Box-Office update: “Wolverine” slaughters competition

“X-Men Origins: Wolverine” the first of the summer blockbusters destroyed competition at the Box-Office this week. The superhero sequel didn’t make as much as “Spider-Man 3” or “Iron Man” made over the same weekend in 2007 and 2008, but with a credible $87 million 20th Century Fox shouldn’t be too disappointed. The Hugh Jackman starring action film has received mixed reviews from critics, but after an opening weekend of that magnitude, it should still become highly successful. Another debut soared in at no.2 in the form of Rom-Com “Ghosts of Girlfriends Past”. The film has endured a predictably tepid reaction from reviewers, and in truth with just under $15.3 million it’s underperformed with audiences to. It seems even the romance fanatics, for this week at least, wanted to see a handsome mutant blow shit up.

Last week’s big winners “Obsessed” dropped by over 50% to no.3 taking $12.6 million in the process. The thriller starring Idris Elba and Beyonce was trounced by critics on it’s opening a week ago, but now stands with an impressive total of $47 million. It could easily pass $60 million if it doesn’t take a laughably hard drop in the next fortnight. It was third. In at no.4 “17 Again” survived its third week in the charts with a further $6.36 million, the teen comedy now hauling $49 million in total.

“Monsters vs. Aliens” still clung on in fifth with $5.8 million and a $188 million total, whilst at no.6 “The Soloist” grappled $5.5 million for a less stellar $18.1 million total. It fell in at no.6. “Earth” managed to take another $4.9 million at seventh now boasting a $22 million total. The nature doc might however find that even the majesty of the natural world can’t compare with the spectacle of the summer event pictures.

“Fighting” feel sharply at eighth, the badly reviewed character piece taking a further $4.7 million for an $18 million total. “Hannah Montana” was at no.9 and brought her total to $71 million whilst in at ten, political thriller “State of Play” took $3 million for $31 million total.