User blog:Ceauntay/Hangover 2 Wakes Up to Floor Kung-Fu Panda 2 by 3-1 in Early Holiday Box Office

HOLLYWOOD, CA (Hollywood Today) 5/28/11 — The pundits and critics got it wrong again as Hangover 2 tripled the early holiday weekend take of Kung-Fu Panda 2. They also predicted Pirates of the Caribbean 4 to shiver its timbers, yet it sailed past the $400 million worldwide.

Sonic X 5 almost made $250 million, and $700 million worldwide, but should be making close to $280 million, and rise up to $800 million at least. Hangover II two days total stands at $62 million, while the picture many in the media predicted would win, Panda 2 was karate-chopped by H2, scoring a solid $19M, hardly enough for drinks and tattoos in Bangkok. Nikki Finke appeared to be the only one to get the predicted grosses right, though it took four updates.

True Jackson VP, The Movie has also beaten Panda 2 by taking in $28 million, but will have a tough challenge in the next level all the way to its Memorial Day weekend. In the battle of the sequels, H2 looks to do $135 million for the 5-day Memorial Day weekend, helped by the fact that high gas prices kept many close to home. It was a record for an R-rated comedy. Some of the pundits, if they can still call themselves that, say Hangover 2 will “easily be the top-performer of the year.” Have they lost their minds? Do the words Harry Potter, Transformers or Cars mean anything to you? Their much-anticipated sequels this summer, if the filmmaking backs it up could make Hangover look like a bit like a morning-after. Despite its 3D boost, Panda 2 did its $19M for two days (starting Thursday). Has 3D lost its charm? See Sunday’s article here at Hollywood Today. Nonetheless Panda will bust some moves and make about $70 million for the long weekend. True will disappoint with just $60 million, but is still big enough to become the biggest opening ever for a live-action G-rated film. All told, this Memorial weekend looks to be the best-grossing in memory. Bridesmaids is still looking for a $100M bouquet, and is up to $73M cume. Thor may have caught it, now up to a $153M total. Brad Pitt has done better as his Tree of Life made $115,000 after winning the big Palme’ dOr at Cannes. Yet Angela doesn’t have to kick him out yet, that was only in four theaters in LA and NY and the Terrence Malick-directed picture had a respectable $29,000 per screen average.