as sequels are expected to perform higher than the originals (based on the original's DVD sales, repeated viewings,  merchandising, brand name...).  The original opened to $60mil in 2006 which adjusted for today's dollar equals $67mil.


Comparisons for Pixar series opening weekends (unadjusted for inflation):
TOY STORY        1995       $30mil     
TOY STORY 2     1999       $57mil
TOY STORY 3     2010       $110mil


So you see, each TOY STORY almost doubled whereas CARS 2 will barely top its predecessor.

"Just say when Ms. Diaz and I'll be there!"

BAD TEACHER on the other hand, is exceeding expectations with an astounding $30mil opening weekend.  Super number considering the budget for the film is about $19mil (plus add about the same for promotion/advertising costs for a grand total of about $40mil) and an audience limiting R-rating too. 

AND...

GREEN LANTERN dropped like a stone this weekend.  Last weekend it grossed a disappointing $52mil.  This week it showed it had no legs as it went down 63% for a weekend gross of about $19mil.  Ouch.

http://www.deadline.com/2011/06/first-box-office-cars-2-bad-teacher-look-to-be-overperforming-friday/

http://latimesblogs.latimes.com/entertainmentnewsbuzz/2011/06/movie-projector-cars-2-expected-to-sputter-to-no-1.html

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