Bruce Almighty breaks a record...

[Guest Mole]

No full box office report, so this for now

 

From AOL:

 

Jim Carrey Is 'Almighty' at U.S. Box Office

 

By Dean Goodman

 

LOS ANGELES (Reuters) - With a little divine help, comedian Jim Carrey propelled the lucrative summer box office season to a record-breaking start over the U.S. Memorial Day holiday weekend.

 

Carrey's new film "Bruce Almighty," in which the 40-year-old Canadian plays a disenchanted newsman entrusted with omnipotence by God himself, sold a better-than-expected $86 million worth of tickets in its first four days.

 

The film ended the one-week reign of the sci-fi thriller "The Matrix Reloaded," which slipped to No. 2 with $45.6 million as its 12-day total raced to $209.5 million. It becomes the second-fastest film to reach the double-century mark (11 days versus nine for 2002's "Spider-Man").

 

The "Bruce Almighty" haul ranks as the second-best Memorial Day opening ever, behind only "The Lost World: Jurassic Park," which launched with $90.2 million in 1997.

 

The top 12 movies grossed an estimated $155.8 million, according to tracking firm Exhibitor Relations. If the numbers hold when final data are released on Tuesday, the haul will top last year's record sum of $152.5 million.

 

Carrey's star power aside, the grim weather also played a part, forcing Americans to ditch their traditional holiday barbecues for popcorn at the local multiplex.

 

"Bruce Almighty" also set new benchmarks for Carrey himself and for a non-sequel comedy. Its three-day sum of $70.8 million surpassed the 2000 Carrey hit "Dr. Seuss' How the Grinch Stole Christmas," which held both those records with a $55.1 million opening.

 

CARREY SEDUCES FEMALE FANS

 

Budgeted at $81 million, "Bruce Almighty" was released by Vivendi Universal SA's Universal Pictures, which partnered on the project with closely held producer Spyglass Entertainment. It was directed by Tom Shadyac, who previously worked with Carrey on the hit comedies "Ace Ventura: Pet Detective" and "Liar Liar." Morgan Freeman co-stars as God, and Jennifer Aniston as Carrey's girlfriend.

 

Universal Pictures distribution president Nikki Rocco said she had expected the film to open in the $50 million to $60 million range. "I think it's a very moral film," she said.

 

While Carrey was obviously the key attraction, Aniston's presence and the romantic elements possibly accounted for the larger-than-usual female turnout. Women accounted for 53 percent of the audience, according to exit polling data. Carrey's movies usually do best with young males.

 

Rounding out the top five were the Eddie Murphy comedy "Daddy Day Care" at No. 3 with $18 million; the superhero action movie "X2: X-Men United" at No. 4 with $13.1 million; and the new Michael Douglas comedy remake "The In-Laws" at No. 5 with a disappointing $9.1 million.

 

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[Guest redbaron51]

80 million?!!?!

 

 

whoa...

[Guest Eagan469]

it beat Matrix- that's quite the feat

[Guest Mole]

I told everyone it was going to.

[TheOriginalOrangeGoblin 0]

80 million? Holy shit.

[Rendclaw 0]

I called it when I said that I was interested in going to see it, its Carrey BEING FUNNY again.

 

Perfect timing for that movie.

[Guest NaturalBornThriller4:20]

$80Mil, impressive.

 

Enjoy it while it last though, " Finding Nemo "

will "Overthrow" it next week.

[Guest evenflowDDT]

Sigh... and I'm a part of that opening figure...

[Guest wwF1587]

well thats pretty cool... i saw bruce almighty this weekend and wasnt disappointed much... i thought it could of been funnier but meh...

[Guest Mattdotcom]

I can't believe Jim Carrey is forty. That's what makes me go "holy shit"...

[Guest Choken One]

84 million...

 

HA! With less Marketing and Mass Blowjobs it came *that* close to out grossing Matrix...