Star Trek Ends 4th Week With $320M Globally + Passes Another Trek Milestone

On Thursday Star Trek came in fourth place with $1.23M in domestic sales, bringing its domestic total up to $214.4M. This, combined with its total international sales of $105.9, brings Star Trek’s four week global gross to $320.3M. More box office details below, including some predictions on what Star Trek can expect for its fifth weekend.

 

Star Trek’s total domestic gross is now $214.4M. It’s fourth week total was $17.7M, which is between Superman Returns ($11.0) and  Iron Man ($30.5), but fairly close to the fourth weeks of Transformers ($20.4) and Batman Begins ($17.2). Here is an update of the chart we have done for the last two weeks, comparing the domestic performance of Star Trek to other recent ‘franchise reboots’ and big summer movies.

Star Trek also brought in $12.8 in its fourth week of overseas sales, bringing the total overseas take to to $105.9M. This brings Star Trek’s three week total global gross $320.3M. Although the opening in Japan boosted Trek’s fourth week of international sales, the film is still underperforming other Hollywood tentpoles overseas.

Weekend predictions – battle for 5th place + Mexico open
One surprise for Thursday box office was that Star Trek came in fourth place, behind Up, Night at the Museum 2, and Terminator Salvation but ahead of both Angels & Demons and the Sam Raimi horror film Drag Me To Hell (Star Trek was only $200k behind Terminator). Two new films open this weekend (The Hangover and Land of the Lost), which are expected to share the top four spots with NATM2 and Up. But BoxOffice.com and BoxOffice Guru are both predicting that Trek, Drag and Terminator 4 will all end up in the $7.0-7.5M range and so it could be that Trek could end up in the top 5 in its fifth weekend. 

Star Trek should have a decent weekend internationally as it is its second weekend in Japan and first weekend in Mexico. After this weekend Star Trek only has two more markets to open (Indonesia on June 10th and India on June 12th).

Viacom Chief Talks Up Trek (Again)
Last week we reported how Viacom CEO Philippe Dauman touted the performance and future of the Trek franchise to investors and analysts, and this week he did the same for shareholders of Viacom stock. THR reports the following from the annual Viacom shareholder meeting:

Overall, Dauman argued that despite recurring TV ratings challenges over the past couple of years, which have led to several changes in programming strategy of Viacom networks, and a need to rebuild the Paramount film unit, the firm has under his leadership already succeeded in new franchises and kept existing ones strong.

For example, he pointed to enduring programming such as “Sponge Bob Square Pants,” which celebrates its 10th anniversary, and “South Park,” plus the recently reinvented and rejuvenated “Star Trek” franchise and the MTV Movie Awards, whose ratings were up 92% from last year.

Star Trek passes another Trek milestone – 2nd highest adjusted gross
On Wednesday Star Trek passed another franchise milestone by topping Star Trek IV ($212.3m) to become the second highest domestic grossing Star Trek film, after adjusting for inflation. Star Trek The Motion Picture has the highest adjusted total at $239.1M.

 Star Trek would need another $25M to get to the top of the Star Trek chart. Although sales are certainly slowing down, getting into the $240M range seems doable (but not guaranteed). Regardless, that milestone may not be achieved until July or August as Star Trek wraps up its run. Of course Star Trek is certain to make much more than TMP in the home market and with merchandising/promotional deals, which are a much bigger part of the overall picture now than they were in 1979.

 

 

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Sweet!

I know no one is talking “Official” greenlit sequel… but with the Viacom CEO trumpeting Trek, i cannot see how it won’t happen. I predict in a few more weeks we will get an official date for release/principal photography.

The last graph is very telling. I am only ever concerned about adjusted B.O. (i.e. ticket sales). Star trek has been in slow decline for years – it wasn’t just Nemesis. This movie has single-handedly brought back the franchise. For that, JJ is to be commended.

Wow. Trek is realy on fire. I have seen trek only 9 times so far. Trek 09 is simply the best and if the court can top this one then the next trek will take in 500 million. Oh Last!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

I think that I am going to see it again this weekend, I love the film. Go Star Trek!

C’mon, everybody, let’s push the box-office take even higher! Can’t we all go see it just one more time??

I think the lesson that has to be learned from this is that whether you like the movie or hated it, this box office take is guaranteeing us the re-vitalization of the Star Trek franchise. I think a lot of people (well maybe not a LOT) would rather Trek die, so they can enjoy it in the basement alone without their expectations being destroyed and the rape of their childhood commence.

So it cost something like 160 mil to make.
I heard rule of thumb is a film’s gross has to double it’s budget to break even.

OK, fine, I’ll see it again. You really have to twist my arm…(sarcastic tone)

I am totally confident this will become the most attended Star Trek movie ever. Take that, Rick Berman!

A new TV series based on the voyages of the USS Kelvin and crew please, most enjoyable part of the whole movie was the beginning

Svavar, i really like that idea…. But i don’t know if i could enjoy the show knowing almost everyone would die some time in the future…

I think we need a show based in the new continuity but with a new ship/crew

they wouldn’t have to die, just make it in the old timeline

I’ve got at least 3 more viewings to go this summer. I promised my kids I would take them individually with me so that we could have a daddy’s day at the movies. This summer is going to be expensive as there are a lot of films my family wants to see in the theater.

I swear to god… if Tuvok died in the vulcan implosion… I WILL LITERALLY KILL JJ ABRAMS !

12. Svavar – June 5, 2009

they wouldn’t have to die, just make it in the old timeline

Yeah… but the object is to have NEW fans, not just placate the old ones. I think that would be confusing, as they should probably stay within the framework they have created.

After only 28 days, ST09 has the 2nd highest gross in franchise history. I wonder what the adjusted gross for TMP was after only 4 weeks. I think ST09 will break the $239million mark in 2-3 weeks.

In any case, surpassing the most mainstream-friendly (IMO) film in the history of the franchise is in itself quite an achievement. Since TVH was quite a bit cheaper to make, this is really a statement about the future viability of the franchise more than anything else.

I am convinced that this film opened alot of eyes and broke down some of the barriers among mainstream moviegoers with regard to Trek (at least Kirk/Spock/McCoy Trek). The dvd release should do even more to arouse some interest.

I think that the sequel will likely do even better at the box-office—and since alot of the sets, props, etc. can be recycled from the first film, it should draw a bigger profit margin as well.

Just read the Lost Era novel “The Art of the Impossible” and just really started realizing that I prefer the Prime Trek universe so much more than this new film. Don’t get me wrong, I was entertained by it, but I think I’ll just enjoy what’s come before and consider that the real Trek. This new “universe” is just an interesting side show to me…albeit a very entertaining one.

Star Trek opens here http://www.ncbeaches.com/OuterBanks/Manteo/Activities/MovieTheaters/PioneerTheatre/ tonight! Most Friday nights the theater is usually almost full.

My Life in Ruins, starring Nia Vardalos, is also opening this weekend, but it ain’t gonna do much business. It’ll be lucky if it gets $5m. Interestingly, Ruins was once set to open against Star Trek on May 8th.

Anthony, will the Trek news slow down now that the movie has been going for awhile? Or will Trek news pick up if we start hearing about a Trek TV series soon? I wonder if Trek will just stick to the movie side anyway? Would Paramount wonder about oversaturating Trek again like they did in the 90’s and just have Trek in movie form only?

I am going again tonight. It finally arrived at my local theater.

#2: The sequel was approved by Paramount execs weeks before the movie even premiered.

This has been discussed many a time and in different posts on this web site. Variety, the entertainment arts news magazine, reported this fact as well in early March (see my repost of the link which I posted a week or so ago)

http://www.variety.com/article/VR1118001885.html?categoryid=13&cs=1

@17

I could not agree more. There is one thing i don’t understand, when has traveling back in time ever created an alternate timeline co-existing with the old one? There have been many timetravels but i don’t recall any of them creating an alternate universe… Has anyone considered that when the Borg assimilated earth in First Contact it directly changed the 24th century? Or how about in City on the edge of forever when McCoy went back in time, suddenly the federation doesn’t exist?

I’m fine with keeping the alternate timeline in the movies but i would prefer the old timeline in the next TV-series

#3 – The graph proved something I’ve been saying all along… When Star Trek films weren’t competing with a currently-in-production Trek TV series, they did very well. When they were, the films’ box-office suffered. The lesson’s clear. If they want the films to keep doing blockbuster business, don’t go back to TV simultaneously.

That said…

#12, 17, 23- Count me in agreement, as well.

#23—“There is one thing i don’t understand, when has traveling back in time ever created an alternate timeline co-existing with the old one?”

That is only in the offscreen commentary of one of the writers. MWI/QM is not actually something which appears on screen—therefore it isn’t canon.

Canonically speaking, the “prime timeline” actually ceased to exist when the Narada attacked the USS Kelvin.

Hope it gets there as I think that SW:ROTS, Transformers and Iron Man were all a pile of SHITE !!!!

Will be watching Terminator Salvation tomorrow for the first time and Star Trek for the second time right on after.

Happy Weekending all (“,)

Lets keep Trek off the box for the time being too…………………..

Prime timeline is still intact for ever – New Alternate Timeline/Reality is just an other timeline/reality that resides along side an infinite number of other ones.

Every possible combination of possibilities exist but just different alternate realities.

#24—“The graph proved something I’ve been saying all along… When Star Trek films weren’t competing with a currently-in-production Trek TV series, they did very well. When they were, the films’ box-office suffered. The lesson’s clear. If they want the films to keep doing blockbuster business, don’t go back to TV simultaneously.”

While I wouldn’t advocate a new series right now—-the “clear lesson” is nothing of the sort. That really amounts to nothing but circumstantial evidence, and not any real proof of anything.

There have only really been two well-marketed, big-budget Star Trek features, and neither was released while a television series was on the air in anything but syndication. Until that happens, this is really nothing more than a shoestring theory which may or may not have any validity to it.

I don’t completely dismiss it as one possible factor, but as such, it pales in comparison to an individual film’s entertainment value and the hype surrounding it, IMO.

#28—“Prime timeline is still intact for ever – New Alternate Timeline/Reality is just an other timeline/reality that resides along side an infinite number of other ones.”

You are free to imagine that Star Trek’s treatement of time travel has been retconned, but you’ll find no evidence of that in any canonical material. Bob Orci can talk all he wants about MWI/QM, but even he acknowledges that the film is completely ambiguous about it—and therefore not contradictory to ST’s more classical treatment of time travel in the past.

If TNG’s “Parallels” had been the last entry into Trek’s time travel collection prior to this one—MWI/QM might have some canonical legs on which to stand, but it wasn’t…and so it doesn’t.

If it ain’t on screen….it ain’t canon!

@23 & 25

Have you guys heard of the “Mirror Universe”?

Trek has shown that two universes can co-exist.

25. CLosettrekker: ‘That is only in the offscreen commentary of one of the writers. MWI/QM is not actually something which appears on screen—therefore it isn’t canon.’

TNG. Parallels. Nuff said.

#32—“TNG. Parallels. Nuff said.”

Afraid not. There have been several time travel entries since that episode (including one on film), none of which support MWI/QM.

#31—“Have you guys heard of the “Mirror Universe”?

Trek has shown that two universes can co-exist.”

To me, likening it to the MU is pretty weak, since the MU has nothing to do with time travel.

#6. Harry Ballz

NO!!

#8 – I’ve seen the figure in the $140-$150M range. Also, rule of thumb theories are just that – a theory. Doesn’t make it true. I feel pretty confident that this film is already well into the profit side. No fancy numbers to back me up, just a well-educated guess.

I am also not in favor of a new TV series, just yet. Let’s let the 3-film cycle play out (all the principles were signed for 3 films) and see where Trek stands at that point. I somewhat agree that the oversaturation of Trek hurt the franchise during the ’90’s to ’02. And the weakness of Enterprise (almost) killed it. A famous entertainer once said the key to success was to “always leave them wanting more”. Not like they’ve seen it all, or worse, too much.

#34…they never explained HOW the Mirror Universe came into being. They only showed that it was there and that you could travel back and forth. Who’s to say that it wasn’t split off in the past, due to some meddling time traveller?

Sounds like a good subject for a novel or a comic series: “Star Trek Mirror Universe – Origins.”

#36

I agree with this line of thinking…. Much as I want to see another Star Trek on the small screen I am willing to wait for these movies to run their course…

#34

“To me, likening it to the MU is pretty weak, since the MU has nothing to do with time travel.”

Perhaps not but the existence of at least one parallel universe has long been established. So it is not a new concept to Trek…

#6, #35 – OF COURSE!! You don’t even have to twist my arm, at least once more…… I think it was important to show Paramount that Trek fans WILL support a quality Trek movie, with their wallets, and we have. A little more emphasis wouldn’t hurt! Just skip one double-grande-latte-mocha whatever and support Trek instead!! ;-)

#12, 17, and 24, I’m with you guys. :)

#34…they never explained HOW the Mirror Universe came into being.

I was under the impression it happened when Cochrane shot the Vulcans during First Contact. We can assume that up to that point events for both universes were “common”.

I think we should pick a weekend day and everyone agrees to go to see the movie again on that day and bring a friend that has not yet seen the movie. Let’s push ST09 to 250 mil.

I think there is a reason we haven’t seen an Iron Man series, a new Batman series, a new Spiderman series, etc.

The only exception has been the Terminator series, TSCC. It has since been cancelled, and the newest film has been a major disappointment at the box office.

Star Trek has now moved into the blockbuster, every 2-year, tentpole category. It is no longer a TV series, at least a live action prime time network or cable channel series. Now an animated show based on the idea using peripheral characters aimed at kids might have a shot! It’s never a bad idea to cultivate new Trek fans in time for the next movie…. ;-)

I hear people talk about this movie all the time. When’s the last time THAT happened with Trek? Oh yeah. Never. Not a month after its release.

Such a good time to be a Trekkie!

NC Trekker – June 5, 2009
Star Trek opens here http://www.ncbeaches.com/OuterBanks/Manteo/Activities/MovieTheaters/PioneerTheatre/ tonight! Most Friday nights the theater is usually almost full.

Dude. Where you live is one of my favorite places in the world. Hell, THE favorite.

BTW, someone mentioned Land of the Lost, maybe it was in the article. I’ll be very surprised if this film does well. I saw the trailers in the theater, and the groans were audible, including mine. Will Farrell can be funny, but he can also be annoying. I was annoyed during the trailer, much like the SNL skits that are pushed back to 12:40 as time fillers. The critics hate it (my local newspaper critic gave it a “D”) and Rotten Tomatoes has it at 23%. So maybe a chance for Trek to make some hay this weekend. I can hope, right?

Star Trek is indeed Living Long and Prospering!

Don’t forget: there is still the money to be made from DVD/Blu-Ray sales.

Ok. I challenge everyone here on trek Movie and you to Anthony to go see Trek at least once this weekend. Who is up to the Challenge.