'Transformers' Sequel Opens Strong

[Z-06]

[source: Wall Street Journal]

'Transformers' Sequel Opens Strong

By KEVIN KINGSBURY

"Transformers: Revenge of the Fallen" sold $120.1 million in tickets on Wednesday, with the U.S. total of $60.6 setting an record for movies debuting on that day -- and the second best one-day total overall.

The domestic take, more than analysts were expecting, sets the stage for the sequel to top the $319 million the first film in the series generated in 2007 and $708 million overall.

"Transformers: Revenge of the Fallen" hit theaters overnight, selling out midnight shows in cities around the country. The action thriller is considered one of the anchors of the blockbuster season.

The prior top spot for Wednesday-opening films was "Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix," which had $44.2 million in ticket sales on its opening day in 2007. The sixth film in the series opens on July 15, another Wednesday.

Overall, the "Transformers" sequel, distributed by Paramount, had the second-biggest opening day, behind last summer's smash "The Dark Knight." It had a $67.2 million and went on to become the second film to gross more than $500 million domestically. It opened in a Friday, which generates the biggest box-office business of any weekday.

The sequel's international gross was led by $18.7 million in the United Kingdom, Ireland and Malta.

Paramount is a division of Viacom Inc.

The sequel reunites Shia LaBeouf, Megan Fox, Tyrese Gibson, John Turturro and other co-stars as the humans again team up with the shape-shifting Autobots against their evil robot enemies, the Decepticons.

—The Associated Press contributed to this article.

[z28luvr01]

Well, they got $42.75 more from my family. I bought three tickets for tomorrow night.

[Intrepidation]

I might go see it again.

[Satty]

I'll wait until it hits HBO, just like I did for the first one.

[Daryl Z71]

I'll wait until it hits HBO, just like I did for the first one.

I waited to see the first one when it came out on dvd and I wish I would have went to see it sooner lol

[Z-06]

When Blockbuster gets it on the shelf of 4 for $20.

[eldiablobanshee]

I will what till I can download a perfect quality screener or good quality bootleg.

[Intrepidation]

All that work to avoid $10 or so at the theater?

[Satty]

I just have no desire to actually see it, I'm not about to go out of my way just to watch it. I didn't see the first one until one boring, slow Saturday afternoon I started going through channels and it was the least unappealing thing on.